In support of efforts to promote moderation

REFERRING to the article “For the love of Malaysia” ( Sunday Star, Aug 13), I share the sentiments expressed by the writer, Wong Chun Wai. I too wrote a lot on this topic while I was president of the Negri Sembilan Consumers Association.

Coming from a Catholic school, St Paul’s in Seremban, I know and can feel what multiracial Malaysia means to me. I would say this school made me a good Sikh, not a Christian.

Thank you, Star Media Group, for your efforts in pursuing this patriotic campaign aimed at bringing Malaysians together. I applaud your efforts to strive for moderation and stand with you. We must end any form of extremism. It has no place in Malaysia.

We must instil mutual respect so that we can continue to be a harmonious nation as we celebrate the coming National Day. And living with the spirit of moderation would be key to the success of our country.

But some of us are so comfortable being Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban and so on. This will not do, not after some 60 years of independence. We must end this notion of race and move on to being one Malaysian race. Can we?

I have always advocated that we be friendly with people around us. If we are not good neighbours, do not expect others to be good to us. For a peaceful Malaysia, we must know that understanding breeds goodwill.

BULBIR SINGH Seremban