A REPORTER once asked me what I thought about the 1Malaysia concept. I was slightly uncomfortable and a bit confused answering her, especially when the rest of the interviewees were singing songs of praise for the campaign.
Don’t get me wrong. I condone anything that embraces harmony and peace — I just did not understand the need for a campaign. Having spent my growing up years in Sabah, I didn’t see any racial segregation or problems of unity. I just saw my neighbours, friends and classmates as another person. The only time I sensed we were ‘different’ and had to be separated was during Moral/Agama classes — even then, we were quickly “back together” after class was over.
Yes, but as kids, things were all so simple. We put wealth, race, culture and religion aside. Kids are naïve about the real world; there is no baggage or hidden agenda.
I am wondering how can this mindset be translated to the minds of us adults and to those who govern the country — if the battle is for Malaysia to be one.
This is what the country needs now, and we can learn from the innocence of our children.
I am glad my parents are open-minded and they embrace the purity of love, trust and mutual understanding among one another. Especially mum. It must be her upbringing.
Odu (mum’s) neighbours are our cousins. Mum’s family is Catholic and our cousins are Muslims. Odu’s stilted house has chickens, dogs, cats and pigs roaming around the compound and quite often, her animals would stray to the other side but that didn’t bother our cousins at all. During festivals, my cousins ate the food we served. There is a mutual trust and understanding that the food served is halal. To be honest, I only understood the word halal when I came to study and live in Peninsular Malaysia.
I guess this is what I miss most when I’m away from Sabah. =(
I have been asked to appear at the @CNABringsYouHome roadshow at Berjaya Times Square this Saturday (11am-7pm). I will be picking my 3 favourite #CNASangatRindu stories submitted by you, my dear followers, to highlight at the show, so please support me! Otherwise I'll lose out to @JJonair.
Just tell your short story about what you miss most about home and add the hashtag #CNASangatRindu, k? Looking forward to reading your submissions!
