The best Christmas present

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I WAS in a depressed mood when I got to my keyboard. We had come a long way since the halcyon days when Sarawak was regarded as the happiest and most peaceful country in the world. I kid you not. When I was in Primary 6, we had to sit for an examination called the ‘Common Entrance’.

OK, only those with sufficient vintage would remember that.

There was a subject that we all had to pass – it was called ‘General Knowledge’ where we were asked questions like: ‘Which is the longest river in the world, the highest mountain, the capitol of Peru, etc’.

One of the questions was: ‘Which is the most peaceful country?’ – to which we all shouted: “Sarawak!” and with gusto.

Alas, it has been downhill since then. So as I banged on my computer keyboards, it seemed that Chopin’s ‘Funeral March’ piano tune was playing in my head.

Why? Well, it has not been a good year. A year when men of dubious honour are ruling the roost, and scumbags of various hues appear to be egged on to perpetrate their nefarious deeds designed to tear our multi-cultural country asunder.

I will not depress you further with the litany of woes but suffice to say that we seem to have reached our nadir when an insanely rich neighbour declared that the public celebration of Christmas was illegal.

As if taking a cue from that Grinch, a few nutcases masquerading as Muslims berated Sabahan singer Stacy Anam, who recently converted to Islam, for betraying the faith when she posted a short video clip of a Christmas carol on Instagram.

Stacy, who rose to fame after winning the sixth season of local reality TV series Akademi Fantasia, took on the Muslim name Ummu Shaikhah Stacy Anam upon converting in August.

“Isn’t Stacy Muslim? How can she celebrate Christmas?” posted one irate misguided religionist.

It is enough for some to throw their arms in the air and declare dejectedly: “If it is within my means, I will migrate away from this failed state.”

Well, I cannot say that because I spent a big slice of my life abroad and after a full life, I chose to come back. In the present, rather depressed atmosphere, I could be forgiven if I asked: “Why?”

The answer came in this last week. It started with a Muslim friend sending me a warm Christmas greeting. It was the first of many as the airways was crisscrossed with friends of all faiths (and also of no specific faith) wishing each other the best.

I was at a very popular mall in the capital in the last few days, where it was packed with shoppers enjoying the festive atmosphere. The sight of Muslim families posing enthusiastically to have their photos taken in front of Christmas trees was enough to warm the cockles of any heart.

Not long ago, I was on a touring holiday in China. There I ran into two different groups

of Malay tourists gleefully jaunting through Guilin and surrounds. At one of the flea markets, I met a few Muslim women laden with shopping bags and still looking for more bargains. They were all smiles. As I chatted with them, I thought of the agent provocateurs who would condemn a whole race for the misdeed (if any) of a few errant traders and I thought the government minister who set up a mall exclusively for Malay traders and promised to open a few more.

How wrong the latter are!

Such experiences give us great hope – the few miscreants who claim to be spokespersons and representatives of their community are a tiny minority and in no way representative of their people, despite the fact that they apparently have the sanction of the power that be.

Majority of Malaysians of all races are peace-loving and live the 1Malaysia concept in their lives, not as a slogan.

All these talks about racial and religious divide may drive many of us to despair but take a look at these news. On Dec 20 for the first time in the history  Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Sikhs gathered for Christmas at a Methodist Church in Island Road, Sibu. The representatives of these different faiths hope that the event could be a beginning of a precious relationship – one that could be strengthened and enhanced in the future through more gatherings of the kind, dialogues, social services and festive season visits.

What about these messages from two true leaders.

Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar: “Salam Jumaat, I would like to wish all Christians a Happy Christmas and I hope they would have a wonderful time celebrating it together with their families and friends.”

In a special Christmas message, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem assured Christians that the state would not interfere in their religious affairs. He said living in peace and harmony alongside each other had been the tradition in Sarawak and would continue to be so.

“I believe the prevailing unity of Sarawakians did not come by chance. We have been nurturing it together by learning to be moderate and to be able to accept others who are different from us…. I must thank all the people of Sarawak for recognising the need to ensure that racial and religious harmony in Sarawak (would) continue to prevail.”

These are bright lights piercing through the gloom of dark clouds.

What a Christmas present!