The recent months have seen my beloved country take massive beatings on all fronts. Economically, socially, politically and internationally. Our currency has dipped to a 17 year low, our politicians are showing signs of senility and the intelligence of watermelons (sorry, didn't mean to insult fruits), internationally we are losing our standing on everything. Those are things I can't control and it's beyond my reach but what's closer to the ground and to my heart is how we are hurting socially. There are people who are sowing seeds of hatred, racism and intolerance among us. Sadly, the main culprits are our leaders and politicians and like all cult movement, the noisy minority will overwhelm the silent majority.
History has shown that noisy minority are the ones that create chaos while the silent majority suffers. The Nazis, Communist China, Libya, Iran, Iraq and the list goes on. So what is happening to our country, our culture, our people? Have we grown into a hate inciting society? Racially marginalized and alienated? Most of us tend to stick to our own people, our own race and own friends. So much so that we don't know or don't care like we use to. Is that really true?
Being a child of 2 races, we are the epitome of tolerance and moderation. I have seen both sides of my family practice racism on my parents and I myself was subjected to that too. However, the examples of my parents was and still is a shining beacon that I hold true and I hope to pass on to my generations and all those I encounter. We were tolerant and practiced giving and taking. We were sensitive to each others religious and racial needs. We ensured others were comfortable when we practiced our unique needs. We didn't impose or get mad or get violent. We taught and educated and explained. We were patient simply because deep down inside we are decent human beings. We protected each other regardless of race and religion during the Japanese Occupation and The Emergency. We were taught to be decent, kind, compassionate and loving by our elders and by our religion. If your religion tells you otherwise, you'd better question deeply why that is so.
So have we lost all of this?
I worked in a multinational all of life until recently. When in the MNCs I'll be honest to say I didn't interact deeply with other races. I kind of stuck to my own friends. I now work in a GLC where 90% of the population are Malays. Recently we just concluded the month of Syawal or Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. I was invited to so many open houses that I put on 5kg! That is A LOT!! What I wanted to share is that I experienced the hospitality of my Malay Malaysians towards all races. They welcomed me with open arms regardless of who I was. The guided me to an open seat, served me personally and made sure I was well taken care of.
Conversations were jovial, candid and fun. There weren't feelings of corporate obligation (though I'm sure there were some) but just people generally getting together and celebrating a very big occasion in Malaysian culture. I have not been to an open house (personal or corporate) for any celebration in a long while. But this year I attended one almost every day. All I felt was happiness, good company and cholesterol building up!
So Malaysia is alive but albeit not well. While I can't really influence economics, foreign policies or internal policies, I can sure spread the right message of tolerance, understanding, love and kinship with my fellow Malaysians. So speak up and don't let these minority bigots, racist and extremist take over what took our elders and heroes a lifetime to build. I am doing this because my religion teaches me so and because my parents taught me then and am still teaching me now.
God bless Malaysia and all Malaysians.
