A crescent moon has stirred up the most intense public storm I’ve ever faced in my journalism career.

With regards to the missing crescent moon on the national flag on the front page of Sin Chew Daily, one can say that our checks lacked professionalism. Why wasn’t the missing crescent spotted immediately? You can also say this is an unacceptable mistake. How can such an oversight occur on a national symbol?

We’ve heard these criticisms and we humbly accept them.

However, when some accuse us of creating it “intentionally,” or claim that we have acted with ulterior motives—some even stretch further – Sin Chew Daily is “loyal to foreign powers” and has “turned its back on Malaysia”—I am left not only bewildered but helpless and painful emotionally.

As a media organisation, we understand the weight of our responsibilities. Why would we sabotage ourselves? Why would we compromise our own credibility and hurt the feelings of our people?

Such accusations are not only unfounded, but they also erase the continuous efforts Sin Chew Daily has made in fostering national identity and promoting inter-ethnic unity in Malaysia.

Perhaps not everyone is aware that Sin Chew Daily has been running a weekly page known as “We” on Sunday since January 1, 2018, featuring stories of other ethnic groups  to enhance Chinese readers’ understanding of fellow Malaysians with the tagline: “We are one family, regardless of race or background.”

This page, which is entering its seventh year now, has published more than 350 articles to date. Through real and heartwarming stories, it introduces readers cultures, lives, and voices of Malays, Indians, Orang Asli, and other communities—helping Chinese readers understand the true faces of different races and religions.

As one of the reporters tasked with covering topics related to racial unity and patriotism, I’ve been assigned to report on mosque open days, Indian cultural events, Malay students learning Mandarin, scenic indigenous villages, and even activities organised by the Islamic religious department. If it helps bridge communities, we write the story.

We delve deep into the dynamics of race relations, feature the threat of extremism, and present the cultural roots and emotional resonance behind festive celebrations from diverse angles.

Every article contributes to the bigger picture of “unity.” Every layout and design choice enhances the impact of these stories.

Just recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim admitted at the International Conference on Civilisational Dialogue that our country still lacks genuine understanding among ethnic groups and religions.

The birth of the “We” page is precisely developed to break down ethnic barriers, so that the Chinese community’s understanding of other races goes beyond harmony at shallow level but a good understanding of diverse cultures.

As a journalist, I have gained tremendously from writing stories for this page. I’ve developed not only a closer understanding of Malay society, Indian culture, and the indigenous communities, but more importantly, I’ve learned how to approach and understand Malaysians from different backgrounds than my own.

Sin Chew Daily is not a perfect institution. We make mistakes—and we are willing to admit them and improve. Let’s be clear: this national flag incident is our fault.

You may ask, “How could such a mistake happen?” — Yes, as His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, king of Malaysia said, such mistakes are unacceptable. Moreover, the crescent moon on the national flag symbolises Islam as the official religion of Malaysia, making it sensitive and likely to spark ethnic and religious debate.

We’ve asked ourselves repeatedly: how did we miss this during multiple rounds of checks? The reality is, errors occur unintentionally and only come to light once exposed.

This is an undeniable fact and we must shoulder responsibility. As a media outlet, we should be subject to scrutiny and criticism, and we must learn from this and do better.

But that doesn’t mean Sin Chew Daily should be made a scapegoat for others to vent their anger or a tool for political exploitation.

Every Sin Chew Daily staff holds tightly to our responsibility—to convey truth to the society and generate positive energy for the nation. We understand that respect is the foundation of journalism—and respect for the country,  cultural diversity, and the voices of all communities is the core value we’ve always upheld.

Yes, we admit our mistake and we shoulder responsibility. Nevertheless, our original intention remains unchanged.

We know the trust that society places in us should not be taken for granted. It is earned through tireless effort and hard work. Whether or not we make it through this storm, we will neither hide nor retreat. We will face the storm—with a clear conscience.