`


THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
read:
MALAYSIA Tanah Tumpah Darahku

LOVE MALAYSIA!!!


 


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

A difficult year, but let’s move forward

By standing together in unity, we can overcome all the challenges to build a better Malaysia and let this Merdeka Day be the starting point.
COMMENT
merdeka300This year’s 57th Merdeka celebrations will be celebrated under an air of gloom against the backdrop of the twin tragedies of the MH370 and MH17.
In this sombre mood, too, we need to reflect on race relations and the political and economic progress of the nation thus far.
The political situation is far from ideal although we now have a choice of two coalitions in Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.
However, the news that we have achieved more than 6% GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth for the second quarter of the year brings some cheer.
Still, the economic progress has somewhat been dampened by the fact that there are more homeless people staying on the streets these days and this indicates that many Malaysians too have fallen out of the net of our nation’s progress and prosperity.
In addition to that, the kidnappings off the coast of Sabah have cast a damper on our tourism industry especially as this is Visit Malaysia Year 2014.
Last November, a Taiwanese woman was kidnapped while her husband was shot dead. This year, two Chinese nationals, a woman and a man were kidnapped in April and May respectively, but thanks to the efforts of the relevant authorities, they have been freed unharmed.
A Malaysian fish farm owner was kidnapped in June and a police officer in July and both have yet to be released and we hope that they too, will be freed unharmed.
Financial fraud still abound with money siphoned off from the bank accounts of the MH370 victims.
The killing of two British students in Sarawak and the case of the Malaysian being involved in sexual assault and burglary in New Zealand certainly portrays our nation in bad light.
A MAS crewman held over sexual assault in Paris last week is bad news, too. This is an international incident as the victim was an Australian passenger.
Race-based issues involving insults hurled back and forth between the various races is also a cause for concern in our increasingly polarised society.
Certainly we have many challenges facing us and the time has come for us to discard the selfish attitude of race-based policies and practices.
We need to stand united in all these trials and tribulations before our nation can move forward.
We require a strong leader whose voice of moderation will be a signal to each and every Malaysian to work together towards a common goal of racial harmony and economic prosperity.
Our nation is facing tremendous challenges right now. Our Commonwealth Games athletes have failed to meet the seven-gold medal target although the bright spark is that new talents have emerged in diving and badminton.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak must go all out to stress and cultivate a voice of moderation and urge the racial bigots and religious extremists to discard their biased, double-standard and prejudiced thinking in favour of an understanding, fair, balanced and accommodating outlook.
Najib must exhort Malaysians to exercise moderation and stand together in harmony as we need to put our best foot forward in facing the challenges of the 21st century.
This has been a difficult year for us but by standing together in unity, we can surely overcome all the difficulties and challenges facing us and build a stronger and better Malaysia for one and all.
Not forgetting our brothers and sisters in Sabah and Sarawak, let us celebrate a blessed and meaningful 57th Merdeka on Aug 31.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.