FIFTY-EIGHT years ago today, Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak came together with Singapore to form the Federation of Malaysia.
Though each part was different in terms of politics and cultural composition, they came together with the hope that the union would strengthen the whole and provide for the betterment of all.
Each year that we observe and celebrate Malaysia Day, we renew our vows to each other and the nation — to live together, work together and help each other through good times and bad.
For it is only when we commit to working on the relationship, and follow through with action, that the union can flourish. So the signing of the Political Transformation and Stability Memorandum of Understanding between the federal government and the main opposition coalition on Tuesday bodes well for the country.
For 18 months, politics has been fractious, and the time and energy that should have been spent fully concentrated on fighting the pandemic were often diverted to political machinations that do not benefit the people.
With the MoU, both sides of the divide agree to set aside their quarrels in order to nurture political stability and, moving forward, to work together for the sake of the country.
By expending their energies on the rakyat's needs rather than party needs, it is hoped that this united effort will realise proper and stable governance. It may not be perfect and the future is not guaranteed, but we have to move forward, otherwise the best of the future will not even come close to being realised.
Of course, in mature democracies, working together for the common good should not require any MoU, since that should be a given once one takes the oath to serve the people.
But though it has taken six decades for our politicians to agree to work together, at least this day has come. What is important now is to convert agreements on paper to positive actions in real life.
For that, our elected representatives would do well to take a page out of the rakyat's handbook. The past 18 months have seen such suffering, but they were mercifully cushioned by the rakyat pulling together to help each other. And though the hashtag #KitaJagaKita began with staying home and keeping safe for everyone's sake, it quickly evolved to #RakyatJagaRakyat — helping out our fellow Malaysians in times of hardship.
On their own initiative, ordinary Malaysians have provided food, domestic services, transportation and accommodation to our overworked frontline medical staff, sewn personal protective equipment in their own living rooms, volunteered at vaccination centres, ferried vaccinees and accompanied them while they get their jabs and looked out for their fellow man through soup kitchens, food banks and the white flag movement.
Without formal associations, the ordinary man has achieved so much; politicians have no excuse to not do much better!
Everyone has a role to play and everyone should play their role well. Politicians must be united in guiding this country through this challenging time and make sure that there is a better country to celebrate with each passing year.
The rakyat must work together to help each other and remind politicians that they exist to serve the people's will. How we commit to our togetherness will determine how well or badly we survive the challenges.