COMMENT | Haris Ibrahim and the impossible dream

To dream the impossible dream

To fight the unbeatable foe

To bear with unbearable sorrow…

To fight for the right

Without question or pause

To be willing to march, march into Hell

For that Heavenly cause

- The Impossible Dream from the musical “The Man from La Macha”

COMMENT | Haris Ibrahim, the lawyer, the activist and the man has a dream.

A dream where Malaysians are one, identifying themselves not by race, religion or culture. But by the fact that we are all… Bangsa Malaysia. A Malaysian by race.

An unrepentant and obstinate optimist, Haris (above) never gives up on his fellow Malaysians to do the right thing.

In an interview with this news portal last year, he said: "When push comes to shove, when Malaysians decide enough is enough and come together… we are an unstoppable force."

His NGO, ABU (Anyone But Umno), became a rallying point that played a big role in toppling the BN's sixty-year grip on Malaysian politics in the 14th general election.

Haris advocates unity in diversity, never allowing idiotic concepts like religion or race to get in the way of forging a Malaysian identity based on being… Malaysians.

To bring his message of unity to the fore, he has organised a picnic for the people where everyone brings their own delicacies and favourite dishes to share with other Malaysians.

Haris has a sharp sense of social norms and participants are reminded of the peculiarities that prohibited certain meats.

The idea is novel. People of differing cultures sit down to a Malaysian meal and interact like members of a family out at a picnic.

He is acutely aware of the dangers of initiating lawatan sambil belajar (study tours) to places of worship which can and have been exploited by fringe members of some political parties bent on dividing Malaysians further.

Bangsa Malaysia

To many, forging a "Bangsa Malaysia" is an impossible dream. We have gone down too far down the rabbit hole to think and behave as one people, one country with one hope.

The hope is that everyone will have a fair go at life and not because of any tribal affiliations. If you work hard, you toil at what you do best, you will be given a shot. That's it.

And yet, the percussions of social, and racial prejudice and persecution are being drummed up by members from both sides of the political divide.

I dare say that if the late Tunku Abdul Rahman had met Haris, he would have said, "Here is the real Malaysian we all ought to be."

No obstacle is too big or too hard for him in his quest for a better Malaysia for all to navigate around and leap over.

He uses diplomacy, a kind word, and sometimes, when he has to be, a figurative bang on the head to get his universal message of love and mutual respect through.

Today, Haris is stricken with stage four cancer. It has taken cancer, not bigots, racists and fanatics to put a damper on his dream.

The fight for that dream is now ours, every right-thinking, wholesome Malaysian, who still believes in the nation, duty and a better place for the generations to come.

D ANANDA is a reader/subscriber of Malaysiakini and Bangsa Malaysia.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.