I AM MALAYSIA!

JUST before I started writing this month’s editorial, I was at the Subang Jaya Municipal Council’s annual buka puasa at The Summit USJ. More than a thousand people from the 24 zones under the municipality attended the event, joined by the staff and management of the municipal council.
Our guests-of-honor was Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, modestly dressed in a floral green batik with matching black pants and dark brown moccasins. He looked tired but the sight of so many residents from all over the municipality making time on Merdeka Day (especially since it was the end of a long weekend) to join the council for this buka puasa must have added some adrenalin into his system as he suddenly livened up.
His smile was broader and he even went off the cuff during his speech, pushing away his prepared text.
When it was time for breaking fast, I could see the non-Muslims giving way to their fellow Muslim friends at the buffet line. We have always joked to our Muslim friends during fasting month, “We give you a head start but we will catch up lah!”
When the thirst quenching drinking has been sipped (or gulped down) and a few pieces of dates or food have been consumed, I noticed friends at any table not only taking food for themselves but also other items to be shared with one another.
That’s what I love about Malaysia. Our tolerance for one another’s religion and culture has been sown into our fabrics a long time ago.  Whether we like it or not, we have become 1 a long time ago. The unpretentious smiles and warmth I see around me with my Indian and Malay friends; the greeting from afar when they see me; these are all the evidence of what we have become – One.
The rice we consume as our staple diet daily does not discriminate on who eats it. So why should we discriminate people who also share the same rice we eat daily?
I am not sure if anyone noticed the Merdeka advertisement put up by Maybank in the national newspaper on August 31. I would like to wrap up this month’s editorial by reproducing it because not only does it make sense, it’s also because the copy writing for this is superb! It reads:
O, rice, tell us your secret; how do you get on so well with everyone?
One moment you’re mingling with a fiery mutton varuval. The next, you’re with slices of succulent Ipoh chicken.
And every morning, you never miss meeting up with ikan bilis, sambal and egg for breakfast.
At our big celebrations, you are always there celebrating right along with us.
For Raya, you join your friends to bring us ketupat and lemang.
Deepavali wouldn’t be the same if you didn’t put on your brightest colours to make the kolam.
And every Chinese New Year’s eve, you help to bring home family from far and wide.
As for Gawai and Kaamatan, you’re the reason everyone is celebrating!
Perhaps your secret is that you don’t choose – it doesn’t matter if we use chopsticks, fork and spoon, or hands. You’re just happy to share a meal with us.
Today, as we sit down to share a meal with our families, we’ll be thinking of just how blessed the last 52 years have been.
And you’ll be right there reminding us, once again, about the true secret of our country.
That we all share 1 rice bowl – the one filled, grain by grain, by the sacrifice, hard work and unity of those who came before us.
And we all share 1 responsibility – to continue filling it, together, for those who will come after.
HAPPY MERDEKA! (August 31)
HAPPY MALAYSIA DAY (September 16)
SELAMAT HARI RAYA!