Kuala Lampur, Aug. 28 -- August is when we get all worked up and annoyed about owning Malaysia, or in most cases, not owning it enough.

How about how Malaysia feels? Who should tanah airku, tanah tumpah darahku pick as the most brilliant child of the land for 2025?

That amazing beacon of hope and purity, deserving of an award this Merdeka season.

Now, some restraints are necessary for this trick assignment. It is bad faith to kick off a desire to recognise a winner only to end up dissing so many. So, a totally positive search for a national role model for the year.

The first name for consideration is of course the obvious one.

The prime minister may be the most photographed man in Malaysia but that probably does not get him automatic...