DPM: 1Malaysia not a mere slogan

SHAH ALAM: Having gone through 57 years of independence, 1Malaysia should stop being just a slogan for all Malaysians, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Instead, he said, it should become a description for the country – one which is multiracial, multi-religious and united under the Jalur Gemilang.
"Our evolution from then until now – contrasting the history as told by the pictures and today's reality – may well be the stimulus needed to nurture patriotism and love of the nation that will spur the country towards even more development, one that is sustainable and innovative where excellence is the national trademark," he said at the launch of "Expressions of Merdeka Malaysia" coffee table book here today.
The book, authored by former Media Prima chairman Datuk Abdul Mutalib Razak, is a compilation of photographs, newspaper cuttings and first-day covers taken to mark the celebration of the independence gained by Malaya in 1957.
Muhyiddin said the book came at an opportune moment when prosperity and peace are being taken for granted by those who, for some reason, believe in the myth that there was more freedom under British (rule).
He also said that today, the people see a nation united in diversity, an almost unique achievement envisioned by the country's founding fathers.