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In a post on X, he also questioned why family members or representatives of the founding fathers of modern-day Malaysia such as Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tan Cheng Lock and VT Sambanthan were not invited to witness the parade at Dataran Putrajaya.
“I know why. Our present leaders think too much of themselves,” said Zaid. “They think Malaysia owes nothing to other former leaders worth remembering. In planning for the Merdeka celebration, they only think of promoting themselves.”
By contrast, he highlighted Singapore’s independence celebrations, where national leaders such as Lee Kuan Yew, Othman Wok and Ong Pang Boon who signed the Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965 were a constant presence at national day events.
Zaid said it was poignant that long-serving prime minister Lee’s chair was left empty after he died in 2015.
“Our politics is so bitter that we do not remember the past or value the deeds of others before us. What hope do we have as a country?” he said.
This year’s National Day celebration at Dataran Putrajaya was attended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Raja Zarith Sofiah, government leaders, dignitariesand foreign delegates.
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