OK, OK. I know I said I was going to blog about Project Happy Malaysia today. I got my new DELL configured, and all the must-haves have been installed. But the problem now is… My broadband connection at home is way tooo slow and it is taking forever to load the pictures I am going to use. AARGHHH!
Anyway, I will still proceed and maybe just insert a link from here to the photo album so this post isn’t entirely picture-less 
* * * * *
I do not remember having fond memories of the previous Merdeka days that I have celebrated. Merdeka day wasn’t celebrated like it was a family member’s birthday, or like it was Mother’s Day, or even Teacher’s Day. It wasn’t as “prominent” as New Year’s Eve when I would literally spend the last 30 minutes of the year in the shower cleansing myself in the attempt to rid myself of all bad luck. Heh.
Anyway, I celebrated my first Merdeka last year. And I am going to tell you how.
* * * * *
My M.Sc. project requires me to head-start the river terrapin hatchlings up to one, two and three years old before releasing them. So last year during Merdeka day, we released the first group of 150 one-year-old river terrapins back into the river. The “release of life” ceremony was also dubbed the “Terrapin Independence Day”.
Two days before Terrapin Independence Day, a team of us went to the host-school to put up an exhibition in the school hall. We gave a briefing to the school children and we organized terrapin-related activities for them. Despite the small school and run-down facilities in the school, we managed to reach out to the school children and to educate them on the importance of saving the river terrapins.
On the Independence Day itself, a small opening ceremony was held at the school compound. Some students performed a Boria dance and a student presented her prize-winning-poem to the audience. After some light refreshments, we proceeded to the release site.
Almost the entire village attended the release because we invited them all. Besides the kampung folks, we also invited the Buddhist groups from Selangor and Terengganu because they have been supporting us financially throughout the year. But what amazed me was that the Buddhists were chanting throughout the release but the Muslims did not make a big fuss out of it. In fact, when we learned that the Buddhists would like to do some chanting during the release, we tried arranging for them to release the terrapins at a separate site or time, but we encountered more problems that way - insufficient manpower, PA system etc.
I felt my chest tightened each time I passed someone a terrapin to be released. Because I raised each one of them for more than a year. Because I saw them grow, inch by inch. Because I treated the sick ones back to health. And when the time came for their release, I was worried-sick about their survival in the wild.
* * * * *
A year has passed since we released the river terrapins into the river. And if they were alive today, they would be another year older.
Happy 49th, Malaysia
P/S: For snippets of the Terrapin Independence Day celebrated last year, click here.
If you think this post might benefit other bloggers:
Aww heartwarming =) Btw, your link has an extra ‘http://’ in it so it wont work on click hehe
pelf: Rectified, thanks
A really interesting post in conjunction of Project Happy Malaysia. Although it doesn’t directly reflect on any ‘merdeka’ or ‘malaysia’ theme, it celebrates our natural heritage - the terrapins who are indigenous to our beloved land, the dedicated and tireless conservation work done as part of that heritage, and finally our part/role as a nation in the international community of animal conservation (off course, there is much more than can be done)!
pelf: Oh yes, it does reflect on both “merdeka” and “Malaysia” themes
For one, we chose to release them on OUR National Day last year because we wanted it to also be the terrapins’ Independence Day as well, do you see it now? Of course, our the terrapins being our national heritage is also one. In fact, we have the words “Selamatkanlah Tuntung Kita! Khazanah Terengganu, Warisan Negara.” printed on the T-shirts we gave free to those who attended the event last year.
Were these the reasons you posted this?
pelf: BINGO!
Wah… good. How i wish i got to know this “terrapins’ independence day” project earlier. Wah haa.. Great Job. Happy belated Merdeka Day!
pelf: This year’s TID will be held on Sept 9th
Same day with Yvonne’s charity concert (Rock4hope)???? Ah….. okok.. let me see whether i can come or not. TID or Rock4hope.. TID or ROck4hope.. WAH hahhaha…(let me think)
pelf: Yes, same day
Well, there’s only ONE Rock4Hope but there will be another TID next year 