The silver lining of the Red Shirt dark cloud

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Many Malaysians must be wondering what we were celebrating about on Malaysia Day, September 16, with the specter of racial unrest looming over the 52nd anniversary of our nation’s formation.

Although we in Sarawak and Sabah are insulated from the racial tension that permeated Peninsular Malaysia, we could not escape the apprehension of what could have ensued from the rally of the Red Shirts in Kuala Lumpur.

That fear coupled with the weak ringgit and troubles besetting the government spelt a depressing scenario for Malaysians when we should be celebrating our journey as a people united by a common vision.

However, despite all the threats and fears Malaysia Day this year turned out to be a day for us to remember with a grateful heart as ironically the Red Shirt rally that pushed the nation towards the abyss of racial conflict turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

It was a day when the silent majority of moderate Malaysians triumphed over the small group of racists who seemed bent on sparking off racial riots with their provocations and posturing.

There were no takers for their racial baiting and rhetoric while many were bemused by their ranting about Chinese threatening Malay rights.

The majority of Malaysians of all races saw through their ploy and as former Deputy Prime Minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah wondered how could Malays be threatened when they hold the key political positions, armed forces and government service besides all the other privileges they are enjoying now. Rather than fomenting racial discord the Red Shirt rally had woken Malaysians to the importance of racial harmony and the harm that racial intolerance could wreak on our nation.

It is heartening to note that Malay leaders and even rulers have come forward to condemn the rally and called for unity.

This reaction gives hope for the nation to weather the storm it is going through at this time and chart a new direction for us to follow in future.

However, racial relationship is a thin ice which breaks easily and we should not be complacent after pulling back from the edge of chaos.

Malaysians must always be on guard against attempts to stir up racial tensions and strive to not only accept our differences.

To achieve that, the nation could have no better model than Sarawak to emulate because we not only accept our differences but celebrate our diversity.

One the best proofs of that is the multi racial Mid Autumn celebration this month at the state capital where different races join the Chinese in the mooncake festival.