A Malaysian flag billowing in the wind of a deserted courtyard of a mission school in a sleepy town. Other smaller flags on cars, flutter like the small flags strung on a string around the school. Another stretches in the middle of a government buildingo , too small to go all the way across. On television, a Malay drama attempts unsuccessfully to examine the life of a family through the eyes of a young boy – the New Malay after 49 years of independence. A series of articles in the media and advertisements strive to remind us to look beyond the flags, to the people who fought for our independence, to look at what we have accomplished and value our country. All this, a week before the 31st of August, Malaysia’s day of independence.
Sixty years ago, a 15 year old boy joined group of young men gathered at a field in the sleepy town on the East Coast to protest the Malayan Union. Years later, the same young man would be among those who joined Tunku Abdul Rahman to cry “Merdeka”. As the editor of “Suara Merdeka”, UMNO’s voice in the early years, he played an important role in the formative years of our young country in unifying the Malays during an era where the pen was indeed mighty. All his life he fought to make our lot in life better than his, and our country better than what it was when he was growing up.He was my father and it is his spirit that I remember most when 31st August dawns.
It is a unique country we live in, so rich in many ways, so much to offer those lucky enough to live within its borders and beyond it as well. For those who felt that our shortcomings were enough to drive them from our shores, I know that they will return - sooner or later for this will always be their home. A country where nasi lemak, roti canai and kuey teow goreng (among others) reign supreme signifying strangely the point where all races meet – food! After 49 years of independence, racial stereotypes and polarisation still exist but where food is concerned, there are no boundaries of colour or creed.
The Malaysian tongue is Malay and English a strong second, sometimes first among the upper middle-class and either a second or foreign language among the rest of society. Where food unites us, language divides us – not that we don’t understand English or Malay when spoken or written but the inability to use either language well becomes a sore point and often wielded as example of how patriotic or unpatriotic a Malaysian is. It is sad that a lack of basic Chinese and Tamil is acceptable and normal in a multiracial society like Malaysia. In countries like the USA (I know this wouldn’t be a popular example, but there are some things they do right), learning Spanish is considered important in order to communicate with Hispanics which make up a sizable number in certain states. We should use each other’s language interchangeably in order to feel more Malaysian perhaps even to become more Malaysian. When a foreigner learns the Malay language, we feel gratified. Imagine the goodwill we build when we learn the language our neighbours and friends speak. In that way too, we learn to be more tolerant of the struggle many go through to learn English when they regard it as a foreign language.
Religion is very much a part of being Malaysian and we have a age-old tradition for religious tolerance as exemplified by Unity Street in Melaka and festivals that we celebrate together. Nowadays though, religion is a touchy subject what with Article 11 being lobbed back and forth like a tennis ball by groups decrying its shortcomings or using it as a platform. The freedom to practise one’s religion is in our country is both a right and a privilege that is not common in every country of the world. The government walks a fine line between preserving the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims alike to practise what they believe in while ensuring that the integrity of the official religion of the country is not impugned in any way, whether by those with deviant beliefs or those who preach to Muslims. The strange thing about this issue is that for those who give fiery speeches about how fellow Muslims should treat apostates, do they ask themselves why do people leave Islam? How effective is our system whether at community, district, state or federal level in teaching born Muslims what Islam is all about? Do Muslim communities have a support system that extends outside the family that is able to help fellow Muslims whether they are lost or found, born Muslim , born again Muslims or new Muslims?
As Muslims, we are told to examine ourselves all the time (muhasabah) in order to learn and improve ourselves. In dealing with a potentially explosive and extremely thorny issue, have Muslims examined themselves especially how they treat those who are different or those who have strayed? How have they contributed to the well-being of others be it Muslim or non-Muslim?
Let us not even begin to look into the policies, the heavily theoretical religious education curriculum and the money spent on preaching to the converted. The persistent discriminatory slant against women in terms of policies and an over-emphasis on the ritualistic aspect of Islam over the spiritual understanding of its wisdom by certain parties have alienated many. Apostasy is a symptom, not the disease. Any doctor worth his or her salt will treat the patient’s disease as indicated by the symptom. As Malaysians, we should not allow anyone to politicise this potentially explosive issue to divide us. Instead we should draw upon our tradition of tolerance and learn from other Muslim communities all over the world how best to deal with individuals who have left the religion. That after all is what we do best, look at what others have done, study the research (in this case the Quran, Hadith and Sunnah) thoroughly and come up with our own approach.
We Malaysians whether we would like to admit it or nor share common universal and typically Asian values; filial piety, respect and deference to elders, close community and familial ties, integrity and compassion among others. When these values are eroded, our society weakens. Our youth lose direction and ambition, their parents forget to lead, our leaders espouse the obvious yet contribute by their inaction to the rot that is seeping through this country. It’s a malaise that saps our spirit and momentum to strive ahead. Short-term gains are preferred to long-term constructive policies that require thought and effort. Wisdom is in short supply.
Malaysians of vision, I salute you for having the strength and stamina to realise your dreams; whether it is a vision of a better life - financial independence, freedom to travel, a dream house ( the typical multi-level marketing dreams) for we live in a country that is peaceful and bountiful and dreams when backed by determination and sweat, more often than not, can come true. There are the sounds of either birds chirping or the ‘suratkhabar lama’ call to greet us when we wake up, depending upon whether you are an early bird or laze in bed type. Not the sound of gunfire and mortar or army boots outside your door, like what others have to live with. Our children grow up replete, fed on a diet of KFC, nasi lemak , entertained by their CN and sighing over endless tuition classes they dutifully go to. Classrooms without walls, queuing up for food and clean water amid the dust and drabness of a refugee camp, seeing friends and family shot and killed in front of their eyes is not their lot in life.
Adversity builds strength of character – so a cliché goes. Are we then to deprive our children or ourselves in order to build character? Malaysians have it easy, so easy that we forget to be polite and considerate to our nearest and dearest even much less strangers. We have to be reminded to be clean and hygienic, to take our children across the road ourselves, to be safe drivers, to be honest and not fleece unsuspecting tourists, to smile – We have to be reminded of the obvious through endless, expensive campaigns for we have forgotten how to be true Malaysians.
Who are they, this disappearing breed of True Malaysians?
The Malaysian women who 49 years ago thought nothing of giving away jewellery off their wrists to finance the trip to London to negotiate our independence.
The Chinese policeman who put his life on the line and more often than not paid for it with his life by working Special Branch during the Emergency
The Malay civil servants who struggled to build establish current national institutions and systems with very little resources, thought, wisdom and a whole lot of heart
The armed forces who ‘masuk hutan’ to keep our borders safe, risking and losing life and limb - unsung heroes who gave us the peace we enjoy today
The early leaders of all races, whether at national or grassroots level who fought to unite us through endless rallies, meetings, compromising ego and spending their own money to make people believe that Malaysia can exist, survive and flourish, even if we did not have the resources to produce a simple needle
The people who looked beyond race to save lives of neighbours, friends and strangers during that dark period of our nation’s history – 13 May 1969
The teachers who served in all circumstances whether small kampungs without running water and electricity, or estates with students of all ages in one class to educate the leaders of today
The list of true Malaysians is endless if we take from the past and present. If we are not careful, there may not be any left for the future for it seems they are an endangered species...
Let us take a good hard look at ourselves, our children, our family and friends. In this life that we lead courtesy of the Almighty, we ask ourselves what can we do to be a better person, a better Malaysian who can help move this country we love out of a turbulent yet indulgent adolescence into a responsible, nurturing adulthood (in country years). Selflessness, tolerance, integrity, strength and wisdom are components of the true Malaysian’s character. Let us build upon our strengths, rectify our flaws and stop being self-indulgent. We should remember our heroes past and present and nurture the minds, hearts and spirits of our youth for they will receive our legacy. Only when we have the clarity of vision and courage to make hard decisions, carry through and maintain the momentum of change, will we be able to be in the same league economically and socially with other countries within ASEAN borders and beyond. Let us not be remembered as a country that ‘could have been great if only…’
