Have A Meaningful Hari Malaysia 2009

"We thank you, Yasmin Ahmad" (1958 - 2009)

Have A Meaningful Hari Malaysia

What Malaysians Want: To Celebrate Our Differences

What would the world be like if everyone looked much like everyone else; same hair, skin colour and appearance? What would the world be like if only one culture existed, one religion, one language? Would the world still be as beautiful, as rich, as vibrant and exciting as it is today?

What about Malaysia?

What would Malaysia be like if we all belonged to one ethnic group, one religious tradition?

Would there be nasi lemak, char kuey teow, banana leaf rice, chapatti and dhal? Asam pedas, yong tau foo, vadai and rojak? Would there be roti canai and teh tarik?

Would women wear baju kurungs, cheongsams and saris? Would children recognize our Sikh brother with his majestic turban, Pak Cik wearing his kopiah, Annai with his white vesti and Apek in a Pagoda t-shirt?

Would there be kompang, Chinese drums or tablas? How about the joget, sumazau and bhangra? Will we get to enjoy Dikir Barat, Chinese Opera and the Bharatanatyam? Would we celebrate Gawai and Keamatan?

Will we wake up to the soothing call of the azan and go home at the end of the day to the alluring sounds of Hindu temple bells or the clank of cymbals as we breathe in the quaint smell of incense drifting from a Chinese temple? Would Sundays be Sundays without church bells ringing?

Would all our weddings be the same old same old? No adat bersanding or bunga telur, no tea ceremony or yam seng, no nalangu or laddu?

What would Malaysia be like with no Hari Raya? No ketupat, bunga api, pelita and no children going house-to-house collecting duit raya? What if there was no Chinese New Year, no reunion dinner, no yee sang, no ang pow and no lion dance?

What if we did not celebrate Deepavali, and nobody carried out the oil-bath ritual, or decorated their houses with kolam and no lamps were lit? What if we did not experience the spirit of togetherness at Christmas or listen to the harmony of Christmas carols? Would we still celebrate with each other by holding open houses?

What would Malaysia be like if we all belonged to only one ethnic group, one religious tradition?

Can we still call this country Malaysia?

Would we still be Malaysian?


let us add value,
Have A Meaningful Hari Malaysia

As featured in THE STAR tomorrow

The previous “What Malaysians Want Series “were:

Peaceful and non-disruptive demonstrations that get the point across
http://letusaddvalue.blogspot.com/2009/08/we-want-peaceful-and-non-disruptive.html

A Social Contract
http://letusaddvalue.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-propose-social-contract-this-wesak.html

Politicians who cooperate and compete to make Malaysia a better place http://letusaddvalue.blogspot.com/2009/04/have-meaningful-vaisakhi.html

Development Without Corruption
http://letusaddvalue.blogspot.com/2008/12/have-meaningful-xmas.html

A First-Rate Education
http://letusaddvalue.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-malaysian-want.html