FEBRUARY 1 — In the past weeks, we have seen a group of youths called “Anak Muda Harapan Malaysia” or AMHM send out an open letter to the media describing their 16 points for a better Malaysia. However, not all parties were happy with the open letter.

For one, Jaringan Melayu Malaya’s (JMM) director-general asked that these youths be investigated for violating the Federal Constitution, reported by an online portal on Jan 31.

I may not be a learned lawyer, but the letter from AMHM is a start for intellectual discourse and has no message of incitement. What these youths have done is give an opinion on how we can propel Malaysia forward as a whole.

Personally, I found the ideas they raised quite valid, even if I am not keen of Fahmi Zainol’s gang labelling themselves as “liberals and moderates” at the same time. However, how can you threaten the youth for thinking up such a brilliant start for the discussion on achieving a united and modern future for the nation with police action?

Of all the people I would have thought would jump up screaming, even the Dong Zong Chinese education group has kept mum.

Honestly, if the JMM has objections to the contents of the youths idealist open letter, they should continue the discourse through the same channels by stating what their objections are instead of filing a police report in what I consider a cheap public relations stunt to show their relevance.

If we are to be a mature society, all non-government organisations and non-government individuals should up the ante to discuss and debate ideas through the press.

We should evolve from this immature and typical Malaysian style of disagreement by becoming snitches to the police, akin to that tattle tale in a classroom constantly reporting to teacher.

In fact, we are seeing signs of that budding maturity in the G25 and G34 debate on moderating Shariah law. And this trend should be emulated in all manner of issues and by all parties with a want to discuss the topics at hand.

The freedom of the written word has always undone the sewing of our mouths.

That being said, I do respect the youthful thoughts of AMHM on the steps needed to bring the nation forward. In fact, that is a misconception; AMHM wants us to go back to the glory days of old Malaysia when times were simpler and less heated as they are now.

If anything, the letter highlights that all sides must come to a compromise in order to achieve national unity. The AMHM letter has all the points for Malaysians to ponder and discuss either through social media or a teh tarik session.

Can we finally discuss the end of racial based affirmative action for income and wealth based affirmative action?

Can we finally look past race based education institutions for the establishment and advancing of a single school system?

Do we admit ourselves as a secular nation envisioned by our country’s Malay forefathers, or has that ideal setting been buried with them on their passing?

To all these questions and more raised by the AMHM, I do believe personally that Malaysians of all races, ages and political leanings should start thinking and voicing out what they believe without prejudice.

For myself, I once questioned what were these six youths up to because we need more leaders than politicians. I am glad with the answer they gave me indirectly through their open letter.

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