Tolerance and acceptance of each other’s religion and belief

After nearly 60 years of independence, we expect Malaysians to be tolerant and accept the differences of race, religion and culture. Unfortunately, the incident of protest over a Christian cross in Taman Medan shows that religious bigotry and extremism is still thriving, even among the more educated and the so-called well-connected personality.

It is prevalent to hear people championing in the name of protecting their own religion but at the same time infringes the freedom and rights of others. What is worrying for all Malaysians is that such incidents are getting more frequent. It is common to blame our education system, our politicians and the government of the day for the ills that besets Malaysia. The reality of it is that we even find religious and racial extremists among the more educated Malaysians.

The racial and religious harmony that we enjoy now is fragile. All we need is a small spark before it flares out. However, a lot of Malaysians are behaving like the proverbial ostrich burying its head in the deep sand hoping that the wind will blow away our problem.

The silent majority must now wake up to face reality. They must let their voices be heard and their numbers to be counted. The silent majority rejects racial and religious extremism. Everyone regardless of race or religion should has a stake in this country.

If my religious conviction can be threatened by the sight or symbol of another religion, that something is very wrong with my religious conviction. It is obvious that my religious conviction is not grounded on knowledge and understanding but more on the emotion that is placed to the gallery.

The time has come that firm action should be taken against the protesters in Taman Medan. Failure to do so will empower the religion extremists to continue their religious crusade that will hijack the peace, harmony and prosperity that we enjoy.

We have to accept that Malaysia is a multi-religious, multiracial and multicultural country. We not only tolerate, but have to accept the unique differences that exists between fellow Malaysians. The sooner we come to term with these realities, then only peace, prosperity and high income economy will not be an elusive goal.

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包容及接受彼此之间的宗教和信仰 

独立近60年后，我们都期望马来西亚人都能互相容忍，接受我们之间不同的种族，宗教和文化。不幸的是，美丹花园发生的抗议教堂十字架风波，显示宗教偏执和极端主义仍然横行，甚至出现在受高深教育和所谓的有广泛联系的人身上。

我们往往看到，有些人以宗教之名疾呼捍卫他们的宗教，可是却同时在侵犯他人的自由和权利。让我们感到担忧的是，这种情况是越来越普遍。当然最容易的是把这发生的一切，怪罪在是我们的教育制度，我们的政治人物和我们的现任政府造成的。一个不容否认的事实，我们发现连受高深教育的大马人，竟然是宗教和种族极端分子。

我们现在享有的种族和宗教和谐，其实是非常的脆弱，只要是一点点星火，就足以燎原。悲哀的是，还有许多的大马人像把头插入泥土里的鸵鸟，祈望着一阵风就能把问题吹的无影无踪。

沉默的大多数马来西亚人，现在是时候挺身而出面对事实。他们必须发出让人听到的声音，而且也必须让人知道他们是不在少数。沉默的大多数是拒绝种族和宗教极端主义。每个大马人无论他们的种族和宗教背景，他们都是这个国家的一分子。

想想如果我的宗教信仰，竟然会因看到另一个宗教或其标志而受到威胁，那么我的宗教信仰似乎出了问题。因为这凸显我的信仰并不是根植在宗教知识和了解，相反的是基于情绪作祟。

如今已是时候不惜采取严厉的行动，来对付美丹花园的抗议者。否则的话，这将使宗教极端分子肆无忌惮的进行他们的宗教战争，结局是我们享有的和平、和谐及繁荣将付诸东流。

我们必须接受马来西亚是一个多元宗教、多元种族和多元文化的国家。我们不只是包容，我们更必须接受大马各族人民之间的差异和不同。只有在我们能更快的领悟这些事实，那么我们的和平、繁荣及高收入经济体的愿景才不会落空。

Merdeka in a Multiracial, Multicultural and Multi-religious Malaysia

We are happy that all Malaysians celebrated 57^th anniversary of Merdeka. Looking back, we have done well especially in physical and economic development. One must admit that it is not easy to govern a multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious country like ours. It is a fine-balancing act of catering to the needs and sensitivities of all races. Unfortunately, not many Malaysians are aware of this or only pay lip services. Hence, race and religion continue to be a hot topic. It is unfortunate that often such extreme views are given a lot of space in media. Hence, it is a bad news of race and religion that seems to get all the unwanted prominence.

All Malaysians must accept the fact that we are entitled to our own freedom of expression, our thoughts and opinions but once this infringes the right of another individual, then we are actually crossing the boundaries of freedom of expression. Anti-Malay, anti-Chinese bashing or any form of religious bias should be history and not a daily-stapled diet of any rightful minded Malaysian.

The economic transformation program launched by the Prime Minister seems to bear fruits. From 2010 to 2014, Malaysia has achieved better economic growth than most other Asean countries. One must not be lured into complacency as Indonesia and the Phillipines are fast catching up with Malaysia. Economic growth must also generate employment, equal distribution of wealth, reducing the income gap between the rich and the poor without sacrificing the environment. While we welcome FDI, Malaysia should continue the policy of economic liberalization, coupled with training of more talents and reducing talent leakage.

We should continue to attract investment that has multiplier effect so that all Malaysians will have a feel good factor. Political, racial and religious rhetoric and tension at times will not help our attempt to attract FDI and also in retaining talents. Of greater concern is the education system where the standards of English, Maths and Science seems to go downhill. While we may be aware of it, but we lack the political will to relook at the whole education system. The standard of education system has not tallied with the nation’s growth.

PR’s Political Circus in Selangor

There is no clear light at the end of the dark political tunnel of intrigue by the PR Government.  Whatever the outcome of this infighting and political maneuvering may be, PR has definitely lost its moral high ground and the rakyat in Selangor will be the loser. One must not forget in the 308 general election, rakyat supported PR in the belief that they will bring in an era of new politics with fresh faces, more rakyat friendly, less political infighting, less corruption, more transparency and accountability.  On this basis, they were given a ringing endorsement in the 308 general election. Came the 505 general election, the rakyat reaffirmed these endorsements and they won big. While they do not form the central government, they still enjoyed more popular support than BN government.

One year is a long time in politics to see the true colours of politicians. PR has definitely lost the moral high ground when they first came in. We don’t smell fresh air but we smell the stinking political infighting within and between the three PR parties. They have pulled all strings at their disposal just to sack Khalid and install Wan Azizah as the Selangor MB. DAP used to laugh and mock MCA for leaders who are old as compared to DAP where they have young, intelligent, full of ideas and new faces. But when it comes to their own political expediency and survivor, they have thrown all the so-called virtues that they have advocated into the polluted Klang river to support Wan Azizah as the MB.

This is nothing personal against Dr. Wan Azizah. In fact, I admire her for her patience, humility and dedication towards Anwar. But running a fast developing state like Selangor where even a seasoned politican does not last, we are expecting too much from Wan Azizah to perform rather than just be a figurehead puppet. The man behind the throne is obviously the husband. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand this.

So far, only a small section of Selangor rakyat are disillusioned with PR. After all, they felt that the fight for power is common among politician. They have forgotten that when they voted for PR, they were voting for a better alternative than BN. But alas, they voted in a pack of politicians lusting for power and who are willing to sacrifice their principles of which they have shouted for so long. Hence, we cannot blame the rakyat for not trusting politicians. They realised that some politicians have bifurcation of the tongue with split personality. It’s a threatened species of politicians who are willing to go when the time comes without much funfair. Meanwhile, we continue to witness this political circus being enacted in front of us. Don’t be surprise the winner of the day may be Azmin Ali.

Middle path for Malaysia

It is commendable that Star has launched a campaign to promote moderation in a multiracial and multi-religious country Malaysia. After the 308 political tsunami, race and religion became the staple diet of the Malaysia social political landscape. This has obviously raised the political temperature and tension in Malaysia. A lot of NGO, political leaders and religious bodies had jumped on the bandwagon to raise their profile and consolidate their position.

Unfortunately, after the 505 general election, the issue of race and religion has reached a boiling point. It is time to raise a red flag. Hence, the Star campaign  is timely and hopefully should create greater awareness that maintaining the peace and prosperity is the responsibility of all Malaysians. In the name of democracy, freedom of expression and transparency, leaders have thrown caution to the wind. In fact, it is a sad day for Malaysia that after 57 years of independence, all of us live in our own racial and religious silo. 

Maybe it is a dream to think of Malaysia living in the early 60s and 70s where race was never a consideration in our daily lives. Today, it does matter. Not only race, but religion. It is this growing intolerance of diversity in the multiracial country that cause alarm among us - the Allah issue, political leaders and NGOs advocating a single stream of education purportedly to promote unity are example of how the nation has not progressed despite our physical development.

In the 50s like many children at that time, I was sent to English school, the Batu Pahat High School. Even up to University days in University of Malaya, we never look at each other through the tainted lense of race or religion. We embrace each other and friends despite the differences in race, culture and religion and political inclination. We are the true 1 Malaysia. Even until today, the MU medical faculty year 1973 yearly reunion is a multiracial turnout of doctors who have passed their prime of life.

This new phenomenal of intolerance among Malaysians is a reflection of a small section of Malaysian leaders who are unable to accept that Malaysia is a multiracial country with diversity of race and religion. It is these intolerance and difficulty to accept the diversities that caused race and religion to be a permanent feature in our daily life. Maybe peninsula Malaysia should look out to Sabah and Sarawak to understand the degree of tolerance and acceptance. There’s no denial that Sabah and Sarawak has greater level of acceptance of race, religion, languages and culture.

All level-headed Malaysians should stand up to be counter that they want to see Malaysians irrespective of race and religion pursuing a middle path. There is no loser. Everybody is a winner. Everybody’s voice will be heard. There is no need to threaten your fellow Malaysians just because his views, race and religion is not in tandem with yours. There is no need to label anybody as pendatang or intruders and there is no need to stroke the fire of hatred by threatening to burn religious books of prayer. One must not forget that for every action, there must be reaction. Hope Star campaign will achieve its desired result. We are all Malaysians, we should always be sensitive that we have a role to play to maintain the peace and harmony in this beautiful country of ours.