The Country’s Hope Lies In The Future
One of the current important tasks is to build a good racial relationship. There is only one historical truth. Arguments and revisions of history will only damage the racial relationship and harm the national interests.
By LIM SUE GOAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily
Issues like “a certain political party is the country's independence hero” or “a certain political party is directly involved in the fighting for the national independence and statehood” should be discussed in history or academic workshops. But they have now become a controversial issue of the nation. Why are we arguing on such an issue while the country is facing a financial tsunami in which we should be discussing on how to fight for the economy? Malaysia always faces such puzzling situations.
Regardless of whether it is quoting out of context or a mistaken report, it is meaningless to have such a controversy at this moment. It is as well inappropriate for the minister to talk about it in a political occasion.
Firstly, the discussion is meaningful only if the country is newly independent and needs to clarify who are the independence heroes to be recorded in history. But it is now the 21st century and the country has been independent for over 50 years, why should we look back? The key and benefits of the country lie in the future.
| "When adults do not learn from the history, who should be a model for our children?" |
One of the current important tasks is to build a good racial relationship. There is only one historical truth. Arguments and revisions of history will only damage the racial relationship and harm the national interests.
Secondly, Prime Minister-designated and new UMNO President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has recently reminded his party members during the General Assembly that UMNO's contributions and glory in the past has become part of the history, which they should not remain nostalgic as UMNO's fate lies in the future. It seems some did not learn his teaching. If they keep looking back, they will mess up the current pace.
Thirdly, everyone still does not learn a lesson from the past, but to continue allow for a number of controversial issues, resulting in social division and internal friction. The Ministry of Higher education's “crisis of racial relations textbooks” two years ago and the remarks by former Bukit Bendera UMNO Division Chief have set off an uproar, why do we repeat the same mistake?
We read history because history acts as a mirror. We can enhance intelligence from past experiences and not to repeat the same mistakes. But some people just keep repeating the mistakes of history. When adults do not learn from the history, who should be a model for our children?
Fourthly, history should be studied and evaluated by historians. If politicians interfere by making an assertion that history should be in this or in that way, it will have an impact on the society's impression. And the release of the history textbooks will surely again arouse controversies.
The people are tired of political chaos, while pointless and endless controversy, which has no answer, plagued them all. At this moment, everyone should put their energy and resources on economy and racial solidarity. Compared to national interests, other issues are less important and everyone should bear in mind that the fate of the country lies in the future, not in the past!
