CAMARADERIE, UNITY ALIVE AND WELL AMONG MALAYSIANS, SAY ACADEMICS

This is evident in Malaysia, with the most recent show of interracial camaraderie and friendship on full display during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The moment when Malaysian professional badminton player Lee Zii Jia placed the bronze medal he won in the men’s singles around the neck of broadcast journalist Shahrazad Sani deeply touched the hearts of Malaysians.

A video of their interaction went viral on all social media platforms. The spontaneous gesture by the shuttler occurred right after Shahrazad asked Lee about his feelings upon stepping on the podium to receive his medal on Aug 5. Earlier, Lee defeated Indian player Lakshya Sen in the bronze medal match at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena.

Many netizens praised the good rapport between Lee and Shahrazad, saying it transcended racial boundaries.

National doubles stars M Thinaah and Pearly Tan’s close friendship also received praise from social media users. In a social media posting, Thinaah expressed gratitude to Tan for helping her achieve the dream of competing in the Olympics.

Another video that went viral earlier this month showed two schoolgirls from different races enjoying nasi bungkus (packed rice meal) in their school canteen. What stood out was the fact that the two girls shared a packet and ate with their hands. (The video was shared on social media by a canteen worker.)

This simple yet heartwarming scene is a small glimpse of the many stories of camaraderie and mutual respect among Malaysians, which collectively reflect the true face of Malaysia.

 

Commenting on the matter, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Faculty of Language Studies and Human Development lecturer Associate Prof Dr Nur Azuki Yusuff said the existence of feelings of mutual acceptance and tolerance shows that the spirit of camaraderie and unity is alive and well among Malaysians.

This spirit, he stressed, is something that should be cultivated and nurtured within the hearts of the people, not just in specific areas but across all aspects of life.

“This spirit of interracial and intercultural camaraderie should not just be visible in the sports arena but in everyday life including our workplaces, and educational, administrative and political fields.

“... and I am very optimistic about the national spirit which we Malaysians uphold. It has allowed us to live peacefully in a society of diverse cultures and religions while, at the same time, upholding the values of Eastern traditions,” he said.

The proof of this, he noted, is Malaysia's ranking as the 10th most peaceful country in the world in the 2024 Global Peace Index report, produced by the Australian-based Institute for Economics and Peace. 

The report also stated that Malaysia is ranked as the third most peaceful country in the Asia-Pacific region, with New Zealand taking the top spot, followed by Singapore in second place.

Nur Azuki dismissed claims that the current sense of unity among the people is weakening due to various emerging issues including those related to the 3R – royalty, religion and race.

“The strength or fading of camaraderie and unity needs to be defined every day. It depends on the sense of belonging shared by the people. The stronger this sense of belonging, the stronger the unity among the citizens of this country.

“For example, each year when National Day approaches, we celebrate together and many hoist the Jalur Gemilang… we see the Malaysian flag displayed everywhere.

“But then, when the elections come around, we see different political ideologies being ‘paraded’. It is these differences that need to be managed well,” he pointed out.

 

Nur Azuki also said to maintain their existing unity, Malaysians must appreciate the values of togetherness within the concept of ‘payung anak watan’ (umbrella of native countrymen).

This concept, he explained, reflects communities living in the same area who are allowed to preserve their individual identities while being governed by a leadership based on their original social structures.

The concept also proves diversity and differences in background are not obstacles for Malaysians to live together peacefully and harmoniously, he added.

“Our diversity is a source of strength and everyone has a role to play. This diversity is the identity of Malaysia, representing all the faces of Asia, and this uniqueness is an important asset for us as a nation.

“What needs to be curbed are the actions of certain quarters with agendas that prioritise factionalism or personal interests,” he said.

He also said the nation’s leaders, government and the people must embrace the principles of Rukun Negara, which serves as the foundation for national unity and the formation of the nation-state.

“The principles of Rukun Negara are universal in nature, encompassing the noble values of all races and religions, and therefore it should be upheld as a guiding principle towards fostering unity and cohesion among the people,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Centre for Core Studies lecturer Associate Prof Dr Abd Hakim Mohad said Malaysians today are more open-minded and see the diversity among them as a natural part of life.

According to him, “moments of unity” occur in the daily lives of Malaysians, grounded in the true nature of humanity. Such “moments of unity” are evident when people readily extend a helping hand to those in need, regardless of their race or religion.

“I am very confident that such gestures are real, that is, genuine and sincere, born from pure and honest hearts. It should be embraced as our way of life. The more frequently it occurs, the brighter the light of unity will shine within our society,” he said.

He also noted that racial politics is among the critical issues that must be avoided to ensure the continued well-being and prosperity of the nation.

“What’s important is how all the races can enjoy a good quality of life in this country. This is because a good life is the key to our collective happiness.

“... and when the people are happy, it naturally encourages greater unity, enabling us to sustain our nation’s independence indefinitely,” he added.

 

-- BERNAMA