I was once a racist. I believed that my race was the determinant of my social status. I believed that my colleagues who were not of the same skin colour were by default inferior to me. I believed that it was legitimate to discriminate against those who were not born into the same race as me, speak like me, act like me and preach like me.

I was by definition a racist who stood against the ideals of my beloved nation. A racist who can be epitomised as ‘un-Malaysian’.

I am humiliated by my past. Unfortunately, the truth will not set me free nor will it liberate me from my prison of guilt but my future actions will hopefully atone for the injustices which I have committed.

It was hypocritical of me to despise the subpar treatment of the African-Americans in the United States, yet to do the very same at home.

It was hypocritical of me to condemn the KKK for preaching white supremacy, yet I am doing the very same localised version at home.

It was hypocritical of me to condemn the subjugation of Muslims abroad, yet I was fine with the subjugation of my non-Muslim brothers and sisters at home.

In hindsight, I realised that I was an intolerable hypocrite. Thank God I was brought back to the right path. I suffered once, it is therefore my duty to guide those who are struggling to find a way out.

I would like to spend some time explaining the journey out from the prison of racism which I was once locked in.

1) Compassion!

Despite my racist tendencies, my friends never gave up on me. They were there for me when I needed them. They were there for me to pull me back to the right side. Even when I was unbearably racist, they advised with compassion and affection. Never once did they cast me aside.

This is critical as compassion eventually overpowered the hate which fuelled my racist tendencies. It reminded me that the Chinese aren’t there to bring me down but to pull me back up when I am having a bad day. That stereotypes can be broken by the actions of those who defy it.

If I had been ignored, I would have further insulated myself in that self-contained echo chamber of racism and bigotry. Compassion pierced its way through to liberate me. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Compassion is a muscle that gets stronger with use”. I think is time that we collectively start flexing our muscles of compassion.

2) Exposure & interaction

I had the privilege of getting enrolled into the most diverse boarding school in Malaysia, The Royal Military College. This new environment inculcated diversity through brotherhood. Surviving in this school meant that I had to embrace my brothers who I once saw as ‘The Others’ or ‘the leeches’ (yes I was that racist).

The exposure and interactions through class activities and military training slowly lifted the racist veil which once blinded me. It demystified the stereotypes which I once placed on those who are not of the same race. The initial few weeks were difficult, but as time passed by, I grew accustom to this new environment which built an everlasting bond which until today is preserved in the deepest corner of my heart.

This situation is not unique. In 2014, 73 percent of Americans had an unfavourable attitude toward Muslims, according to the Arab American Institute. Interestingly, in the same study it was shown that most of the polled participants have never had any prolonged interactions with a Muslim. The empathy gap was driven by the vacuum of communication.

Furthermore, being in a racially diverse class also forced me to be more sensitive to the concerns and plights of the others. It is much more difficult to be racist when you have a friend who comes from that very race. It is much more difficult to be racist when you have the person stand right in front of you. This mitigates racism to a large extent.

This is why I am for the expansion of national schools which promote diversity at a very young age. The time when our minds are like sponges. The formative years which often construct our moral systems. I am proud to say that I am a beneficiary of this system.

I can never turn back time, but I can correct the future by learning from the past. I can never adequately atone for the injustices which I have committed, but I can ensure that it will never happen again. I owe a duty to those who I have wronged and that duty is best executed by standing up for their rights when it’s being trampled upon.

Compassion brought me to where I am at today. I implore for all peace-loving Malaysians to not give up on those who we despise, those who once hurt us, those who we call as racists. I was one of them, yet I am here today.

The dream for a united Malaysia is still alive. It’s hidden in our hearts waiting to be revived by those who call themselves, Malaysians.

Let us help them, help us, help Malaysia.

SYED SADDIQ SYED ABDUL RAHMAN is a part-time lecturer at Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) Malaysia and is Asia’s best debater, winning the United Asia Debate Championship in May 2015.