By Haris Ibrahim,
I took loads of photographs at the SABM Malaysia Day event yesterday but, as some of you have pointed out to me before, my photos suck.
No, it’s not the camera.
I’m just a lousy photographer.
And yesterday’s event was just too beautiful to not share the same with you through some of the better photos taken by the others, so I’m going to wait for their photos and then try to put together a pictorial for you.
For now, I’ll share something else with you.
The SABM coregroup started work on our Charter some time in March last year.
It took all of some two months and numerous meetings at Ambrose’s house in PJ, drafts and re-drafts, to get that document to what it is today.
In July, last year, we secured a tenancy of what is now known to all of us as Rumah Anak Bangsa Malaysia.
With Charter in hand and a home for SABM, it was time to reach out.
In August, last year, we hosted a round table conference with prospective partners from civil society to share our Charter and the 5 key messages that we hoped they would join us in taking to the rakyat.
From that conference, we have been blessed with some of our firmest friends and allies in our ‘One People, One Nation’ mission.
Malaysia Day, last year, we launched our humble SABM sampan.
From November, last year, through to June, this year, that sampan has made its way to Penang, KL, Malacca, Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, JB and Kota Bharu, to deliver our 5 key messages, the most important being that we are all human beings, born free and equal.
What’s driven that sampan?
First, the wishes and encouragement we received from the 250 anak Bangsa Malaysia who joined us in launching the sampan last year.
Thank you all.
Second, the coregroup that has steered the sampan this last year is made up of some of the finest people I have ever had to work with in any endeavour.
I had written last year that the SABM sampan was built “by men and women who, by God’s grace, are free from the shackles of ‘tribal think’. Who look at each other and see, not Malay, not Chinese, not Indian, but fellow human beings, equal and free. Who respect, embrace and celebrate our cultural differences”.
It has been an honour and a privilege working with men and women who have given wholeheartedly of themselves, expecting nothing in return, hoping only to see justice and equality for all our brothers and sisters.
Third, the many beautiful people who have joined hands with us in the course of our journey this last year, bringing with them much needed energy and comradeship to make lighter the task that lies before us.
Since March, last year, up to our Malaysia Day event yesterday evening, at every coregroup meeting, and at every forum, teh tarik sembang session and movie screening that we have organised, again and again, between those who have partaken of the same, God has planted love, tenderness and respect in great abundance.
I am full.
I took loads of photographs at the SABM Malaysia Day event yesterday but, as some of you have pointed out to me before, my photos suck.
No, it’s not the camera.
I’m just a lousy photographer.
And yesterday’s event was just too beautiful to not share the same with you through some of the better photos taken by the others, so I’m going to wait for their photos and then try to put together a pictorial for you.
For now, I’ll share something else with you.
The SABM coregroup started work on our Charter some time in March last year.
It took all of some two months and numerous meetings at Ambrose’s house in PJ, drafts and re-drafts, to get that document to what it is today.
In July, last year, we secured a tenancy of what is now known to all of us as Rumah Anak Bangsa Malaysia.
With Charter in hand and a home for SABM, it was time to reach out.
In August, last year, we hosted a round table conference with prospective partners from civil society to share our Charter and the 5 key messages that we hoped they would join us in taking to the rakyat.
From that conference, we have been blessed with some of our firmest friends and allies in our ‘One People, One Nation’ mission.
Malaysia Day, last year, we launched our humble SABM sampan.
From November, last year, through to June, this year, that sampan has made its way to Penang, KL, Malacca, Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, JB and Kota Bharu, to deliver our 5 key messages, the most important being that we are all human beings, born free and equal.
What’s driven that sampan?
First, the wishes and encouragement we received from the 250 anak Bangsa Malaysia who joined us in launching the sampan last year.
Thank you all.
Second, the coregroup that has steered the sampan this last year is made up of some of the finest people I have ever had to work with in any endeavour.
I had written last year that the SABM sampan was built “by men and women who, by God’s grace, are free from the shackles of ‘tribal think’. Who look at each other and see, not Malay, not Chinese, not Indian, but fellow human beings, equal and free. Who respect, embrace and celebrate our cultural differences”.
It has been an honour and a privilege working with men and women who have given wholeheartedly of themselves, expecting nothing in return, hoping only to see justice and equality for all our brothers and sisters.
Third, the many beautiful people who have joined hands with us in the course of our journey this last year, bringing with them much needed energy and comradeship to make lighter the task that lies before us.
Since March, last year, up to our Malaysia Day event yesterday evening, at every coregroup meeting, and at every forum, teh tarik sembang session and movie screening that we have organised, again and again, between those who have partaken of the same, God has planted love, tenderness and respect in great abundance.
I am full.
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