Speak up to prevent loss of our moral compass

I READ with consternation reports about leaders who make statements that are morally bankrupt and get away with it. Have we, the educated citizens of Malaysia, lost our conscience?

Declaring that it is okay to lie or saying that stealing is fine as long as we do not get caught is alarming. Have we lost our moral compass?

We have bought into the lie that truth is relative. It is not. One very good way to judge if something is the truth or not is to look at its long-term effects.

Deception looks good and feels good for a while but in the long run, it is hollow and empty.

I feel very frustrated when the moderates of this country keep silent and let the strident voices of racism, extreme religiosity and politically-driven “spinners” be heard instead. Where is your moral backbone, you average Malaysian?

You flexed your muscles on May 9 last year. You have to do it again now. The tide of darkness must not be pushed back once only. It is a perpetual struggle to push it back again and again.

Once again, we must make it known and heard in the upper echelons of power that we want a clean and fair government, rule of law, integrity, tolerance, morality and goodness.

We cannot afford to be complacent, cowardly and indifferent. We have to speak up in order to see that we get the Malaysia that is for all and not just a particular group.

We must learn to do and stand up for what is right regardless of the consequences.

We cannot afford to switch horses in the midstream of a faltering economy. Don’t be fickle. Good fruit comes from good trees. If a tree is bad, don’t expect any good fruit from it.

If we hold on to the good, eventually we will be proven right.

So, I urge you, moderate and educated Malaysians, let your voices be heard. Call a lie a lie no matter what colour it is. Do not let what is wrong go unchallenged. Confront it with the truth. Even if the foe doesn’t acknowledge that what you say is truth, at least you have given other Malaysians another view to consider.

FLORENCE MAH Semenyih, Selangor