Live and let live
The one thing that is lacking in the concept of 1 Malaysia is the fact that we should be one people without preferential treatment or bias, regardless of our beliefs, our politics, our race and even our gender and sexual orientation.
When it comes to the good of the nation (read: not the government), these should all be minor issues. Yet, not all of us see it as such. Some are pushing for a more conservative, religious state, to the point that colouring books must be “syariah compliant”.
I’ll let you all simmer on that idea for a while.
Others, such as myself, want to liberalise basically anything I can get my hands on, from sexual rights to religious conversion, to the media and perhaps later a push for the use of medicinal marijuana.
Some may want the total repeal of the Internal Security Act, I want it amended into an anti-terrorist act, with a detainment period of a maximum of 6 hours. Something Norway is already practicing.
I want the repeal of Penal Code 377, or at least an amendment that allows a person the right to privacy, much to the cringing and disgusted looks from the religious conservatives. However, there are those that simply come up with what I call the “botox smile”.
So while I want to basically mind my own business, there are some who think that I shouldn’t be allowed to do that behind close doors.
Therein lies the biggest roadblock in 1 Malaysia; the inability to live and let live.
Propaganda
I honestly don’t understand our Prime Minister, who is also the President of Umno.
If he is so gung ho to actually want a united nation regardless of race and religion at least, the why would he allow his party to campaign on racial grounds?
In the recent by-election of Permatang Pasir, Umno basically used two very visible issues in their campaign; who is more Malay, and who is more Muslim.
They lost the election, and their loser candidate basically blamed the loss on the fact that the Chinese didn’t give the support they had pledged to Umno.
Here’s the thing.
When you have your leaders branding the Chinese as “pendatangs” both in speeches and in the party owned newspaper, and then state that they had used the Malays as puppets in an anti-ISA rally because the “Chinese were not visibly taking part”, did you honestly think that the Chinese and Indians within the community wouldn’t feel a smidgeon of offence to all that?
Therein lies the second roadblock in 1 Malaysia; racist pride, propaganda and prejudice.
My 1 Malaysia
I think this nation is big enough for everyone, perhaps even big enough for the next few generations as well.
However, the fact remains that there are those who think they are saving our souls and that justifies the loss of liberty and perhaps even diversity. And by doing so, sure, you are heading towards a 1 Malaysia as well.
One that is monotonous, automatic, autocratic, authoritarian and inhumane.
And sadly, I think Malaysia is already halfway there. We are a nation in which minorities are not only frowned upon, but abused, ridiculed and perhaps even threatened with violence on some accounts.
We are a nation where intellectual discourse on sensitive matters is not only frowned upon, but protested against and even politically influenced.
Malaysians have to understand a simple fact. We are a diverse nation in terms of politics, beliefs, race, gender and sexual orientation. And we have to accept that with an open heart, if not more with an open mind.
Until Malaysians can basically tone down their over-reactionary cow head dragging fervour and discuss issues rationally, we will not see a diverse 1 Malaysia led by mutual understanding, but merely one that is cowed by fear of confrontation.
Conclusion
Let’s face facts. You’re not happy with me being who I am and what I am. Similarly, I may not agree with all of you being either religious conservatives, but you know what?
That’s just diversity.
And by having open discussions and disagreements, even if it is via a Facebook note, it’s meaningful and encourages a more open mind amongst Malaysians to accept diversity instead of shunning it.
And that is my 1 Malaysia concept, a nation that embraces everyone, to live and let live regardless of their differences, their lacking in each others individual eyes, yet the acceptance of the diversity of Malaysians.
Hopefully I’ll live to see that become a reality.
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