Act for the greater good and make a better nation

THE success of real democracy in an independent nation is determined by the full participation of its citizens in all spheres of life and equally to benefit from all facets of the developmental process.
That success demands, from citizens and the leaders they elect, wisdom and understanding, action for the greater good of all and being ever vigilant that our unity and striving for progress is never undermined by those selfish and self-seeking elements within society.
We, in Malaysia, owe a deep gratitude to our founding fathers, led by our beloved Bapa Kemerdekaan, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj, and leaders of our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural nation who, with the Tunku, forged for us a great nation. In proclaiming our independence, Tunku said: "... the welfare of this beloved land is our own responsibility: ... I call upon you all to dedicate yourselves ... to work and strive with hand and brain to create a new nation ... founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people and the maintenance of a just peace among all nations ... let us unitedly face the challenge of the years. And so with remembrance for the past, and with confidence in the future, under the providence of God, we shall succeed."
And, in these 60 years since Merdeka, a milestone we will reach on Aug 31 this year, the satisfaction and thankfulness of being a Malaysian is the sense of freedom, opportunity, security and advancement we as a nation and people enjoy – let's be clear, something we don't see in the vast majority of nations near and far, both developing and developed.
Yet, we must realise that we are a work in progress, and will never stop being that, for there will always be challenges to our way of life that we must overcome with courage by standing up for what's right. And, there will be higher and better goals that we must achieve through honest endeavour and hard work.
We must also be cognisant that with freedom comes obligation, with opportunity comes duty. If that realisation is not given effect, our independence and democracy will be in serious deficit and, indeed, in jeopardy.
We must remind ourselves and we must teach our young the ideals and truths we live by: our Constitution and the Rukun Negara and the institutions and processes that give significance and strength to our democracy.
Sure, as individuals, we have plenty of important things to worry about, doing our jobs, paying our bills, taking care of our families. No doubt, focusing on these private interests are virtues in their own right. Equally, all of us can benefit from giving a fair portion of our attention to advancing the public interest in our nation, or as the founding fathers called it the "welfare and happiness of its people".
As an advancing septuagenarian, I bear witness in our country to a worthy young student, from a family struggling to survive, enter medical college because a teacher with concern for the disadvantaged took him under her care; a rubber tapper's daughter becoming a diplomat with the help of an employer who recognised potential so that the young woman could step into the world with more opportunity than her mother; and a boy from a poor family, who often came walking and was late to school since he saved the 10 cents his mother gave him for his bus fare so he could eat an "ice-ball" for lunch, enter military college and become an army officer because of the support of a retired school principal who saw aptitude and determination in him.
And, in each case, the three individuals and those who helped them were from different ethnic communities, but all Malaysians! And, that's what mattered.
These are not insignificant examples. This is the wellspring of our independence and democracy, countless small actions that make a better nation.
When we become engaged in the life of our community and nation, we appreciate how we can influence change. Perhaps most important, we gain an appreciation for how to understand differences, needs and shortcomings and forge a consensus behind a course of action towards a solution in a complex, busy and diverse society.
Our engagement brings out the very best within us. Our nation demands not only our competence, but also our passion.
Let us exercise our responsibility constructively and for the greater good by deliberately pursuing those ways in which we can influence for the better our neighbourhood, community and nation. Above all, it means, as an independent nation and people, we are responsible for tending our own democracy, making it work for all and transmitting to our children and generations who follow an even better and brighter future.
Rueben Dudley
Petaling Jaya