Can political foes be friends?One of the strangest selfies I have in my collection is with PAS supremo Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang. Strange because it was requested by him, not me.
I had flown him and his entourage of eight PAS members to Kota Bharu and treated the whole group to a nasi lemak meal. So it was natural that he wanted to meet his Captain. And I was most happy to oblige.
But what flattered me most was that Hadi told me it was the first time he heard a non-Malay speak the national language that fluently. And I do get that a lot since I never use Anglicised BM words.
He was surprised to hear words like ‘Utara-Timur Laut’ (for North Northeast), pengemudian singkat (for shortened tracking), gelora udara (for turbulence) and so on.
He was even more surprised that I was formerly a Penang DAP member when I was lecturing at Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Political tensions had always been high between the two parties so his assistant joked that PAS never expected to be treated to nasi lemak by the DAP. To which I replied, “Sir, I may not agree with your views but in here, you are my honoured guest and all my honoured guests deserve a treat.”
To me, political differences need not invite enmity between family or friends. This is why many Sarawakians find it silly when some Peninsular Malaysian politicians try to sow discord between the races on account of political persuasion.
In Sarawak and Sabah, one may find members of the same family on both sides of the political divide and still enjoying a meal together.
Everyone accepts each other and its business as usual. So it’s pointless to accuse a Sabahan or Sarawakian of ‘makan dedak’ (accepting freebies) just because some small-minded politicians cannot look further than the narrow us-and-them mentality.
But I do understand why these people have trouble grasping this logic. For them it’s a clear line.
You are either with them or against them. And this is the reason behind all the unnecessary conflicts we see on social media.
The name-calling, the ugly quarrels, the profane language, the meme-battles, ah you name it. I had this myself earlier when I declared my support for Donald Trump prior to the 2016 US elections.
Now I see it going the same way for many Malaysians. Some of my own friends were disappointed with my lack of support for their preferred political party (or candidate).
Yet, I’m afraid I cannot apologise for my position. I will continue to stand for what I believe in, even if I have to stand alone.
We all know that friends may get a bit emotional at times. Some troll Newsfeeds, some send nasty messages and a small percentage of the very passionate may even go to the extent of terminating friendships.
Some say that politics are best left to the politicians, and that people of other professions shouldn’t promote a political position.
But irrespective of profession, I also believe a person must have a strong and principled conscience. And he or she must live in a manner which is consistent with that conscience.
Yes it may invite discord but that doesn’t trouble me. If something is right, I will say it’s right. If something is wrong, I will say it’s wrong – even if I have to say it to the face. People must learn to deal with differences of opinion.
So folks, please take it easy, especially on social media. Intelligent debate and discussion are always welcome as long as they’re done with decorum. But please refrain from silly sarcasms, snide remarks, foul language and so on because they serve little purpose apart from inviting unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings.
I have seen too many harmless exchanges suddenly escalate into offence, which is time-consuming and energy-draining to both the offender and the offended.
Let’s avoid unnecessary conflict. It is after all, possible to remain friends regardless of which side of the political divide we belong to. Generally, people don’t demand respect, only courtesy.
I don’t know, maybe I’ve lived in Sarawak too long and have seen how tolerance and harmony have characterised her peoples.
Still, it’s wise to be mindful of the sudden shift in our current political climate. And with political lobbying from both sides picking up at a feverish pace, it wouldn’t hurt to extend an olive branch to those we find it difficult to agree with. I for one, am honoured to have at least taken the first step.
Sunny skies ahead of a great week ahead.
• Capt Thiru Jr is a writer, engineer and pilot with a foreign airline.
