I had previously appealed to the premier to set up a national commission to get to the truth of the matter regarding the May 13 expression of angst among our many ethnic groups in 1969.

The Christian scripture says, ‘Truth will set us free’. Of course, such a Truth may hurt before it heals, for all concerned. In the case of Najib Abdul Razak, the truth about some of the implied intentions and actions of his father, premised on externally observed behaviour as evidenced and recorded in Kua Kia Soong’s book, may hurt before they inform.

But the greater truth about Truth is that it also involves much humility to accept the frailty of man in all matters of what is absolutely right or wrong. One most important truth about man is that there is distinct gap between our intentions and actions; which lesser animals have none. But, it is this conscious conscience which makes for the humankind.

\"\"

Therefore, I was somewhat impressed by Wanita MCA’s insistence that the party requires a new EGM to be held, without being over-protective about any individual or position.

It said no one is above the law when it comes to matters of truth. To the MCA, only this new truth will set all free to work on any greater unity plan, especially within the 1Malaysia idea and ideal of Najib.

I suspect though, as with the Bangsa Malaysia agenda of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, that the majority of Umno leaders will not say they are against Najib’s idea and ideal; and therefore will remain politically neutral rather than incorrect for now.

Otherwise, who could have foreseen a senior Umno menteri besar, who holds a Master’s degree and is a former dean, becoming a turncoat on the subject at the very last minute, after Mahathir retired. Such courage is heroism only after the fact. Sadly, that is the virtue of real politik in today’s Malaysia, Raja Petra Kamarudin aside.

Can we have politics without bias and emotion? Can we have an intelligent discussion about any topic without getting so emotional that we abuse the law as we see fit to act, teach and fail to preach about real Truth?

I am of course talking about the fanatics who chose to harass the former Perlis mufti instead of engaging him. Why use human laws to deal with God’s Truth? Cannot our God defend himself? Let us never anthropomorphise our God. God must always remain GOD, whether or not we can agree to call Him God or Allah or something else. God cannot be mocked by man, and therefore we should stop trying to do so.

My view on all such politics is: please engage with anyone who holds diagrammatically opposite views to yours because then you can listen to them and better understand them. And when you do, you will realise that your so-called ‘enemy’ is mostly like your own brother or sister.

Agreeing to agree or disagree is not traumatic, but part and parcel of the miracle of human creation of man in God’s image. Our commonality is the human race. Imperfect man is neither absolutely right nor wrong on anything; he may simply hold a doubting hypothesis on a specific topic of some very deep convictions that we call belief.

Be honest

We can always find ways to agree to disagree agreeably without going to war precisely because we are all part of the same human race. 1Malaysia can be ‘Truly Asia’, but only if we are willing to accept that Indonesians are our ethnic brothers and sisters with a slightly different historical past; perhaps not one as glorious as our British colonial one.

\"\"

Nevertheless, in terms of geography or even ethnic or religious politics, they are closer to us than anyone else out there. Surely, Arab Muslims are not the kin and kith to most of us. But, why is it we treat them with better protocol than our blood neighbours – whether Indian, Chinese or Indonesian? That is what has made the Indonesians angry with us.

And, if we do not watch it; the Chinese and Indians will be on our back too! Our lack of honesty and truthfulness about our own ethnicity is why some of them regard us as enemies; it is our own psychological insecurities that are being projected against them.

I have found most of my Indonesian friends to be among the most courteous and cultured peoples of any in the world. We just need to learn to understand their history and politics of unity in a Republican state with a few thousand islands and with a Dutch past. We are, in contrast, a miniscule parliamentary monarchy of the Westminster system and heritage that we cannot deny.

Knowledge of the truth about oneself and who the Almighty really is, frees one to accept others as equals made and shaped by the Almighty in His own image. Any less knowledge creates insecurities that allow us to feel good only at the expense of others – hence the many severe attempts of petty politics to establish one’s superiority which is actually a projection of one’s real insecurities.

Anyone who knows who he is and knows who his Creator is can humble himself to accept his very human frailty and imperfections. Those who cannot, will seek to impress or express until death do us part.

Allow me to end this column talking about one of the most beautiful human beings I have ever known, although I wish I had known her better. She went on to be with her Creator a few days ago. She always had a smile, and was always concerned for others. Even though she had carried the curse of cancer for the last 10 years, I have never seen her desperate or giving up hope. She carried on like a good and faithful soldier of another kingdom.

She must surely have not been from this world; this world was not her home, she was only passing through it. She spoke publicly, she taught, she started new initiatives and was always yearning to do more good works. I pray that her life will be a role-model for all Malaysians; she was a good example of what a 1Malayia is all about.

\"\"

For those us still living, there remains only one task – emulate her model of truth and reconciliation. She had made peace with her God and she showed it in her entire demeanor, always. My only regret is that my family could not visit her to say goodbye together, before my wife went abroad.

I knew she was going to leave us, but as life sometimes has its own way; goodbyes can be said in different ways. Therefore this column is my goodbye to Beverly.

Thank you sister for being such a beautiful role-model for all of us. Forgive us for the pain and suffering we caused you by our wrong conduct and actions or inactions. I think we were not good models to you. Forgive us Sister Beverly and May the Good Lord continue to bless as you see Him face to face. God bless and goodbye!

This column is dedicated to Sister Beverly Wong Soon Kuen who left us too early.