Memories…

I was brought up in a Malay majority area – my best friend then was a Malay boy.

It was a norm to drop by each other’s house. Visiting each other during the festive season was even more significant.

His mum would take the trouble to prepare food that I could partake while my mum too would ensure that all the food served was suitable for a Muslim.

It was a true Malaysian spirit.

The good old days were memorable as a Malaysian. In sports, I remember my siblings and me gluing our ears to the radio listening attentively to the Merdeka Cup football tournament live commentary.

Mokhtar Dahari, R. Arumugam, Santokh Singh and Soh Chin Aun were household names then.

We would scream our hearts out whenever Malaysia scored.

When we had a TV – one memorable goal in the 1980 Olympic games qualification comes to mind.

It started with a solo run by winger Hassan Sani that was converted into a goal by centre-forward James Wong – we went on to beat South Korea 2-1 to qualify for the Olympics.

It was another true Malaysian spirit – the whole government quarters block where I stayed then erupted with celebration.

Today…

However, over the years, sometimes, I wonder if something has gone wrong – no thanks to the politicians.

I still root for Malaysian teams and sportspersons whether they are Malay, Chinese, Indian or of any other background.

But missing sometimes is the feeling of yesteryears where we embraced diversity and lived as Malaysians.

The unity government can live up to its namesake “unity” by initiating programmes that foster our young generations to embrace and cherish our rich diversity.

A Malay proverb Bersatu Kita Teguh, Bercerai Kita Roboh comes to the mind. Together all the races regardless of their political alignments can make our blessed country great.

Selamat Hari Malaysia.

The writer is an academician with a local private university and ex-journalist who believes that Malaysians should look for common grounds that bind them rather than the differences that set them apart.