HARI RAYA AIDIFITRI

Well, Hari Raya Aidifitri as all of us know is the biggest event in the Muslim calendar year. It marks the end of Ramadan which is the fasting month the Muslims.

Malaysia is a cosmopolitan country; a peaceful country in which the three main races, Malays, Chinese, Indians live in harmony. In East Malaysia. we can find other races like Ibans, Kadazans and Dayaks.

My neighbours on my left are Muslims. Home no.44 was one rented to a Muslim family from Kazakthan. My 72-year old granny who origintated from GuangZhou, China once tried to communicate with them in her "broken" Malay. But it was in vain, they didn't understand her and didn't communicate with her.

Thinking that they were proud and indifferent, we were not in speaking terms with them for quite a while until one day, my mom spoke to them in English and to our surprise, they understand us and we became good neighbours. Then they moved away. The present neighbour, a Malay lady greeted us on the first day of Hari Raya with a wide smile, She passed us some cookies and cordial drinks over the fence. We could feel her warmth and we started communicating in Malay, for the first time. She was happy to see my sister Joanne dressed in Baju Kurung,

Later the morning, we visited the residence of our Prime Minister, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib and Datin Sri Rosmah at PutraJaya. We wanted to be a part of the nig celebration. Although the queue was long, very long. We didn't complain much. We could see all the different races lining up to "salam" with the PM,, reflecting the Muhibbah spirit and here, we can see the goals of One Malaysia. Truly manifested! Lastly, to all my Muslin friends, SELAMAT HARI RAYA! :)

By Julien Lim Zhen-Wei