Sabah oh Sabah

The other day, a good friend said that it’s a real blessing to be a Sabahan. .

We have too many illegals, and there is so much hanky panky with those who have power, I said.

No, no, he said. I mean in terms of our human relations. Forget the politics, our plus point is that we are so multi-cultural that I get a high when I think about it. Look at the obituaries in the local papers, we can see most of the families are inter related; Kadazan marrying Chinese, Malays marrying Kadazan.

No big deal, we take it for granted, I said.

Yes, but, we must celebrate our diversity. You go to other parts of the country, people are not as open as us. Communications are not so honest. Here, you say what you want even in the presence of other races, people can accept your views with an open mind. You feel good about this sense of freedom.

We are too honest, that’s why we get conned easily by people who are not so honest, I said.

I agree. Can you be what you are not?

A bit hard. Honesty is the best policy? I asked.

Yes, he replied.

And wait to be conned all over again? I responded.

I know what you mean and I have no answer to that, he answered ruefully. It’s tough to be simple and nice in this world, he sighed.

Is it a real blessing to be a Sabahan, then?