Sunday, February 06, 2011

1Malaysia

when i was in primary school, i had friends from all racial background. we never needed any fanciful slogans to spur us on to foster a close friendship. how times have changed. but i was pleasantly surprised to discover this phone charm tied to my daughter's mobile.













EVA are the initials of her name & that of her indian & malay friends. V is now in boarding school while A is still in the same kebangsaan school. whenever the school vacation comes around, they will meet at least once to catch up. i've seen some of the photos they've taken together - they went for meals, tried out clothes at the mall & took cute fanciful pictures at instant photo booths.

that's how i remembered my school days & that's how students (& life as we know it) should continue to be.

unfortunately, those ketuanan bigots politics got in the way.

18 comments:

Reanaclaire said...

yes..u r very right... we can be 1Malaysia without some of them getting into the way..

Jo said...

that phone charm is so sweet! When I was studying overseas, I was very close to two Malay girls. I've never lived in this country prior to that, so I had no inkling that there is this divide present. When I graduated, I settled down here, and managed to meet up with the two girls after some time, and somehow, the feelings have changed between us. So, I am very much in agreement with you. It is the country that changed us. Very sad, but very true.

Yvonne Foong said...

U've been reading this anthology of Patrick Teoh's articles from Off The Edge. He always says that when left alone, we are all Malaysians. Satu Bangsa Satu Negara.

When politics come into the mix, we are Malays, Chinese, Insians dan lain-lain.

Anonymous said...

It's good to hear there are people who have remained friends regardless of race, colour and creed.

doc said...

Claire,

true, we were & we can be again.

doc said...

Jo,

i'm beginning to wonder if it's the location that makes people behave differently. over in UK, it's neutral ground & no one has advantage, but back home, some people get bossy?

btw, i called it a phone strap till my daughter corrected me!

doc said...

Yvonne,

actually, i haven't read it, but we all knew that we became regressive because of current politics.

doc said...

Mei Teng,

i'm wondering if there are any more inspiring stories like that out there.

Michelle Mak said...

my roommates are indian and malay too!!! we are called as the muhibbah room :P

Yvonne Foong said...

Eh! Sorry. I meant to say that I've been reading....

By the way, I am reminded of the times immediately before the 12th GE, a segment of the public brought up racial issues like, 'the malays', blaming everything on the malays. I wonder if those forwarded emails and what not were circulated by ignorant man-on-the-streets or what.

Unicorn Girl said...

darn ! with those ketuanan bigots ! sheeesh !

doc said...

Mich,

muhibbah is a word not often heard these days but i remember it well as it was often promoted when i was still in school.

at least, people understood the meaning of the word, while not many people know exactly what 1Malaysia means.

doc said...

Yvonne,

i think the 13th GE will have a brutal outcome, whichever way the results go.

doc said...

UG,

i agree.

Yvonne Foong said...

Mind elanorating? I was thinking to myself the other day. I wish I can exercise true Westen Democracy in Malaysia. I earned credits in U.S. government 3 years ago and learned about legislative and electoral process. Wish I can write letters to representatives who make the Malaysian public healthcare their policy. Wish I can lobby for political support. Everytime I look at the university website to choose courses to sign up, I am moved by the political science subjects. But after the 12 GE, I feel disillusioned. What I studied about elected democracy does not work in Malaysia. we are not a democracy.

zewt said...

very muhibbah friends your daughter has... :)

doc said...

Yvonne,

if the current govt wins, we'll have more of the same & worse, as they tighten grip of our lives.

if the opposition wins, i fear they'll renege on their election promise for a fair govt, going by recent events.

both, a brutal outcome.

doc said...

Zewt,

if only we all share the same spirit.