Your Sincerely ( Y S ) could not help noticing a new phenomena in his small town of Alor Setar. It is the 1Malaysia shop located strategically as one takes the only-and-soon to be removed-roundabout into town. As with all other new happenings in a small town, they never fail to attract lots of attention. Each time Y S goes to town, he notices huge crowds at this new outlet.
Ever since the Prime Minister whipped out this acronym " 1 Malaysia " to prove that there is unity in our beloved multi-racial nation and to promote greater unity among the races in the country, an assortment of " 1 Malaysia " establishments have been birthed. 1 Malaysia Clinics. 1 Malaysia Restaurants. Not to mention an array of 1 Malaysia shops all over the nation. of late, Y S even spotted one 1 Malaysia "Koay teow" stall. ( Fried flate noodles.) It is the case of monkeys see, and monkey do.
It goes beyond the little bit of gray matter in Y S' head that such effort can portray and promote national unity.
How does a I Malaysia shop bring together people of various races? You may say " Oh, they shop together and brush shoulders and greet each other and become friends." Well, this has been happening for decades at our supermarkets, hypermarkets, malls etc etc etc and nothing happens !
You may say, " Oh, they sit and eat together and become better acquainted in a 1 malaysia restaurant." Well, there was better unity those days when fellow Muslim colleagues could sit and eat "Curry noodles" with you prepared by a Chinese "Ah E " (Aunty) in the school canteen 40 years ago . But not now!
You may say, " Oh, going to the 1Malaysia Clinic they could interact while waiting their turns." Well, it is fat hope.
The main crux of the problem, among other things, is that a certain race and religion in this glorious nation has for the past 40 years evolved away from a multi-racial nation building by being unnecessarily overt about their religious practices and observances to the point of being unreasonably dogmatic and ritualistic while their outlook blind spotted other races and their presence, needs and sensitivity.
Until the day, we meet at mid field and work on universal and common values, and not emphasizing our differences and uniqueness, " 1 Malaysia" will flicker and flicker, and die out. And Malaysians will be kept busy with another acronym.
"Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right. When wrong, to be set right." - Carl Schurz
