I just came home from a discussion on issues related to places of worship. I sat there for at least 3 hours listening to the numerous yet different suggestions, feedbacks and opinions from various groups present. One resounding message that sticks out like a sore thumb to me is this: if we continue to operate and regulate everything in this nation based on race and religion, there will be no end to it. Laws and regulations must not recognise skin colour.
Race-based politics have infiltrated our society so much so that for things to change, we need to totally eradicate it and start anew. We must leave no room for exceptions for the survival of race-based politics.
I have been blessed by an encounter I had in Angsana flats in USJ 1. I was invited to visit a young gentleman there who is wheelchair-bound. His name is Chin Kit. When I arrived in Chin Kit’s house, I was informed by his parents that he was out with his friend.
At Chin Kit’s house with USJ Residents’ AssociationI waited for him to return home. I was curious to find out about his transport arrangement. When Chin Kit returned home, my eyes were fixed to his wheelchair. Behind his wheelchair was another young man, Azizul his name.
As we chatted, I discovered that Azizul lives in Pantai Dalam, KL. Azizul would travel from KL to USJ 1 just to spend time with Chin Kit. Azizul also suffers from disability on his hand.
Chin Kit and Azizul
In Chin Kit’s own words:
“Azizul used to be my school mate. We studied in the same school before. Now he is one of my best friends. Whenever I want to go to a public place I will call him and he will surely take a bus to come to my house. Then after that we will take a public taxi to travel wherever we want to go. When we get a taxi, he will help carry me in and out of my heavy wheelchair. When we are in public places, we live like normal people, window shopping, buying things, watching movies, and just hanging-out like normal people. So I’m very appreciative and I thank God to have a friend like Azizul. Hopefully our friendship will last forever.”
“Azizul used to be my school mate. We studied in the same school before. Now he is one of my best friends. Whenever I want to go to a public place I will call him and he will surely take a bus to come to my house. Then after that we will take a public taxi to travel wherever we want to go. When we get a taxi, he will help carry me in and out of my heavy wheelchair. When we are in public places, we live like normal people, window shopping, buying things, watching movies, and just hanging-out like normal people. So I’m very appreciative and I thank God to have a friend like Azizul. Hopefully our friendship will last forever.”
That encounter had a lasting impression on me. When I came home, I shared this experience with my husband.
Ram as he usually would, said something profound to me, “Do you know why they have such a strong friendship?”
“Why?”, I asked.
“It is because they focus on their similarity, they share in their disability”.
Ram can’t be any more true. Discrimination happens when we magnify our differences. Race-based politics is all about highlighting our differences. Instead of celebrating our similarities as Malaysians, we discriminate and highlight our neighbour’s weaknesses and boast of our own strength. We falsely imagine that we could survive without others.
Chin Kit and Azizul knew their limitations and chose to embrace each other and celebrate their similarity. They know very well that their limitations would grow even more if they focus on their differences. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. They combine effort and have a good time! There is strength in unity.
Whether you are of Malay descent, or of Chinese, or of Indian, Kadazan, political, apolitical, young, old, businessman, professional, trader, community leader or just an ordinary resident – we need to remember this one truth: If as one people we begin to speak the same language, then nothing we plan to do will be impossible for us.
Those of us who are involved in community work will understand this concept full well. Nothing moves an inch when we are divided. In an urban township like Subang Jaya, if each of us becomes selfless and begins to look out for the interest of our neighbours, nothing will be impossible for us. We will be able to rid illegal dumping, stem the rising crime rate, eliminate double parking and many more cases of public nuisance which annoy and inconvenient others around us.
May we be humbled by the lesson learned from Chin Kit and Azizul. We need many more like them to make 1Malaysia a reality and not just a political motto.