WHAT a Wednesday! Okay, what a rotten Wednesday.

At the base of the National Monument is an inscription: ‘To Our Glorious Dead and the Emergency’. It honours the people – of many races and many nationalities – who died fighting for this nation.

I HAD a really enlightening moment a few days ago. I was at a restaurant waiting for my fried rice “bungkus” when this vaguely familiar man waved to me. I waved back and smiled.

Those As are important. But they are not everything. What we need is wholesome education for all.

The Ruler of Johor is advocating the return of English-medium schools. It’s a call that should be heeded.

It could have been a freak of nature, a climate change factor or just plain human greed and bad planning. Whatever the reason, hard questions need to be asked.

It’s a good time to be Indian as Deepavali looms. The goodies are forthcoming but that is not what’s really important. What we really need is to embrace the spirit of Deepavali, to let light win over darkness, to let the good in us vanquish the divisive evil.

IT was Sunday. And I was with a bunch of friends when the sirens blared. A police patrol car went whizzing past, chasing down a mat rempit. Then, it fell silent.

A year ago today, Malaysia won a bronze at the Paralympics – its fourth medal – in Brazil. And the athletes who won were all rewarded. For one gold medallist in Rio, though, the gold medal and rewards may have led to his own undoing.

From a walk for unity and the SEA Games leading up to National Day, the real Malaysia was on show in all its glory and glaring misgivings.

We have drifted apart, there’s no doubt about that. And, as a nation, we seem to be continuing on our divergent paths. But this is a month to cherish, when Malaysians can celebrate their nationhood, with sport and patriotism.

Football is a sport loved by many, a sport that is a money-spinner all over the world. But it also evokes strong emotions – and violence. With the SEA Games around, it’s time to keep those emotions in check.