Happy birthday Tunku Abdul Rahman!

If Tunku Abdul Rahman were to be alive today, he would be 112 years old, tomorrow.

This great man shares his birthday with the greatest man in my life; my father, so, happy birthday to both of you!

My favourite quote of Tunku Abdul Rahman is:

“The main thing which we have to remember is that we have got to make a home of this country and we have got to live happily together ever after. Let us contribute our share towards it, each and every one of us, no matter what may be our race or creed.”

I remember this, so do you?

Though I am a post-independence baby and was not there to witness Tunku declared independence in 1957, I owe him my life and the future of my children, in this country.

Like all Malaysians, I have great respect and so much love for this iconic figure.

So much so, that my son’s middle name is Rahman.

I was looking for a strong name for a boy then, with hopes that he would turn out strong and intelligent as well as to contribute towards fostering unity in this country.

Hence, Rahman is the perfect choice.

As a sign of my commitment, my love and gratitude towards my ‘Father of Independence’ I have pledged to do everything I can within my will to uphold the harmony and the unity of the people, Malaysians.

Alas, lately my heart bruised alongside my other fellow Malaysians who feel that ‘unity’ in this land of diversity has slowly ceased of its existence.The closest one can get to the word ‘unified’ would be from the wireless network connection - ‘unifi’.

Just this week, we have been slapped with a hotchpotch of events deemed promoting racial tensions.

Amongst us, stands a group of people who have nothing better to do than voicing out words and stringing sentences that divide us rather than unite.

People that we trust as our leader, the person that we duly voted with our full confidence has shaken our grounds of unity with his statement of racial prejudice. To add hurt to injury, he admitted to being totally unapologetic about the whole commotion he had caused.

People that we trust for advice and facts on religion, on the faith of Muslims in this country often confused us with their rendition of do’s and don’ts in society.

No to open houses, no to sharing joys of other religions, no to exuding excitement unto other races' festive seasons, no to campaign that promotes kindness to other beings, no to respecting the houses of worship of other religions - no, no, no.

And who would have thought that there have been unthinkable questions to divide Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia?

Even in schools, our kids are bombarded with racial stance.

An obvious example here would be the school in Cheras where, baju kurung as school uniform was only made wearable for only a particular race. Now that the case is resolved (Thank God!), however, all forgiven but not forgotten - you can’t really erase what had happened out in the open.

You can erase what you have typewritten on the status box on your social media but you can’t possibly erase what is embedded in the minds of the people. It commonly sticks like heavy duty glue.

Though we are not responsible for the invasion of the Brits and the Japs in the era of colonization, but we are responsible for its silver lining a.k.a independence and democracy.

Just like how we are not responsible of the western influence colonizing the minds of our youngsters, our current generation via internet; however, we are entirely responsible for the things we do with this ‘tool’ that we are blessed with in the name of modernization.

And please do not glorify these irresponsible lots by calling them keyboard warriors when they are really keyboard losers.

What do this people know about war? That we dubbed them as warriors? They don't even know what they are fighting for.

Most importantly, we are responsible for every little thing we insinuated and projected in the virtual world that is highly accessible to all walks of life.

We do not need to starve ourselves or sacrifice our land or hide our children like we did way back when, during pre-independence age. So why are we constantly testing the grounds of harmony and unity by uttering provocative words to each other?

We are Malaysians, our diversity is our ultimate strength, our ‘colourful’ skin is our beauty, our modesty and humility is our trademark.

Really, if Tunku Abdul Rahman were to be alive today, I can't imagine what he could have done to bring us back together again and smile at the mere mention of the magic word: U.N.I.T.Y.

I am guessing if Tunku were to be alive, after all that he had been through, I hope that he won’t be disappointed with what we have become today, just like how I, a true Malaysian, am disappointed with what we (Malaysians) have become.

Here’s a toast to Malaysians and the unity we so believe in and that is the only thing that we should be fighting for.

Happy birthday Tunku Abdul Rahman (… and abah, dearest).