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The tradition of holding open houses during festivals such as Christmas, Hari Raya, Deepavali, Chinese New Year, Hari Gawai, and the Harvest festival, promotes among other things good neighborliness, racial harmony and understanding. The significance is, in an open house lies an open heart.
As festive seasons unleash a fury of merriment and joy, there is great enthusiasm for social visits. To host or be hosted is an unparallel Malaysian tradition.
Christmas and New Year is just around the corner and Christmas is celebrated in Malaysia with much pomp, religious ceremony and glamour. With no expenses spared for the must have Christmas pudding, turkey, and new clothes, it is a day people look forward to celebrate with family and friends alike.
This is also a time when politicians in Malaysia unfailingly retort that festivals and celebrations provide a golden opportunity for improving relations with brothers and sisters of different races and religions.
Undoubtedly, visiting each other creates goodwill and camaraderie. The Hindu festival of Deepavali or the festival of lights is a grand occasion,which commemorates the triumph of good over evil. Likewise, Hari Raya Puasa or Aidilfitri marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and Muslims celebrate it by keeping in check their baser instincts, for a whole month. During this period, many Muslims lead exemplary lives by engaging in community and charitable deeds.
In recent times, open house has transformed to a rather sorry state of affairs where this truly beautiful tradition is under threat. There are people within the establishment advocating not to patronize open houses hosted by people of other faiths. Fortunately, Malaysians are known to rise to the occasion, being staunch believers in goodwill and with a positive attitude are able to reject the claims by bigots that open houses compromise their beliefs.
It seems, Malaysia as a nation, with many "first" to its credit, like building the first tallest twin towers, has retrogressed in fostering race relations. Historically, it has been a harmonious community where people of different races and religions have lived together in peace. However, that has changed in recent times leaving behind the good old era.
Managing race relations should start with the individual. If there is unity, goodwill and a genuine concern across the religious divide, then, fellow citizens will surely reflect it in the way they treat each other.
Another perceived threat to open house has emerged within government circles. Officials believe that the annual government hosted Aidilfitri open house should be reviewed as it poses a security risk to VVIP’s.
Even if the government were to discontinue open houses at the national level, it is quite unlikely that this would spell the end of the time-tested tradition. Rather, Malaysians will continue to open their houses for the sake of goodwill.
Owing to unwise policies and activities, polarization has taken root, which has impaired inter-racial mutual understanding and respect for each other. So, it is imperative that Malaysians should get back on track, at least for the sake of children, to ensure that the tradition is preserved by successive generations.
Whilst the suggestion to set up a Race Relations Act is being mulled over by the general public, it confirms the decline in racial harmony and unity in Malaysia.
Malaysia is indeed sick and at the heart of it is the issue of race and race relations. A Senator who recently quit now plans to set up a foundation to improve race relations. A new institution called the Race Relations Council is being mooted and courses on race relations are being conducted. As a society, Malaysians need to integrate. What is not required, however, at this juncture is more laws and courses.
Efforts to enhance racial harmony should be a priority and all policies and decisions should ensure that the foregoing is not undermined in any way. I believe, money, resources and time spent in running courses is irrelevant and irksome, which instead, can be better utilized in improving and enhancing the education system, which is in shambles.
Are we forgetting that we exist in a global village? No man is an island, the proverb says.
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(Sekina Joseph is a freelance writer, social activist and member of the Malaysian Interfaith Network based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She writes on social, cultural, philosophical and interfaith issues. She has traveled extensively and is an independent thinker on global issues and international affairs. She can be contacted at sknjoseph@yahoo.com. ©Copyright Sekina Joseph.)
