most malaysians are not racist

I THANK former de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim for his common sense and sound advice to the Pakatan Harapan government (“Make introduction of Jawi optional”, The Star, Dec 30; online at bit.ly/ star_zaid).

Most Malaysians are not racist. Most simply go about their own business without imposing their values on others from different racial backgrounds. I must say, every Malaysian I have come across can communicate in at least bahasa pasar (colloquial Malay), including my grandmothers who died almost 50 years ago. There is no language barrier among most Malaysians.

I was having a buffet lunch in a hotel the other day. There were quite a few large company groups at their yearend get-togethers. What I saw were Malays, Indians, Chinese, Sabahans, Sarawakians (I heard the accents) and foreign workers. Happy groups of people interacting with one another. Truly the Malaysia that I know and experience.

People who play the racial and religious cards are few and far between. These are the people who want to find a niche in the political landscape, to garner support by always blaming other races for their community’s problems. Are these people capable of solving real problems with real policies instead of finding excuses with their rhetoric? They are holding the country hostage by creating mutual suspicion and distrust among the people.

Zaid is absolutely accurate in addressing the real problems and policies of Malaysia. His insights should be heeded by all Malaysians, including politicians from both sides and the man in the street.

CH’NG CHIN YEOW Penang