03/09/2026
69 Years of Malaysia: May Our “Madani” Spirit Flourish Beyond Material Prosperity
From the air we breathe and the awareness we cultivate, to collectively safeguarding a better tomorrow for the next generation
Just a few days ago, Malaysia celebrated its 69th National Day.
Happy 69th National Day, Malaysia! 🇲🇾
After 69 years, we certainly have much to celebrate.
We celebrate a home where people of different races, cultures and faiths live together.
We celebrate the efforts of generations of Malaysians who have helped our country grow.
And we celebrate the simple privilege of being able to work, live, eat, celebrate festivals and raise the next generation together on this land we call home.
Yet, as we arrive at this point in our journey, I increasingly feel that there is something more we need to think about.
A truly progressive and Madani nation should not be measured only by how many skyscrapers we have, how much wealth we create, how advanced our technology becomes, or how much we consume.
It should also be measured by whether we are leaving behind a planet where the next generation can continue to live well.
In recent days, as we once again face unhealthy air quality, thick haze, and even earthquakes in places where they were once rarely experienced, perhaps it is time for us to pause and reflect.
In the past, extreme climate events often felt like distant global issues.
Today, extreme heat, heavy rainfall, floods, droughts, air pollution and haze are gradually becoming part of our everyday lives.
When we have to start paying attention even to the quality of the air we breathe every day, this is no longer simply an “environmental issue”.
It is a very direct issue of life itself.
We have to be honest with ourselves.
The pressure our planet is experiencing today did not happen out of nowhere.
For generations, humanity has placed great importance on economic growth and material development, constantly pursuing more, faster and bigger.
In creating prosperity, we may have unintentionally forgotten one of the most fundamental truths:
We do not simply live on Earth. We are part of Earth’s living system.
Without healthy soil, there is no health
