EVERY election season seems to bring with it a familiar and unfortunate pattern.
Instead of competing on ideas, policies and solutions to improve people’s lives, some politicians find it easier to appeal to race, religion or ethnicity. Old divisions are revived, emotions are stirred, and communities are reminded of what supposedly separates them rather than what unites them.
For many Malaysians, such rhetoric has become almost expected whenever political temperatures begin to rise. Fortunately, Sarawak has largely remained different.
That is not to say we are free from disagreements or political differences. Like every society, we have our own challenges. But race and religion have never been allowed to define who deserves respect, friendship or opportunity.
In Sarawak, diversity is not viewed as a problem to be managed. It is celebrated as one of our greatest strengths.
The Iban phrase Segulai Sejalai – together in unity – and the familiar expression “Unity in Diversity” are more than slogans repeated during official functions. For most Sarawakians, they reflect the way we have lived for generations.
They describe a society where neighbours celebrate one another’s festivals, where children grow up with friends from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, and where communities naturally come together in times of joy and hardship. Our diversity is simply part of everyday life.
A Bidayuh family attends an open house during Hari Raya. Chinese friends visit longhouses during Gawai. Muslim families celebrate Christmas with Christian siblings, relatives and neighbours, and vice versa. During Chinese New Year, homes across the state welcome families from every background.
These are not carefully staged displays for the cameras. They happen because they are genuine.
Perhaps that is why Sarawakians rarely begin a conversation by asking, “What race are you?” More often, we ask, “Where are you from?” That small difference speaks volumes. It reflects a mindset that sees the individual before ethnicity or religion.
Over the decades, this culture of mutual respect has become deeply embedded in our society. It has shaped the way we live, work and govern ourselves, while bringing tangible benefits.
A peaceful and harmonious society inspires confidence. Investors are naturally attracted to places where communities coexist peacefully and where social stability supports long-term economic growth. Businesses thrive more easily, tourism benefits from a genuinely welcoming environment, and educational institutions attract students from diverse backgrounds.
Most importantly, young Sarawakians grow up seeing diversity as something natural rather than something to fear.
One does not have to look far to see the spirit of Segulai Sejalai in action. Step into almost any coffee shop in Sarawak and, regardless of the owner’s race or religion, you are likely to find customers from every community sharing tables, meals and conversations.
No one gives it a second thought. It is simply the Sarawak way of life. It is in these ordinary moments, rather than official celebrations or cultural festivals, that our unity is most evident.
We do not merely speak about racial harmony; we live it every day.
This deep-rooted social cohesion has also enabled successive state leaders to devote more attention to development and progress instead of managing racial and religious tensions.
After all, why should we allow race to divide us over something none of us had any say in? None of us chose the race into which we were born. While we may choose our beliefs and embrace a different faith, we cannot choose our ancestry or rewrite our origins.
Rather than allowing those differences to become barriers, we should see them for what they truly are: unique threads woven together into the rich fabric of our society.
Diversity should never be a reason for division. It should be a source of mutual respect, understanding and strength. That is precisely what Sarawak has demonstrated for generations.
As a result, the state has been able to focus on improving infrastructure, expanding educational opportunities, attracting investment and pursuing long-term economic growth for the benefit of all.
Whether it is extending infrastructure into the rural interior, developing renewable energy, investing in education, strengthening the digital economy or pursuing greater economic autonomy, Sarawak has generally moved forward with broad public support because the objective has remained one of shared prosperity.
That is not to suggest Sarawak is without its challenges. No society is perfect.
We continue to face economic disparities, uneven development and differing views on many issues. Yet these challenges are seldom viewed through the narrow prism of race or religion. More often, they are recognised for what they are – shared challenges affecting all Sarawakians, regardless of ethnicity or faith.
That distinction matters. It allows us to pursue solutions based on common interests rather than communal divisions, enabling us to move forward together instead of being pulled apart by differences.
Unity does not mean everyone looks the same, thinks the same or believes the same. True unity means respecting our differences while recognising that our common future matters more than our individual identities.
Unfortunately, that lesson is sometimes forgotten elsewhere. When race becomes a political weapon, trust begins to erode. Communities grow suspicious of one another, and every issue risks being viewed through ethnic lenses rather than objective facts. Once that happens, even sound policies can become divisive simply because of who proposes them or who appears to benefit.
History has repeatedly shown that societies divided by race seldom realise their full potential. Energy that should be devoted to innovation, education and economic progress is instead consumed by unnecessary conflict.
No nation can become truly strong if its people are constantly encouraged to fear one another.
Sarawak offers an alternative – not because we are inherently better than anyone else, but because generations before us chose cooperation over confrontation, understanding over suspicion, and inclusion over exclusion.
Those values have become part of our identity. The challenge now is ensuring that future generations inherit them.
Young Sarawakians must continue growing up in communities where diversity is celebrated, friendships cross every cultural boundary, and political differences never become excuses for racial hatred.
Unity cannot be preserved by slogans alone. It must be lived every day through our actions, our conversations, our leadership and the example we set for our children.
Perhaps the greatest contribution Sarawak can make to Malaysia is not merely its natural resources, economic ambitions or development agenda. Perhaps it is the reminder that people of different races, religions and cultures can live together not because they have to, but because they genuinely choose to.
That, more than anything else, is the true meaning of Segulai Sejalai. And perhaps, now more than ever, it is a lesson worth embracing.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at drnagrace@gmail.com.
