KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 1 -- Dear Malaysia, Selamat Hari Kebangsaan and Selamat Hari Malaysia!

I am proud to join all of you in celebrating our 68th National Day and soon, our 62nd Malaysia Day.

This is the fifth consecutive year that I am sharing my thoughts with all of you.

The responses have been encouraging, and I have enjoyed engaging with many of you who contacted me personally.

Since my last essay, there have been several developments both on the local and international fronts.

Globally, the international rules-based order we had in place for decades is under severe stress and strain, amplifying the era of seemingly never-ending crises that we are living in.

This is not just about tariffs and trade wars, though those are bad enou...