More than half a century after Merdeka, our country still wrestles with the problem of race and religion. Our life is a constant vigilance against the dangers of our common enemy of hate. It has been a test. A test in which we have been successful so far. Malaysians have become brothers and sisters and our best virtues have flourished.

On Jan 8, Malaysians were jolted by an upheaval again. The Metro Tabernacle Church, Kuala Lumpur was fire-bombed and torched. The shock was aptly described by the reaction of an elderly priest nearby, clutching his beads and crossing himself. Help me, God. Help us all. Protect us against evil incarnate. The face of satan has surfaced once again, he cried!

In whatever way, we view this tragedy, the fire-bombing and the attacks of varying degrees on other churches - is a satanic, fanatical and cowardly act of betrayal to the holy books and fellow Malaysians.

Though there is still anger and frustration on both sides of the divide, there has also been much restraint and an innate desire among the majority of Malaysians for peace rather than conflict. This reinforces the belief that the May 13 bogey has effectively been exorcised.

The pastor of the Metro Tabernacle Church is an exemplar of his faith. He called on the Christian community to forgive the perpetrators. And for most of us Christians, where our arms cannot reach and enfold  the perpetrators, we clasped our hands in prayer.

In our desolation and desperation, we sought refuge in God. We sought His intercession and that He does not forsake us. We asked that He walk with us and lead us on the path of forgiveness, righteousness, justice, fairplay and unity.

It was a sad day for Malaysia but a great day to know that most Malaysians do not think and act like those cowardly arsonists.

The people of the 1950s- with only a minimum of political awareness and education - were capable of fighting for independence.

To all our compatriots, especially the young, the next 50 years will be decisive. It is a time where all political parties must take stock of the situation and prevent the possibility of a disaster.

What we need is a group of men and women who will stand up for what is right and oppose to wrong,

We are bound today by what bound us 52 years ago. The same loyalties, traditions and beliefs. We are bound by reality.

Let us make a vow to our forefathers. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they fought and died for.

Strenghtened by their courage, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which our forefathers lived and died.

We must believe that we belong to the family of Malaysia, recognising in the depth of our hearts that we are bound one to another.

We must forgive each other, redeem each other, regroup and move on.

Even in our ‘fractured’ state, all of us count and fit somewhere. We have proven that we can survive without each other. But we have not proven that we can win and make progress without each other.

We must come together. We can no longer afford to worship the god of hate or bow before the alter of retaliation. We must find new ways to speak for peace, justice, fairplay and unity in our nation.

If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long dark and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possessed power without compassion, might without morality and strength without sight.

Had our forefathers surrendered to the difficulties of building this nation, Malaysia would have been torn apart long time ago.

It is not an institutional problem. It is not a problem of drafting. It is something simpler and more profound. It is a question of political will and political courage, to convince people that we need to work and lived together. This is the noblest inheritance and our greatest strength.

Let this be the moment that we stop saying 'tomorrow'. Let us look beyond the outrage and tackle the problem at its root. The time has come to heal the intolerance, anger and rancour cleaving Malaysia.

Dialogue and discourse are the only peaceful avenues. The Inter-faith Council must be reincarnated. We must join in common effort without remorse or recrimination, without anger and rancour to find a common path which will lead us to common good, harmony and prosperity for all.

Malaysia is still a great country. We are going through a tough time. I am confident we will come through it and be even stronger.

Let's come together and make it work.