WE graduated from St John’s Institution, K u ala Lumpur, in 1974, at the height of the Vietnam War and the rise of disco, and at a time when the nation was healing its wounds from the aftermath of that fateful day in May 1969.
While the haunting collective memories of that day in May were receding, we started to become acutely aware of the socioeconomic divide between Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras, as the New Economic Policy was implemented at a fast tempo.
Yet, as Johannians, we remained steadfast as one Anak Malaysia in the classrooms, playing fields and the canteen. We were bound together by a shared culture in dressing and music.
Those were the days of denim bell-bottom jeans, of Sonny & Cher, and popular melodies of Khatijah Ibrahim, Samuel Hui, John Lennon and the Alleycats.
It was a time before the full impact of global Islamic revivalism in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, when strict codes of attire were not in vogue, and we treated each other as Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and Hindu socially in a casual but mutually respectful manner, without the present heightened consciousness of being Muslims and non-Muslims.
Given the rising temperature of race politics in the mid-1970s, we managed our race relations remarkably well. Within the gates of our alma mater, it was an apolitical ground when it came to acceptance, and excellence in sports and studies.
In retrospect, we were the fortunate last few classes of the 1970s to have had the last of a strict disciplinarian headmaster, the late and beloved Reverend Brother Joseph Yeoh who, in the finest tradition of the De La Salle Christian Brothers Order, was a teacher and mentor par excellence dressed in white Catholic robe.
He taught us all the true meaning of our school motto and how to live by it: Fide et Labore which is translated as “Faith and Labour”. He instilled in us that hard work and having faith in our endeavours were in a lifelong calling for every Johanian.
We were constantly reminded to work hard in the classrooms and playing fields, and be children of faith. As a humanist, Rev Brother Joseph Yeoh was, foremost, an educationist, and in his quiet and unassuming way, he taught us that individual faith in a multicultural society would always be a private matter between oneself and God.
Public display of religious piety in private conversation and public speeches was very much secondary. In fact, faith means more than religiosity; faith is confidence in an individual or collective undertaking which can bring about the greatest common good.
Our individual faiths as non Christians were never in doubt in a Catholic missionary school, and we were encouraged to accept our differences as a duty of good citizens of this country.
Thus, as part of a harmonious school environment, Muslim classmates went off for their Friday sembahyang, Christians attended Bible class at the school’s chapel, and Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus attended civic lessons.
Alas, as we look back at 40 years of momentous changes around us — from ais kacang to iPad — our Johannian Class of 74 are often awestruck by the deterioration of race relations, and the abuse of religion to sow hatred and division.
Fortuitously, the DNA of being a Johannian has given us “Fide” that this multicultural society shall overcome all the obstacles that are thrown up by chauvinists and bigots, who more often than not, fail to deliver on their soaring rhetoric.
Our social fabric of multiculturalism, much like the delicately woven fabric of kain songket, is the outcome of decades-long painstaking “Labore” by each and every responsible Anak Malaysia, from the average rakyat in the street to members of the Malay royalty which has withstood the test of tumultous times.
We, as members of the Class of 74, and the first post-Independence generation, remain cautiously optimistic that by living up to the core values of Fide et Labore, and believing in the invaluable education experience 40 years on, we shall overcome.
We shall collectively and quietly play a role in enhancing multiculturalism and harmony, and of a more equitable masyarakat penyayang (a caring society).
Perhaps it is worthwhile remembering the poignant lyrics of Imagine by John Lennon: “You may say I’m a dreamer, But I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, And the world will live as one.”
The multicultural, multifaith Class of 74 Johannians:
1. Tai Hean Kiat
2. Robert Ang
3. Lee Chih Chiang
4. Jin Teh
5. Ozair Omar
6. Koh Thong Soon
7. Wun Tuck Cheong
8. Yeo Took Keat
9. Vijay Reddy
10. Siew Wan Tham
11. Tuck Seng
12. Lim Jit Soon
13. Harbans Singh
14. Woo Yoke Khing
15. Alfie Eu
16. Jerry Chong
17. Azhar Zainal Abidin
18. Yong Kok Leong
19. K. Ganeshkanagaretnam
20. Edwin Gomes
21. Gopalan-K. Papachan
22. Ivan Frois
23. Yee Fook Leong
24. Joe Xavier