MALAYSIA Day is over. Most of us felt patriotic, sentimental and more attached and committed to our beloved country. Can we not learn to treat every day (from now on) as Malaysia Day?
You and I can be instruments of peace? For far too long, we have taken the tranquillity we enjoy for granted. It is time for change.
We need to unlearn our racist inclination; our views have been insidiously tailored and poisoned over the years. We must undo or erase this racist tendency by a conscious effort to look at a person in terms of his needs, achievements, strengths and weaknesses.
More importantly we have to unlearn our tendency to make sweeping statements about others as well as having stereotype images of each race.
We must break away from seeing racial undertones at every event, happening or issue. Let’s count to 10 before we open our mouths and give comments in the social media without much thought. Please think carefully before you press the “send” button the next time.
Please do not forward hate or rumour mail to others. Delete them. Remind the sender that such mails are destructive and ask them: “How can you turn this into something positive?”
Compromise is important for national unity to flourish. It’s no use winning the battle only to lose the war. Ask God to grant us the wisdom to make the right compromises.
We must exercise tolerance and restraint as well as adopt a “give and take” attitude.
Our struggle should remain non-violent with great understanding and be free of hatred.
The media too should exercise greater responsibility and not give coverage to “negative” incidents or vitriol statements. Social media is fast becoming the source and disseminator of news, real time and unadulterated. Thus responsible reporting must take place to ensure credibility.
Nothing is impossible if we stay focused and united. Nation-building efforts begin with each of us; the government is merely the facilitator.
For the sake of our children, each and every Malaysian has to stand up and be counted in the nation-building process.
I am proud and blessed to be a Malaysian and I will do whatever in my power to encourage other Malaysians to do their part to maintain peace and harmony.
Let’s pray to God daily to grant us the love and resolve to press ahead towards unity. We have more than what unites us than divides us.
Happy belated Malaysia Day.
Dr Pola Singh
Kuala Lumpur
