On the occasion of the 57th
anniversary of Malaya’s independence, we are again forced to confront the grim
reality that is Malaysia today.
Despite all the feel-good
Merdeka day video-clips released by the major businesses and the public service
announcements on radio and TV, the events that have happened or that have been
allowed to happen by the authorities demonstrate all too clearly that Malaysia
has become a country beset by ugly racism, religious extremism and fanaticism,
political persecution, entrenched institutionalised discrimination, increasing
crime and a gradual but undeniable deterioration in inter-racial harmony and
mutual respect amongst various groups in this country.
In the days of Malaya’s
newfound independence, the leaders of this country were men of integrity who
had respect for all races and religions and practised what they preached. Now
we have leaders in Malaysia who tolerate and even condone the actions of
supremacist groups who preach hate and violence, their repugnant arrogance
masking the insecurities they harbour.
The actions of such groups
threaten our peace and harmony and are a source of much concern for us. That
these groups exist is sad, but the tragedy is in the fact that our nation’s
leaders and even members of our judiciary, do not feel morally obliged to
fulfill their duties towards all the citizens of this country, to ensure that
every citizen’s rights are protected. “Without fear or favour” has lost its
meaning and significance at a time when it is desperately needed.
Nevertheless, I believe that
there are many people in this country who still have a vision of the Malaysia
that was intended to be, and that could still be. This mostly silent majority
must speak up, in whichever voice suits them best, and show the leaders and
judiciary that their failure in fulfilling their sworn duties towards the
people is unacceptable.
I echo the call of the
Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) for the people to ‘push harder for
personal and institutional changes that will transform the country into a more
tolerant and caring society’ so that religious extremism and racial
polarisation will cease to exist in this country.
We need not look further than
to our closest neighbour Indonesia for inspiration. Joko Widodo, the new
President of the world’s most populous Muslim country recently declared with
full conviction, without fear or favour, that ‘When all is said and done,
Indonesia is a secular country which protects freedom of religion and
expression. Everyone must work to protect this. This is the only way to
guarantee our future.’
This is the sort of leadership
Malaysians need now, more than ever. Let us all do our part to bring about the
change that will restore the real peace and harmony we all crave for Malaysia.
We wish our fellow citizens in
Peninsula Malaysia a happy 57th Merdeka celebration on 31 August 2014.-
By Baru Bian, Chairman, PKR Sarawak
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