NATIONAL CULTURE BASIS OF UNITY

Recalling the values of life in this country way back in the 1950’s we were together Malays, Indians, Chinese and others. We were more united as all of us were worried about communist threats, the ‘domino theory’ and how to achieve Independence from the British.

I noticed my Malay aunt wearing sari as my uncle was working with the JKR Water reservoir at Lurah Bilut, Raub and majority of the workers were Indians. My late father was working in Pekan and in Pekan I noticed Chinese ladies wearing kebaya. Beautiful, neat and tidy and they also speak very fluently in the local Pekan Malay language. We have Haji Abdul Kuddus, a Pakistani running a bakery in Pekan Lama and supplies bread to all Pekan folks. Who can forget Ah Look the best ice-kacang stall with Sheikh selling cendol.

Walking around we meet friends of various races without even thinking of any differences. The sound of bicycle bell ringing passing by us are our friends irrespective of race. We do not have high fencing or brick wall fencing around our homes.

What make the changes in our backdrop….why are we getting sensitive. Do we need to remember 13th May incidence? Can’t ALL of us consider UNITY as a national agenda by ALL irrespective of party, race or religion? Politicians in particular should give serious focus on these values. We need to close the gap in the distribution of wealth. Top 10 or even top 20 rich lists in this country are lopsided. We need to consider all aspects; social, technical, economics, political wellbeing of the rakyat. “Rakyat Didahulukan” must be ALL Rakyat.

Can we have “Budaya Negara asas Perpaduan!“ Y.B. Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim and Y.B. Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon over to you…