By S. HADI ABDULLAH                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
RECENTLY, I was asked to address an insurance company's staff on                                                                                      
Unity and Diversity. While pondering on what to say, many                                                                                             
thoughts came to my mind. At the global level, Samuel                                                                                                 
Huntington's hypothesis of the clash of civilisations seems to                                                                                        
be not too far off the mark. While not on a large scale, clashes                                                                                      
and skirmishes mostly based on religion and race are simmering                                                                                        
in many parts of the world.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
The Northern Ireland fight between the Catholics and the                                                                                              
Protestants is not new. We saw the atrocities in Bosnia; we see                                                                                       
it in Palestine. Nearer home, in the Philippines, there is the                                                                                        
disagreement between the Muslims in the south and the government                                                                                      
(mainly Christians) in the north. Along racial lines, clashes                                                                                         
occur in Fiji, Aceh and most starkly in Sri Lanka.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
A recent tour of Sri Lanka brought alive its beauty and, sadly,                                                                                       
its setbacks. Sri Lanka is a lush green island, which in my                                                                                           
estimate is close to 20 years behind Malaysia in terms of                                                                                             
development.                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
Let me run a quick comparison between Malaysia and Sri Lanka.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
Sri Lanka obtained its independence in 1948 while Malaysia                                                                                            
became independent in 1957. Both countries were colonised by the                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
British, which means they had similar systems of administration                                                                                       
and education prior to independence.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
Both had an economy that was agriculture based, Malaysia                                                                                              
depending on its rubber and later palm oil and Sri Lanka on                                                                                           
rubber, rice and coconuts.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
The early leadership of both countries was also similar in many                                                                                       
respects. Malaysia's Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak had                                                                                       
obtained their degrees from the United Kingdom. D.S. Senanayake                                                                                       
and Solomon Bandaranaike were also educated in the UK.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
Even the climate of the two countries is pretty similar.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
In Malaysia, the Malays form about 55% of the population, the                                                                                         
Chinese about 30% and the Indians about 8%. In Sri Lanka, the                                                                                         
Singhalese form about 74% of the population and the Tamils 18%.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
What worked in Malaysia and what went wrong in Sri Lanka? The                                                                                         
Singhalese and the Tamils could not work things out together.                                                                                         
The early disagreement had erupted into full-fledged terrorist                                                                                        
attacks or freedom fighting, depending on whose side one is on.                                                                                       
The crux is, there was no attempt to compromise, and this cost                                                                                        
the lives of tens of thousands of people. Prime Minister Ranil                                                                                        
seems to be doing something good at the moment with the peace                                                                                         
negotiations that are being brokered by Norway.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
For Malaysia, a number of factors worked for her. There was, of                                                                                       
course, mature and considerate leadership, which gave rise to                                                                                         
political stability. The economic development and the education                                                                                       
policy also galvanised the country in no small measure. Malaysia                                                                                      
was well endowed with rich soil, good rainfall, tin and now oil                                                                                       
and gas. Underlying all this was a strong and salient factor                                                                                          
that was inter-racial acceptance, tolerance and the spirit of                                                                                         
give and take.                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
However, I fear that many people are taking this for granted.                                                                                         
Some are even playing it up from time to time to suit their own                                                                                       
ends.                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
Racial and religious acceptance must be worked at with more than                                                                                      
ample examples from leaders. Open houses and Hari Raya or                                                                                             
Chinese New Year parties are good but not enough. From the                                                                                            
educational system to housing policies to the provision of job                                                                                        
opportunities to religious practitioners, this attitude of                                                                                            
acceptance and give- and-take must prevail. Students must be                                                                                          
taught other religions, customs and practices besides their own.                                                                                      
This will not only be good for the country but will also prove                                                                                        
to be practical and advantageous in a "borderless" world.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
As a test at the said address, I asked the following questions.                                                                                       
Readers are welcome to have a go as to their understanding of a                                                                                       
multi-religious/ racial society.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
1. The significance of Wesak Day (to be answered by non-                                                                                              
Buddhists).                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
2. The significance of Good Friday (to be answered by non-                                                                                            
Christians).                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
3. The meaning of Islam (to be answered by non-Muslims).                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
4. Why celebrate Deepavali (to be answered by non-Hindus)?                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
5. The Golden Rule - please explain.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
Scientists tell us that as human beings, we have 30,000 genes.                                                                                        
And the difference between you and me or between Tiger Woods and                                                                                      
me or between Michelle Yeoh and Aishwarya Rai is only 30 genes -                                                                                      
meaning that there is a 99.9% similarity and only 0.1%                                                                                                
difference. And yet we humans have worked out lists and lists of                                                                                      
what makes us different (unique) from others. It is becoming a                                                                                        
habit, a bad one at that, to emphasise the differences.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
While there are many good examples to go by, Malaysians must                                                                                          
with commitment and gusto make inter-racial relationships                                                                                             
flourish. We can be a good role model for the world.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
Recently, a foreign bank set up its multi-million dollar "hub"                                                                                        
at Cyberjaya despite offers from Turkey, etc. The reason is that                                                                                      
we have a Mandarin-speaking population that gives access to the                                                                                       
huge potential in China, a Muslim majority that can open doors                                                                                        
to the Middle East, an Indian minority that has connections with                                                                                      
the wizards in Bangalore and, most importantly, a population                                                                                          
that can communicate in English. We can and should make this                                                                                          
diversity work for us.                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
In the end, it is a question of man's ability to rise above the                                                                                       
petty, to place the interests of his larger community before                                                                                          
his; learn to see the good and the virtues in others be they in                                                                                       
culture, values, religion or practices. We need to remind each                                                                                        
other that this nation will prosper when we all prosper.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
I would like to end with this beautiful Chinese proverb:                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
If there is light in a soul                                                                                                                           
There will be beauty in the person                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
If there is beauty in a person                                                                                                                        
There will be harmony in the house                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
If there is harmony in the house                                                                                                                      
There will be order in the nation                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
If there is order in the nation                                                                                                                       
There will be peace in the world                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
Answers to the questions above:                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
1. Commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama                                                                                          
Buddha.                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
2. Commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
3. Submission - surrender.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
4. The victory of good over evil. The riddance of the tyrant                                                                                          
ruler, Naragasuran.                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
5. Do unto others as you would want others to do unto you. (This                                                                                      
saying is found in all religions and would make a good start for                                                                                      
an individual to adopt it as his or her personal philosophy.)                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
S. Hadi Abdullah is a member of MIM and is currently programme                                                                                        
director of MIM's community-oriented Tun Hussein Onn Renewal                                                                                          
Awards (Thora) programme scheduled for Sept 28 to Oct 4.