“High confidence has been reposed in us; 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”. This is part of Tunku’s Merdeka speech.
TUN V. T. Sambanthan, during the debate on the draft Constitution said: “We belong to a plural society, and we should always remember that in such a society we have to recognise that psychology has its own place.”
Tun Tan Cheng Lock in his inaugural speech as the Malayan Chinese Association president said one of the basic aims of the MCA was to help develop the process of making the whole of Malaya into one country, one people and one government.
In obtaining independence, these three gentlemen functioned as a closely-knit family and not as leaders of communal political parties trying to be heroes to their own people.
Need I say more on unity.
New Malaysia seems to be moving away from being united. Even a controversial speaker from a foreign land can spark unnecessary debates and divisions.
Worse, cabinet ministers from different parties in the same coalition are pointing at each other and a major party in the coalition is showing cracks.
At this point, polemics, rhetoric and racial bigotry are unwanted. The joint statement signed by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders is a relief. But it is not enough.
I would suggest that the minister of national unity and social wellbeing draft a declaration to be called Putrajaya Unity Declaration 2019. A document to be respected like the Federal Constitution.
It should be signed by the leaders of all political parties (present and future), to put in writing the commitment towards peace and unity.
It will be the political parties’ responsibility to take necessary actions on any recalcitrant. There must be accountability at the highest levels of any political party. I know, it is not easy to extract a recalcitrant cork from a bottle.
We need to elucidate on the peace and unity we are looking for. Among other things, the Declaration must include indices or yardsticks to measure progress and to be monitored quarterly by the ministry. Experiences in Sabah and Sarawak can also be used as a basic benchmark.
A report of progress to be presented and discussed at every new parliamentary sitting.
In the last sermon, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “... Arabs have no superiority over non-Arabs and Non-Arabs have no Superiority over Arabs, You are all equal except by piety and good actions”.
“It is He Who hath produced you from a single soul: here is a place of sojourn and a place of departure: We detail Our signs for people who understand” (Quran 6:98). The Quran acknowledges the diversity in humanity but described it as a functional aspect of existence and not structural.
I trust the respective parties will give due respect to the proposed declaration and hopefully take away unnecessary tensions and time-wasting and grow in compassion in our march towards greater things.
For the Malaysia Day celebration, I would strongly urge the organising committee to invite the leaders of all political parties to attend and sign the declaration as a show of solidarity.
Meantime, Selamat Hari Merdeka to Malaysians.
Saleh Mohammed
Kuala Lumpur
