While we Malaysians are proud to share in the unique heritage of hosting open houses from the national level to our personal homes where we invite friends from near and afar to partake in our celebrations, certain aspects of our uglier side which also makes us unique prevail. It is our inherent quality of being 'kiasu' over the tiniest of matters.

At any open house hosted by the federal government to those hosted by political parties, any first-time foreign visitor can be forgiven if he or she were to think that we Malaysians are probably food-deprived famine victims.

It has become common sight to see Malaysians from all walks of life bringing plastic bags of all shapes, sizes and colours in order to scoop food from the hosts' tables to take back home. Is one's dignity worth that little amount of baked or fried flour? One can comprehend if Malaysians were caught in the middle of a combat zone, or struggling in a civil war or if severe natural disasters like prolonged drought or a locust attack had plaqued us; hence the need to reach out with outstretched arms to seize whatever edible morsels we could find.

Mind you, it is not malnourished Malaysians with their rib bones sticking out who are filling their plastic bags. Rather, they are healthy Malaysians with enough inches tucked around their tummies who are plunging for the chow. And they don't come alone. Parents and grandparents come with their children in tow. What type of traditions and values are we handing down to the next generation? That 'bungkus-ing' free food served at open houses is a way of life in Malaysia?

At these national level and political parties' open houses, many foreign dignitaries are invited. Similarly, many international tourists who have read about Malaysia's open house tradition turn up. What impression is left in their minds?

That of multi-racial Malaysians enjoying the holidays and mingling with one another, a rare feature that does not exist in many countries divided by ethnic strife? Or the image of ordinary Malaysians able to shake hands freely with prime minister and other members of the executive? Or the image of Malaysians madly grabbing anything digestible that comes their way and stuffing them into plastic bags?

Malaysians need to rid of this 'kiasu' mentality of 'If I don't grab this free food, someone else will'. We need to grow up and really display the altruistic qualities of an open house that of multi-racial Malaysians coming together and enjoying each other's companionship as a true reflection of our unity in diversity.