JANUARY 2 ― The bitterness and sufferings in 2014 have been embedded in the hearts of Malaysians. However, 2014 has become part of history and all that have already happened should not hinder us from moving forward.

What is important is, how Malaysia is going to usher in 2015, as well as the future.

Firstly, all Malaysians must face up to controversial racial and religious issues, as well as deteriorating political fights. These problems could expand and evolve into social conflicts and thus, they must be resolved before they cause significant harm.

This piece of land has started to welcome people from different corners of the world as early as a hundred years ago. They were of different blood lines and religions. However, they were able to set up homes here and together, built the country and established a peace and prosperity society.

It is the core value of moderation that has supported these.

Regardless of all kinds of differences, everyone has been trying to remain moderate, instead of going extreme. And we entered the 21st century.

The extreme and ego voices frequently heard in the community today are in fact from a small number of people. Some are confined to ideology, while some are based on political agenda.

However, they have occupied a part of the public opinion's space and magnified their speaking power with fierce rhetoric and incitement ability, and distorted our social landscape.

The silent majority should come forward in 2015 to tell them that the core value of Malaysians is moderation, we have a moderate political system and moderation is also the path we take.

We do not need the hudud law, we reject racial and religious division politics, we want to get back to the foundation of the Constitution and make Malaysia a peaceful, pluralistic and prosperous society.

While defending the value of moderation, we also need a reform driving force to comprehensively improve and enhance the existing ruling deficiencies and management capabilities.

The new year will certainly not be calm. Risks are everywhere for global economy and it is a very big challenge for Malaysia. Economists have lowered the assessment for Malaysian economy. Household debt ratio is high, the government is heavily indebted and business performance is not optimistic.

The government must adopt breakthrough and innovative policies to attract domestic and foreign investment, promote new growth areas and help businesses enhance their competitiveness.

Drastic measures must be taken to eradicate various existing maladies, including internal corruption, bureaucratic sluggishness and loopholes in the system, to stop the system from deteriorating.

Political fights should also come to an end. Healthy competitions are required among political parties to enhance political level, as well as governance and oversight capabilities, instead of intensifying sentiments and confrontations, and resulting in political destruction.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now”, all Malaysians must defend the boat and sail it into 2015, as well as the future.

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