IN the quiet intensity of a hospital ward—where pain humbles, and hope is shared—questions of race, religion, and politics often fade into the background. It is here, said Tan Sri Mohd Annuar Zaini, that Malaysians demonstrate their truest sense of unity.
Speaking on the podcast Jangan Pajak Otak hosted by Liyana Marzuki, the Yang di-Pertua of the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council reflected on how moments of vulnerability reveal a deeper, more genuine compassion among people of different backgrounds.
“In hospitals, we never ask whether the blood we receive comes from a supporter of one political party or another.”
“We don’t question whether the doctor treating us shares our political views. In moments of suffering, those things no longer matter,” he said.
He described hospitals as spaces where unity is most visible and where prayers are often at their most sincere.
According to him, the prayers uttered by patients and their families—driven by desperation and hope—can sometimes be more heartfelt than those performed elsewhere.
Annuar recounted a poignant example: when an Indian patient passed away, fellow patients of various ethnicities, including Malays and Chinese, came together—contributing money, shedding tears, and offering support to the grieving family.
“In those moments, there is no division. “Only humanity,” he said.
He also emphasised that identity is not a matter of personal choice.
Referring to individuals of different ethnic backgrounds, he noted that no one chooses the family or culture they are born into.
“These are determined by God,” he said, adding that communities of diverse origins have lived in Malaysia for generations and equally belong to the nation.
Annuar urged Malaysians to resist political narratives that sow distrust and division. Instead, he called for a collective effort to overcome prejudice and to see one another first as fellow citizens and as human beings created in diversity.
“We must not allow ourselves to be shaped by political influences that lead to hatred and suspicion.”
We should see each other as Malaysians, and as servants of God, created in different races, languages, and cultures,” he added.
Annuar began his career in public service in 1977 as an Administrative and Diplomatic Officer, serving in various ministries and departments, as well as the Perak State Government.
After opting for early retirement in 1999, he held leadership roles in the corporate and media sectors, including serving as Executive Director of Berjaya Corporation Berhad and Chairman of the Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA).
He currently sits on the board of the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO). – April 4, 2026
