With an intent to show solidarity and to break the racial and religious barriers, three Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives have started fasting when the sacred month of Ramadan began last Sunday.

They are not Muslims, but they try to observe the strict rules of Ramadan, especially abstaining from food and drinks during the daylight hours, to understand better the sufferings of the poor, and to be better persons.

PKR Batu parliamentarian Tian Chua's first experience in fasting goes back to 2001, when he and nine other political activists had been detained under Internal Security Act for protesting in support of Anwar Ibrahim during the Reformasi period of 1999.

"We were detained under ISA then, and I first started fasting in Kamunting to show solidarity," Tian Chua said when contacted.

''It wasn't tough then... it was pretty easy fasting in detention than being outside," he quipped.

Tian Chua would fast in an "on and off" manner in the following year, but he made an effort to practise fasting during Ramadan annually, from 2008.

"To me, fasting is more than a religious and health matter. It is more like self-discipline, where I can train my willpower. Fasting is not something unusual to me.

"There's no reason why I cannot do it, when 60 percent of the population can. We live in a multi-ethnic society, we should at least respect one another’s lifestyle," he said.

But, I cannot reject kindness...

While he tries his best to fast the whole of Ramadan, Tian Chua said, he would not reject the kindness of food offering if he were attending a non-Muslim dining function.

This year, Tian Chua began his fasting only last Wednesday as he needed to do medical check-ups on Monday and Tuesday. Despite fasting, Tian prefers his meals to be light, for he has always held the opinion that heavy food is not good for health.

"During the dry spell, my utmost concern is water. I make sure I drink enough water in the evenings," he said.

A political activist since the Reformasi period, Tian Chua noted that there are non-Muslim students and political activists who have pushed hard for ethnic unity, and fasting is among their approaches.

Asked whether he was doing this to win support from the Malays, he said he has been known to the Malays since his involvement in Reformasi activities.

DAP Mengkibol assemblyperson Tan Hong Ping was criticised for being seeking political mileage and succumbing to Islam after pictures of him going through the fasting procedure were uploaded on the social media.

“Some even asked me when I would become a Muslim,” Tan said.

"No, I will be a fool to convert just to gain political mileage and win Malay support, for I will be attacked by Umno. I will probably end up losing the support of both Muslims and non-Muslims," he said.

Tan was able to secure close to 30 percent of the Malay votes cast in Mengkibol in Johor in the general election last year. The constituency has 27 percent Malay voters and he won the seat with a majority of 10,001 votes.

Work productivity not at all reduced

Tan, who fasted for one day during Ramadan last year, initially wanted to fast for a week this year, but he now intends to try fasting for the full month.

"I have no problem in not taking food, as sometimes I forget about food when I am busy. But not drinking water the whole day is a big challenge for me," he said.

The toughest part is when delicious food is placed in front of him when the time to break the fast comes. However, he has been following the instruction he was given - to eat a few dates, drink a lot of water and to rest for some 20 minutes before taking a full meal.

Fasting, Tan said, has not in any way reduced his work productivity. Therefore, it is wrong for people to opine that Muslim civil servants are less effective during the sacred month.

DAP’s Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming, who is fasting for the second time this year, said, "The second day of fasting was difficult for me, for I had to stand under the hot sun for two hours."

Ong, a political scientist by training, wishes his act could close ties among the various races in the country and help build a better nation.

He admitted that he also wants, each time he gets in touch with members of the Muslim community, for them to understand that his party, the DAP, is not anti-Malay or anti-Islam.

"Last year, I only fasted for 25 days. The last few days I fell sick and that was when I arrived in Singapore, and so I had to stop," he said.

Ong has the support of his wife, who is an engineer. She not only wakes up very early to prepare the meal, she also fasts with him.

"She does not observe the rules as strictly as I do. She will drink water, and eat if she can't stand anymore," he said.

Fasting, has made him a better driver, he noted, for he has became more patient and honked less on the road.

"Well, I am more productive too, for I can use my lunch time on work," Ong added.