Win or lose, respect and tolerance should always triumph

Bernama pic

Like thousands of other Sabahans, I am concerned about the present volatile situation in Peninsular Malaysia.

This surely is not the country that the political leaders in Sabah and Sarawak envisaged when both Bornean states signed the Malaysia Agreement in 1963. We were told that our future interest would be taken care of and that by being a part of this great nation, we would be protected from external threats.

But no one told us about the internal threats from within.

Neither Bornean state was affected by the events of May 13, 1969. There was and still is no need to wonder why. Quite simply, it boils down to two major reasons: tolerance and respect.

If you have never experienced life in Sabah and Sarawak, you might find it both fascinating and refreshing. You might wonder how people of such diversity can live in peace and harmony. You might wonder why the many parts of this harmonious society can co-exist as one, why race and religion takes a back seat or why whatever political manoeuvres or strategies used by warring political parties have no effect on the way people view each other in these two states.

No one plays the race and religion card in Sabah and Sarawak. Sure, attempts are made from time to time because some have seen the success and rewards of such tactics across the South China Sea. But try as you may, Sabahans and Sarawakians will never fall for that bait. They haven’t done that in the past, and I hope they won’t do it in the future. It is a lot easier to reject such political manoeuvres and show these politicians the door.

Over on the other side, playing the race and religion card is apparently the way to go. But who are the victims? They are none other than the ordinary folk who are pawns used by politicians for their own selfish reasons to achieve personal agendas.

The ICERD should be a closed case and put to rest now that Putrajaya has said loud and clear that the government will not ratify it. If that is a victory of sorts for Umno, PAS and a couple of NGOs, so be it. You have achieved your goals. What more do you want? Why continue with an illogical and volatile gathering on Dec 8?

The government and Dr Mahathir Mohamad should not be ridiculed either or put to the sword just because it has looked at the bigger picture, considered the consequences and decided that it is in the best interest of the nation to drop this sensitive issue and live in peace and harmony.

If there are critics who believe that the government should not have succumbed to such a volatile situation, it is your right to make your feelings known five years down the road at GE15. Not now. It isn’t going to benefit anyone.

For those who believe they have won a victory of sorts, it’s best you enjoy that victory behind closed doors in the comfort of your homes.

Show the rest of the world what tolerance means.

Then show your fellow Malaysians what respect really is all about.

Clement Stanley is an FMT reader.