WHEN did we become so insular and divided?  How did we allow ourselves to reach a stage where the simple act of breaking fast together, between Muslims and non-Muslims, becomes an issue?

For a plural society such as ours, I can only feel very sad. Sad and disappointed.

For as far back as I can remember, this has never been an issue. On the contrary, it has always been encouraged and looked at as an exercise in muhibbah. What better example of muhibbah than people of different cultures, religion and ethnic background gathering together to break fast in the holy month of Ramadan?

Yes. No matter what your religious or ethnic leaning, we as Malaysians all know that Ramadan is a holy month for our Muslim brethren. Just like many Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and even atheists know, Christians consider the 40 days before Easter, otherwise known as Lent, as being holy.  

Hindus and Buddhists also practise periods of fasting. And these periods of fast are considered holy too.

I personally know of many Malaysians who join their fellow Malaysians in observing their respective periods of fasting. A beautiful example of interfaith understanding. 

So when certain parties profess that non-Muslims should not join Muslims in the breaking of fast during Ramadan and worse than that, threaten to hold demonstrations, it shows how insular and divisive we have become.

One has to wonder why the powers that be do not immediately come out and shoot these divisive ideas down. Come out and promote goodwill amongst all religions for surely the future of our country depends on all of us. All Malaysians working together and understanding each other for the greater good.

I am comforted though to note that a bunch of about 100 multiracial and multireligious Form 4 students from a national school are planning on breaking fast together on Monday. The boy who mooted the idea is of the opinion that everyone should make the effort to join in as all of them have never gone out together as a full batch. 

Sure, different groups of friends have gone out together but not the full complement of 100 boys. His thinking is that they have spent four years together as batch mates and they only have one more year together as school mates. So let’s build brotherhood and camaraderie that will hopefully last a lifetime.

So while there are some spewing racial and religious vitriol, you have a young 16-year-old promoting harmony and the spirit of muhibbah.

All is not lost when we have young Malaysians like this around. Have a blessed and peaceful Ramadan.

Dharm Navaratnam is a The Malaysian Insight reader.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight.