FRIENDSHIP Good morning to the honorable judges , teachers and my fellow friends.

I am standing here to deliver a speech about FRIENDSHIP and THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT IT PLAYS IN OUR LIVES. Firstly, let me ask all of you , WHAT IS FRIENDSHIP? Well ,friendship consists of true friends that can make you laugh when skies are the darkest. True friends that will even hurt you only if its for your own good. Friends that will protect you under any circumstances and friends that will make you feel like youre on the top of the world when youre feeling crushed to the ground. My fellow audiences. Have you ever noticed that when a friend is happy you find yourself happy too. Even when it has nothing to do with you? A true friend is like a mirror .Do you know why ? Its because they reflect yourself . When I say that, I mean by emotionally ,spiritually and many more. When youre happy ,they are happy and when youre sad , they are feeling pretty much the same way youre feeling too. People today , in this new era of technology and modernly have lost sight of what a true friendship is. Friends do not have to be exactly the same. I mean, come on, friends do have similarities but they also have their differences. The key to opening up the world of friendship is not just to focus on the similarities but to accept each other faults because true friends do not judge each other. Friends love unconditionally. They do have their little angry moments from time to time but at the end of the day all is forgiven and forgotten. As quoted by Oscar Wilde, "Anybody can sympathize with the sufferings of a friend but it requires a very fine nature to sympathize with a friends success. True friends are very rare to find but once you have found them, dont let them go because not everyone has true friends even if theyre popular and famous.

As life goes on, we lose our friends and gain a lot more. Some friends stay true to your side, some were never there for you to begin with. Well, there are times when one special friends ends up becoming your bridesmaid. Good or bad friends come and go. But theres one thing for sure, we cant live without them. Related to our topic, our Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, have introduced a concept of solidarity which is One Malaysia. It is the goal of national unity and as a guide line on how to achieve Bangsa Malaysia or Malaysian race. As we know, Malaysia is a multiracial country with a rich cultural heritage, its population is formed by 3 main races, the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians. I am one Malaysian who totally agrees with this concept. Enough of discrimination. Apart from differences in beliefs,, religion and ethnicity, we are much the same. We all live on same land, the same country and we all bleed red blood. I believe in the One Malaysia concept as a way of bringing Malaysia together and not as a barrier in friendships. So what if your friend in life a different race? It doesnt really make much of a difference. It actually makes your life more colourful. That friendship all about. A friend is someone we turn to When our spirits need a lift A friend is someone we treasure for our friendship is a gift A friend is someone who fills our lives with beauty, joy, and grace And makes the whole world we live in a better and happier place.

I hope all of you as my audience get the true meaning of friends because its wonderful to be with such amazing friends. Best friends stick together till the end. They are like a straight line that will not bend. Thank you.