From Clement Stanley
In my younger days, I used to watch the king of horror movies, Christopher Lee, play the role of Dracula to perfection.
He became synonymous with that role as he was with the fear of a cross. The hero needed only to show the cross to Dracula and he would squirm and look away from it while the hero would go on to save the damsel in distress.
One thing is for certain. As sure as the sun rises in the east, you won’t find vampires living in Sabah and Sarawak. They cannot live in either state because they would chance upon a cross on a daily basis in many ways and in various forms. It has never been an issue with the people of various races and religions in East Malaysia. This is how we are. This is who we are.
The cross, whether it is worn as an accessory or otherwise, is not intended to influence or offend anyone. It never has and I doubt it ever will because of the level of tolerance and respect that Sabahans and Sarawakians have for each other.
But across the South China Sea, it is different. You have to worry about the cross regardless of your beliefs, origins and religion. You are urged to be sensitive towards the majority and not offend anyone of a different faith. And it has become a “feature” we have learned to live with and accept.
Crosses are a contentious issue in the west, going by the news. In 2019, pictures of a condominium with lights along the common areas forming a cross went viral on social media, triggering an outcry among some Muslim groups. It was later clarified that it was a Chinese character for “royal”.
Four years prior, in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya, a group of residents demanded that the cross affixed to a house of worship be removed as it was “challenging Islam”.
Yet, we are reminded to be a nation with one heart and one mind by our nation’s leaders. We are supposed to be One Malaysia or One Family as expounded by our previous prime ministers. We are supposed to respect one another’s beliefs and be tolerant of the various cultures and practices. It is beginning to look more and more like a myth as does the existence of Dracula.
Truth be told, Dracula in this modern day and time only exists in the minds of those who want it to exist in their imagination. Those that see symbols and shapes that they think are an attempt to spread their beliefs and practices.
Interpretation can be both good and bad. It can be a blessing or a curse. It can be positive or negative. It is how you view your surroundings in a broader perspective rather than along a narrow and critical path.
To live in peace is not so much as to merely exchange greetings with your neighbours with words or slogans as such. It is more than that. It is not just about preaching peace. It is about being sincere.
It is about practising what you preach.
Clement Stanley is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.