Living proof of 1Malaysia

IF one were searching for the true meaning of the 1Malaysia concept, then one should pay a visit to Sarawak, which boasts a diversity of culture.

Born and bred in Kuching, I have been to towns like Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, and several smaller districts and interior areas like Belaga and Long Panai.

And I dare say that Sarawak best encapsulates Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia concept, where everyone is united, regardless of religion or race.


Najib, too, acknowledged this at the Malaysia Day gathering in Padang Merdeka, Kuching, when he said that Sarawak was a living example of 1Malaysia.

Regardless of whether people are Malays, Chinese, Dayaks, Indians or others, they are comfortable about going to restaurants of different races.

This reminded me of a scene in the hit Malay movie Sepet where the lead actress (who is Malay) accompanies a Chinese friend to a Chinese restaurant. The scene created much unhappiness in the peninsula, as some people could not accept it.


But this is a very common scene in Sarawak and we have no issues about it.

A friend from the peninsula, who came to Kuching for business, said he would not enter any Chinese or Dayak restaurant, nor would it cross his mind as the food there was not halal.

So it was with much resentment that he followed a Malay friend from Sarawak into a typical Chinese looking coffee shop.


To his shock, there was a big number of Muslims eating nasi lemak and local delicacies like laksa Sarawak and mee kolok.

My friend was quite sceptical at first only to get an assurance from the owner, who said proudly: "We Sarawakians understand each other well despite our differences in race and religion."

Thinking that the morning scene in the Chinese coffee shop was an aberration, my friend had lunch in another Chinese restaurant.

True enough, the scenario was the same, with most of the patrons there Muslims.

When it comes to food, Sara-wakians have shown the true meaning of unity.

Whether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner or supper, we are united and have no qualms about eating at the same table.

Another example is in my family. Because of many intermarriages, I'm a Chinese-Bidayuh and Muslim convert. My daughter is a Chinese Bidayuh Indian Muslim.

In another word, she is a "rojak" as everyone always teases her.

We celebrate four festive seasons -- Chinese New Year, Gawai Dayak, Hari Raya and Christmas.

Thus, because of the many intermarriages among Sarawakians, the 1Malaysia spirit among us is naturally present.

The depth of the friendships among the various races in Sarawak is truly a model of the 1Malaysia concept.

It may not be easy for first-time visitors to Sarawak to differentiate the people according to their races as many are products of intermarriages.

Such an acceptance does not happen only in the cities, but also in the rural areas.

So let us not forget the basics of being a truly united nation.

It is so easy to slur another person, another religion or another race on various websites these days, but is this what we want to do as a responsible citizen?

I feel the way to understand 1Malaysia is by starting to look at how we Sarawakians live.