3rd Note

Is it just me or lately, the 1Malaysia concept has thrown most Malaysians into a frenzy?

Since its introduction, there seems to be endless talking on the concept. Like a nagging shadow, I hear and read about it from every corner possible.

There’s the gentle and persistent greeting that is Salam Satu Malaysia on the RTM channel. There’s the new tagline on NTV7 that goes We Feel Good as 1Malaysia. Last month, in conjunction with the Merdeka celebration, a song contest was organised to pick the best 1Malaysia song and Astro launched a series of programmes called the Best of 1Malaysia. If you invest in unit trust, you would probably know the existence of Amanah Saham 1Malaysia. And soon, Malaysia will have its very own 1Malaysia F1 team.

Everyone seems so eager to jump on the 1Malaysia bandwagon. Yet, I’m unfazed and will remain so until I find the concept promoted and studied with honesty and integrity.

A dear friend posed me these questions – Why the scepticism? What am I disagreeing on?

In my defence, I said, it is not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing. It is a matter of labeling unity or rebranding unity, if you must, that bothers me. It is the current hype that I cannot comprehend.

Let’s face it. The concept is as old as time. Only thing is, back then, we did not have a name for it. For as long as I’ve lived, I’ve practiced the concept and all its teachings. Even without a label, Sarawakians in particular, have gotten along so well with others from different backgrounds, regardless of ethnicity and their beliefs.

It is worth mentioning that in spite of my reluctance, I must say it is a noble concept. It serves to unite Malaysians and further cement the existing bond among us, emphasises on accepting the uniqueness of each individual and demands mutual respect from all ethnic groups so as to enable us to live together as one nation.

By now, we should all be familiar with slogans like Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah, Malaysia Boleh, Gemilang, Cemerlang, Terbilang and what have you. Slogan after slogan, we seem to be rebranding ourselves quite often. Rebranding is not so much an issue to me, but I do have a problem with people who sing its praises and yet do not walk the talk. I still wake up to worrying news that touches on race and religion almost every single day.

I would like to take us all back to the infamous  “cow head”  incident that puts our country in the headlines for all the wrong reason. To add salt to the wound, the atrocious incident is also on YouTube for the world to see. I was especially disturbed to see young children taking to the streets with those pompous men. Little do they know that they are the victims of the adults’ own selfish agenda and animosity.

1Malaysia? Oh, the irony! We, as Malaysians, have come a long way since Independence and should have known better than to treat religion as a laughing matter.

The truth of the matter is, as a Sarawakian, I do not wish to be reminded of the concept at every angle. Being labeled as the most tolerant people in Malaysia, we have been living in peace and harmony all the while without having to follow a concept.

Despite our many differences, we share similarities. We are alike in our values and aspirations – that we want to see the end of racial conflicts, we want equal opportunities for all and we want to continue to see our children playing freely with any Idris, Ah Chai, Muthu, Mary and Ben.

The future of our country lies in the hands of our younger generations

The onus is on every Malaysian to value and respect the ethnic identities of every community in Malaysia. Being different does not make us any less important than the other. Instead, our differences should be regarded as assets to be proud of.

I liken life to music. To achieve perfect harmony, we require the fundamental notes from C to A, we need an even pitch, the right rhythm, a uniform dynamics and of course, a good singer. Until we reach the harmony that is second to none, 1Malaysia will continue to be very little beyond mere concept.

Marcella Gider is an Assistant Manager, Conference Division of Sarawak Development Institute (SDI). 3rd Voice is published fortnightly and was initiated by AZAM and SDI. Feedback can be sent to deborah@azam.org.my