Have a meaningful Hari Malaysia - Friday in The STAR

Ngimat Ayu @ Gerawat Aran (1921 – 2013) was the Pemanca (Paramount Leader) of the Kelabits.

He believed that the values and traditions of our ancestors emphasise ‘peruyung’, ‘peruyud’, and

‘perurum’ (collectivity, collaboration, and cooperation).

Back to basics: Embrace many colors, one race.

We as a nation chose integration over assimilation. We decided not to be colour-blind. Instead we chose to embrace all the colours. We created a nation with many colours but with the goal of becoming one Malaysian race. We are many colours, one race – a fine example of Unity in diversity.

It is very important that we the rakyat understand this position.

Take language, for example. We allow and encourage every language to prosper instead of forcing one language on everyone  – while at the same time promoting Bahasa Malaysia as our National Language and as a platform for Unity.

Our decision to integrate rather than assimilate is a wise one. Three thousand languages have ceased to be spoken all over the world and the number is growing. We are not going to be a party in this loss to humanity. We belong to a nation that cares for our cultural treasures.

We not only want to preserve, promote, and guard the main languages and cultures in our society but to also ensure smaller ones like Kelabit, Kristang, and Temuan do not go extinct. We must never allow even one of our many cultures and languages to perish – the loss of one is the loss of the whole.

Parents must pass this down to their children. Government policies must not neglect any cultural traditions. Businesspeople must balance profit and people. Civil society must play its part too. This is important because our strength and beauty lie in our diversity.

We are Many Colours, One Race!

At zubedy, our programs draw strength from our shared values and traditions. We believe that at heart, all Malaysians want good things for themselves and for their brother and sister Malaysians, simply because our nation cannot prosper as a whole if some of us are left behind.

Let us be, first and foremost, Malaysians.

Let us add value,

Have A Meaningful Hari Malaysia.