Page 5 - english liyana

TEACHER LIYANA

But, I had to pause to think again about Merdeka, where
after extending a hand of kindness, I was asked incredu-
lously whether I was of their race or another. It hurt slight-
ly, but hurt it did. Because the answer to that question
shouldn’t have mattered. Because they did not expect kind-
ness from me, as I come from another race. I wondered
about Merdeka when someone is called a traitor of his race
by the university chancellor for thinking of inviting a mea-
grely small number of students of another race to study
with fellow Malaysians of another race. I’m no longer sure
that there is Merdeka when those painful racial incidents
were reported in the papers over the past months. I do not
know what has race anything to do with Merdeka, when
people cheered together fifty one years ago without think-
ing of races.

But I do know this, that I will not allow those ugly incidents
in the past and those that are likely to happen in the fu-
ture, to make me retract my hand, because I will continue
to extend my hand, in respect, in kindness and in love, to
my fellow Malaysians.

Will you hold my hand then,my fellow Malaysian, and help
keep Merdeka alive?

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