Malaysia-52 years of independence
My reflection by Lintang Bob Yong
I asked a school boy aged 12 of what he understood by the term “1 Malaysia”. He answered that all Malaysians are the same. What he meant was all Malaysians are equal. I asked the same question to a man in the street. He replied that in his opinion, 1 means 1; there is no other equivalence he could think of. When asked to elaborate, he explained that 1 means any one can be the prime minister of our country.
A lot has been said and written on unity, royalty, equality, justice and fairness, integration of ethnic groups, co-existence and live in harmony and peace, religions tolerance, embrace cultural differences and of late, abolition of the need to state racial identity. It is not my intention to elaborate on these subject matters in this article.
Indeed, 1 means 1 and I find it hard to accept that 1 can mean 2 or 3 and any other descriptions the politicians are saying now. “Tear the walls down” by all means, but this must be done by all Malaysians who believe in the true sense of “1 Malaysia”. Perhaps, the most appropriate interpretation of “1 Malaysia” is the theme song featured in the film of the 3 musketeers which is “one for all and all for love”. Is this what we wish to believe? If so, I give my full support and Pledge of Allegiance to Malaysia.
In a war, soldiers died for their countries and more often than not, army generals would also perish with the soldiers. This kind of honorable act and leadership by example is diminishing fast in modern society. When Malaysians go hungry, will our leaders prepare to go hungry too? If they do, then this “1 Malaysia” concept must be promoted with all cost.
Our Federal Constitution is the guiding light and no matter which political party governs our beloved country, one must bear in mind that all Malaysians accept Malaysia as their country and have pledged their loyalty to the King and Country. Why then the Malaysian minority are treated differently in many aspects of their lives?
Tell me why.
