Dear Malaysia
SELAMAT Hari Kebangsaan and Selamat Hari Malaysia, my dear fellow Malaysians.
Dear fellow Malaysians, on our National Day, I reflect on the challenges our beloved nation faces, such as our economy, education, corruption, political reforms, climate change, and artificial intelligence. These issues are still relevant today. I would like to discuss something more fundamental - who we are as a people. Before we are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Kadazans, Orang Asli or Eurasian and before we belong to different political parties or hold different opinions, we are all sons and daughters of Malaysia.
We share common experiences with our loved ones, friends, and even our parents. As Malaysians, we witness their successes and feel their struggles. We worry for our elders and hope for the future of the next generation. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we are far more alike than different. When we forget our labels, we discover the beauty of being together.
Children see people before they see labels, so perhaps as adults, we lose that wisdom. Faith, language, and family are personal choices, but all religions teach us the value of human dignity and not to despise others based on race or religion. Sunway strives to be colour-blind, passport-blind, and religion-blind. As a diverse nation, our strength lies in our differences.
We must build a society where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Hatred and division can be learned, but respect and unity can also be learned. The question is whether we are willing to become more generous Malaysians. Throughout history, there have been those who unite and those who divide. Division is easy, but building trust takes courage and conviction.
We must uphold the ideals that bind us as a nation. If we had focused on solving common problems rather than arguing over our differences, Malaysia could have progressed further. Quality education is a powerful tool to lift families out of poverty and provide a brighter future. The Jeffrey Cheah Foundation has donated over RM1.05 billion in scholarships and grants to deserving Malaysians, regardless of race or background.
Building a great nation requires the collective effort of citizens, businesses, schools, religious organizations, and parents. Malaysia cannot afford to be left behind by the rest of the world, especially with challenges like artificial intelligence and climate change. Our children deserve a nation confident enough to compete globally.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
