We should focus on our shared values and commonalities instead of our differences

Residents of Tropicana at the Residents’ Association briefing by Kidex.

I RETURNED to Malaysia after living abroad about four years ago. While I was aware of the politics that had been taking centrestage in world news, I pretty much thought it was just politics and that the country I was returning to was essentially the same one I left eight years ago. It did not quite turn out that way as Malaysia had evolved in ways I had never experienced before.

For one thing, racism was more rife – or so it seemed. It took me some time to realise that it was the vocal minority who were making more noise than the silent majority.