THE 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. People all over the world commemorated the 10th anniversary of the tragedy on Boxing Day this year.
This catastrophe caused hundreds of thousands of people to die, with Banda Aceh in Indonesia the most-affected area.
After every storm, comes a rainbow. In the aftermath of the tsunami, the world developed a sense of humanity, while the people in Aceh now live in prosperity as conflicts came to an end and there was no more fighting, according to Indonesian political editor Zainal Arifin Mohd Nur.
It is undeniable and inevitable that, sometimes, humans need to learn the hard way. While it is important for Malaysians to be grateful for not having suffered as much during the disaster, some of us fail to understand the message that it brought and continue to create problems without any sense of guilt.
Malaysia is a democratic country blessed with a multicultural society. However, political and racial conflicts tear us apart and destroy the harmony we try to sustain.
With a number of political parties with different ideologies, many Malaysians are caught in the middle and hope that the conflicts will not be prolonged, and that there will be a mutual agreement at the end of the day. Judging from today’s scenario, integration among people of various races is still lacking. Take our universities and national schools, for example. Students are apparently more comfortable forming cliques among their own race.
The problem becomes worse when students form “clubs” that specify criteria for membership, and the members of these small groups are usually segregated by gender, interest, social status and place of origin. This unhealthy trend limits social interaction and discourages cooperation.
Not only have we failed to create chemistry with fellow humans, we have also failed to develop a good relationship with the environment.
The destruction in Cameron Highlands in the past few months resulted in mudflows and landslides that have claimed several lives. Greed has driven selfish individuals to sacrifice our natural treasures, while forgetting the fact that humans need trees to survive. Illegal logging has damaged communities and destroyed wildlife.
This phenomenon is the result of corruption, which has been a serious problem in the country for many years. Corruption not only affects our environment, but will also cost the country its economic growth and reputation. And the fact that more people are losing their integrity and are in cahoots with those involved in illegal deals is worrying.
As 2015 approaches, we need to at least end this year by realising that the act of humanity does not only strengthen our relationship with other people, but it also shows that we respect and care for our environment. And only with humanity, can society prosper.
Muhamad Solahudin Ramli, Marang, Terengganu