Redeeming our Merdeka

It is up to us to make the dream of unity a reality for Malaysia.

COMMENT

By Thomas Fann

A dark cloud of oppression sits over our nation this Merdeka day. Instead of progressing in the pursuit of our founding father’s ideals of justice and liberty we are regressing, and at an alarming rate.

Since the conclusion of the hotly contested 13th General Election, we have seen a spike in racially and religiously provocative statements from politicians, NGOs and individuals.

Filled with hatred and bigotry, they threaten to tear apart our social fabric.

Instead of celebrating our diversity in culture, religion and language, their vision is one of being mono-ethnic, mono-religious and mono-lingual

Are we truly free from the shackles of suspicions, prejudices, intolerance and hatred after 57 years of Merdeka? My answer is a resounding NO!

We are still bound and if we don’t wrestle ourselves free, our future generations will live as slaves to hatred and bigotry in an environment of despotism, corruption and injustice.

IS THERE STILL HOPE?

Hope shines the brightest in the darkest moments so instead of hanging our heads down in despair, booing with anger or worse, being apathetic, we need to control the game and ensure a victorious result.

Judging from the performance of both teams of the political divide, we are heading for a no-win situation.

The leadership of Najib Razak has been at best directionless and at worst, absent.

When relationships in our communities were strained by extreme talks and actions, silence. When we needed statements that would unify, all we heard were more divisive statements.

If allowing this nation to be torn apart is the ruling coalition’s strategy of staying in power at all cost then we are doomed as a nation.

On the other side, the coalition that held so much promise and hope is disintegrating before our very eyes, not because of their opponents, but as a result of weaknesses among their own coalition partners.

It makes us wonder, if they cannot even agree on the Menteri Besar of a state, what hope is there of them agreeing on the Prime Minister of country.

We can see in the horizon bumpier and thornier issues they have to sort out like the hudud and seat increase/delineation issues.

Many who hoped for a functioning two-party/coalition system of government that holds each other in checks and balances, now see that we are in despair.

IT IS OUR CHOICE

I still choose to believe Malaysia is worth fighting for. This is the land our forefathers came and pitched their tents on and called home.

This is our home regardless of what some may say and God willing, this will remain the home of our children and their children for generations to come.

I still believe the majority of Malaysians deep down in their hearts are decent, honest, peace-loving and want to live in mutual respect and in harmony with each other.

We do not hear much of their voices in the readership-driven alternative media as the sensational and provocative that constitute bad news, sells better.

Unless the media begins to take responsibility for its role in nation-building and gives equal weightage to all voices, be it extreme or moderate, the extremists will succeed in sowing the seeds of suspicion and hatred among the people.

We need more moderate Malaysians to speak up, loud and clear.

We can make a difference in our daily lives if we consciously choose to repair broken bridges. It is up to us to find opportunities to make those all-important connections.

You’d be surprised that many are not much different from us. Malaysians untainted by bigotry, are a wonderfully gracious lot. It takes effort to know each other but it’s worth it.

We need to take ownership of our nation and start seeing the government and their agencies as servants, elected and appointed to serve us, the citizens.

We need to actively engage with our elected officials and hold them accountable for the promises made during elections.

YB should stand for Yang Berkhidmat and only after they have served us properly, should they be called Yang Berhormat.

If you want to do more to restore hope and make a difference, start organising or join small citizen groups to foster neighbourliness that transcends race and religion.

Reach out to the less fortunate together and unite for safety and security in your area.

You will be amazed what a small group of people with diverse backgrounds and skills can achieve when they are united by a common vision and shared values for a better Malaysia.

There will be those who can lead and mobilise, those who can support and give, and those who can contribute ideas.

Alone, not much can be done but when we come together, nothing is impossible.

We must not allow circumstances to drag us into despair. Change comes from within, from the little steps we take towards it, from teaming up with others who share the same dream and from being courageous.

Let not the speeches of our founding father on Merdeka Day 57 years ago be empty rhetoric.

Let not others determine our future but let us be captains of our soul and our destiny.

Let us avail ourselves and redeem our Merdeka.