As I happily puffed away in my car - two long puffs of my inhaler that is, just as prescribed by my doctor - while stopping at the red traffic light on my way home from the picnic with friends, I realised that the Muslim friends that I just shared food and stories with just a few minutes ago at a picnic were from various countries in the world.
There was one lady from Malawi. And there was another from France. A few came from India and different provinces of Pakistan and there was also a lady from Bosnia and another from Yemen.
They came from different countries but they all have similar intentions; they want to permanently reside here in the UK and they never want to go back home to their own country.
Their reasons vary; from civil war and unrest to discrimination because they were practising their faith, to economic reasons and hopes of a better life and education for their family here in the UK.
But all of them had the same wish. They all wish they could go to Malaysia, for a visit, they said, for they have heard so many wonderful things about our country.
Unlike them, I can't wait to go back to my own country, but like them, the country that I want to go to is Malaysia - and fortunately for me they're one and the same!
It fills me with pride when I realised how highly Malaysia is regarded, at the very least, in the Muslim world. Indeed, they only have praises for our country and its people.
After nearly 50 years of independence, Malaysians have strived and succeeded in achieving so much for its development and has managed to do this in peace and harmony even with the assortment of races and cultures that we have in our beloved country.
In fact, I believe that the very fact that we are made by many, many contrasting cultures and heritage is what that has made us what we are now and what that has helped us achieve what we have so far.
Think about it!
Congratulations Malaysians of all races and cultures and heritage all over the world! Be proud of our country and what we have achieved in only 50 years of our independence. And let us work harder and help each other even more, for we have much, much more to achieve for the future of our children and their children in our beloved and beautiful country!
I pray that Malaysia will have 50 more glorious and magnificent years to come.
Peace to all Malaysians!
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