I refer to your recent report, Temple demo: Residents march with cow's head .

After 52 years of independence, it is no exaggeration to say that inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations in Malaysia are in a bad state.

Incidents such as this cow's head event only serve to underscore what Malaysians know to be true.

However, inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations have never been good to begin with, and have been dragging us down for some time.

I believe that this is due to our system of government; although we claim to be a democracy, the reality is that isn't the case.

It is an accepted belief that the people from various groups cannot work together in a normal democratic process.

The elites of each group bargain with each other behind closed doors to decide on how to run the country, and who gets what.

A consequence of this is that, freed from having to be accountable to the rakyat, they (i.e. Umno, MCA, MIC, etc) have been able to indulge in corruption, cronyism and nepotism with impunity.

Another consequence is that there has been no real public discourse on matters of national interest. Indeed, discussion of key topics is deemed "sensitive" and clamped down upon.

The threat of violence, either official or unofficial, has been used to prevent this discourse. The rakyat has been kept divided by the elites in order to protect their grip on power.

Is there something that we Malaysians can do to once and for all remove this knife that BN is holding to our throat?

Sixty-four years ago, philosophers Will and Ariel Durant, along with several like-minded people, pondered the same problem.

They decided to form a movement to promote human tolerance and fellowship through mutual consideration and respect.

In the words of Will Durant: "No democracy can long endure without recognising and encouraging the interdependence of the racial and religious groups composing it."

They came up with a Declaration of INTERdependence, which represented their core beliefs. This is the declaration:

Declaration of INTERdependence

Human progress, having reached a high level of respect for the liberty and dignity of men, re-affirm these evident truths:

  • That differences of race, colour, and creed are natural, and that diverse groups, institutions, and ideas are stimulating factors in the development of man;
  • That to promote harmony in diversity the task of religion and statesmanship;
  • That since no individual can express the whole truth, it is essential to treat with understanding and goodwill, those whose views differ from our own;
  • That by the testimony of history, intolerance is the door to violence, brutality and dictatorship; and
  • That the realisation of human interdependence and solidarity is the best guard of civilisation.

Therefore, we solemnly resolve, and invite everyone to join in united action.

  • To uphold and promote human fellowship through mutual consideration and respect;
  • To champion human dignity and decency, and to safeguard these without distinction of race, or colour, or creed;
  • To strive in concert with others to discourage all animosities arising from these differences, and to unite all groups in the fair play of civilised life.
  • Rooted in freedom, bonded in the fellowship of danger, sharing everywhere a common human blood, we declare again that all men are brothers, and that mutual tolerance is the price of liberty.

If you feel that this declaration is something that can help us Malaysians, would you consider helping to spread its message?

Perhaps the best thing we could do is to practice it in our daily lives. In the words of Will Durant:

"Our main task is to reduce the causes of racial animosity. First by recognising that we are all guilty. Which of us has never uttered a word of racial hostility? Let us resolve never to do it again. Let us watch our own conduct, and by our moderation, our modesty, our good will, give no handle or excuse to racial division. Let us burn the second half of this declaration into our hearts, and make a sacred vow, here and now."

Are we up to this?