HOW precious is peace on earth as the world painfully witnesses the plight of the Ukrainian people living under the onslaught of daily missile attacks and the constant threat of death. The world desperately needs peace on earth.

We are grateful to God who has blessed us with peace and order in the general election and subsequently in the formation of the unity government. Reconciliation, goodwill and peace have prevailed over arrogance, acrimony and narrow self-interest in our land.  

We now have a government and, even as I write this Christmas message, the new cabinet has already met for the first time. The evident camaraderie among the ministers in both pre-and post-cabinet meetings, as seen on TV news, and the statements they issued afterwards show that a government of different parties and coalitions, under a charismatic leader, can unite and come together with one objective of advancing the nation and ensuring equity, peace and prosperity for the Malaysian people.

The prime minister has a formidable task ahead of him. He has to coax his cabinet from diverse parties and ideologies to drop their differences and create mutual trust and bond as one cohesive body. To judge from his many years of leadership in NGOs, civil society movements, Islamic movements, political parties and in the government, he is eminently suited for this task. We trust and believe that he will do it. God give him the energy and tenacity to do it.

When I made a courtesy call on Anwar Ibrahim on August 22, his primary concern was to rebuild the nation with integrity. His words and demeanor radiated love, hope and belief in the Malaysian people and their potential. 

On Facebook that day, he wrote: “Saya berkesempatan meluangkan masa menyantuni Reverend Jonathan Jesudas, Setiausaha Agung Majlis Gereja-Gereja Malaysia yang mengunjungi saya di pejabat hari ini. Perbicaraan kami berkisar tentang kepentingan pemupukan nilai-nilai keharmonian, persefahaman dan toleransi antara pelbagai penganut agama di Malaysia. 
Nilai yang mengikat perpaduan antara kaum dan agama di Malaysia mesti terus diperkuat dan dimainkan semua pihak agar negara yang kita cintai ini terus berukun dan aman.” 

Forecasts indicate that 2023 would be a difficult economic year for the world. We believe by God’s grace, mercy and favour, we as a nation will emerge victorious.

God bless our king, the Malay rulers, our government, parliament, courts and the Malaysian people.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. – December 7, 2022.

* Rev Jonathan Jesudas reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.