They say that sports unites us. This could not have been more true than in the past week, when national shuttler S. Kisona was attacked with a racial slur by a minor politician.
Just as Malaysians will come together to cheer on and pray for an athlete representing Malaysia at the international level, so, too, did Malaysians come together to protest and rebuke the politician who dared to try and hurt one of our own.
So egregious was the insult, and so shared by all was the injury, that the politician not only had to swiftly issue an apology, he also had to resign his party post.
A medalled and promising young shuttler, it was unthinkable that anyone could disrespect Kisona thus— did her hard work, commitment and dedication to her sport count for nothing? Have pity then on the Malaysian who has no such achievement under his belt.
Malaysians are known for according respect to people who are somebodies. But, who will stand up for the others who are insulted and thought less worthy? At around the same time as the deplorable Kisona episode, a far more consequential racial and religious schism had been attempted to be cleaved, in the form of a short video clip of a sermon by a religious leader. In both instances, it was the "leaders" who erred, and the common man who had to redirect them.
Malaysia does not need such leaders. Malaysia is made up of many different "threads", its rich and diverse people woven together to make this beautiful tapestry that is our nation.
So, every time that a thread tries to pull itself apart from the whole, or every time others are pushed away, that tapestry is at risk of being rent.
But, no one need remain at the mercy of those that would destroy us. Everyone can, and should, be a builder. Everyone has a part to play in making this nation beautiful, and keeping it beautiful. And it doesn't take grand gestures to do so: It just needs a good heart, an open mind, kindness and respect.
Whatever our beliefs and cultural practices, the fact is that Malaysia is our home and, in our various ways, we love it. But, how can a home be happy and harmonious if its members do not get along well together?
The Malaysian multicultural formula has always been based on "tolerance". But, tolerance is for those that we are not entirely happy to live with. After nearly six decades together, we should have got to know and understand each other enough to love each other by now.
That cannot happen if people stay in their own rooms, imagining what the others are doing and saying in their own room. A family should gather in the family room to share their lives and experiences, and build happy and meaningful memories together.
For it is in spending time together that we will learn what is important to the other and how they would like to be treated. To build a good relationship requires effort and commitment, and a family room that all are comfortable to sit in. And if there isn't one, one has to be built, or adjustments made to make it suitable for all. Regardless of our individual identities, we are one family.
Let no one try to rend us apart.