R&B star Reshmonu wants Malaysians to #UniteForMH370

One week into search and rescue operations, and there’s still no sign of Flight MH370 after its mysterious disappearance. Can music help to heal the pain?

As the mystery of lost Flight MH370 deepens, with more questions being asked than answers found or given, Malaysians of all persuasions have come together to hope for a miracle, and to offer each other solace and support.

R&B recording artiste and singer Reshmonu is hoping to galvanise that feeling of patriotism for his project #UniteForMH370, to be held on Tuesday March 18, at the piazza in The Curve, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, from 8pm to 9.30pm.

The project is in collaboration with the NGO Global Peace Foundation Malaysia, and aims to present a night of “powerful emotional tributes, remembrance, expressions of love, unity, and perseverance for the families and friends affected (by the missing flight) and for the Malaysian community as a whole”.

“We gather for #UniteForMH370, an event that will capture the fundamental characteristics that unite us a one family, and as one people,” said Reshmonu in a statement to the press.

“The night will bring together people from all walks of life, religions and ethnicities, as it transcends the normally visible boundaries that we construct to divide ourselves from one another, and come together for a worthy cause. For one night, we forget our divisions and stand united for... faith, compassion and love,” he said.

According to the media release, the event will feature music, video tributes from around the world, “passionate speeches” and presentations that will “act as beacons of light and hope from our hearts to MH370”.

Mahadzir Lokman will host the event, which will include the distribution and release of white balloons, message boards, a video montage of everyone on the lost Flight MH370, a “song of hope” by several Malaysian artistes, an interfaith prayer session, live social media blogging, a moment of silence, and at the end of the night, a group performance of Michael Jackson’s You Are Not Alone.

“That night, there will be no better place to be, and no better family to be with,” said Reshmonu, whose father, Haridas Pillai, was a flight engineer who worked for MAS for over 30 years.

“Needless to say, during this period of despair, speculation and uncertainty… (we need to) come out, stand united and show support not only for MAS but for Malaysia,” he added.

Reshmonu said he was inspired by how so many Malaysians have been showing their love and support for the families of the passengers and MAS crew onboard the lost flight MH370. He hopes that #UniteForMH370 will reinforce that compassion and help it spread beyond Malaysia.

“We want to let the world know that we share the sorrows and fears of those affected as we stand together as one family,” said Dr Teh Su Thye of the Global Peace Foundation Malaysia. “As we wait for further developments on the status of the flight, hopelessness must not be allowed to fester and doubt must (not) be given the space to grow. There is only room for hope.”

For updates on #UniteForMH370, the public can follow the organisers on Facebook at facebook.com/uniteformh370 and on Twitter at twitter.com/uniteformh370.