Melayu Mudah Lupa

Melayu Mudah Lupa (Malays forget easily) is a poem recited by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad during UMNO General Assembly 2001. It was also the title of the speech that he gave that year, which was later published as a book. Whether it can be classed as literature rather than politics (or polemics) is debatable.

The Poem

Melayu mudah lupa
Melayu mudah lupa
Melayu mudah lupa
Dulu bangsanya dipijak
Melayu mudah lupa
Dulu bangsanya retak
Melayu mudah lupa
Dulu bangsanya teriak
Melayu mudah lupa
Dulu bangsanya haprak
Melayu mudah lupa
Dulu bangsanya kelas dua
Melayu mudah lupa
Dulu bangsanya hina
Melayu mudah lupa
Dulu bangsanya sengketa
Melayu mudah lupa
Dulu bangsanya derita
Melayu mudah lupa

Dulu bangsanya kerdil
Melayu mudah lupa
Dulu bangsanya terpencil
Melayu mudah lupa
Tiada daulat
Tiada maruah
Tiada bebas
Melayu mudah lupa
Melayu mudah lupa
Melayu mudah lupa
Sejarah bangsanya yang lena
Tanah lahirnya yang merekah berdarah
Ingatlah
Ingatlah
Ingatlah
Wahai bangsaku
Jangan mudah lupa lagi
Kerana perjuanganmu belum selesai

English Translation

Malays easily forget
Malays easily forget
Malays easily forget
There was a time when they were 'tread on' by others
Malays easily forget
There was a time when they were among the broken
Malays easily forget
There was a time when they were crying
Malays easily forget
There was a time when they were among the faggots
Malays easily forget
There was a time when they were among the second class
Malays easily forget
There was a time when they were insulted
Malays easily forget
There was a time when they were fighting each other
MMalays easily forget
There was a time when they were suffering
Malays easily forget

There was a time when they were small
Malays easily forget
There was a time when they were isolated
Malays easily forget
They have no Majesty
They have no Dignity
They have no Freedom
Malays easily forget
Malays easily forget
Malays easily forget
About the history of their 'sleeping' nation
About the cracked bloody land where he was born
Forget not
Forget not
Forget not
O people of my race
Never forget again
Because your struggle is not finished yet