Let’s say something nice and not hurtful starting from today to promote national unity, as we set a good example for our children and leave them a most precious legacy.

Yesterday was the country’s 66th independence anniversary. For people like us born and raised here, let’s say a big “Happy Birthday” to our tanahair, with the hope all Malaysians of diverse ethnic communities will live together harmoniously and in unity, and forge ahead with our beloved country.

Yes, some day we are going to grow old and pass on, but it is our hope that our posterity will turn this multicultural home they have inherited into a paradise ion earth, where everyone living on this land will learn to respect and accommodate one another, and pass this muhibbah spirit to their children and grandchildren.

Confucius said, “… At sixty, my ear was attuned..” meaning we can what is right or wrong anything that goes into our ears. Indeed, people in their thirties and forties may be lack of life experiences and tend to be outspoken. But when they turn 60, they will think prudently anything that they say or do, because they have accumulated lots of life experiences and should know how to consider many more things that they used to trivialise when they were much younger.

A person’s wisdom, along with a country’s development, should grow as he ages. As such, when a person turns 66, he should behave like one of this age and be a role model for his children and grandchildren.

The same goes for the politicians. As they age, they should have the wisdom to look at things from a macroscopic perspective and not to sweat over petty things. They must learn to speak nice things and not be offensive with malicious words, and learn to be more inclusive, respectful and empathetic being a member of our diverse social fabric. If they fail to do this, they should just quit politics and enjoy their peaceful retirement back in their kampung.

Our deputy prime minister hailing from across the South China Sea Fadillah Yusof, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, is apparently unaccustomed to the either extreme-right or extreme left mentality on the peninsula. He said we need to accommodate one another’s differences and learn to say something nice to unite the people.

He intends to take the Say Something Nice campaign to the National Unity Advisory Council, and remind all elected representatives and politicians to become leaders in uniting the people.

Very well said. Politicians must be leaders who will help unite the people, but today, how many of our YBs are actually saying something nice? Not many, as most of them are eager to instil negative energy into their audiences, that people not from our own race and religion are not on our side. There is absolutely zero tolerance and respect that could have come out from them! All that they do is to slam their rival politicians and innocent members of the public that don’t belong to their clan, taking pleasure in tearing up the nation as they do.

To those politicians who enjoy sowing seeds of discord among the people, we need to learn to abhor these thugs, as their venomous mouths have made us targets of inter-community hatred.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul has grown frustrated with foul-speaking MPs, and says he will table a new bill at the end of the year and amend the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 to allow for the suspension of MPs making uncouth remarks or unparliamentary behaviours for 30 to 60 days.

We want MPs who speak things that matter to the well-being of the nation, not trashy talks.

Having been independent for 66 years now, it is sad that we still have plenty of elected reps who are still living in bygone eras, drawing handsome remunerations but doing nothing constructive in nation-building. Enough is enough!

The government has decided to reactivate the Inter-Faith Harmony Committee (Harmoni) to allow religious leaders in the committee to resolve issues related to religion and race.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the committee, which will be jointly chaired by him and National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang, would function as an official consultation body of leaders from major religions practised in this country to provide the best input and practical suggestions to strengthen mutual understanding and harmony in the community.

Yes, racial and religious conflicts have ensued largely because of misunderstandings as a consequence of miscommunication or lack of communication.

And since this is the case, why can’t our politicians and prominent religious figures just say things nicely instead of uttering disparaging remarks that could bring catastrophic consequences to our society.

There’s this ancient Chinese saying that kind words will warm the hearts of people through the winters while hurtful words will send a chill to people even in the sultry heat of summer months.

So, let’s say something nice and not hurtful starting from today to promote national unity, as we set a good example for our children and leave them a most precious legacy.