LETTERS: Between a health crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a struggling economy aggravated by political uncertainty, the people on the ground are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
But amid this doom and gloom scenario, one thing is certain. We are all here to stay. How we stay together will determine the future of our beloved nation. Staying together means living in amity, unity and solidarity.
Over the past 18 months, we have demonstrated how the rakyat — regardless of race, colour, creed, or location — can be united in the face of common hardships. This pandemic has also united Malaysians beyond race and religion, rendering help to the needy and the deserving.
Over the years, I have witnessed how national disasters have brought together Malaysians to help victims and families. Our national sportsmen and women have united Malaysians, too, when they take on their opponents.
While our nation still remains polarised along the lines of race and religion, this should not deter Malaysians who believe in unity to contribute in their own ways to achieve it.
We need to give form and substance to our spirit of unity that existed during the early years of our independence in 1957. As we prepare to celebrate our 64th year of Merdeka, let's demonstrate how we continue to care for each other and appreciate unity for this and future generations.
This year will be the second in a row when Merdeka celebrations will be muted. There will be no marches, no mass gatherings at Dataran Merdeka and no outdoor celebrations as in the past. It will be a sober event, following the new norm that was necessitated by the threat of Covid-19.
That should not dampen our spirit. The spirit of Merdeka lives on in the hearts and minds of every Malaysian. We must continue to nurture and reinforce that spirit in what we do, and how we think and behave so that we imbibe the spirit and fulfil the hopes of our forebears.
The sacrifices that the older generation made to develop Malaysia to what it is today must not be forgotten. It has been estimated that nearly 90 per cent of Malaysia's population was born after Merdeka and have no personal knowledge of the many challenges their parents and grandparents had faced.
Besides the threat posed by the Communists, there was the confrontation to contend with, and other economic and social issues that threatened to destroy the fabric of society.
While young Malaysians can learn of these struggles from their textbooks, it is hoped they will also talk to their parents and grandparents to hear from them their first-hand experiences. And then write them down for future generations.
Their real-life tales — of heroism, sacrifices, of personal triumphs and collective actions — will resonate with the young and inspire them to do their bit for society and the nation.
Let us also rekindle the Rukun Negara spirit and ensure its rightful role in building a united nation. We must continue to live by the five tenets of the Rukun Negara for our continued progress.
To foster greater national unity, we must:
UPHOLD the Federal Constitution and our Rukun Negara as they encapsulate the social contract upon which the nation was founded and accords protection for the rights of all Malaysians;
ACCEPT, respect and recognise each other's sensitivities and the sensitivities of all races and religions in our multiracial nation;
STRENGTHEN the spirit of moderation and refrain from extremism of all forms; and,
BUILD unity in diversity to reflect the true multiracial, multireligious and multicultural realities of Malaysia
At a time like this when the people are still reeling from the effects of Covid-19, it is also hoped that the government will continue to reach out to the masses, many of whom are in dire straits emotionally, financially and mentally.
As we will be commemorating another year of our independence let us fly the Jalur Gemilang as a symbol of our patriotism and love for the nation.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
Trustee,
Malaysia Unity Foundation
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times