Merdeka is when the mind is liberated

 

After 66 years of Merdeka, how united are we Malaysians? We had a common adversary in 1957 – the British. Just over a decade after Merdeka, we were again “colonised”. This time it was Umno and, later on, Umno-Baru.

To get ahead in the dog-eat-dog world of politics, race was first used to divide the nation. Later on, religion was added to give the segregation more meaning and momentum.

So, if we want a successful integration of the many races in this country, we have to address this topic head-on. Communication is the way to move forward. Do it now, and do not wait till a major setback in race relations, in one form or another, occurs.

Children are born without knowing the difference between race, religion or colour of skin. It is adults like us, with our prejudices and beliefs, who help shape our children to adjust to the multicultural world.

The older generation appeared to be more tolerant and more integrated. Having gained their independence, they strived to keep the spirit of Merdeka alive; the spirit of oneness prevailed.
For example, those who grew up in the 60s and 70s will have fond memories of sharing their food, during school break time, with friends from other races. On different days of the week, children would sample home cooking in a nice congenial atmosphere.

Fast forward to today, and you will find that children who choose to do the same are not only admonished by their teachers but also by their parents.

In the years after Merdeka, when the nation attained success, we tried to outdo each other by stressing the greatness of our own race. By virtue of our own success, we were breaking the bonds that tied us together, and continually harped on how the other race has benefited from what we perceive to be an unfair advantage.

What if we were to treat this moment in time to be our Ground Zero? What if we were to start from Square One, right now?

The Malays will have to prove that they have not become complacent from the New Economic Policy. They have to show that they have ditched their sense of entitlement and not be totally dependent on handouts.

The Chinese and the Indians will also have to do the same to counteract their various hang-ups.

Sometimes, we can understand each other better only when we become self-critical.

Many Malays acknowledge that other races are unfairly treated because of the various policies in existence. Shamefully, some still consider it their birthright that things are indeed served up to them on a silver platter.

As individuals, we can strive harder to attain mutual racial harmony. The initial moves should be made at home, in our schools, and in our community.

Wouldn’t it be nice to discover that your neighbour from a different race actually has more in common with you than you previously thought?

The Malay shares the same anxieties about health, security, their children’s education, old age, and issues such as the cost of living, just as much as his Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli or Orang Asal neighbour.

Education is a great leveller of people. In schools, many parents question the wisdom of having agama lessons for Malay children and excluding them from civics/moral lessons.

Are non-Malay children the only ones who need civics/moral lessons? Are Malay children so morally conscious that they have no need for these lessons?

The proposed introduction of the Hadith 40 module for Muslim students will exacerbate the segregation of Muslim from non-Muslim children. This is not conducive to unity and integration.

Wouldn’t it be nice if a new subject was included in the curriculum called “Religious Knowledge” whereby all the children could study the major religions of the world? Very few Malaysian children are aware of how people of other faiths live.

In this small and volatile world of ours, it is one measure of how we can create peace, tolerance and understanding among all the major races and religions.

We will only be able to achieve true Merdeka once we free our minds from their mental cage. - FMT

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