Emulate the spirit of social cohesion of Sabah and Sarawak

From M Santhananaban

Warmest greetings and best wishes for the 61st anniversary of the formation of Malaysia.

The formation of Malaysia in September 1963 was of epochal significance, as the original Federation of Malaya became part of a significantly larger territorial land mass.

Although the bulk of the population of the new political entity resided in the peninsula, Malaysia gained well-recognised status as a nation of greater presence and prominence, with pronounced pluralism.

It was the harmony, high-mindedness, and remarkable respect for the leadership of our first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, that enabled the young Malayan nation to evolve into something grander – a viable, diverse, and relatively vast agglomeration with significantly expanded resources.

It was a peaceful progression that gave the nation gravitas, a greater personality, vitality and visibility on what is now one of the world’s most important international waterways.

We have acquired an unobtrusive yet strategic and unique presence, but our full potential has yet to be realised.

It must be acknowledged that the sovereign nations of Brunei and Singapore – the latter after just 23 months of participation in the grand Malaysia experiment – have achieved spectacular stability, growth, and relatively astounding per capita incomes.

Malaysia, for its part, has maintained peace and stability while achieving impressive progress in education, health, infrastructure, rural development, and poverty eradication.

However, in the area of social cohesion and understanding, Sabah and Sarawak remain somewhat free of the problems that plague the peninsula.

The spirit of acceptance, harmony, abiding amity, forgiveness, mutual respect, unity, and understanding that exists within the communities of Sabah and Sarawak is particularly exceptional and commendable.

In contrast, the peninsula, once a hallmark of peace and understanding during Tunku’s era, has evolved into a dubious domain of distrust and division, with pockets of extremism and a relentless attempt by certain quarters to dictate, dominate, and divide.

Voices advocating for moderation, mutual respect and temperance are being sidelined by politicians agitating for power and influence.

Explosive ethnic issues and extremism in religious interpretations seem to undermine any reasonable hope for inclusiveness, integration, and increased mutual trust.

Leaders who embodied the inclusive governance culture of Tunku, Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, Hussein Onn, Fuad Stephens, Khir Johari, Adenan Satem, and even Rafidah Aziz, have become a rarity.

The course that we should emulate is that path set by these leaders and the communities of Sabah and Sarawak. The peninsula must regain the moral high ground it had demonstrated in Malaysia’s early days with leaders of integrity, inclusiveness, moderation and accommodation.

Malaysia has to go back to reinventing itself to provide a respectable place for all Malaysians regardless of their origin and overly obsessive partialities. We cannot afford to waste time and energy quibbling and quarrelling about the love and loyalty our people have for the nation in a very competitive regional and international environment.

Any attempt to intimidate or injure the feelings of any particular culture, and insinuate that someone is less than Malaysian must be stopped.

The government must concentrate on strengthening national unity, trust, and understanding, and focus on those key educational and economic priorities that will enable us to be a redoubtable, resilient, and respected nation. - FMT

M Santhananaban is a former diplomat and an FMT reader.

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