Malaysia has been going through a period of turmoil these past few years; we made minimal progress, I would even say that have regressed, economically, socially, and politically.

The rising living cost with the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and toll hikes for example, the erosion of our social and human rights such as prosecution over things said online, to the increasing religious and racial radicalisation such as issuing summonses to people for their dress code. Last but not least, how can we forget, corruption at the highest levels.

Is Malaysia still a free country? Is Malaysia still an economic force internationally and only second to Singapore in Asean? Are Malaysians still living in unity as our forefathers had wished?

Like many others I often feel despair and depressed over the state of affairs of my beloved country.

But unlike many others, I have not given up just yet.

I believe in common sense of common people, so I am here just to remind you of it.

Let me explain with a story.

There are two farmers, Mr A and Mr B

Scenario 1

If for a bag of rice, farmer A gets one fish, but for the same quality and quantity of rice, Farmer B gets two fishes.

Anyone on the street, literate or not, would say that this is unfair.

Scenario 2

Then there is this person Mr C, who neither fishes nor farms. Mr C steals a handful of rice from every bag of rice of each farmer in the village, 100 of them.

Everyone is unhappy but since it’s only a handful, most people would tolerate it.

But not Mr A. Mr A say what Mr C does is wrong, even if it is just a handful of rice.

Mr C then tells Mr B that Mr A is greedy, Mr A can’t even give up a handful of rice.

Mr C then say Mr A is Chinese, but Mr B and him are Malays, so surely Mr B must support him.

Mr C then uses the rice he stole to buy 10 fishes. He keeps nine and gives one to Mr B. Mr B is happy because Mr B gets one free fish.

Mr C then tells Mr B to support him because otherwise Mr C will not give him the free fish. Mr B agrees, and fight against Mr A.

With that, Mr B and Mr A fight each other. And who benefits?

Mr C right? Mr C continues to keep nine fishes without even working.

The story is simple, anyone can understand who the evil person here is. Mr C who manipulates Mr B for his own benefit, and Mr C who steals.

Not only a story but the reality

Unfortunately this is not only a story but the reality in Malaysia. The politicians, especially the government, allegedly manipulate us to fight against each other while they stay in power.

Behind the masks of religion, race, free goods used by the politicians, we all know what is right and what is wrong. We are just blinded by the cunning politicians.

Think about it.

Like in scenario 1, things like fairness and justice, we don’t need people to teach us nor do we need high education to realise it. We just know it within ourselves. It’s the same for human rights, we have these rights simply because we are humans, everyone knows we should have the freedom to express ourselves, freedom to wear what we want, freedom to live with dignity.

So dear Malaysians, let us all come together and remember this.

It has never been about race or religion.

It should never have been the Chinese vs the Malays.

It should never be the Muslims vs the Christians.

We are all Malaysians, we all have human rights, and we all have common sense and sense of fairness and justice.

It should be us the honest hardworking Malaysians vs the allegedly corrupt, lazy and incompetent government.

It should be we kind, peaceful and moderate Muslims and Christians vs the allegedly evil, cunning and manipulative government.

It should be us Malaysians, regardless of ethnicity, religion and class against injustice and immorality.

Let us all unite, seeing beyond of identity differences, unite under the same love for our country and on what is right is wrong, and fight united as one against the evil - the corrupt, the greedy, the lazy and the manipulative.

Things may not seem hopeful, but I believe in the inherent goodness of human beings, the intelligence of my fellow Malaysians, brothers and sisters, of all ages, of all ethnicity and from all states.

If we unite, we can right what is wrong, the country can be saved.

I am optimistic, you?

#OptimistikMalaysia