Negaraku.....

It is indeed very pleasing and heartening to read the following news article from The Sun. After 50 years of nationhood, finally, there is a hope for a progressive and united Malaysia ready to be a model nation of multi-culturals, multi-racials, and multi-religions to the world. Malaysia always has her strength in diversities and it is now up to all Malaysians to discard their individual racial biases, intolerances, and ignorances to positively harvest these diversities to develop our unique competency to secure a leadership role in this increasingly competitive world. And, Malaysia Bolih !

Oh, Malaysia, this blessed land, I stand proud to to sing Negaraku......

Negaraku
Tanah tumpahnya darahku
Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju
Rahmat bahagia Tuhan kurniakan
Raja kita selamat bertakhta
Rahmat bahagia Tuhan kurniakan
Raja kita selamat bertakhta
Tuhan kurniakan Raja Kita selamat bertakhta.

Exit racial politics
The Sun, Malaysia
Wed, 25 Jul 2007

So politicians will soon have a code of ethics to stop them from using racial issues for political mileage. That, at least, is what the Parliamentary Select Committee on National Unity and National Service has set about to do. Anyone who has been following the theatrics of race-based politics in the country would welcome sound rules that could curb eager beaver politicos bent on gaining popularity by posing as the champions of communal rights. However, such optimism would tend to be tempered by caution because of the practical obstacles that stand in the way of ensuring that the code is effective in reality. Such a code undoubtedly has value in setting parameters for public conduct, so that politicians can be held accountable against its standards when their actions or words are clearly ethnically biased. However, difficulties are bound to arise over the interpretation of policies and programmes, because the line between positive discrimination and racial bias is sometimes unclear. Therefore, it would be vastly more effective if the public at large were to transcend the notion that their communal interests need to be guarded against eroding influences, but instead embrace the idea that a multi-ethnic environment will ultimately strengthen our society and should be celebrated at every opportunity and in all spheres of life. If we can accept this idea of a multicultural identity as the essence of our Malaysian existence, it will be a matter of time before the people grow out of the race-based politics that has defined our national life so far. When that day comes, we will no longer be enamoured by the ethnic flavour of today's political discourse, but will measure our achievements by their relevance to all 25 million people who call this country home. Many examples of such a cosmopolitan outlook have been part of our history as a nation, and these are cited time and again to show that Malaysians can look beyond race when the situation demands it. These circumstances include the humanitarian spirit shown towards neighbours and strangers in times of natural disasters or other tragedies, the communal sharing of resources at weddings or other social events, and the still hallowed practice of holding "open house" during the major festivals. Indeed, families that count a mixture of races in their fold would be living this reality in their daily lives at the micro level. There is really no reason why the same broad-mindedness cannot flourish in the community life of the nation, with or without help from the politicians.