More than three decades since its first release, the song ‘Setia’ by local songstress Fransissca Peters remains a part of Malaysia’s Merdeka celebrations, with its main message of loyalty to the country and duty to serve.

The year was 1988 and then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was leading Malaysia in the aftermath of Umno’s internal turmoils that eventually split the ruling party and its supporters.

Then information minister...