Getting our children to play together again

OUR MUHIBAH STORY | As the years go by, Malaysian children are increasingly growing up in their ethnic bubbles.

More than 90 percent of enrolment in Sekolah Kebangsaan are bumiputera, while bumiputera still make up a minority - albeit a growing one - in vernacular schools.

To overcome this, in Malacca, volunteers organise intercultural football teams and tournaments for teenagers to give them a chance to have childhood memories together.

This story was among those submitted to Malaysiakini’s call out last month for readers to share about their connections which surpass ethnic and religious boundaries.

Others include a story of intellectual connection with a Malay scholar of Lao Tzu, and how a love story between a CD seller and the girl at the nasi lemak stall sparked an enduring friendship.

Below are their stories in their own words.

(Editor’s note: The stories’ brevity does not reflect the depth of the readers’ experience, rather the fact that Malaysiakini’s call-out had initially requested submissions of up to 100 words to suit social media formats.)

A chance to create memories together

A muhibah story by Loh Chin Wooi.

Football has always been a sport dominated by Sekolah Kebangsaan students. One can hardly find a Chinese school taking the initiative to participate.

Today, it is also rare for Chinese and Indian children to play football with Malay children.

This is why I organise volunteer football training sessions for teenagers in the suburbs.

The teams, composed of Chinese, Malay and Indian students train together and participate in competitions in the city. 

This allows children from different ethnic backgrounds to create harmonious childhood memories. 

ALSO READ: 63 years after Merdeka, Malaysian children attend camp to learn to how to be friends

An intellectual connection

A muhibah story by Liew Meng Seng.

I met Hazman Baharom in June 2020 amidst the raging global pandemic. Needless to say, it was an online encounter.

At that time, he was delivering a talk for the Persatuan Pendidikan Falsafah dan Pemikiran Malaysia (PPFPM) on Western philosophy.

The text he chose was beyond my expectations. It was 'Isonomia And Origins of Philosophy', by the Japanese scholar Kojin Karatani.

In just over an hour, he succinctly explained the core concept of Isonomia in the video, which can still be found online.

In 2021, I was delegated by the Selangor Public Library to visit his home and collect a list of books.

His collection spans multiple languages; apart from books predominantly in Malay and English, there are also German, French, Arabic, Japanese, and even Chinese textbooks from Chinese independent high schools in Malaysia.

Hazman is 18 years younger than me and is currently studying in Japan. We do not frequently keep in touch, but he has agreed to help me purchase a Japanese book I am seeking.

I also have a copy of "The Prolegomena to the Metaphysics of Islam" by Syed Naquib Al-Attas, borrowed from him, as well as several books he has published, including his Malay translation of Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching".

I believe that as long as we don't confine ourselves to our identities, becoming friends in this fertile land isn't difficult.

When CD seller met nasi lemak hawker

A muhibah story by Caroleon Leong.

We've known each other for over 30 years.

We started working as teenagers, she was selling nasi lemak by the roadside and I was selling CDs at the stall next to hers.

Our families got along well, and I almost married her sister, haha!

Even though my Malay language proficiency wasn't great, we enjoyed living in the same neighbourhood.

I moved away 20 years ago, but whenever I crave her nasi lemak, I will visit her family’s eatery. To this day, she only charges me RM1 per packet.

I was deeply saddened when I learned that her brother had recently passed away.

I wish them all the best and good health! May our friendship endure!

OTHER MUHIBAH STORIES:

'When I lost my job at 57, these friends buoyed my spirits'

An Indian girl in Chinese school, the only Malay in college

'14 years of interfaith events a testament to our goodwill'

'I couldn't afford breakfast so he shared his with me for 6 years'

‘They travelled for hours to celebrate Raya with us’

Treasured memories as the only non-Malay in school

‘Our love for food transcends our differences’

United under the same flag

'When I lost my job at 57, these friends buoyed my spirits'

'14 years of interfaith events a testament to our goodwill'

'I couldn't afford breakfast so he shared his with me for 6 years'

'Our love for food transcends our differences'

'They travelled for hours to celebrate Raya with us'

Hindu woman's devotion to late Muslim father a testament to love