A meaningful Aidilfitri

Come any festive season, local training company Zubedy Sdn Bhd will always remind us the true meaning of any religious/cultural/national occassion through their advertisements. In the ad, the company would usually quote a prominent figure to drive the message home. For Aidilfitri this year, the company quoted Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub. Below is an excerpt from the ad:

"Choose the middle path: The end does not justify the means."

- Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub - Saladin (1138 - 1193); the gentlemen warrior who was noted for his chivalry, magnanimity, compassion and sensibility even during times of war.

Conflicts exist in the realm of politics, business and personal interactions. There must be certain rules of engagement in dealing with dissension. We must learn how to disagree and yet, respect each other.

Saladin, in motivating his army, did not condemn the opposing side. He pointed out the virtues that make their opponents strong, honoured and made them an example. He was a true leader.

Unlike Saladin, many of our leaders and their supporters play the zero-sum game and push things to the extreme. This gradually creates a divisive “I’m right and you’re wrong” gulf, leaving no room or possibility in seeing the good in others. This is poisonous.

We need to better our rules of engagement.

We need Malaysians:

Who know how to balance ambition and courtesy.

Who know how to compromise and yet stay true to their core values.

Who know it is vital to find a win-win situation.

Who engage each other in a civil and gentlemanly manner.

Who can disagree while respecting the other.

Who believe the end does not justify the means.

When we have better rules of engagement, we will have a positive culture to pass down to our young. We will create a nation that encourages courtesy, civility, thinking in our discourse and articulation.

Our legacy is to create a nation who believes in winning with honour and not to sacrifice the means in achieving the end.

Have a meaningful Aidilfitri.