JULY 16 — Dear rakyat Malaysia,

I would like to offer you my deepest congratulations and respect from the bottom of my heart. In countless ways, 709 is a significant point for you, for me and, most importantly, for our beloved country.  What I saw from you on July 9 can be summarised in three words — justice, diversity and unity.

Justice

[Mass noun] just behaviour or treatment

• The quality of being fair and reasonable

• The administration of the law or authority in maintaining this

Rakyat, you walked for justice even on a day when justice seemed to be non-existent. You and I walked for electoral reforms — fundamental reforms that would affect our children and us.

I was not sure what to expect when I stepped out of my house to make my way to the city. All I knew was that I would walk because I believed in justice.

There was an air of trepidation that surrounded me as I tried to hail a cab from Jalan Damansara. I was an hour late. The roads were empty. Was I that late? Where was everyone?

Eventually I got a ride to the Bangsar LRT station where I found out that the main stations to KL were shut. I walked past a policeman. I said “Selamat tengahari.” He replied me with a smile and a nod. 

I reached the Kampung Baru station, and hailed another cab, driven by an upbeat Malay man with a white stubbly beard. I was his first customer.  He agreed to drop me at KLCC. 

I asked his opinion on justice in the country. His crisp reply was: “We only can hope for the best.” A short sentence, but packed with meaning. He had hope that change would happen.

Before I knew it, we hit a massive crowd at Jalan Ampang.

Diversity

[Mass noun] the state of being diverse

• A range of different things

Diverse

[adjective] showing a great deal of variety; very different

I paid my fare and thanked the taxi driver.  He told me to be safe and I told him to drive carefully.  

I stared at the sight before me. Never in my life had I seen a crowd of such proportions. Rakyat, you were a sight to behold. Before me was a massive sea of people. I let the experience sink in for a few moments before I too became part of that sea.

As I walked along Jalan Ampang towards KLCC together with thousands of others I realised that never in my life have I been in a crowd of such diversity. I walked next to a group of Malay men who were enthusiastically shouting “Hidup Rakyat!”

In front of me was a Chinese couple who looked like they just got out from a gym session. At my side were two Indian men endlessly talking in Tamil. We walked past stationary buses with their drivers at the wheel.

The drivers showed us peace signs and gave us the thumbs up. I met a man from Kedah, Pak Salim. He told me that he paid for an overnight train ticket to KL on his own initiative. His wife and kids were praying for his safety.

I continued walking.

I passed by a woman in a wheelchair. I walked past children. I walked alongside the elderly. This was truly a Malaysian experience. No matter young or old, Malay, Chinese or Indian, all of us were walking in unison.

As I made progress towards KLCC, a new feeling stirred in me. I was now walking alongside an incredible mass of people from diverse backgrounds and together, we were walking for justice. 

Unity

[Mass noun] the state of being united or joined as a whole

• The state of forming a complete and harmonious whole

• A thing forming a complex whole

We finally reached KLCC.  The twin towers loomed in the cloudy grey skyline. It was a break of sorts. People drank water and sat on the pavements. Shouts of “Hidup Rakyat, Hidup Bersih!” consistently rang out loud and clear.

I made friends with a couple from the UK who were taking pictures, and asked them if they knew what we were walking for. They knew. They commended the rakyat for being united and having the courage to walk for what we believed in.

And then we sang the “Negaraku”.

When the chorus of the rakyat rose in unison to sing the “Negaraku”, the hair on my arms started to tingle. I found myself joining the loud chorus of the rakyat singing our national anthem with such joy and pride. This is Malaysia. I glanced to my left — my Punjabi brother was singing his heart out. To my right, a group of Malay sisters in their headscarves were holding hands and singing.

Poignant. Proud.

Rakyat Malaysia,

You suffered much during the events of 709.  There are many videos on YouTube that would testify to that. There are many personal accounts that detail accounts with tear gas and water cannons.

You have earned my utmost respect and you have done a service to the nation and for the future generation. You have gotten your message across locally and also internationally. You have been successful in your cause.

However, rakyat, perhaps as importantly, you have touched lives. I was humbled to meet so many different people who loved Malaysia and who loved justice. You made me proud to call myself a Malaysian. 

That Saturday afternoon, I walked out of my house to only walk for justice.

Little did I know that by Saturday evening, I would be walking for justice with a crowd so diverse in background, but so united in their love for our country.

* All definitions are from the Oxford Dictionary.