I am sorry….three simple words but words that can repair a lot of relationships. Without admitting you are wrong, the bad feelings are allowed to fester until eventually they grow into something so big and ugly and almost beyond repair.

Digi is running the “Dear Malaysians” campaign in conjunction with Merdeka, calling for Malaysians to say sorry to fellow Malaysians. The message, simply, is that forgiveness doesn’t change the past but it certainly sets the stage for a superb future. Hopefully, it’ll teach us how to brighten someone’s day, one apology at a time.

There is nothing wrong in making mistakes and this is a great time to start making amend. Just because you think it is right doesn’t make it right. Part of a matured society is being tolerant and respecting each and everyone.

The three-minute “Dear Malaysians” video shows an array of people holding up cardboards with written apologies for past mistakes. It is a poignant exploration into the power of apologies and forgiveness.

One man says sorry to his children for smoking while another apologises for talking at the cinema. One lady feels sorry for being an impatient driver while another apologises for not supporting the national football team.

Forgive me for being an impatient driver.

The video has moved many, with more than 200,000 people liking it on Facebook since it was launched on Tuesday night.

Many admitted to having shed tears after watching the video, which has singer-songwriter Min’Z providing vocals for the background song.

The video has also prompted many to post apologies on social networking sites.

Many have apologised for their bad driving habits and parking skills while some have said sorry for not keeping in touch with their friends.

Wong Sen Kiat, associate creative director of advertising agency Naga DDB that came up with the campaign concept, said that since Hari Raya, Merdeka and Malaysia Day were around the corner, there was no better time to spread the joy of forgiveness.

“All of us make mistakes but how often do we try to atone for them?” he asked.

“It was not meant to be a tear-jerker but to hit a raw nerve. Many people can relate to not apologising enough.”

Wong himself was in the video, where he apologises to a taxi passenger for not returning a wallet he had found a long time ago.

Wong Sen Kiat with his apology

He said that while sorry was probably the most powerful word in the dictionary, it was one of the most difficult things for anyone to say.

Watch the video and share the joy of forgiveness:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Digi, congratulations for a job well done!

Malaysians celebrate Malaysia Day or Hari Malaysia today. On this day in 1963, the formation of Malaysia which consisted of the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore was formally promulgated.

Malaysian flag...Jalur Gemilang (Malay for "Stripes of Glory")

47 years after its formation, Malaysia is officially celebrating its creation for the first time by declaring the day a public holiday. What took the government so long to recognise the country’s very formation? It was on October 19, 2009 that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak officially declared that September 16 would be a public holiday commencing from 2010.

Malaysia Day would be celebrated with events that would foster closer unity, understanding between the different races and community success and achievement through sports, social culture and arts, to spur the 1Malaysia spirit.

This is the real “birthday” of Malaysia, but  it has been a long time coming.

To all my fellow Malaysians, Happy Malaysia Day!

Today is Hari Kebangsaan or Hari Merdeka (Independence Day). It is the national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule. In a wider context, it is to celebrate the formation of Malaysia.

Hari Merdekaan 2010

The effort for independence was spearheaded by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, who led a delegation of ministers and political leaders of Malaya in negotiations with the British in London for Merdeka, or independence along with the first president of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock and fifth President of Malaysian Indian Congress Tun V.T. Sambanthan. Once it became increasingly clear that the Communist threat posed during the Malayan Emergency was petering out, agreement was reached on February 8, 1956, for Malaya to gain independence from the British Empire. However, for a number of logistical and administrative reasons, it was decided that the official proclamation of independence would only be made the next year, on August 31, 1957, at Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium), in Kuala Lumpur.

This YouTube video is the proclamation of independence by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the first prime minister of Malaysia.

The Federation of Malaysia, comprising the States of Malaya, North Borneo (later renamed Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore was to be officially declared on the date August 31, 1963, on the 6th anniversary of Malayan independence. However, it was postponed to September 16, 1963, mainly due to Indonesian and the Philippines’ opposition to the formation of Malaysia. Nevertheless, North Borneo and Singapore declared sovereignty on August 31, 1963. Indonesian opposition later escalated to a military conflict. Indonesia considered Malaysia as a new form of colonization on the provinces of Sarawak and Sabah in the island of Borneo (bordering Kalimantan, Indonesia), which they laid claim on. To assure Indonesia that Malaysia was not a form of neo-colonialism, a referendum, organized by the United Nations, and the Cobbold Commission, led by Lord Cobbold, were formed to determine whether the people of Sabah and Sarawak wished to join Malaysia. Their eventual findings which indicated substantial support for Malaysia among the peoples of Sabah and Sarawak, cleared the way for the final proclamation of Malaysia.

The formation of the Federation of Malaysia was then announced on September 16, 1963 as Malaysia Day. The nationwide Independence Day celebration is still held on August 31, the original independence date of Malaya, while Malaysia Day is a public holiday only in East Malaysia. However, this has caused some minor discontent among East Malaysians in particular since it has been argued that celebrating the national day on August 31 is too Malaya-centric. It is decided that starting this year, Malaysia Day will be a nationwide public holiday in addition to Hari Merdeka on August 31.

The above is from Wikipedia.

To all Malaysians, I wish you a very happy Hari Kebangsaan. May  Malaysia be blessed with peace, racial harmony, religious tolerance, prosperity and unity! God bless Malaysia!

Today is the 46th anniversary of the formation of Malaysia. Malaysia Day is held on every September 16  to commemorate the establishment of Malaysian federation on the same date in 1963. It marked the joining together of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo to form Malaysia. The formation of the new federation was planned to occur on June 1, 1963, but was later postponed to August 31, 1963, in order to coincide with the sixth Hari Merdeka (Independence Day). Several issues related to the Indonesian and the Filipino objection to the formation of Malaysia delayed the declaration to September 16 of the same year. The postponement was also done to allow the United Nations team time to conduct referendums in North Borneo (now known as Sabah) and Sarawak regarding the two states participation in a new federation.

Distrust and ideological differences between leaders of the State of Singapore and the federal government of Malaysia resulted in frequent disagreement in politics, economic, financial and social policies. On August 9 1965, the Malaysian parliament voted to expel Singapore from Malaysia. On that fateful day, Singapore became a new nation with Lee Kuan Yew as its prime minister.

To all Malaysians, I wish you Happy Malaysia Day!

The first stamp set issued by Malaysia on September 16 1963....this is my "greetings" card to all Malaysians!

15Malaysia is a project of 15 short films directed by 15 Malaysian directors and is a collaboration between the 15 film directors and WiMAX telecommunication company Packet One Networks Sdn Bhd. The mastermind behind 15Malaysia is singer/songwriter/actor Pete Teo.

Malaysian singer/songwriter/actor Pete Teo

The 15 films feature an interesting cast of actors, musicians, local celebrities and POLITICIANS. The politicians featured in some of the films are Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat, Parti Keadilan Rakyat information chief Tian Chua, UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Dewan Negara Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim. The films deal with social-political issues ranging from race relations, bribery, corruption, Islamic Banking, party hopping, Mat Rempit, halal cooking, the state of Malaysian football, social apathy, freedom of expression and paedophilia.

The 15 films and their release dates:

(01) Potong Saga by Ho Yuhang (released on August 17 2009)

Potong Saga by Ho Yuhang (starring Namewee)

(02) Chocolate by the late Yasmin Ahmad (released on August 19 2009)

Chocolate directed by the late Yasmin Ahmad

(03) The Tree by Amir Muhammad (released on August 21 2009)

The Tree by Amir Muhammad (starring PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat)

(04) House by Linus Chung (released on August 24 2009)

House directed by Linus Chung

(05) Halal by Liew Seng Tat (scheduled for release on August 26 2009)

Halal by Liew Seng Tat

(06) The Son by Desmong Ng ( scheduled for release on August 28 2009)

The Son by Desmond Ng

(07) Lumpur by Kamal Sabran (scheduled for release on August 31 2009)

Lumpur by Kamal Sabran

(08) One Future by Tan Chiu Mui (scheduled for release on September 2 2009)

One Future by Tan Chui Mui

(09) Slovak Sling by Woo Ming Jin (scheduled for release on September 4 2009)

Slovak Sling by Woo Ming Jin

(10) Gerhana by James Lee  (scheduled for release on September 7 2009)

Gerhana by James Lee

(11) Meter by Benji & Bahir (scheduled forv release on September 9 2009)

Meter by Benji & Bahir (starring UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin)

(12) Duit Kecil by Johan Johan (Scheduled for release on September 11 2009)

Duit Kecil by Johan John

(13) Healthy Paranoia by Khairil Bahar (scheduled for release on September 14 2009)

Healthy Paranoia by Khairil Bahar (starring Malaysian Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai

(14) Lollipop by Nam Ron (scheduled for release om September 15 2009)

Lollipop by Nam Ron

(15) Rojak! by Suleiman Brothers (scheduled for release on September 16 2009)

Rojak! by Suleiman Brothers

Ho Yuhang’s Potong Saga is the first film to be released and has proven to be a big hit. It features Wee Meng Chee or better known as Namewee who gained enormous publicity and notoriety for his infamous Negarakuku song in 2007. This film offers a comical exaggeration of the Chinese community’s misguided assumptions about Islamic Banking. Do watch it and have a hearty laugh!

The final film “Rojak!” by the Suleiman Brothers is aptly scheduled to be released on September 16, the anniversary of the formation of Malaysia. To catch all the 15 films, take note of the release dates and watch them either on YouTube or the 15Malaysia website:

http://15Malaysia.com/films/