Pray for Peace

In light of the troubles in Sabah there have been murmurs 

about the possibility of civil war and state of emergency. 

The last time violence happened in Sabah was in 1986, when riots broke out in KK due to political conflict during Tun Mustapha's time. My dad used to tell me how he had to pick my brother up early from kindergarten because violence had started in the city-- fish bombs detonated in parts of KK, cars were set alight. Five people died and curfew had to be instilled. No one was allowed to go out after a certain time in the evening or risk getting shot by the army. 

For all the years of my life that I have lived in Sabah,

 I've known it to be the most placid place on earth. 

Background, race, ethnicity and religion, nobody cares in what category you fall under.

All everybody wants to do is get together around food and talk and enjoy life until the sun goes down. 

Some say that being this placid has its own drawbacks: we become so placid that we don't voice our rights and views strong enough for people to take notice.

Reading about concerns over Sabah's future,

I can't help but have this terrible fear for the safety of my family and friends back home. 

Will there be violence again, like there was in 1986?

Are we going to live in fear for the rest of our lives knowing that extremists in the Philippines are already staging a plan to get back at us for the bloodshed? What happens if the issue gets taken to World Court? The war has already begun and lives have already been lost on both sides. 

This issue will not be laid to rest so easily or peacefully for sure.

Please let there be peace for our beautiful Land below the Wind.