AUG 30 — Tonight, as is tradition, the prime minister will issue his Merdeka greetings wishing peace and prosperity for a country blessed with diverse races and natural resources.
With the Malaysian flag beside him, Datuk Seri Najib Razak will likely sketch his dream of 1 Malaysia and his vision of a country that will — due to the hard work of his multi-racial administration —rebound from racial and religious conflicts as well as the recession.
On the streets of Shah Alam, and perhaps elsewhere in the country, not many share his optimism. For if one was to read comments from residents of Shah Alam’s Section 23 who are against a Hindu temple in their midst, then Najib’s 1 Malaysia is already still-born.
The son of the country’s second prime minister has his hands full in turning his dream into reality.
His father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein had the arduous and difficult task of healing a nation torn asunder by race riots 12 years after Merdeka. Razak succeeded to some extent but cracks are beginning to appear, ironically when his son is the prime minister.
Now 52 years after Merdeka and 40 years after the May 13 riots, Najib has argued that under his 1 Malaysia concept, Malaysians will go beyond tolerance of each other, towards acceptance. And mutual respect.
The fact is we have not even reached a satisfactory level of tolerance.
Taman Ixora in Section 23, Shah Alam is an example of that.
It’s not like the state government is building a nuclear reactor, leper centre, or sewage collection plant in the neighbourhood.
It’s a temple, a house of worship just like a mosque or a church. Hindus do believe in the Almighty and also need a place to worship. The 150-year-old Sri Mahamariamman temple in Section 19 is testimony to their faith.
What harm would it do to the good God-fearing people of Taman Ixora if the temple was relocated there? Would their faith be any lesser? Would the Muslim faithful turn Hindu?
What do they fear apart from traffic congestion, a necessary evil wrought by the pious of all faiths, from Friday to Sunday, anywhere in the world.
Can they be as tolerant as their Muslim leaders, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and their Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, and find a solution even if it is for the believers of another religion?
All said and done, both the Khalids may have their faults but they are both standing up for a principle which the early leaders of Umno also did — a country for all.
On the eve of another Merdeka, at least they and a few others remember the reasons Malaysia became independent and Najib’s vision of 1 Malaysia.
Unless the majority have become intolerant and shred 1 Malaysia.
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
