Walk the talk for national unity

MOST Malaysians would appreciate the sincerity underlying Tan Sri Rais Yatim’s thoughtful letter, “Let’s walk the talk, Malaysia is our home” ( The Star, Aug 23).

Rais wrote that “we need to return to the basics of high culture”, of good breeding and positive values. These values are intrinsic in our Constitution and the Rukunegara but they have been neglected “in the abyss for far too long” and, as a result, “we have not achieved the maximum dividends of national unity via the Rukunegara.”

Rais compared the education of our students at an early age to the high culture of good breeding, or what he calls high culture “that is taught to Japanese children. This makes them united and patriotic.”

He believes that patriotism will come in naturally from the teaching of these high culture values of good breeding.

The reality is our national policies do not lend themselves to enhancing national unity and patriotism. This is because our policies and teaching are based on “what we get” and not “what we give”. And we all know that many Malaysians get much more than others.

Indeed, those Malaysians who get more are the elitist groups based on ethnicity, the more affluent, privileged and protected. So the neglected feel alienated and a lesser sense of belonging and patriotism.

Those who feel neglected, frustrated and alienated are those deserving Malaysians who can’t get jobs, scholarships, promotions, contracts and licences and many other perquisites although they would ordinarily be qualified for these opportunities.

To these neglected Malaysians, we need to add those who feel reli gious persecution, those who are victims of corruption, and those who experience an unfair sense of justice and lack of hope in the future.

There must be new policies for a more even playing field for all Malaysians. They need to experience inclusiveness to feel more patriotic. Being exposed to “the basics of high culture” is necessary but it is not sufficient to forge greater patriotism and national unity.

There must be a new Malaysian values system based on the Constitution and Rukunegara that is fairly implemented and applied equally to all Malaysians. The New Economic Model must be implemented in full.

Selamat Hari Kebangsaan!