To know Keluarga Malaysia, come to Sabah and Sarawak

 

From Clement Stanley

It is good to have the prime minister present in Sabah as the state celebrates the harvest festival. It was even better to hear him say that Sabah is a true reflection of the concept of “Keluarga Malaysia”.

There are reasons for that, and it has nothing to do with the events leading to the Malaysia Agreement of 1963, although there are some who would like us to believe otherwise.

In truth, we Sabahans were already living in harmony long before Sept 16, 1963.

We were made up of a family of sorts and there was no intent whatsoever of any one community wanting to dominate another and reign supreme. There was no one interested in playing the race or religion card.

We simply accepted people for who they were and what they represented. We respected their religious beliefs and customs . When we got together for festivities, we observed their practices and went along with it.

Not all of us spoke the same language but you didn’t need to; the silent respect you afforded others did it for you, and if you really did not understand what was being said, rest assured that there would always be someone to explain.

We were and are a family because we remain simple folk living a simple life. There is no display of unimaginable wealth nor displays of opulence seen these days being flaunted on social media, thereby driving wedges deeper and deeper between the “haves and the “have nots”.

How do you think Sabahans and Sarawakians feel when we read of a helicopter being sent to pick up 36 packets of nasi kandar from Ipoh while our teachers trudge 18 miles and stay overnight in a kampung before reaching the school where they teach?

How do you think we feel when a UiTM student flies first class on Emirate Airlines, flaunting her wealth while primary students in Sabah cross over a raging river on a zip line just to attend classes?

Can we ever be part of a “Keluarga Malaysia” when such extremes are there for all to see?

In Sabah and Sarawak, we don’t have time for extremists or extremism. No one goes around calling for the burning of the Bible nor do we display the head of a cow which is sacred to the Hindus at any gate.

When there is massive flooding in our state, we accept that as a force of nature. Yes, we do say that a poor system of drainage contributes to the situation but we would never say that this is God’s wrath for having a beer factory in our midst.

Keluarga Malaysia will only work if East Malaysians are given the opportunity to cross the South China Sea and build on the concept of “we are one family”.

But how do you expect Sabahans to pursue such dreams when air fares are simply exorbitant, and when Sabahans can hardly afford to travel from a remote place like Pitas to Kota Kinabalu.

Others can travel the length and breadth of the Peninsula in comfort on highways while we struggle to get produce to the “tamu” because of the condition of the roads – potholes, muddy trenches, uneven roads, and broken-down bridges.

And the same with Internet connectivity.

Keluarga Malaysia? How can that ever be when the scale favours only one side? For us to feel like we belong to Keluarga Malaysia, just provide Sabah and Sarawak the same facilities that other Malaysians enjoy over there.

If politicians really want to experience Keluarga Malaysia in Sabah and Sarawak, then they have to live here and understand the hardships that kampung folk have to endure.

We are who we are, united as one because we do not believe in the concept of Ketuanan Kadazandusun or Ketuanan Iban. We do not see the need to lord it over others. To each his own.

But if one continues to insist that it is their birthright to be lords and masters over all others, then they might as well coin a new slogan.

Keluarga Malaysia has been in existence for a long time. It is just across the South China Sea. - FMT 

Clement Stanley is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT