Stay patriotic, says Dr M

What say you on the issue below?

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians should not let the A(H1N1) virus stop them from celebrating the National Day, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“This year’s celebration is not as merry as previous years because of the A(H1N1) flu. There are no big parades at Dataran Merdeka or Putrajaya as usual.

“But all this should not stop us from feeling proud and patriotic towards our country,” he said in his latest blog posting.

Dr Mahathir said he would not be able to attend this year’s National Day celebrations at Dataran Parli-men but would continue to pray for the country’s stability and safety.

“As an ordinary citizen, I will focus my attention on the country’s political, economic and social development and will try to contribute to these areas as much as I can.

“I am confident that ordinary citizens will continue to do the same because they love the country and want to see it progress,” he added.

Dr Mahathir wished all Malaysians a happy 52nd Merdeka and a blessed Ramadan to all Muslims.

Meanwhile, Penang will be holding its state-level National Day celebrations, without the parade, outside the Seberang Prai Municipal Council headquarters in Bandar Perda, Central Seberang Prai at 9am tomorrow.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that instead of the usual four-hour parade, the event would be shorter this year in view of the Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic.

“We had earlier announced that the parade would be cancelled. But the celebrations will still go on, only it will be a very short one,” he said after flagging off the Anglican Churches Transcom Merdeka Rally 2009 in St Marks Church Butterworth here yesterday.

Although the state government is not organising a National Day countdown, several private establishments are going ahead with the countdown to the celebrations.

The Queensbay Mall on Penang Island will hold a concert and fireworks display while a National Day countdown gathering will be held at Auto City in Juru on the mainland from 6pm today. A 200-inch Sky-TV, the first of its kind in the country, will be launched by Penang State Tourism Development, Culture, Arts, and Heritage Committee chairman Law Heng Kiang.