MARCH 9 — Reformasi is about being dignified — dignified in that we do not choose to go down to the level of the enemies of justice and humanity, and that our battle too is, forceful and fierce, but our weapons are only heart and principles.

Reformasi is about being indifferent — indifferent to whoever we hang out with, that we need not compromise our long held beliefs on what is best for our country, that we stay indifferent to the change of climate, and we insist on our ideals unyieldingly.

Reformasi is about being protective — protective of our cultures. Cultures that are diverse but not dispersed, in that we feel happiness and sorrow all the same, and we should not travel around Malaysia as a tourist, but as a family member, for we know the colourful cultural heritage shares our beating heart, and our flowing blood.

Reformasi is about transcendency — transcendency of our humanity across your flesh, history, belief, soul, and right into that core of humanity that you and I can share to be true and honest, regardless of where originate and where we go.

Reformasi is about being loud — loud enough for our voices that scream “NO” many times and audible enough, to wake the ignorant, to rejuvenate the fatigued, and to ostracise the tyrant.

Reformasi is about emancipating — emancipating the path of our generation and the next, of the vicious cycle of crushed faith, being normalised with substandard conviction, and mentally impeded to feel our full potential.

Reformasi is about educating — educating our children to not be afraid when our voices are true, and to know that education is not just about being good at our chosen profession, but a commitment and responsibility placed to be an active Malaysian who cares and loves.

Reformasi is about being intellectual — intellectual in our approach in uprising, that we choose to be more organised, just, scrupulous and shrewd in our every attempt against the devils of the nation.

Reformasi is about being strong — strong enough to fight on even with unhealed bandages strapped across our wounds, to know that the deeper the scars, the greater the reminder that when we are victorious, this all shall not be taken for granted.

Reformasi is about being emotional — emotional enough to cry for ourselves and for others, for we all know that unfair, irrational, and outrageous infliction of physical and psychological harm on another is unacceptable, and in the solace of our sorrow we find strength and understanding, and this human value knows no race or religion.

Reformasi is about being faithful — faithful in that we lend our daily prayers to the welfare of our brothers and sisters of Malaysia, and prayers to the future of Malaysia, for we know that our afterlife will be referenced to how far we protected humanity and conscience in present life.

Reformasi is about being comparative — comparative not between choosing between the lesser of two evils, but to always benchmark leaders against the central conscience in our righteous hearts.

Reformasi is about being forgiving — forgiving to the ones who predecessors had wronged unjustly, and to seek forgiveness from the ones who had to endure unjust discrimination and isolation from our predecessors, and conclude with a promise that the ugly past will never repeat.

Reformasi is about being caring — caring enough to wipe off the tears of a person who had to pray only in the dark where no one sees when her beliefs are shaken and violently abused by extremely intolerant quarters.

Reformasi is about being initiative — initiative enough to spend a few more hours in the late of the night to write, to explain opinions, to shape understanding, to share convictions.

Reformasi is about being counted — counted as one of the warriors of the generation that would defend his beloved country, to take to the streets in sweat, tears, cries, and going through that traffic and human congestion, for we all know that protest needs numbers to break that curtain of arrogant and deceitful veil of power, and for a change we do not ask “why me?”, instead we shout “if not me, then who?”

Reformasi is about being human — human enough to know that Anwar is only human. That Anwar is a symbol of how our values should stay unfettered, that it is not power that he seeks for at such a heavy price, but that ideal and beautiful Malaysia in which you and I smile proudly and truly, happily.

Reformasi is about a promise. You in?

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.