Redemption's Hour

May 13th, 1969 was a dark day in the history of Malaysia;where civilized people who had banded together for a common goal of independence turned on each other with swords and knives...severing ties so hardly fought by our visionary leaders before us who could see a much brighter future for our Malaysia if we but banded together instead of fight individually...they achieved tremendous success..gaining sovereignty for a nation brought under centuries of submission...and the proud nation of Malaysia was born..but it was to be fool's gold...for under its shiny surface was turmoil....and it became ever evident as time passed..Malay's distrusted Chinese, Chinese sneered at Indians, and Indians envied the Malays...a cauldron of malice finally erupting as it overheated on May 13th 1969...Forty years down the long roads of history, the drums of disunity thunder once again....

The appointment of a new prime minister and his visionary campaign of 1Malaysia was seen by some as a glimmer of hope...althought regrettably it was also seen as a fool's attempt and merely the biggest joke in the history of big jokes...a noble attempt by our country's leaders to cement the ever widening gap between our people in this nation...powerful words were spoken...meaningful speeches were given to the masses...and proud propagandas were announced on billboards across the nation...it was a time for unity...it was a time for allegiances to be reformed...it was a time for the Malays,Chinese,Indians and all the other ethnic groups to put aside their differences and come together as one identity, one people, 1Malaysia. It was also a time for madness.

From the cow-head protests to the BTN incident, the year of 2009 has seen more than its fair share of issues. As the new year marks a decade since the memorable year of Y2K, we usher it in with a potentially disastrous incident that could threaten to break the already slim ties that hold our nation together. For years I have grown up being proud when I heard all that the Westerners had to say about our nation;a nation so diverse in culture and yet so united in harmony. It was a proud thing to say that I live in undeniably one of the most varied countries in the world. Sadly, at this moment, I am at a loss for words. I do not know if I can truly say I feel secure in my own country, my home, my "tanah-tumpahnya darahku". Looking at the tense situations all around right now because of the arson incident on churches, I can only help but wonder if all it takes is simply a minor push for the entire nation to descend into a realm of chaos.

Negaraku,
Tanah tumpahnya darahku,
Rakyat hidup,
Bersatu dan maju,
Rahmat bahagia,
Tuhan Kurniakan,
Raja kita,
Selamat Bertakhta.

We know this song. We used to sing it every morning. It is the song so deeply etched into the maxim of our brains that it would take an absolute wipe of it to forget this song. And yet, what of this song? Look at the nations around us. We are falling behind in the race to become a truly developed nation. What are the criterias? Money?Resources? Have we not both? What are we lacking? I believe that the very words of our national anthem are screaming it out at us, if only we would take the time off fighting ourselves and listen. Rakyat hidup, bersatu dan maju. That was the dream of our forefathers, and that is the criteria that we need to maju. Go forward. Storm the world and show that we are not a bunch of bickering children. That is a dream. My dream. The dream of a humble Malaysian.

Yes, situations are tense. But now is not the time to point fingers. Do no get me wrong. I am not saying that we should let the perpetrators get away with it. They must be brought to justice. But in all honesty, they have done nothing more than pour oil on the embers that have been there, simmering under the surface for the past four decades. We are Malaysians, and we love our country. Now is the time to show how much we truly love it. While it is important to get to the bottom of this, it is also important to ensure that despite what the unruly throw at us, we can get through it together, not as Christians or Muslims, Chinese, Malay or Indians, but as Malaysians. As one people, one nation. We can ill afford to let our nation be brought down at the hands of sick minded people blessed with the twin gifts of idiocy and short-sightedness. While the authorities handle the issue, as Malaysians our job is to try to make the best out of the situation. Now is the hour for calm. Now is the hour for understanding. Now is the hour for negotiation. Now is the hour for unity. Now is the hour for redemption. We have had the exceptional good fortune of going through a horrible incident forty years ago when the nation was in chaos and yet emerging stronger and more united. Let us not let history repeat itself. This time, we might not be so lucky. Redemption hour comes. A small window. If it is missed, it might never be found again. Will we who love our country not take it?