Making Malaysia a better place to live in — Lim Mun Fah
I believe that many people have been thinking very hard over all these days why racism keeps haunting us?
Racism is certainly destructive, with its harmful and hurtful remarks. In racism, everything is based on racial consideration. Truth and reality are covered up and blurred, and everything is coloured-centred.
There are always people who maliciously stir up trouble and make irresponsible and insensitive comments, labelling a person of another race a “penumpang” (passenger) and asking him or her to leave the country. When you just ask for respect and your rights, they say that you have no gratitude, do not understand the social contract and forget about who you are.
Undeniably, regardless whether it is 1 Malaysia or Malaysia for Malaysians, you can never get rid of your racial origin and identity. Our nation comprises peoples of various races, languages, faiths and cultures.
Isn’t our nation a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious country? Isn’t it beautiful, charming and unique because of its diversity?
Why are we allowing the narrow racial attitude and actions destroy our charming land and turn it into an unhappy place to live and work?
In view of such a hapless scenario, many people are very worried, confused and sad.
Former Finance Minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has said that there are some people, both Bumiputeras or non-Bumiputeras, who like to incite racial sentiments among the people.
Obviously, the observation is true. That is why we should be on guard against those who play with racial fire to achieve their political agenda, using the divide-and-rule scheme.
Southern College researcher Chin Chong Foh has said that the races in Malaysia live in an environment of fear and suspicion. The feeling of being threatened is derived from the divide-and-rule policy.
There is, hence, a lack of confidence and understanding among the people, isolating each race from other races. Such a siege mentality leads to two extreme reactions, viz to assert and affirm oneself through competition with others, and to elevate oneself by belittling and stepping on others. In our society, such a phenomenon is indeed very common.
We must make sincere and serious efforts to eliminate the difficulties and obstacles in our pursuit of a more tolerant and understanding society. We must never give up in this struggle to make Malaysia a better place to live and work for all the peoples of the various races. — mysinchew.com
Racism is certainly destructive, with its harmful and hurtful remarks. In racism, everything is based on racial consideration. Truth and reality are covered up and blurred, and everything is coloured-centred.
There are always people who maliciously stir up trouble and make irresponsible and insensitive comments, labelling a person of another race a “penumpang” (passenger) and asking him or her to leave the country. When you just ask for respect and your rights, they say that you have no gratitude, do not understand the social contract and forget about who you are.
Undeniably, regardless whether it is 1 Malaysia or Malaysia for Malaysians, you can never get rid of your racial origin and identity. Our nation comprises peoples of various races, languages, faiths and cultures.
Isn’t our nation a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious country? Isn’t it beautiful, charming and unique because of its diversity?
Why are we allowing the narrow racial attitude and actions destroy our charming land and turn it into an unhappy place to live and work?
In view of such a hapless scenario, many people are very worried, confused and sad.
Former Finance Minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has said that there are some people, both Bumiputeras or non-Bumiputeras, who like to incite racial sentiments among the people.
Obviously, the observation is true. That is why we should be on guard against those who play with racial fire to achieve their political agenda, using the divide-and-rule scheme.
Southern College researcher Chin Chong Foh has said that the races in Malaysia live in an environment of fear and suspicion. The feeling of being threatened is derived from the divide-and-rule policy.
There is, hence, a lack of confidence and understanding among the people, isolating each race from other races. Such a siege mentality leads to two extreme reactions, viz to assert and affirm oneself through competition with others, and to elevate oneself by belittling and stepping on others. In our society, such a phenomenon is indeed very common.
We must make sincere and serious efforts to eliminate the difficulties and obstacles in our pursuit of a more tolerant and understanding society. We must never give up in this struggle to make Malaysia a better place to live and work for all the peoples of the various races. — mysinchew.com
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