RMAF veteran: You sink or swim together
KUALA LUMPUR: For former Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) member, Brigadier-General (Rtd) Datuk Goh Seng Toh, unity meant that “you sink or swim together”.
“In the RMAF and all other military branches, we share a common thinking – we either sink or swim together.
“And because of that we are close to one another, the feeling of race was never featured anywhere. We look at ourselves as one big family.
“If we can inculcate that mentality ( among Malaysians) – that we sink or swim together – then that will make national unity easier to achieve,” said Goh when interviewed.
He was reflecting on unity as part of the Unity Ribbon campaign launch at Bangsar Shopping Centre here yesterday.
Goh said he was attracted to support the campaign as he places a high importance on national unity.
“Apart from the nation’s economy, I think national unity is just as important,” he said.
Goh was also one of the panellists in a discussion titled “Tak Kenal, Maka Tak Cinta” (You Need to Know, to Love) held during the launch of the campaign.
Other panellists were host and Fugee School co-founder Deborah Henry and Allianz Malaysia Bhd chief executive officer Zakri Mohd Khir.
The Unity Ribbon campaign was the brainchild of social enterprise Projek57, in conjunction with the National Day and Malaysia Day celebrations in August and September.
Small ribbons in the colours of the Jalur Gemilang – the Unity Ribbon – will be worn by the public to promote and show unity among Malaysians.
Projek57 co-founders Collin Swee and Syed Sadiq Albar said they started the campaign to remind Malaysians that unity was important.
“The message behind the ribbon is that no matter what your race is, what your faith is, a lot of Malaysians share the same aspirations for the country, such as to have a country that is safe and free of corruption,” said Syed Sadiq.
“So, when you see someone wearing the ribbon, you will be reminded that we all share the same aspirations.”
Swee said unity was the glue in keeping the country together.
“Unity binds us together. It is an important ingredient,” he said.
For Syed Sadiq, unity means understanding each other more.
For more information on the campaign, visit www.projek57.com/ unity-ribbon.