Unity band

Somebody placed these bands on my office desk last Friday. It’s called the Unity Band.

A band to celebrate and confirmed Malaysia's diversity. Its multiracial ness, to appreciate and respect each other’s different ness. Although all of us belong to different race, religion, beliefs and culture but we all human. And the blood that runs thru our veins are red hence the red band, says the advert. But most importantly, we are all Malaysians.

I can never understand this. The fact that we as Malaysian have to be reminded how lucky we are to have different races as our friends, colleagues and neighbours. To be reminded to be united as one nation as we are going to celebrate our 50th Independence Day. To be make aware that although we are of different mould (look, skin, name) we are living, breathing, working together in this country we called home.

I never have this problem. I never categories my friends or colleagues or neighbours to how many of them are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Caucasians, Singh’s etc. To me they are just that…my friends, my colleagues and my neighbours.

Ever since I was a young kid, my family’s house has been visited by many of my parent’s friends (Malays and other races alike) and to me there were just these uncles and those aunties. And we always have open house to go to during Christmas, Deepavali, Chinese New Year, Aidilfitri and even Gawai. There was this neighbour of ours in Sarawak, oh how I envy them. They celebrate almost all the festivals there is. Their mother was a Chinese so they celebrate CNY, father was an Iban so they celebrate Gawai and all of them were Christians so they celebrate Christmas too; and my family got invited to their house on every occasion. Fancy that...3 celebrations in a year! I was so jealous. That was when I start wondering or imagining wouldn’t it be good if my parents were like that too. Of different background so we have more reasons to celebrate. Ah, how simple it was back then.

I had a secret admirer when I was eleven. He wrote me letters and his younger sister of eight years old passed it to me in the bus. When I revealed this to my closest friend, the first thing a friend of mine mentioned was but he’s a Chinese. Even thou’ I don’t fancy him that much but that statement from my friend made me wonder, what if I were to like him back? Will it be a problem? The same friend fell for her Indian older neighbour, whom was a brother to one of our school mate. Their feelings were mutual. One day my friend cried and told me that her father found out and he was very angry so did the boy’s father. It’s not so much of them being very young but the fact that they were both from different races. My friend was devastated. Her neighbour moved. I guess that was when the reality of multiracial hit me.

I love Indian food. To the extent that my ex-boss suspected that I was an Indian in my previous life. Maybe, from Mumbai I said. Where all the pretty Bollywood stars come from. Ha! Ha! I also enjoyed Dim Sum and noodle to the amazement of my Chinese friends. Don’t get me wrong, I love Malay food especially during Ramadhan and Aidilfitri. My mom cook them all the time when were growing up. Authentic style. But I eat them almost everyday at home now so when I’m out with colleagues during lunch I chose to have other food. When we do opt for Malay food, I see my Chinese friends beat me in their ability to eat chili hot sambal belacan and ulam. I don’t take sambal and ulam. Period. Unlike some of my non-Malay friends, they even eat uncooked tempoyak with their sambal (which suppose to be a norm Malay delicacy). So am I being un-Malay or my friends not being a typical Chinese?

In my humble opinion, the answer to that is because we are being Malaysians.

In less than a week, Malaysia will be celebrating its 50th Independence Day (Merdeka) on Aug 31. I hope in the next fifty years my children will also see their friends as just that…friends. Regardless of their races and religion. I hope they will be able to see thru the skin color and look into the soul of all their friends and treasure the friendship.

Instead of questioning our differential, let us celebrate our uniqueness, together.

Merdeka!