What is the colour of Unity?

Friday, 27 August 2010 | Filed under Nation Building

This is the month of Merdeka - traditionally a ‘feel-good’ month for the nation when the national flag is proudly displayed from homes, shops and even on different modes of transport.

Everyone gets into the spirit of things - whatever their race, religion and mother tongue.

Everyone feels like one.

It is the month when we are treated to nostalgic scenes of Malaysia’s early years, of shouts of ‘Merdeka’ from the grainy black-white images. This is also only the time of year when advertising agencies feature a fair representation of all 3 races in their clients’ Merdeka messages.

But this year, the winds of unity are coloured by something less than palatable.

It’s an uneasy feeling - one that hangs heavy in the air. You can feel it, and it doesn’t feel good.

Divided we fall

This year we become 53. That’s half a century - a decent enough time to say one has matured and become wiser - at least in human years.

We have built this nation together.

We have done this by give and take.

We have learned not just to tolerate but celebrate our differences over the years.

We - who others like South Africa, and Bosnia who have been ravaged by violent race and religious apartheid - have looked to us as models of inter-racial and inter-religious harmony.

Yet, recent events threaten to break down all that we have worked so hard to build all these years.

We are not behaving as we have preached to countless others.

The race rhetoric in the country is increasingly shrill as the days go by…coloured by hateful words that should not have a place in the public sphere.

Constructive debate is good. Angry outbursts are not. 

Leaders are supposed to lead by example…but many are not.

Many continue to say hurtful things to others. Others stay quiet allowing the hurt to be perpetrated instead of doing what’s right.

The people are watching their leaders. They are watching those who speak…and those who do not speak out against bigotry and hatred.

A rising tide lifts all boats

Vision 2020 is just 10 years away and there is much work that needs to be done.

Achieving that goal requires that we transform our mindset and our rhetoric.  Our actions must ‘speak’ of inclusiveness rather than divisiveness.

Every Prime Minister since Merdeka has emphasized it because they know that divided we will fall.

They know that a rising tide lifts all boats.

Malaysia is a country of plenty. We are blessed with natural resources and good people who have come from all over the world to make this their home.

We are all recipients of the blood, sweat and tears of those who have come before us - and all that they have given to build this country.

Every one of us has a stake in making this country strong.

Every one of us has talents and passion to make this country great.

Every one of us knows that a rising tide lifts ALL boats and that if we become divided, we ALL will suffer the consequences.
There are no winners in a divided nation.

There are no winners when we run each other down for political gain.

There are no winners when things get out of control.

This country was founded on win-win principles that have stood the test of time.

Whatever problems we faced, we have always been able to work through with mediation and good sense.

The formula has worked - and it will continue to work - if we tone down the rhetoric and get on with the job of moving the country forward for all.

The right decision isn’t always the easy one, but it doesn’t make it any less right.

The blood that runs deep in each of us is red - no matter what colour we are on the outside.

Every parent has the same hopes and dreams for their children.

Every young person has hopes and dreams to fully realize their talents and potential.

We all want the same things and it doesn’t need to be at the expense of the other.

As we watch the Merdeka parade, I hope we take a moment to reflect that all Malaysians carry the hybrid of colours that have built this nation.

Merdeka!