This Heartwarming Raya Image Went Viral & Inspired Malaysians to Share Their Stories of Unity

Malaysia has always been known as a racial melting pot of a country, and it shows the most during festive seasons as open houses and other celebrations bring together people of different races, skin tones and cultures in perfect harmony.

For a Chinese family, a candid shot of them at a local park has helped foster a stronger sense of unity this festive season. In a now-viral image on Twitter posted by Shazwan Wong (@WanShazwan6), the Chinese family assisted a Malay family by taking their Raya family portrait at the Taiping Lake Gardens.

This is Malaysia ! This is the REAL Malaysia ! pic.twitter.com/5unJNbWGjq

— Shazwan Wong (@WanShazwan6) June 5, 2019

The scene seems considerably normal as no one would really turn down another person asking if they could help take a picture, right? It’s the effect the image had on netizens that really makes it special.

The caption for the post reads, “This is Malaysia! This is the real Malaysia!”, which prompted netizens to share their ‘Real Malaysia’ Raya celebration stories.

People started posting their own Raya celebration pictures in the comments section, showcasing families of different races coming together to celebrate the occasion in order to show their love and support for what Shazwan calls the ‘Real Malaysia’.

Source: twitter

One netizen even recounted that they celebrated in a park alongside a Chinese family who asked if they could be part of their Raya pictures, a request they happily indulged.

Source: twitter

Other netizens also shared how their family members of different religions would come together during Hari Raya to laugh, chat, sing songs and eat together.

Source: twitter

The Twitter thread was also flooded with well-wishers and comments of support towards celebrating festive seasons together as one big Malaysian family, and for one somewhat older (we assume, anyway) netizen, the image is a reminder of simpler times.

Source: twitter

Source: twitter

Source: twitter

This comment reads, “Next Chinese New Year we’ll come together to help them.”

Even though Malaysia has always been a multi-racial country, I will never get over how truly amazing and beautiful Malaysia is when we see each other as friends and family despite our racial and religious differences.

Shazwan Wong’s tweet has since garnered over 27,500 retweets. 

Also read: Netizen Heartwarmingly Highlights How Malaysians Come Together Despite Being From Different Races