Category Archives: MH 370

I have been forced to write this to defend my country and its people. Much has been said regarding my people’s lack of empathy in this incident. No country should claim monopoly on grief. We have all suffered and are still enduring.

To accuse my country of ‘lacking transparency’ and ‘withholding truth’ in handling this tragedy is interesting in many ways. More so when the accusation comes from a nation with abysmal human rights record and a highly secretive government. Would you share your military records and expertise if a plane from your nation bound to my country went missing with the exact mix of passengers? Are we entitled to label you ’slow’ and siege your nation with unethical scathing remarks and make public demonstrations in front of your embassy when your own fleet of ships and airplanes are unable to unravel even a string of truth? Do the terms ’murderer’ and ’liar’ sound palatable when your highly advanced satellites produce images of the debris in South China Sea, which are later acknowledged to be false by your own government? This clearly shows there are limits to even your own technology. As such, if you live in a glass house, please learn not to cast stones.

The possibility of the plane being hijacked brought forward a surge of response. One of which was to associate the hijackers to religious extremists. There is no such thing as religious extremism in my opinion. Extremism is a character flaw, not a flaw in the teachings of a religion. Confused people become extremist. I believe there is not a single page, in any holy book, of any religion in this world that promotes killing and slaughtering of its fellow-men. Men are evil. They are flawed. Don’t blame religion.

Were the World Wars started by the very religion you have taken to task for every attack around the globe? Did they kill millions in concentration camps? It’s fascinating when others commit the same sins or worse, they are labelled as ’crime against humanity’ but the term ’religious extremism’ is kept only for a select group of people.

There are those who have expressed their concern regarding the lack of decisiveness on our part. I apologize on behalf of my country for not moving fast enough because I believe we want all our facts in place before making a decision. It’s similar to invading a nation suspected of holding nuclear weapons only to find nothing there, if you get my drift.

Malaysians who have jumped on the bandwagon to criticize the handling of this issue, I find you shameless and disrespectful. Suddenly, everyone’s an expert. Even those who have never flown on a plane or thought ‘Boeing’ was a foreign language prior to this incident. This is the time for us to stand united regardless of our political differences. Don’t use this tragedy to gain political mileage. Have better vision and maturity than that. As Winston Churchill once said, “When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.”

I believe the Malaysian government along with the relevant authorities are doing everything within the confines of their power to bring closure to this tragedy. Please don’t make it impossible for them to do their job. We appreciate the help and support we have received from our friends in finding MH 370. As a national daily aptly said ’Countries whom we call friends must now do more to prove their friendship’.

I urge our nation to stand tall, unyielding and resilient. Show up for your nation as it needs you now. This is not a time for petty bickering. Put aside your differences and lend a hand. Or at least your voice.

I leave with a quote by Dalai Lama, “ “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”

I wrote this piece on behalf of my friends, to those who have known Sofuan Ibrahim personally and have been touched by him in many ways. To those who wish they could pen their feelings for him in words. And to those who have kept him in their prayers.

I first met Sofuan when we were seven years of age. We were classmates in primary school for six years and I have not met him since. It has been twenty years.

I will always remember him as a kind hearted and spirited person. Time has stolen most of my memories of him but it has left me the essentials. Even at that very young age he was brilliant and his maturity belied his age. He was one of the best students in my class and a gifted public speaker. Blessed with the ability to lead by example, he was also the head prefect of my school. And we all loved him.

Sofuan contacted me some time ago. I was still working in Sabah and he had visited our home town. He mentioned that he never gets to meet his old friends whenever he is in town. He still remembers all our names and was really looking forward to meeting up. I gave him my word that I would contact him once I am back in town. I never did.

There are very few things in life I truly regret and this is one of them.  We are often swallowed by our commitments and it leaves us drained of everything else. It keeps us away from the things that really matter.

I wrote to remind us never to keep our search for comfort and financial security away from those we care and love. If you think of someone who means a lot to you, call now. Don’t wait. If you have not told someone how much they mean to you, say it now. Never hesitate. Go forth. Steal that kiss, hold that hand a while longer or hug someone a little bit closer for you may never know when you will see them again. Time is cruel to those who keep love and friendship locked within.

Live your life for those who matter. Burn those petty arguments. Cast your ego aside. Mould your life the way you want it to be, rather than conforming to the perceived standards of others. And live in the present for that is your gift to the future and a treasure for your past. Only then will you have truly lived with no regrets.

Please pray for MH 370. Pray for Sofuan Ibrahim. If you cannot pray then hope. If you cannot hope then believe.

I am often reminded of a quote by Albert Camus;

In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm. I realized, through it all, that, In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’€™s something stronger, something better, pushing right back.

We are waiting for you, Sofuan. And we will keep praying. I hope to see you soon my friend. God bless MH 370.