There is a saying, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
And there’s another saying which holds even greater meaning in the wake of the recent massacre of 50 Muslims in the tragic shooting incident in Christchurch, New Zealand: “If one proposes to speak, always ask oneself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?”
If only the mouth has a mind of its own, it would have asked itself these questions…
- Do I speak at the right time, or not?
- Do I speak of facts, or not?
- Do I speak gently or harshly?
- Do I speak profitable words or not?
- Do I speak with a kindly heart, or inwardly malicious?
Judging from the comments on social media, it is heartening to note that rationality and humanity still prevail among the majority.
But the number of negative comments laced with racial and religious spite is also a great cause for concern.
Notwithstanding that, the outpouring of compassion and grief had brought the world community together in timely unity against the use of violence for whatever reasons in this dark episode of human tragedy, in of all places, New Zealand.
Although I have never been to New Zealand, I have read about and viewed videos on the country, especially on its breathtakingly beautiful scenery as depicted in ‘The Lord of the Rings’.
Throw in sheep, rugby, milk, butter and cheese – these are the ‘all black and white’ about New Zealand.
Then the senseless massacre of 50 innocent lives in two mosques in Christchurch – places with deep connotations to faith, peace and love.
Where did it all go wrong for a lone gunman to embark on such a rampage of premeditated killing and murder?
The explanations will come as investigations are completed but the stark truth remains that nothing can ever bring back the lives lost and the tragedy and lingering impact on the victims’ families and community.
My condolences to families of all the victims and may they find the strength to carry them through this very difficult period in their lives, on the knowledge and comfort that all peace-loving people are with them in solidarity and prayers.
Fast forward, back to my beloved homeland Sarawak and butter, milk and cheese.
Why butter, milk and cheese?
These three things remind me of breakfast together with coffee, toast, laksa and kolok mee and unity in diversity.
Yes, Sarawakians are very blessed to be able to sit together and enjoy a meal beyond race and religion.
While the pressures and impact of ‘unhealthy external influences and practices’ have slowly but surely crept in, Sarawakians must endeavour to reject all that is vile and protect our uniqueness of ‘unity in diversity’.
Let it continue to be practised by all Sarawakians, let us not allow race and religion to divide us, let us not allow those ‘holier than thou’ misguided teachers to indoctrinate and impose on us what’s right and wrong, especially on things that we have been specifically doing right all along.
We must insist that it be done the ‘Sarawakian Way’ – as in ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’.
We must show that it is alright and acceptable for Muslims and non-Muslim Sarawakians to sit and eat together at the same table.
I speak for my Muslim friends who have no qualms about having laksa while I enjoy my kolok mee at Joo Seng or Foody Goody Foodcourt and having breakfast together at Joo Seng Cafe over its famous kaya and toast washed down with its aromatic Hainanese-brewed coffee and proceeding to Swee Kang in the afternoon for its mouth-watering iced kacang or ‘ABC Special’.
My Muslim friends have been with me since Primary 1 – that’s 54 years of friendship.
Yes, 54 years and as old as Malaysia itself.
Most of them have scored credits and distinctions in Bible Knowledge and speak and write good English and doing well in life too, as exemplary Muslims.
It does trouble us to read about racial and religious tensions in Malaysia of late, and to unfairly lump Sarawak into this divisive disease which is predominantly ‘Orang Malaya-made’.
Sarawakians generally want no part in this divisive narrative of race and religion and we want this cancer to be checked in its tracks by barring all extremist religious teachers, leaders and politicians from setting foot on our shores.
We want to continue mingling freely at Joo Seng and Swee Kang, among other places which truly exemplify our unity in diversity.
As the saying goes, ‘a family who eats together, stays together’.
Sarawakians are family – Muslims and non-Muslims.
We must not only talk about it. We must ensure that we practise and live it.
We Sarawakians must be proud of this – only we ourselves can protect each other from the divisiveness of religious and racial politics.
We must fight to keep this light of unity shinning like a beacon of hope to blind all the undesirables from sowing the seeds of extremism and ultimately terror on our Fairland Sarawak.
Sarawakians can, and will be the zeal behind this new land which we fondly call ‘Bumi Kenyalang’.
That’s what really defines our autonomy. We are the icons of unity in diversity.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
