A painful, ugly end to 2018

IT is with relief and sadness that 2018 comes to an end. This must be one of the most intense years Malaysians have lived through in the country’s existence.

We were on an emotional rollercoaster. First, we made history with GE14. But after that extreme euphoria, it was shock after shock as the tight secrecy strings wrapped around the 1MDB scandal by the previous government were rapidly loosened.

We were further gobsmacked by the insane quantity of luxury goods and cash uncovered in the residences of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and family by the police and alleged corrupt antics of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, ex-ministers and GLC bosses.

The new government had very little good news, repeatedly warning that too much public funds had been squandered and that the rakyat should be understanding and brace for tough times.

On top of that, in trying to reboot and re-negotiate ridiculously expensive, one-sided deals, we seemed to be at odds with China and Singapore. The US-China trade war and overall turbulent world economy certainly added to our woes, too. Thousands of people lost their jobs as companies announced layoffs and retrenchments.

Apart from GE14, I seriously cannot think of any other national-level happy happenings this year. On a personal level, it has been a difficult year because I saw almost all my long-time colleagues, many who are friends, leaving the company, either by taking the mutual separation scheme offer or early retirement.

Even my boss, Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, has retired although he will still be around in an advisory capacity. It will be my turn to go next year and I have to mentally and emotionally prepare myself for my departure from a company I have worked at all my adult life.

So it is with relief and sadness I bid adieu to a most tumultuous 2018. But what really grieves me is how the year has to end on such a tragic note – the death of a fine young man at the hands of troublemakers.

Fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, 24, shouldn’t have died the way he did. Indeed, a fireman’s job comes with high risk: it is physically demanding and requires great mental strength and courage to face dangerous situations from which most people will run away. It is one of those fearsome occupations that require its practitioners to be ready to sacrifice their lives to protect and rescue others.

That’s why it is so painful to know that Adib died three weeks later from injuries inflicted by a rabid mob who set fire to vehicles and were out to create chaos near the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya on Nov 26.The police said he was dragged out of his vehicle and beaten up, causing him to suffer several broken ribs and multiple organ injuries.

Even though he was so severely hurt, we assumed he was on the mend. So it was so unexpected that he breathed his last on Dec 17. Many wept; so did I, for a brave and decent man who was the same age as my son.

That’s why his perpetrators must be brought to justice and that’s why that person who posted a supremely insensitive comment on Facebook deserved what she got.

In support of freedom of expression, many felt she should not have been fired from her job, and also because she subsequently apologised. After all, they argue, she made her comment on her own FB account and not her company’s.

Personal FB account, my foot! If a person pens venomous, ugly thoughts in a diary that is then kept under lock and key, that’s personal. But not when it’s on social media and it’s meant for others to see and share.

How she could say such a spiteful thing is indeed a reflection of how deep our inter-racial animosity is.

Perhaps she grew up resenting the pro-bumiputra, affirmative policies. Perhaps she is sickened by the diatribes against non-Muslims and the denigration of other religions made by some politicians and Muslim preachers. And all this made her lose her mind momentarily. But that is still not a good excuse for her behaviour. It only brings her down to the same level as those nasty, toxic, divisive people.

More than ever, we need Thumper’s Rule in today’s cruel digital world. In Bambi, the classic Disney animated movie, after Thumper the young rabbit spoke rudely to Bambi, his mum reminds him of his dad’s advice and Thumper replies, “If you don’t have somethin’ nice to say, don’t say nuthin’ at all.”

As author Mickey Addison thoughtfully writes: “It’s easy in the heat of the moment and particularly online to be more direct and verbally aggressive than we would’ve been otherwise. It’s particularly easy when the interface between you and another person is a computer screen that you take with you everywhere (like your phone or tablet).”

He goes on to quote his own dad’s wise advice: Taking the coat off someone else’s back doesn’t make mine any warmer, adding, “He means, tearing others down doesn’t build us up – it actually brings all of us down together.”

Addison believes “very, very few of us enjoy being mean or nasty. There are a few people out there who seem to thrive on the pain and embarrassment of others, but most people really don’t like confrontation or meanness.”

He adds that there is better way: “Don’t curse the darkness, light a candle” instead.

Ditto to that. So if we don’t want the darkness to grow and engulf us in 2019; if we wish to see better times, let’s light candles – real and virtual – of positivity and stand for peace on earth and show goodwill to our fellow human beings.

Rest in peace, Adib.- Star