Perhaps Malaysians are a lot kinder than we think

A middle-aged Chinese woman approached an FMT newsroom, in need of assistance. An Indian journalist was tasked with writing about a young Malay girl who required urgent medical care. This tale, shared by FMT executive chairman Nelson Fernandez at a recent forum, would have been just another story of Malaysian kindness. However, it was unique because individuals of various ethnicities united to help a Chinese individual, who shared the story via an Indian journalist, to aid a Malay girl.

Within hours of FMT publishing the story, the pledged amount reached RM150,000, providing young Diya Amanda with her initial steps towards a typical childhood. Fernandez viewed this as another ordinary day at work. He believed the ideal Malaysia was already present. Unity didn't require campaigns or matching T-shirts; it merely necessitated a child needing help and people stepping forward.

In 1982, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder sang about "Ebony and Ivory" living harmoniously. Despite this being more than forty years ago, humanity still grapples with this concept. Malaysians have spent decades discussing unity, employing slogans, campaigns, and speeches. However, the most compelling demonstration of Malaysian unity occurred organically, without any announcement.

Just as the song suggests, harmony may not require all notes to be identical. Perhaps Malaysia lacks harmony because we don't witness it often enough. This is crucial because the narratives we repeatedly hear about one another shape the nation we belong to. If Malaysians only encounter each other through anger, suspicion, and conflict, it becomes simple to believe we are fundamentally divided.

That's why Fernandez's emphasis on journalism extends beyond journalism. He didn't imply difficult stories shouldn't be told. He requested something more challenging: that conflict doesn't become the sole perspective through which Malaysians view one another. We can fiercely disagree without dehumanizing others. We can defend our beliefs without humiliating those with differing opinions.

When reporting on what divides Malaysia, we shouldn't overlook the stories that highlight what still unites us. This responsibility isn't solely the journalists' anymore. Each one of us carries a tiny newsroom in our pockets. We choose what gets shared, forwarded, and viral-ed. Nelson Fernandez mentioned at the New Muslim Community Conference in Kuala Lumpur something that resonated with me: "Everyone talks about religion, but no one talks about love, compassion, and kindness."

Love, compassion, and kindness may seem soft in contrast to politics, race, religion, and power. However, as I previously wrote, we've misconstrued softness and strength. It's easy to be kind to those who agree with us and are similar. Demonstrating kindness to someone different requires more strength. Perhaps Malaysians don't need to agree on everything; perhaps agreement was never the aim.

Harmony doesn't mean everyone singing the same note—it's unison. Harmony requires difference. Ebony and ivory don't create music because they overcome their differences; their differences are the essence. Malaysia isn't that different. A diverse, colorful country like ours was never meant to be one note. We should stop striving to make everyone sound the same and focus on improving our listening skills instead. That's where harmony begins.