Growing Up In A United Malaysia

By M. Govind Nair

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- It was that day of the week when RTM would screen a Tamil film on television.

At nearly all 30 or so houses in the small U-shaped enclave of the JKR quarters off Jalan Connolly (now Jalan Tun Perak) in Ipoh, life moved a little faster than usual toward the evening.

The multiracial residents of the quarters were getting ready for their weekly “show” at one of the two houses that owned a television set.

Even in the late ‘60s, after television was introduced in Malaysia in December 1963, few homes could afford such a luxury. So, when RTM screened a film – especially a Tamil one – it was carnival time.

One house belonged to a Chinese family, the other to an Indian family, and both opened their doors to everyone.

Children crowded the front of the television set, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Adults settled wherever they could – on chairs, on the floor, or even at the one open window of the cramped, one-bedroom quarters.

As the black-and-white film flickered on, Indian viewers would quietly translate the dialogue for their Malay and Chinese neighbours. Someone always brought snacks, and they were shared as naturally as stories and laughter.

That was just one facet of life in the '60s and '70s that I grew up in – an atmosphere where unity in diversity wasn’t just seen, it was deeply felt.

There was more. We played together – top-spinning, kite-flying, ‘police and thief’, football and badminton. We shared traditional delicacies during festive seasons. We stood by one another during weddings and funerals. Race and religion were simply part of who we were, never a reason to divide.

One memory remains especially vivid: the morning of 14 May 1969, a day after the racial riots erupted in Kuala Lumpur.

A curfew had been imposed in Ipoh. The residents of the JKR quarters – Malay, Chinese, Indian – gathered at the centre of the enclave, quietly trying to comprehend the news from the capital. Racial violence? It was beyond our imagination. The crowd only dispersed when a police patrol car passed by, blaring a warning to stay indoors.

Today, those quarters no longer exist. Where once stood homes full of life and laughter, now lie only crumbling concrete and overgrown undergrowth.

But many of the people who once called that enclave home are still around, now nurturing grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They may have left their beloved quarters, but they carry with them the memory of a time lived in mutual respect and harmony, helping to shape the spirit of the nation.

In every corner of Malaysia, the real story of this country has always been one of shared struggle, collective hope, and quiet acts of unity.

That’s why year after year, our National Day and Malaysia Day themes echo a familiar message: Malaysia is strongest when her people are placed at the heart of the national narrative.

This year’s theme – Malaysia MADANI, Rakyat Disantuni – reaffirms that commitment. It calls for a society guided not just by development, but by compassion, inclusion, and dignity.

Introduced by the government, the MADANI framework champions six core values: sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust, and compassion. At its core lies a belief that unity is essential, not just for harmony but for every citizen to thrive.

In 2025, as we navigate new and complex challenges, Rakyat Disantuni reminds us that progress must be people-centred. Beyond policies and infrastructure, what matters is whether the people – the schoolteacher in Sabah, the fisherfolk in Terengganu, the urban poor in Kuala Lumpur – feel seen, heard, and supported. Their wellbeing is the true measure of our national success.

So let us reflect on the deeper meaning of disantuni. It speaks not merely of assistance, but of empathy, respect, and nurture. It reminds us that true patriotism is not loud or boastful; it is humble, inclusive, and rooted in kindness.

At a time when the world often feels divided, Malaysia must hold fast to what makes it special: our ability to live, work, and dream together despite our differences. That strength does not lie in any one group or leader, but in all of us.

As we raise the Jalur Gemilang this National Day and Malaysia Day, let us remember that the future of Malaysia will not be built by slogans alone, but by how we treat one another.

Because, at the heart of Malaysia MADANI lies this enduring truth: The rakyat is not an audience to be addressed, but a family to be cared for.

-- BERNAMA 

* M. Govind Nair is the Special Projects Editor at BERNAMA.