The year 2020 was a humanising year that had its share of good and bad moments.
We bid farewell to one of the most extraordinary years in history. Humans have faced tragedy in years past, but has there ever been a catastrophe of this magnitude?
The Covid-19 pandemic took the lives of 1.7 million people. Another 77 million men, women and children were infected by the virus. The pandemic has rendered millions to lose their livelihood. No one was spared. The world economy took a plunge.
Children stopped going to school. Outdoor activities became a thing of the past over stretches of lockdowns. Parents struggle to feed their families. As people grapple with the pandemic and its consequences, the best and worst traits in us began to express themselves.
We have witnessed selflessness and sacrifice, courage and fortitude, genuine care and compassion. At the same time, selfishness, meanness, greed and niggardliness confronted us.
Malaysia discovered its resilience and capacity to face something unprecedented with courage when we did it with solidarity during the most trying of times. When the world stood still, we pulled ourselves together, and as a nation, managed to brave the pandemic with minimal impact.
In the beginning, Malaysia was no different from other societies in its response to the outbreak. Although there were moments of panic buying, there were times where people shared what they had with their neighbours.
The courage and dedication of our frontliners have touched the masses. They worked for days on end, taking care of others while trusting their families to stay strong in their absence.
On the other hand, some politicians' lust for power incensed citizens. What was harmful were those who got in the way of charitable organisations distributing food to the needy, and instead, took the opportunity to promote themselves.
They ended an operation that was working, wasting a well-planned and well-executed initiative, and instead, replaced it with their own impromptu arrangements that included recipients holding up placards of their names and division as part of cheap publicity stunts.
As we move into 2021, we should discard such disgraceful conduct.
On that same note, Parliament and state assemblies should not be viewed as arenas for enticing legislators to orchestrate the ouster of a leader to enable another to grab power.
Let our legislative bodies concentrate on the pandemic and revival of the economy. They have had a head start and implemented decisions that will repair the country. Interruptions at this juncture can damage the process.
We witnessed an occasion last year when the position of the king was necessary to protect the country's peace and avoid a political turmoil when he appointed a leader for the country after careful consideration.
The mature advice to let our legislative bodies do what they have been set up for has been advanced by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, several sultan and the public on a number of occasions. And yet, the politics of manipulation continues as if royal advice means nothing.
To change this, Parliament and state assemblies should establish joint government-opposition committees that focus on the twin challenges of the health crisis and the economic malaise. These will allow both sides of the political divide to contribute to the resolution of current and future challenges.
If these joint committees at the federal and state levels become effective, we may witness a new era of governance and nation-building. It boils down to a choice to give the government a chance to do good without disruption, or give in to chaos.
It is time we stand behind a leader and cheer him on without tearing him down. The change should be about building trust in one another. This year has just begun. Let's not waste it.
The writer is advocacy director, Centre for Human Rights Research & Advocacy (CENTHRA)
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times