Look to Sabah and Sarawak

IT’S the time of year when nationalism and patriotism sets in, what with National Day on Aug 31 and Malaysia Day on Sept 16.

I would first like to say a big thank you to our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, for helping to gain independence in 1957 and form Malaysia in 1963 – significantly, in a peaceful manner. Bapa Kemerdekaan and Bapa Malaysia are apt titles, indeed.

The great togetherness shown by the people of this country is best portrayed by those living on our easternmost frontier, that is, in Sabah and Sarawak.

I have heard many stories about how Sabahans and Sarawakians of different races and tribes all live together peacefully. It was only last year that I managed to set foot in these states, taking advantage of the fact that my two children are based there. I finally got to experience firsthand the camaraderie the people in these states are famous for.

While our honourable Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is an advocate of the Look East policy, we Malaysians should also look in that direction, to the easternmost part of Malaysia, and take a leaf out of Sabah and Sarawak’s book on how to have a peaceful and harmonious outlook on life.

Racial polarisation is unheard of in Sabah and Sarawak. It is a taboo phrase, something that is not in the vocabulary of the people living there. It’s no surprise that people from Peninsular Malaysia who are posted in these

two states fall in love with life there sooner rather than later.

Tomorrow, on Malaysia Day, people in Peninsular Malaysia should look to the people of Sabah and Sarawak and make a decision to emulate them, so that the forces of goodwill, harmony and mutual respect will prevail upon our beloved and blessed land, Malaysia.

Ray Steven’s famous song from the 1970s, Everything Is Beautiful In Its Own Way ,saysit all.