“Bersih 2.0 is illegal” screams our leaders and the mainstream media. How ironic that cleanliness is illegal in Malaysia? Does that mean that corruption and dirt are legal here?

As Malaysians we care for our country.

My mum, a Hokkien ‘nyonya’ was diagnosed with breast cancer in April by the University Hospital Breast Cancer Unit. She had a mastectomy of her right breast  As a retired civil servant she didn’t have to pay for her medical treatment.

During her time in hospital her ward-mate a Malaysian Chinese haberdasher also had breast cancer. We were once discussing the future of Malaysia when the latter’s blood pressure rose dramatically. The ward-mate was very concerned about the future of the country. We decided not to discuss the future of our country as it had left her really disturbed.

In the late afternoon, her blood pressure had returned to normal. Our next ward-mate was a retired Malay lady from a small town who worked in Kemas (Social Development – Kemajuan Masyarakat) who confided that our country had grown in leaps and bounds. But she was dismayed by what’s happening to our country now.

A UM team of multiple races/religions attended to my mother and helped her through her difficult illness: the Hokkien surgeon who had spent over 10 years in the USA, the Malay physicist, the Chinese pathologist, the Malay student nurse, the Indian nursing sister, the Chinese professor, the Indonesian cleaner and the Bangladeshi meal delivery persons made our stay in the hospital memorable with their dedication and excellent care. They come in at 5.30am in the morning and leave after 9.00pm. These are the unsung heroes of our nation.

We are already a caring or welfare nation. Our civil servants have free medical care and pensions. In comparison the new generation of Singaporean civil servants have to pay for their medical care and do not receive pensions. Companies also need to provide medical insurance for their employees. Across the causeway, employees have to manage themselves. Singapore has its roots in socialism but is capitalist. We are capitalists but have a welfare structure. Much ado about communists?

Can we admit that our country is sick and ailing with cancerous greed, corruption, lack of morals, lasciviousness, ego, self-interest, lust and lies? Are we willing to have the cancerous bit to be cut off and go though the painful healing process? Will we regardless of race/religion care for one another with personal sacrifice, humility, compassion, truth and honour like the UM staff did for my mother? The ball is in the court of our nation’s leaders.
                
As we approach Ramadhan and Merdeka, let us be reminded that Tuanku Abdul Rahman built Malaysia with a multi-racial and religious team and didn’t have to wave a sword or keris. On a side note, Sudan is facing wars and unrest in the West, North South and Centre. The average Sudanese can’t believe that Malaysia had rulers who agreed on a power-sharing concept that the King could rotate every 5 years.  

Most Sudanese believe that power should be held at all costs by one tribe, one family and not shared. This has led to over 30 years of war and genocide. How shall we then live? Let us pray for our kings and all who are in authority so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. Let us work for peace and prosperity for the nation, the nation’s welfare will determine our welfare.

Is caring illegal?