Tomorrow Buddhists in Malaysia celebrate the Vesak Day to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Gautama Buddha.
It is also a reminder that Malaysia is the only Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) country which celebrates the religious festivals of four major religions – Islam, Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism – in the form of public holidays, which makes Malaysia specially suited to be a role model for the world for inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony.
The question is whether Perikatan Nasional (PN), especially PAS, through the three state governments which it controls, support a national mission to make Malaysia a role model for the world in inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony.
I have no doubt that if PAS was under the leadership of the Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, PAS would have no hesitation in supporting a national vision to make Malaysia the role model for the world in inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony.
But I have my doubts that this objective will find support by PAS under the present leadership of Hadi Awang.
PN leaders are engrossed with how to topple the Anwar unity government, to recreate the infamous Sheraton Move political conspiracy, reckless of whether Malaysia will end up as a divided, failed and kleptocratic state and have no time or interest for any vision to make Malaysia a first-rate world-class nation.
This is the first time in nearly 45 years that Malaysia has hopes to reset and return to the original nation-building principles for a plural Malaysia and to stop Malaysia’s decline as a second-rate mediocre country.
We must dare to envision a global role for Malaysia and not to end up as a divided, failed and kleptocratic state in the next few decades.
The question is whether Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region, are prepared to dream big and work hard to realize the Malaysian Dream.