Merdeka Greeting 2016

Let me start by wishing everyone a ‘Selamat Hari Merdeka’.

In conjunction with this year’s Merdeka, we have planted 500 Hibiscus trees all around Tanjong Bunga in the three suburbs, namely, Tanjung Tokong, Tanjong Bunga and Batu Ferringhi. We selected 20 spots, and with the help of MBPP, all of our seven JKKKs, Tanjong Tokong Police, Lions Club and Dalat School, we will finish planting these trees today.

The Hibiscus is a tropical ornamental plant and when in bloom, bears the national flower known as Bunga Raya, a symbolical representation of our independence from the British. This flower was one of the seven proposed by the Department of Agriculture and was eventually selected as our national flower on 28 July 1960. The plant can grow up to about five metres tall, and has large brilliant red flowers with five petals that can grow up to 10cm in diameters. From the centre of the flower sprouts the stamen with orange-coloured pollen.

Scientifically named Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, this plant has woody branches and is bushy. It is also relatively easy to maintain although it needs to be watered every day.

All of us had a great time planting the trees. As Nelson Henderson said, “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” Henderson was a second generation farmer in the Swan River Valley region of Manitoba, Canada.

In Chinese there is a proverb which goes, “Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.”

Someone also said, “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”

I hope that everyone will continue to plant trees for our future generations. Deforestation should stop. Money cannot buy a healthy environment and we should be well aware of this. Trees are the only life form that filter and provide us with oxygen. It is very tragic that we simply cut down trees without thinking how we will survive without them.

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!