People will join hearts and become united and cohesive when they have similar minds and beliefs. In order to unite the Malaysians, they must hear repeatedly positive and correct words. We ought to have positive and correct words. When Malaysians hear those words repeatedly, they will finally have the same minds and beliefs. When Malaysians have the same minds and beliefs, they will become united and cohesive society. The word 1Malaysia (pronounced One Malaysia in English and Satu Malaysia in Malay) is not the right word to make Malaysians to have the same minds and beliefs. Malaysia is not a race. We cannot make the Malays, Chinese and Indians to accept themselves as belong to a race namely Malaysia. The Malays, Chinese and Indians are three different races with three different religions. We cannot make these three races to think as one as Malaysia is not their race. When we talk of 1Malaysia we mean, we are similar in all aspects and having equal rights and opportunities and having the same religion. The task of uniting them to become one new race and with a same religion is tantamount and almost impossible.
The slogan of 1Malaysia is not the correct word in uniting the minds and beliefs of Malaysians because the word is not acceptable to the minds and hearts of all Malaysian. The hearts and minds will accept certain words when the words are true. 1Malaysia is not a true word. Malaysians are a new race and it is not acceptable to all races in Malaysia. The Malays believe their races are Malays and the Chinese believe that their races are Chinese and similarly the Indians believe that their races are Indians. Contrary to that, we want them to think that they are one Malaysians and all races including the Malays, Chinese and Indian are having the same rights and opportunities. The idea that Malays, Indians and Chinese have equal rights and opportunities is not acceptable to the Malays. The Malays will not accept Chinese and Indians to have equal rights and privileges as them. The Chinese and Indians are happy with the concept of 1Malaysia, but the Malays are not. With opportunities given based on merits and performances, the Malays and Indians will be lack behind and the Chinese will move ahead than the two races. The slogan of 1Malaysia is only favourable to Malaysia when everyone thinks; they belong to one race namely “Bangsa Malaysia”. Unfortunately, all the three races do not think they belong to one race that is “Bangsa Malaysia”. None of them accept the idea that they belong to “Bangsa Malaysia”. They still regard themselves as Malays, Chinese and Indians. The word 1Malaysia is not acceptable to the minds and beliefs of the Chinese, Malays and Indians alike. The word, instead of uniting the Malays, Chinese and Indians it may become a cause of conflicts between the various races in Malaysia. A new greeting “Salam Satu Malaysia” should not be used in addressing Malaysians as it may causes discomfort between the various races of Malaysia.

The words that should be used to address Malaysians repeatedly so that they become united and cohesive society is the words that carry the meaning that Malaysians are brothers and sisters. All Malaysians belong to the same great family, the humankind. Allah, the Creator of the entire humanity told us that all of us belong to one family and we are descended from one ancestor, created by one God, His name is Allah and there is no God except Allah. The words; “Malaysians are One Family” are better and correct to be used in addressing the Malaysians repeatedly instead of the word 1Malaysia. When the words “Malaysians are One Family” are repeatedly heard and spoken by all Malaysians, a time will come when all Malaysians will have the same minds and beliefs that they belong to One Great Family of Malaysians. When all Malaysians believe and think that they are One Family then they behave like brothers and sisters within a Great Family. Within the members of the family, naturally there are differences and although they have differences but since they believe that they are all belong to One Family, everyone within the members of the family will respect and love each other. They respect the differences that exist between them, and the more able within the family helps those that are less able. Malaysia has many races but when all the races live with loves and respect towards each other our differences becomes our strength. All Malaysians can live as a united and cohesive society because all Malaysians believe and think that they belong to One Family.

Within this One Great Family, there are peoples of different religions but all have the same minds and beliefs that they belong to One Family. The words; “Malaysians are One Family” are more appropriate to be used as a means to inculcate the spirit of love and unity among Malaysians. When all Malaysians have the same mindsets and beliefs that they belong to the same family, they will become friendly and loving towards each other. Malaysians with the mindset of One Family will help each other although they are of different races and religions. The Chinese will help the Malays and the Indians and the Malays and the Indians will help the Chinese because all of them have the same mindsets and beliefs that they belong to the same family.

The use of correct words is very important to the well being of the mind and soul. The use of wrong words will become poisons to the minds and souls of all Malaysians. Allah teaches us the correct words and only those loved by Allah will be thought by Allah the correct words. All Muslims can become the lover of Allah, when they follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad saw. The Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad saw is the work of enjoining good and forbidding evil. We have to uphold in all situations the orders of Allah and we have to do all the orders of Allah only with the intention to please Allah until Allah is pleased. We uphold Allah’s orders first, we will be successful in this world and the hereafter. When we gain the pleasure of Allah, we will get anything that we want in this world and the hereafter. Our purpose of life is to gain the pleasure of Allah. In order to gain Allah’s pleasure, we have to uphold the orders of Allah at all time and the intention should be only to please Allah, until Allah is pleased.

The words, “People First” and “Performance Now” is not a true and correct words. Allah is not pleased with those words and as the words is not true; our hearts are not pleased to accept the words. Our hearts are only willing to accept the true and correct words. The better words are “Allah’s Orders First” and “Allah’s Pleasure Now”. These good and correct words, when repeatedly address to all Malaysians, their mindsets and beliefs will finally sharpen towards those words. Correct words are medicines. Wrong words are poison to the minds and beliefs.

Prof Dr Nasoha Saabin
February 2012
Integrative Holistic Wellness Centre