Learn to look at the good side of society

OF late and practically every day, we are being bombarded with negative news about our country through both the mainstream and social media. The overwhelming flow of such negativity gives the impression that nothing is right in this country.

Is Malaysia really doomed? Isn’t there anything we can be happy and proud of? In this highly-politicised nation, we seem to have become blind to the many wonderful things happening in our daily lives. Allow me to share just a few such experiences that have made me, a senior citizen, happy and proud of being Malaysian.

Recently, I was in the library at Universiti Utara Malaysia where I’m doing my post graduate studies. I went to the one-stop section and requested assistance to use the e-Resources. The librarian was simply an asset to the university. She guided me with great patience and was both friendly and courteous, and I considered her service world class.

Next, I went to the books’ section two storeys below. The librarian there also went out of her way to help me secure the books I wanted. Religion or race never came into play. I was a senior citizen who needed assistance and these persons provided it.

One might say they are paid to do the job. Well, as I was walking out of the library carrying 12 books (quite a heavy load for me) to my car which was about 200m away, some young students of another race walked up to me and asked: “Boleh kami tolong, pakcik (Can we help, uncle)?” They then helped me to carry the books to my car.

What can we say of that? It may very well be due to the excellent management of the UUM administrators and that is fine by me.

A few days ago, I was at the KL Sentral ETS station with my daughter and her two children (one a sixmonth-old baby and the other a three-year-old) and a large and very heavy suitcase. Holding my own bag, it was really difficult to load the suitcase into the coach. Seeing our struggles, a KTM employee came over and carried the suitcase from the first floor to the ground floor and right into the coach. I thanked him profusely, realising that he had gone beyond his duty to help. He just smiled and excused himself.

At the Taman Ria market in Sungai Petani, vendors sell their vegetables and fruits to multiracial customers. Everyone speaks bahasa pasar and smiles, and pleasantries are readily exchanged. The atmosphere is one of sincere friendliness and goodwill with vendors and customers referring to each other as pakcik, makcik or kakak irrespective of their race or religion.

What do we say of that? The common people in Malaysia are still well integrated and without much prejudice but many such experiences and instances are going unnoticed. Let us look at the positive side of our beloved Malaysia and cherish its peace and goodness.