Syahredzan Johan asks during this holy month, are Malay-Muslims entitled to better rights than others?
So you are fasting. The sun is bearing down on you, your stomach is growling and your throat is parched. It is only 12.30 in the afternoon; you still have hours to go before you may break your fast. All of a sudden, a non-Muslim person appears before you, enjoying an icy cold can of your favourite cola. He looks like he is savouring the cola. You could imagine the sensation of that very same cola filling your throat with diabetes-inducing caffeine goodness. So you flare up. How dare this person drink in front of you? Does he have no respect for the holy month of Ramadhan, to be wantonly quenching his thirst in full view of Muslims? Does he not know that Muslims form the majority of this country and therefore must be respected?
This is the basic premise prevalent amongst many Malay-Muslims in this country. Muslims form the majority and therefore they are entitled to be respected. Malay-Muslim sensitivities must not be offended; the Malay-Muslim public must be protected from harm, confusion and many other bad and insidious things that may threaten the ummah. In recent times, these deep rooted sentiments are brought to the fore by opportunistic politicians. Thus it appeared as if Malay-Muslims have become more and more intolerant of minorities.
Malay-Muslims are entitled not to have a Hindu temple in the vicinity of their housing estate. Malay-Muslims are entitled to dictate what names others may use to invoke the Creator. Malay-Muslims are entitled to stop the sale of alcohol beverages and deny the establishment of a cinema in Malay majority areas.
Every Friday, Malay-Muslims are entitled to abandon their civic consciousness and park all over the place as if the streets belong to them. Malays-Muslims are entitled to blare religious ceramahs to every corner of the neighbourhood and into the wee hours of the night.
The prime minister must be Malay-Muslim, the civil service must be filled with Malay-Muslims and government bodies are seen as Malay institutions, tasked first and foremost to safeguard Malay and Muslim interests.
This premise of entitlement has also been used to justify the persecution and discrimination against sexual and religious minorities, purportedly because Article 3 provides that Islam is the religion of the Federation. So we say that LBGTs do not enjoy protection of the Constitution because their sexual orientations are against Islam, although we conveniently forget that other things, like gambling, are also forbidden in Islam but are still legal in this country. Books are seized and banned and fatwas are made absolute. In a recent decision, the Federal Court went so far to say that the integrity of the religion needs to be safeguarded at all costs. Does ‘at all costs’ include the supremacy of the Federal Constitution as the highest law of the land?
Make no mistake, this is not about Islam. It is about how we justify the discrimination, persecution and blatant disregard for fundamental liberties, all in the name of religion. It is how we view and treat others as inferior to us because we believe that we are entitled to do so. We permit transgressions because we labour under this presumption that Malay-Muslims, by virtue of being Malays and Muslims, are entitled to the best of the country as they occupy a higher standing than the rest of the rakyat out there.
There is no legal or constitutional basis for this. Article 3 does not make Malaysia an Islamic state and Article 4 expressly provides that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Article 8 provides that every citizen is equal before the law and enjoys equal protection of the law. The oft quoted Article 153 does not make Malay-Muslims superior in law or fact, it only provides for the reservation of quotas for Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak in certain matters.
So what if Muslims are the majority? We have such a flawed understanding of democracy; as if in a democracy, the rights of minorities are inferior to the rights of the majority. That is why we have a Constitution, which protects and guarantees the fundamental liberties of citizens from the tyranny of the majority.
We find ourselves up in arms at the fate of Muslims minorities in other countries like Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar and China. We invoke freedom of religion when we hear of minarets being banned in Switzerland or burqas being banned in France. But if the rights of Muslim minorities should be protected in the face of the majority, why is it that we do not have the same vigour to protect the rights our non-Muslim minorities? Why must the rights of others here only be exercised if we deem those rights as exercisable?
So before you take offence at someone who is drinking in front of you while you are fasting, take a step back and think of your religion. Put aside your sense of entitlement and think; just because you are fasting, does it mean that everyone else around you must stow away their food and drinks?
Remember what Islam has instilled in you, not what Muslims have told you.
yeah, the Catholics should have the right to not see anyone eating in public in Malaysia during the 40 days of Lent (right before Easter) because most of them are fasting. the Hindus should also have the right to not see anyone eat in public during their fasting days. Let's not forget practicing Buddhists. How dare anyone flaunt eating in public when there are always others who are fasting? The ones not fasting must be legally forced to sneak their food around. They must be forced to tip toe around the sensitivities of everyone who is fasting regardless of religion. They must be shamed and to apologise that they eat within the sight of the ones who is fasting. Apologise, and be profusely ashamed that you have made the ones who fasting salivate and feel jealousy and envy……errrr….isn't fasting exercises precisely that?,,,,toughen your mind, body and spirit?
Well said dude! Maybe Malaysia does have some hope if our next Generation can think & act like you! Having said that, my wfe & I have been teaching our son to respect other religions & when Ramadan comes about (even though he's only 9), he knows how to behave when he eats & drinks in school & in public. My colleagues tell me time & time again to go ahead & eat & drink without worrying about them fasting but I'm careful, not our of fear but out of friendship & respect.
It's mutual respect on both sides…..
I wish Malay-Muslims would just be kind, and just boot all Non-Malay-Muslims out to an island so that Malay-Muslims can then just have their own land and manage their affairs without interference nor hindrance from pesky sinful infidels. Let those infidels rot in sin on their little island.
That this can only be said by a Malay (and the shackling definition also Muslim) without reprisals, shows clearly the entitlement. The Malay supremacist agenda has been ongoing since Merdeka. Our forefathers were fools to believe things are better after the Brits left. It will only get worse as slowly, but surely the country is transformed into a Malay-Nazi-Theocratic state. The only bright side is that Singapore left, and stays as the beacon of what could've been – thereby slowing the process, and giving some perhaps false hope that things could change. The day will come when it gets so bad, it will be like what happened at the formation of India and the resulting creation of Bangladesh and Pakistan.
And as for the early morning prayer summon, there are lots of temple being allowed to be built at residential area. And they also make sound, especially when someone died or they have celebration, they make 'sound' until 2 am with the opera cina and everything, plus with fireworks and all, but the residents never make complaint. So why can't you non-muslim see this tolerance by us? Hypocrisy huh?
The article is good but the comments somehow giving wrong interpretation. What we must have now is tolerance. Respect each other's religion. Park all over the place every Friday, huh..well, you have to come to jb if you want to see non-muslim celebrating chinggey and the streets jammed like crazy. Because the police close certain road for them to celebrate chinggey, even allow them to park anyway they want like no one cares.
All this sensitivities of malays are new- found or caused by Dr. Mahathir with his so-called social engineering.Before that,there was none. Politicians use race and religion to divide and rule but their success will be short-lived,because in this age of the computer,all eyes will be opened sooner or later.Do you all realise that two years or so after Dr. M started the computer project for all schools, he himself has to step down and Obama won his second term through making full use of the internet.
Please go back and read your al-Quran before posting and writing dumb articles stating non-Muslims must not eat in front of Muslims during fasting month. True that, non-Muslims should avoid eating in front of Muslims during this fasting month, however, it does not give you the right to comment and bewildered this as a topic to be argued. In al-Quran, fasting is originally made for Muslims to understand the pain and sufferings of poor people when others still can eat. This is what your God, Allah, made this month a period of time for you believers to endure the sufferings of not being able to eat though being tempted by others. Cleanse your beliefs with more understandings into your religion before writing unreasonable thoughts online, you're shaming your own religion internationally.
I took a sip of water from my water bottle while my Muslim colleague was talking to me – it was the second day of Puasa and I'd forgotten that she was fasting. She didn't say anything while I was doing it. I only realized it later and apologized. She said, "Eh, takperlah!"
I do remember having to cover the contents of my brunch box and sit in the school canteen with my back to my Muslim friends (I don't know why they were in the canteen, but they were definitely fasting) while I ate. Same thing when my mum packed a "ba kua" sandwich for recess. Our teachers told us to be sensitive about it, but none of my Muslim friends ever said anything about it.
I'm a high school student studying in a Malay-majority school. The problem somehow isn't with the students, to be honest, it's never about the students, it's about the school and some of the teachers. during the fasting month, none of the students, even non-Muslim students are allowed to go for PE class, whatmore, we are not allowed to even wear our PE attire which is much more comfortable than uniforms. Any student that wears PE attire during the fasting month will be punished. I don't understand why, I, and many others,as non-Muslims cannot do a certain activity because the Muslims cannot. They fight for their right, but how about ours? dont forget, when there's that occasional grumpy Malay teacher who gets angry at students who drink water in class or put water bottles on their table tops. As a student, I study History and Moral, and they talk about kebebasan bersuara and all I can think of is " BULL". The younger generation I feel however, especially school students don't exhibit these knack of raising the issue of race and religion, instead it's the school, the teachers, the parents, the politicians, and society itself that amplify that Malaysians aren't actually Malaysians, but just a country barely supported by a crumbling pillar of unity which, I hope not, will see its end in the near future .
I remember while on board in the business class from KL to KK during fasting month.
The stewardes politely give food and drinks but I rejected because A Datuk from Kelantan was sitting beside me.
The Datuk told me to take food and eat while serving on board. I salute the Datuk ( ex MB ) that particular time ) but I still declined and say no I am not hungry or thirsty .
No many individual who can tolerate this and I salute those who has high tolerance for others too.
I wish i had more malay friends who think like syahredzan johan…
Thank you for stating your point of view and I know these happened because our government is trying so hard to disunite it's people. It's very sad but fortunately too, many Malaysians are smarter than being manipulated and brain washed. We must always practice tolerance with each other no matter the majority or minority. Yes, we are allowed to eat and drink whenever and wherever we like. But, wouldn't it be great if all of us just try to respect each other and our different cultures/religions? That's what make us Malaysian no? Our forefathers fought so hard to unite us all and what are we doing to each other now?
Syahredzan, your article invoked my memories. Memories of a non-Muslim growing up in a Sekolah Kebangsaan. When drinking in front of friends was shunned and had to be done in the toilet. When bringing non-halal food packs to school was wrong. When teachers just scooped out beef servings from a plate of rice to be given to a Hindu student. When your friends shunned you because you ate pork and thus smelt like a pig. Change has to come from school but we are inculcated with these "values" since then. Will it ever change?
Thanks for bringing up a good topic here,Syahredzan.There is much to ponder from this topic. Yes, I do agree with Syahredzan. In my opinion, it's actually both side , its the mindset of tolerance between non Muslims and Muslims. As a Malaysian, we should know what is going on during Ramadan, if we know that people around us are fasting, as a non Muslim, we can do our best to try to avoid that…not only eating and drinking, yea,as a form of RESPECT, that's all. And well, just suggestion..still this can be subjective to others. By the way, Ramadan Mubarak ^^
Since when they become so Fragile?
Nobody are taking anything away from you.
Please, make Malaysia stronger.
Move forward, not backwards..
Actually are Malay muslims in the majority. East Malaysia is not!
Seems like every year the same thing over and over. Seems it is more like jealousy than anything else. I mean if a true Muslim is fasting and is sincere in doing so for their religious sake. Then it should not bother them that they see someone eating in their presence. However if they cant stand to see this and say something to the person in their presence then to me that would mean that they are jealous you can eat and they cant. Meaning that they are not fasting cause they want to for religious reasons but are fasting cause they have to. WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THEIR FAITH?
Sensible article. Muslim/Malay bashing seems on a roll… the order of the day… sometimes right, sometimes may not be so from a Muslim's perspective. In this case & in many others of late, small issues are being used to paint a larger negative picture of Muslims n racist Malays.
How is it there are more than 20000 hindu temples in this country.. more per capita than anywhere else in the world. In Shah Alam alone there are temples smacked in the middle of Malay community n it gets bigger every year. Travel towards kuala selangor n you will a huge shrine towering on a hill slope being built over a surau at the bottom of the slope barely 100 meters away. Years ago it was just a tiny temple.
The Malays have been a very hospitable race since recorded history and the only ex British colony that gives citizenship to immigrants upon independence. In Africa the immigrant Indians are allowed to take british citizenship to save them upon independence of most colonies.
There may be many areas that Malays n Muslims may not be doing right. But are the non Malays doing the right things all the times? I'll try not to be petty on trivial matters but in certain areas like employment.. non malay companies do not employ malays other than for receptionist, despatch boy & the like position. In one jv company majority owned by a Malay, the CEO was Indian and the 100 odd staff were Indians save for 1 Malay accountant. Some non Malay companies do not allow malay staff 10 minutes for prayer break.. thats being tolerant l supposed.
I always look at the mirror to examine myself when reading articles such as this and the comments that fo?low. Perhaps non Malays too should do the same unless of course they prefer to go after constitutional reforms.. who knows perhaps one day they might win…then we'll understand what the fate of Malays and Muslims will be??
i kinda agree with u.. ignorance n intolerance affect all races.. so in article such as this the "non-malay" commenters r having a field day.. n in vice-versa situations d "malay" commenters will have their time.. etc etc..
d root of d issue is humans r born selfish.. we usually can't see beyond ourselves.. fact is we have "intolerant" people everywhere we go.. so when this person happens to b a malay.. d non-malays brand d whole malay race "intolerant".. n same thing happens when a chinese complains about d loud morning prayers for eg..
i gave up hope on d day when we'll be judged based on our character n personality rather than our names, race, religion etc.. i just accept that intolerance affects most of humanity..
The mentioning of malay muslim in this article seems to narrow the subject to a single race whereas in this land of the shared muslims are comprised of multi background of the racial product; chinese & indians, iban kadazan etc. not to mention pinoys, thais, myanmar, our afrikaan brothers, arabs, whites.. and the list goes on. We are all muslims and when ramadan come we all fast together, and many pray together, this is the beauty of islam, no segregation in the mosques (where there are no democracy but adab).
The article speaks about democracy; and being a muslim in a democratic country this is fairly new; islam does not prescribe democracy. How democracy comes into the picture is when a land and its people were drawn in a boundry which is called nation and a system was imposed to, divide the people into a think alike demography. Assuming our understanding is at par; the divide are people who practice islam & those who doesnt. Since democracy was prescribed by people that dont practice islam therefore the think alike group thrives in this system and those who practice islam in this system, like what highlighted in the article, looks absurd.
I think this only happen in Malaysia Muslim. UMNO 50+ years style or Islam freedom country. We non-Muslim known this but we cant really speak out publicly like this to whole Malaysia. We keep pushing and making Malaysia to be advance and Maju country, but we are not majority and govt not really like us. Its only can happen and make it when the majority Muslim-Malay like you to brave to face the true and join us for making this country better.
You are definitely not talking about fasting. Respect each other sudah….
101% agree with the author. You earn my respect. I do have Malay friends and also Indian friends. Though our skins are different biologically, we were born in the same motherland. I embrace and I celebrate the differences. Differences make our society and culture beautiful. Acceptance and respect rather than tolerance unite people without conditions.
when muslims think we have to bend over backwards to "allow"" them to fast peacefully, then te whole concept of fasting is wrong!
Why do we have to be sensitive by not making it difficult? when the season of Lent comes once I a for 40 days I become a vegetarian and fast for acertain no. of days. Shall I make a big announcment then for everyone to be sensitive to me?
When u work in an environment with all races where we serve food in a cafetaria for the staff should we getting less value in terms of quality n quantity? i e dinner for non muslims served between 5 pm to 7pm. muslims only can eat between 7pm till 9pm. Fine we can accept that but when the food for the non muslims are prepared as early as 3pm when dinner is served at 5, does it makes sense? when asked why they said we have to do it now because we have to prepare food for the muslims to break fast. Now who's being sensitive to who?
I live in Penang in an area where no single race is dominant. During the morning Azan my Chinese neighbour's dogs bark. The Maghreb azan will be in sync with the bells from the Hindu temple. We hear sermons from mosque, music from temples and singing from Chinese festivals. Fireworks for all religious festivals. My Hndu friends can eat in front of me in Ramadhan they way I sometimes eat beef in front of them. I love my Penang.
I wish all Malay-Muslims in this country can think like this writer, but that isn't going to happen because of our politicians, current of political wannabes. It seems so easy to win their support by just mentioning that the Malay rights, perks and supremacy are constantly under siege by imaginary enemies.
The pathetic thing is that as human beings, majority of muslims in malaysia need an article like this to realise what they are doing is wrong. This is the sad state of Malaysia.
difficult to satisfy everyone … Malay, Chinese, Indian and other races …. Islam, Buddhism, hinddu, Christianity and other religions living in a country called Malaysia … the constitution and the law the present has made all nations and religions live in harmony for this blessed land … appreciate and enjoy it with a little sacrifice for the children, our grandchildren to come in the early days so that they can live in harmony together as we enjoy today. …
You can't honestly write all these in english and expect the very people you are targetting to read the whole thing and learn from it! You need to preach in the language they are most comfortable with.
This is like preaching to the choir. You're voicing things your readers already know and agree with.
This article is DIAMONDS!~
Honestly the entitlements that were blatantly shone ESPECIALLY during Ramadhan are getting ridiculous. And then forgeting that Muslims are not just required to fast, aka not eating drinking during the month. But also to have better self control to not partake on the other things you were supposed to control during Ramadhan, like having more patience, less cursing, ability to control your temper, to curb your own lust, greed… the rest of the seven sins. And doing more ibadah to get yourself closer to God. It's like all of this was just reduced to… not eating and drinking and being angry at non-muslims not being required to fast.
Sure, when a malay-muslim writes an article which backfires the same group he is from, he will be perceived as heroic, unbiased and brought to light as a reformist. But mind you, there are a lot of malay-muslims who do not share the same view with the author, as well as do not share the same view with the rest of redneck malays too. We are the 3rd kind, the middle path, if you will. The true, moderate muslims that do not preach and argue and try to steal the limelight. We do not condone nor condemn. The likes of this author and the rest of the so-called malay-muslims that he attacks are in fact belong in the same group. If only we can shut these 2 groups up, Malaysians will live in peace.
damn straight to the point strong agree here thank you for sparing the time to tell your muslim brothers
this is what it should be throughout the country, non-muslim eating in front of a muslim is certainly not a problem at all and definitely cannot be considered as ignorant. you can never force someone else into your own shoes. Remember the canteen incident ? and a few more other incident … would you like it had it happen to you ?
I think the only muslim who get offended when see non-muslim drinking is the writer him self… hehehehe…
If muslim really that cruel… the muslim will suggest that Thaipusam which always make the travel from Selayang to KL become nightmare to be banned but in the area where Batu Caves is populated majority by the muslim did you see it happen?
In the event during hungry ghost festival where most of Chinese friend celebrating with burning a paper resulting contributing Index Pencemaran Udara rose high and loud tong-tong-cheh along the night until disturbing other people dreams… still did you see majority of muslim complaining?
Well, friday prayers cost terrible traffic disturbances throughout klangvalley every friday! Everyone grumbles, but no one would say it out loud to hurt a fellow muslim. Because we know it is important and necessary.
And the hungry ghost festival contributes to the already increased IPU???? I think many people who burn their garbages and dried leaves contributes more. And the wild fire in Indonesia too. Whats your point?
And if the loud "tong tong cheh" is bugging you once a year, don't you think the azan from every surau and mosque would bug the rest of the sleeping malaysians who do not pray as many times.
If thaipusam is an issue though it is only once a year, then you might need a new thing to complain about. Take another route, use waze or google maps or even gps. Or better, stay at home. If it bugs you that much, apply for annual leave or take a sick leave.
I grew up in a society with tolerance and harmony and love. We accept every religion and we do not mock other religion or believes. My best friends are malay muslims. I would like to conclude, that muslims are definitely not cruel. And islam is not cruel. People like you makes it seem cruel and intolerable.
hmmm interesting … for me its simple, the world doesnt revolves around 'the muslims' … it revolves around "everyone".. and 'everyone' who is occupying earth is not a muslim .. one point that muslims doesnt know is that other religions have a fasting month or day too eg. christians have their gd fridays or any christians or buddhists may fast by choice any day they want .. but its between them & god and its not shouted to the whole world – like hey am fasting so pls respect!! fasting to catholics has more deeper meanings and the most important thing is only the person fasting & god knows about it .. no need to share with anyone, its the pure intentions that counts and not a fake obligation to do so … like i say the revolves around all of us not the other way around … so RESPECT THAT and EVERYONE is entitled regardless of majority or not –
thats why I respect christians so much!! converted into christian yrs ago and im proud of it :)
I like the way you think. Religion is about oneself and your own personal relationship with God. No matter what other people does, if your faith is good. You can overcome any temptation.
Well written. A brilliant open mind with a religious touch of righteousness. You make me proud to be a Malaysian. Most of my muslim friends does think like you do. It just happens you are the minorities in Malaysia. Unfortunately. And from the thread of replies, there is one person that did seem a little racist. Nim. From your replies, it proves you are still young and lacking life experiences. Learn, travel, help others and understand others instead of dictating them. Your replies are very passive aggressive and you insist people follow the 'right way' which is the way you were thought to be right. Rather grandiose, I think! Think outside the box and don't try to justify all your actions and believes onto others. I personally feel your replies offended a few, which explains the dislikes/ thumbs down! You disregard every reply you get as if it is a debate. You could probably learn a thing or two from the writer of this article.
This only happens in Malaysia. As the saying goes in Malaysia you only see Muslims in Islam but in other countries you see Islam in Muslims. Islam the religion that teaches one to be humble. God Bless
I'm a Christian, and there will be the time when we need to fast too. We let you eat in front of us when we're fasting. We didnt tell you guys the time when we're fasting cus we don't want you to feel uncomfortable. It's okay, eat in front of us anytime you want. We wont feel insulted.
I love this article btw. Pls, if you really sincere in fasting, you shouldnt feel offended when ppl are eating and drinking in front of you during the fasting month. Don't be so sensitive. My comment is for all religion who are fasting/will be fasting
just dont get tempted easily, if u mad when people eat/drink near you when you're fasting, you better stop fasting bcause you are not sincere at all!!!
What a well written article, and I am very proud to have you as a fellow Malaysian! ;)
Wonderful to read and hear such views as I sincerely hope this beautiful land , our dearest country , can go back to the early '70s when ALL us Malaysians had a blast enjoying each other's company , understood each other's culture (and idiosyncrasies! ) and celebrated each other's festivals.
Please share the well written article in all vernacular newspapers.
Long live Malaysians!
Prem Chandran Venugopalan Menon
This is too overrating, i personally don't care if somebody(other races) smoking/drinking in front of me. it is actually a sense of humanity, manners and proper childhood education, if you yourself possess respect, tolerance, manners you may rarely encounter this so called entitlement. not all people are the same. To me this article is just racist, attacking and unhealthy. realistically speaking.
Morning & God bless Malaysia. I live in Sarawak and during fasting month my Muslim friend bought me for lunch and watch me eat coz I am a non-muslim. Not a moment he made me feel uncomfortable. I was hungry then and most willing to forgo my lunch but seeing that I am tired & hungry, this Muslim brother insisted I have lunch and with no issues.
Agreed! Fasting is an obligatory action that is deemed onto all Muslims whom are able. This is a question of one's faith with Islam. Malay-Muslims need to consider this, all other Muslims in the world who have longer fasting days. Take me for instance, I'm Muslim and sun-down here is at 9:00 PM. Majority of my coworkers are non-Muslims but I'm not going to berate them for being "inconsiderate". They just don't know.
I have yet to read a good and fair article like this in Bahasa Malaysia. Noticed that most of these good and fair articles are written in English by the educated, intelligent and knowledgeable Malays. I have yet to read an article like this in Bahasa Malaysia, hope more of it can be written in BM as the Malays are the ones who really need to realise this than anyone else.
This….. is……the……status….quo…….. In order to protect the civil rights of the minority, the majority have to be catered to first. In order to protect the rights of the ones who own this land, the ones who must suffer must be those who don't own this land, yet are born of this land. Such is the sad conflict that has been raging for the past few decades……. in this country.
This article calls to mind what Jesus said to his followers, it is not about putting on a show and expecting everyone else to acknowledge your sacrifice, it is between you and God " When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Many fast because they have no choice, the outwardly action becomes more important.
I hope you'll be PM one day. truly.
the most merrier festive season was the two new year coincided many years ago. i saw some cheerful chinese and malays wearing traditional clothes of the other ethnics, celebrating new year in common. but those were the days, when political opportunist were undersurface, and leashed. could it be the ISA still in force then?
Dear Syahredzan
Firstly, I commend you for such an enlightened writing, not just the point about fasting, but everything else. Such messages need to be propagated. Those who are enlightened have the duty to shed this light to those who aren't. The sooner we do it the better. We have a lot to undo, for we have been had by politicians for so long. We have a wonderful advantage, our diversity, yet it was exploited instead of being virtuously leveraged for the good of all. I long for the day when each Malaysian can truly view each other without the filtering lenses of race and religion. Let each one of us demonstrate what we believe in through our words and actions – caring for the widows and orphans and loving our neighbours like we love ourselves.
But I have a dream and it will materialised one day. If the Soviet Union found Grobachav, China found Deng, US had Lincoln and so many others, we will find someone who will be truly enlightened and willing to step up to the plate selflessly.
Pray fellow brothers and sisters', that this person will come soon but perhaps we who are enlightened need to do the ground work. Don't give up.
With love
Chan
Just hoping that we have many more muslims like you around, and for the non muslims let's just be a wee bit more sensitive during this holy month. Selamat Hari Raya,