Beyond the Scalpel: A Shared Pulse for Malaysia

 

 

I had wanted to write this piece earlier, but time did not permit as I was too tied down with a coffee table book project.

It is heartening to learn that both the Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister are back in action, even though they were supposed to be on medical leave.

While Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim opted for laparoscopic surgery to treat a para-umbilical hernia, hardly anyone knew about it at the time.

Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof underwent an important heart bypass surgery—the complications of which I only learned about from a senior civil servant in Sarawak. It was gratifying that the IJN team was ultimately willing to carry out the complex procedure. During this period, I believe many people were praying for the surgeons’ hands to ensure a successful outcome.

Malaysia is truly blessed to have exceptionally skilled heart surgeons capable of managing even the most complex conditions. Where our loved ones once had to travel thousands of kilometers to undergo these procedures in countries like the United Kingdom or the United States, Malaysia today provides this vital lifeline to the entire region.

Many of us believe that Malaysia is the apple of God’s eye. We have weathered tough times—the Japanese Occupation, the May 13 clash between political parties, the Asian Financial Crisis, and the 1MDB scandal—yet as a nation, we remain resilient.

Even Anwar’s journey from Sungai Buloh to Putrajaya is seen as a “miracle” by Thomson Reuters in a report published on Nov 24, 2022. What is impossible with man, with God it is possible although humanly speaking, such things can only happen one time in perhaps a million.

 

CcConclusion

Having studied both Anwar and Fadillah, I can say I understand their pulses of their hearts are for the nation. 

Having emerged from the hands of skilled surgeons, their heartbeats remain steadfastly for the people and the nation. One is from East Malaysia and the other from West Malaysia, yet we are one nation. It is in unity that we stand together and stand tall in the eyes of the world.

During my recent trip to Sarawak, it became clear that the hornbill will soon soar high. The environment there is ripe for the people of Sarawak to rise. Its Premier, Abang Johari, and his cabinet are boldly countering the toxic identity politics once perpetrated by a former prime minister and his party. I wish Anwar possessed the same boldness as Abang Jo to unapologetically counter identity politics.

I believe that if we, as the blessed people of this country, can share that same single heartbeat, our nation will rise far beyond where it is today. They may not be perfect, but their pulses beat for the people. After all, how many decades do any of us truly have left? Let us work together to rebuild this nation after being brought low by the 1MDB scandal, which left us burdened with grave debts.