To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest - Mahatma Gandhi

COMMENT | When I think of Merdeka, I think of Malaya. And when I think of Malaysia Day, my heart goes out to the good people of Sabah and Sarawak across the South China Sea who handle race and religion in a much better way than the peninsula.

Besides, I was a young planter in Sabah from 1982 to 85. But before all that, I experienced an event in 1974 that never left me.

Residential colleges then had “Open Days”. Friends, family, and fellow students, ladies included, shared time with us in our spruced-up rooms where we played host over cigarettes, music, light food and drinks. And college rules allowed for this.

Towards lunch time, I played host to an English literature major, a Sabahan. We smoked, drank beer and were talking earnestly when a fellow dormmate down the corridor stood at the door and rudely demanded that she leave.

After a brief confrontation, she left, but not before giving me a hug to put him in his place.