My mother often reminds me of the night I was born – the eve of Chinese New Year, exactly 50 years ago.
Although I very much doubt it, she says she still remembers the sound of fireworks cracking in the night sky as she delivered me, thus adding an extra layer of celebration to her labour pains.
And this year, 2025, my birthday happens to fall on another vibrant festival: Thaipusam (which takes place tomorrow). It’s a beautiful coincidence, yes; but one that feels distinctly Malaysian.
Think about it: Where else in the world do we celebrate such a kaleidoscope of cultures, each with its own public holidays, and still manage to find common ground in the simplest of ways – like planning our vacations around them? Sure, there are countries like Singapore, Brunei, or Indonesia that honour diverse festivities, but the way we Malaysians live and breathe these celebrations is uniquely, well, Malaysian.
Take Thaipusam, for instance. While it’s a deeply religious occasion for our Hindu friends, for many of us, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the vibrant culture and traditions that make up our nation. And, let’s be honest, it’s also a day off (four days, if you take the annual leave on Monday!).
And just two weeks ago, when Chinese New Year fell on a Wednesday, how many of us meticulously arranged our annual leave on Friday to enjoy a glorious five-day holiday? Or for those in Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, who didn’t even need to lift a finger to enjoy a four-day stretch?
And yes, the more creative ones ‘invested’ three annual leaves for nine off-days (you know who you are!).
This, to me, is where our unity shines – not in grand speeches or grander slogans, but in these little moments of shared joy. Unity doesn’t always need a headline or a movement. Sometimes, it’s as simple as everyone collectively planning their leave for a long weekend, or gathering at a friend’s house for an open house regardless of whether it’s Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, or Deepavali.
These aren’t grand gestures, but they’re meaningful. They reflect a kind of quiet camaraderie that doesn’t need to be loudly proclaimed. Unity, at its core, is about shared experiences – about finding moments where our differences fade into the background and what’s left is a sense of togetherness, however fleeting. In that sense, perhaps the most profound acts of unity are also the simplest ones.
So, the next time someone on your socials starts harping about the lack of unity in our country, just smile and scroll on. Unity isn’t something you force; it’s something you live. It’s in the way we enjoy each other’s holidays, often without even realising it. It’s in the way we celebrate diversity, not just by talking about it, but by living it, every single day. As Rumi once wrote, “Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.”
Perhaps our “myth,” or our story, isn’t about obsessing over whether we’re doing enough to build unity, but about letting it naturally emerge from the rhythms of our colourful, daily life. Overthinking this, dissecting it, or reducing it to political talking points takes away its beauty. Instead, let’s focus on the small, simple joys – the ones that remind us of our shared humanity. Because in those moments, isn’t unity already here?
Now, who’s joining me for a birthday thosai and appam breakfast on Thaipusam morning? It’ll be my treat – because what better way to celebrate our unity than over a good meal?
The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.
