In KUALA LUMPUR

I'VE never fasted before, but have always been fascinated by the practice of fasting for Ramadan by Muslims.

I've been listening to my friends' conversations about discipline, food, and types of food that should be eaten at sahur (the predawn meal).

'Try it,' a friend suggested as we chatted over iftar (breaking of fast) last week.

It sounded like a good idea, especially as I had been accepting invites to iftar nearly everyday. My calorie intake would have been horrific, if I dared to keep track.

I fasted for a day last Thursday. Not a full Muslim fast, though. I drank water. It was hard, yes, but my friends were right. Discipline is sharpened, and when you have conquered hunger, you can also conquer other weaknesses like unkindness. I can't say I did too well on that score though!

This year, for some reason, many non-Muslim Malaysians had joined in the Ramadan fast. I know scores of friends who had done so.

Most of them say it's about wanting to empathise. It's perhaps a reaction to the poisonous political atmosphere which had pitted the races against each other in recent months.

A church pastor Sivin Kit, who organised a Fast for Malaysia day on Sept 16, said he felt the 800-plus who signed up for the event did so, precisely for this reason. They were from all races and faiths, including Muslims.

'The ugly political climate had galvanised the silent to step up,' he said.

This event was held after soon after the protest where a group of Malays had stomped on a cow's head – an animal sacred to the Hindus – to protest the building of a temple in their neighbourhood. Six of them have been charged with sedition.

Someone asked me how the Muslims felt about the non-Muslim initiative. From what my friends tell me, they appreciate it!

Selamat Hari Raya to all.