Melaka, the city founded on spice and the crossing monsoon winds, was the final venue in a busy month of March for the Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia Roadshow crew. It was a show that resulted from two fine citizens - Melvin and Singam - collaborating to convince the group that Melakans would benefit from hearing the SABM message.

The forum was held at the Pay Fong High School, a place that felt like it took the joint tasks of teaching and learning seriously. It's been said that "A school is a building that has four walls with tomorrow inside". How apt - for if there's a tomorrow we aspire, it's the one where all citizens are created equal.

And while a mammoth monoethnic gathering happened at the PWTC that same Saturday, a little banner was unfurled in the Land of Saffron and Kunyit espousing the rights to a common citizenry and to celebrate the challenges of genuine nation-building.

No matter how many times one has spoken on the same topic, there's still the need for that moment of solitude and concentration before showtime. Framed by streaks of bleaching sunlight, Haris gathers his thoughts in a quiet moment alone before registration begins.

And showtime... About 80 people came to listen and share their thoughts for this leg of the roadshow.

Azmi Sharom, with his precocious kids in tow, told of his personal pendatang story. The law professor had the crowd rapt in attention and in stitches with his presentation on the constitutional aspects of the nation.

One by one - from Jahaberdeen to Haris to the Rakyat Voices - the SABM key messages were delivered. Collectively, they drove home the need to be inclusive if we are to be a society with soul.

The Question-and-Answer session was probing and engaging, with participants asking for ways to disseminate the message to parts of the country yet insulated from alternative media. It is surely something SABM is working on in the near future.

Four-and-a-half hours later, just before sundown, the show came to a close. There was the usual mingling and wanting to know more. As with the previous roadshows, an e-group will be set up for  the Melaka participants to further garner discussions and ideas on moving forward with this initiative. For those who were there, bring over that energy into cyberspace, yes?

Melaka's is a layered history with a clear sightline that threads the many different generations and groups of citizens who make Malaysia today. It was a willing coming-together to make a better life and to benefit from one another. It was a fusion and aggregation in degrees seldom encountered elsewhere on this globe. How could anyone not get inspired by this?

Melaka, Melaka

Learn lah lessons from Melaka

Come on, kawan, what for fight

Semua pun pendatang, and that's our might

May we come full circle.