A Merdeka Poem by Pannir Selvam, written on Death Row in Singapore.
For more info: Restorative Justice for SEA.
English translation and photo of the handwritten poem below.
DI WAJAH BUMI BERTUAH
KITA HIDUP SEJAHTERA
MERDEKA PERKASA
DI ANGKASA JIWA
DI JEJAK LANGIT EMAS
KITA BERHIMPUN BEBAS.
MERDEKA BERTAKHTA
DI PERSADA MINDA
BUDI BAHASA BERCAHAYA
SEAKAN NILA KANDI,
MERDEKA BERTALU
DALAM ARUS DADA
BUDAYA KAYA
DITENUN BENANG PELANGI
MERDEKA BERSILAT
DALAM HEMBUSAN NADA
TUGU NEGARA TUTUR SEJARAH,
MERAH MEMBARA NALURI JUARA.
MERDEKA TERUKIR
DALAM CORAK BERFIKIR
MERDEKA TERSURAT
DALAM RANGKAP SEKERAT
BILA NUSANTARA BERSUARA,
NADI SAMUDERA BERGELORA.
MERDEKA TERSIRAT
DALAM KEPEKATAN DAKWAT
BIAR BAHTERA HARIMAU MALAYA
BERLAYAR HINGGA KE PUNCAK HIMALAYA.
MERDEKA TERPAHAT
HINGGA KE LIANG LAHAD
BIAR BAKA MERDEKA
KEKAL MEKAR BERAKAR
MENGGENGGAM BARA API
BIAR SAMPAI JADI ARANG.
BERSEPADU DENGAN RAPI
BIAR GELAP JADI TERANG.
NYALAKAN ILHAM PERPADUAN
ABUKAN KELEKAAN.
SEMARAKKAN KESEDARAN
NILAI SEBUTIR NAFAS KEMERDEKAN.
INSPIRED BY
CELUPKAN JARIMU KE DALAM AIR LAUTAN.
PANNIR SELVAM 31 OGOS 2024, Updated 2025
(SEBARAN KASIH)
A BREATH OF INDEPENDENCE
On this sacred earth,
we live in peace.
Beneath the golden skies,
we gather in freedom.
Virtue shines bright,
like treasures of the soul.
Culture, rich and vibrant,
woven in threads of a rainbow tapestry.
The monument of the nation speaks its truth,
scarlet burns with the spirit of a champion.
When the voice of the archipelago rises,
the ocean’s pulse surges in unison.
Let the vessel of the Malayan tiger
sail to the peaks of the Himalayas.
Let the roots of freedom endure,
ever blooming, deeply anchored.
Freedom stands mighty
in the skies of the spirit.
Freedom takes its throne
upon the seat of thought.
Freedom echoes
within the tides of the heart.
Freedom moves
in whispers of song.
Freedom etched
in patterns of reason.
Freedom inscribed
in the lines of verse.
Freedom hidden
in the depths of ink.
Freedom carved
to the edge of the grave.
Grasp the ember
until it turns to coal.
Bind together in harmony,
so darkness turns to light.
Ignite the flame of unity,
not the comfort of complacency.
Awaken the conscience
to the breath of independence.
Inspired by
Dip your finger into the vastness of the ocean.
Poem by:
Pannir Selvam – 31 August 2024, Updated 2025
(Spread Love)
