August 31 marked the 50th anniversary of Malaysia’s Merdeka: independence after more than 400 years of colonialism. Malaysia’s peaceful, non-violent struggle may not have received the attention that Mahatma Gandhi’s did in India, but what Malaysia has accomplished since then is impressive – and has much to teach the world, both about economics, and about how to construct a vibrant multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society.
8月31日是马来西亚的第五十个独立日：在被殖民统治400年以后获得独立。马来西亚和平、非暴力的斗争可能没有像甘地在印度那样为世界瞩目，但马来西亚自那时开始所取得的成就却令人赞叹—并能够在经济学及如何建设一个充满活力的多种族、多民族、多文化的社会方面为世界提供有益的经验。