Be a lover, not a hater.

Jason Kay asks for some peace, love, and understanding.

The month of Ramadhan is here again. All over the world, Muslims will fast from sunup to sundown. It is a month of prayer and reflection. A month to focus on God.

Sadly, in Malaysia, it seems to be the month where petty nonsensical things are amplified. Where the goal was to spread love, compassion and understanding, Ramadhan 2015 has unfortunately started quite badly.

You don’t fight fire with fire. But neither do you not throw some water, however little, onto the fire.

Malaysia looks more and more divided now, unfortunately, due to religion. This is so sad. Because we are not that dumb anymore. We have access to more information than any generation before us.

It is easy to detect when hot buttons are purposely being pushed for a variety of reasons. The smart thing to do is to give that silly button-pusher a wink, and not react. That’s what we should do. But that takes intelligence, patience, and faith in hope. Unfortunately, Malaysians have proven time and again to be reactive, whiny, and rather lazy — generally speaking. It is our curse.

Of course it goes without saying that respect begets respect. But respect has to be earned — not demanded, not threatened, and certainly not by bullying and mockery.

Give, and you will get. That’s the wisdom in both Quran 2:272 and Malachi 3:10. Yes, I’m generalising, but that’s what I understand from those two verses.

It’s not yet the middle of Ramadhan 2015. Please, do your little bit to make it a memorable one for positive reasons.

Be a lover, not a hater.

Jason Kay is from Melaka.

One reply on “Ramadhan in Malaysia: Can’t we all get along?”

  1. Quote – "Malaysia looks more and more divided now, unfortunately, due to religion"
    Perhaps it is not the religion that is the cause but the tool. The cause behind is really the dirty politics which has crept into all institutions. All efforts are used to keep the illigitimate regime in power

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