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It’s unusually quiet this year. I walk around and everyone seems subdued. Retail outlets aren’t selling as many festive goods as they normally do. Ramadhan bazaars were quieter than usual. The fireworks only started at dawn and even then they were subdued. There is much to be worried, frustrated, angry and scared about in Malaysia today.
We have 1MDB, the falling ringgit, racial tensions, a government in which we may have lost our trust. There is much to not celebrate.
Legendary Malaysian songstress Saloma sang this Hari Raya song many, many years ago. The lady is no longer with us but the song is sung every year when the festival comes around. We might want to look at why it’s a perennial favourite.
Selamat Aidil Fitri
Kepada saudara serta saudari
Setahun hanya sekali
Merayakan hari yang mulia ini
Miskin kaya memakai baju baru warna-warni
Mengunjungi sanak kaum famili
Sungguh hebat pemandangan di hari raya ini
Tua muda wajah berseri-seri.
We still have what’s important and perhaps that is what Hari Raya is really all about. Forget the new furniture and carpets. Forget the huge splurge on expensive clothes and food. Let’s focus on what we had yesterday, what we have today and what we will always have.
We have family and that includes good friends across all races and religions. This is the time to come together and celebrate, visit each other and rejoice in the bonds that bind us together no matter what. This is the time to go home, even if it means a 12 hour drive with restless children in the car. You know everything will fall into place perfectly when you finally get there and tumble into the arms of those who love you best.
They say that it is darkest before the dawn and now is when Malaysians need to show their true mettle. Celebrate the spirit of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. Celebrate what it means to be Malaysian and then stand together as a people and help take this country forward.
In the midst of the celebrations, you might not find the time to scroll through all the stories we’ve put up over the past week. Here’s a selection of the best for your reading pleasure.
Has Uber put the cart before the horse? — The issue of regulation, which was said to have been under “discussions with a timeline”, appears to have blown up in the faces of private ride providers Uber and GrabCar. We look at the steps that have been taken by Uber and GrabCar to find a place for themselves in Malaysia’s public transport legislation, and consider the efforts SPAD has made in regulation.
Some questions about the Low Yat riot — At a time when Malaysia is facing an endless stream of seemingly intractable problems, the last thing we need is a clash with strong racial overtones taking place – in the prime golden triangle area of Kuala Lumpur no less. How could such a thing happen? And is it really not racial? We try to answer this question here.
A bittersweet Raya — Here we go again: another Ramadhan ending and another Aidilfitri coming. But events in the past year have put a dampener on our collective moods. Maybe that’s a good thing.
Tenaga submits plan to buy 1MDB power assets — Tenaga said the proposal is for the prospective purchase of five domestic power assets and eight overseas held through 1MDB power unit Edra Global Energy Bhd. As a result the utility provider’s shares fell as much as 3% to RM12.28 at 9.16am on July 16 from July 15’s close of RM12.66.
Iran, major powers reach historic nuclear deal — Iran and six major world powers reached a nuclear deal on July 14, capping more than a decade of on-off negotiations with an agreement that could potentially transform the Middle East.
Euro zone clinches deal with Greece — Euro zone leaders clinched a deal with Greece on Monday to negotiate a third bailout to keep the near-bankrupt country in the euro zone after a whole night of haggling at an emergency summit.
Greek parliament approves bailout –– The Greek Parliament passed sweeping austerity measures demanded by lenders to open talks on a new multibillion-euro bailout package to keep Greece in the euro. The package was approved with 229 votes in the 300-seat chamber.
China white knight rides to Perwaja’s rescue — Perwaja Holdings Bhd is expected to receive a capital injection totalling RM1.8 billion from China’s Tianjin Zhiyuan as part of its revitalisation plan aimed at improving the loss-making company’s financial standing.
If you like these, here’s a great deal. Get much more for just 87 sen a day by clicking here. You’ll get full access to KINIBIZ online plus a free copy of our fortnightly print magazine for the promotional price of RM318 a year.
Because whether you prefer online or print, nothing starts your day like the sharpest read in town. All of us at KINIBIZ wish you Selamat Hari Raya because there is always something worth remembering and celebrating.
— by Nesa Sivagnanam, executive editor
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