To Ensure Solution, Change the Approach.
This morning while I was doing some work with my mom, a thought occurs to me; we have so many anti-whatever campaigns, so how come the things that we are "anti" about, keep on getting worse? And the things that we want, we keep on losing? (If you've read the post in my blog "Ask What You Want, Not What You Don't", this is a follow-up for that post). It's because we're focusing on the wrong thing.
That thought started a discussion between me and my Mom. I used the gay community as an example (please don't get me wrong; I neither support nor oppose their existence. Let the Almighty deals with them); every year they have a Gay Parade. They do it in peace; there are media coverages, but it's not like they make advertisements of it; no violence (except from the non-gay people); and they keep themselves civilized (at least from their point of view). And guess what; THEIR NUMBER GROWS. It's a success.
Now take a look at an anti-war demonstration. We don't have them advertised, of course, but it was seldom done in a peaceful manner. No wonder Mother Teresa REFUSED to join any anti-war procession, but would gladly join a peace rally. What's the difference? It's the focus: What I've seen so far, an anti-war demonstration would involve burning of something (George Bush models, flags, dustbins, embassies, cars, people, etc), a lot of negative emotions, people getting angry (but venting them out in the most unproductive manner), a lot of violence (sometimes to the extent of deaths and severe injuries). It's an anti-war demonstration, but ironically the demonstration left a war zone. Could you imagine the late Mother Teresa getting involved in such procession? I can't.
Okay, imagine a peace rally. How would you feel, if somebody says that, "This is a peace rally", and starts burning a flag? It would sound stupid. It doesn't go along with the agenda; PEACE. In a peace rally, we talk about peace; efforts to be taken, mistakes to be addressed, solutions, improvements, etc. The objective is to inspire people to work towards peace. People do feel anger, but they are inspired to vent out their anger in manners that will promote peace. Now that is productive.
However, anti-war demonstration is by far the more popular form of objection campaign. Thanks to that, and the anti-terrorism campaign led by the US administration (not the citizens), War and Violence have become more popular as well. And Peace becomes an "endangered species". And it's evidence in their country; students going to school/college and start shooting at their friends and teachers. When I took Marketing subjects during my varsity years, US have always been the trend-setter. Hopefully this will never be the case, although it seems that we do learn to do the foolish things the West did better than the smart things.
So, how should we actually conduct an objection campaign? Don't conduct any. Conduct a supportive campaign. Instead of an anti-apostasy rally, start an Islamic Understanding campaign. Tell people about Islam, clear out their misunderstanding. If there are any questions that are unanswerable, do research on them until a solid answer is found. Conduct inter-religious forums; not to show who's right and who's wrong and who's better, aim to set a ground of understanding. Be transparent; don't ban books that talk about Islam just because they are written by non-Muslim scholars. Release the books, and let the public and the scholars discuss about them. Encourage books that support or oppose their views be published. That way, a clearer and more positive view on Islam can be achieved, and misunderstanding avoided. If we just concentrate on talking and promoting about how bad apostasy is, without making efforts to educate people about the beauty of Islam, it will make matters worse.
The same goes for health issues. Our country is facing obesity, diabetes, and many other health epidemic. But I still haven't seen or heard of any ongoing campaign to promote healthy lifestyle. Perhaps there are, but they are not being given much publicity. I do see a lot of anti-smoking and anti-drugs and safe-sex campaigns going around, but that is not the right way to get the message across. It's good that there are efforts being put in to educate people about how bad it is, but where are the efforts to educate people about the solutions and alternatives?
Hopefully all of us who are reading this article, and are writing articles in respond to this, will take actions to promote positive changes towards how we approach negative issues in the future. It's time for us to move on, and make improvements and educate the younger generations to promote solutions and positive alternatives, so that they will not repeat the same mistakes and experience the same problems that we face today. As an end note, let me share with you a word of wisdom (I forgot who should be credited for this quote), "A successful person does not do a different thing. He does the same thing differently".
That thought started a discussion between me and my Mom. I used the gay community as an example (please don't get me wrong; I neither support nor oppose their existence. Let the Almighty deals with them); every year they have a Gay Parade. They do it in peace; there are media coverages, but it's not like they make advertisements of it; no violence (except from the non-gay people); and they keep themselves civilized (at least from their point of view). And guess what; THEIR NUMBER GROWS. It's a success.
Now take a look at an anti-war demonstration. We don't have them advertised, of course, but it was seldom done in a peaceful manner. No wonder Mother Teresa REFUSED to join any anti-war procession, but would gladly join a peace rally. What's the difference? It's the focus: What I've seen so far, an anti-war demonstration would involve burning of something (George Bush models, flags, dustbins, embassies, cars, people, etc), a lot of negative emotions, people getting angry (but venting them out in the most unproductive manner), a lot of violence (sometimes to the extent of deaths and severe injuries). It's an anti-war demonstration, but ironically the demonstration left a war zone. Could you imagine the late Mother Teresa getting involved in such procession? I can't.
Okay, imagine a peace rally. How would you feel, if somebody says that, "This is a peace rally", and starts burning a flag? It would sound stupid. It doesn't go along with the agenda; PEACE. In a peace rally, we talk about peace; efforts to be taken, mistakes to be addressed, solutions, improvements, etc. The objective is to inspire people to work towards peace. People do feel anger, but they are inspired to vent out their anger in manners that will promote peace. Now that is productive.
However, anti-war demonstration is by far the more popular form of objection campaign. Thanks to that, and the anti-terrorism campaign led by the US administration (not the citizens), War and Violence have become more popular as well. And Peace becomes an "endangered species". And it's evidence in their country; students going to school/college and start shooting at their friends and teachers. When I took Marketing subjects during my varsity years, US have always been the trend-setter. Hopefully this will never be the case, although it seems that we do learn to do the foolish things the West did better than the smart things.
So, how should we actually conduct an objection campaign? Don't conduct any. Conduct a supportive campaign. Instead of an anti-apostasy rally, start an Islamic Understanding campaign. Tell people about Islam, clear out their misunderstanding. If there are any questions that are unanswerable, do research on them until a solid answer is found. Conduct inter-religious forums; not to show who's right and who's wrong and who's better, aim to set a ground of understanding. Be transparent; don't ban books that talk about Islam just because they are written by non-Muslim scholars. Release the books, and let the public and the scholars discuss about them. Encourage books that support or oppose their views be published. That way, a clearer and more positive view on Islam can be achieved, and misunderstanding avoided. If we just concentrate on talking and promoting about how bad apostasy is, without making efforts to educate people about the beauty of Islam, it will make matters worse.
The same goes for health issues. Our country is facing obesity, diabetes, and many other health epidemic. But I still haven't seen or heard of any ongoing campaign to promote healthy lifestyle. Perhaps there are, but they are not being given much publicity. I do see a lot of anti-smoking and anti-drugs and safe-sex campaigns going around, but that is not the right way to get the message across. It's good that there are efforts being put in to educate people about how bad it is, but where are the efforts to educate people about the solutions and alternatives?
Hopefully all of us who are reading this article, and are writing articles in respond to this, will take actions to promote positive changes towards how we approach negative issues in the future. It's time for us to move on, and make improvements and educate the younger generations to promote solutions and positive alternatives, so that they will not repeat the same mistakes and experience the same problems that we face today. As an end note, let me share with you a word of wisdom (I forgot who should be credited for this quote), "A successful person does not do a different thing. He does the same thing differently".
10 comments:
Discrimination in the private sector is everywhere. Even the Chinese businessman who is just starting gets discriminated against more established ones, unless he has a mentor to back him up.
As for career interviews, it is best to get a recommendation first. If I am using my own money, it is my right to choose whom I want - even to the extent of discrimination. Why would I want to hire someone that I cannot have lunch with, work with or converse with?
The BN government on the other hand is discriminating against the non-malays not with the malay money, but with probably the Chinese money as the latter pay the bulk of income tax collected in the country. That we are against.
The inherent problem with this country is - it is run by a bunch of people with selfish agenda. To keep themselves at the helm they get a bunch of relatively less intelligent people to support them. And so it goes……….
The entire government hierarchy in particular the main branch of BN is ruled by loudmouths incompetents and that is the crux of the problem of the nation.
Stupid people trying to make themselves looks smart and therefore making the entire nation look stupid.
……….a typical malay filled with smug complacency and adept at trotting out trite justifications for the pernicious politics of privilege that pervade Malaysia.
The Red Indians would then be our Orang Asli. Curiously, the US historically granted native land rights to the Red Indians, some of who have become wealthy due to oil rights and the opening of casinos on their native lands.
In contrast, our Orang Asli have been granted only some hunting and fishing rights, and I am told by them that the malay administration refuses to give them medical benefits and allowances unless they become Muslims.
Yes, black slavery was practised in the US till the Civil War but thereafter, the full rights granted under the US constitution were available to all US citizens.
True, until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, decisively ended segregationist policies through enforced busing, affirmative action policies, etc.
In contrast, our Malaysia majority malays have perpetuated special rights for themselves till Kingdom come, not for the many poor Indians, who were dispossessed of their menial plantation jobs and allotted estate housing for almost a hundred years when plantations were sold off for housing estates for big profits, or for the many poor urban and rural Chinese eking a living.
It is an obscenity to see well-fed malays driving around in Mercedes Benzes and drawing fat salaries, yet availing themselves of 7 percent bumi discount for posh houses, plentiful government scholarship forms to go overseas, entitlement to bumi unit trusts paying 10 percent returns when everyone else is in recession or going broke, while the Indian and Chinese Malaysians keep quiet because they know they do not count.
Do you get my drift……….?
Let me be the first to tell you that Singapore is not a perfect society. But in Malaysia, we are citizens but still treated like second class citizens, right!
Let me be honest with you. I am better off in Singapore as a PR than as a Malaysian. In the 10 years I am in Singapore, nobody has told me to get lost and I have never felt like a second class citizen despite being a PR. In Malaysia, you know the story.
I feel so let down to know that Singapore treats us better than our own country. What a shame! Ask any other Malaysians living in Singapore and they will tell you the same.
If I am given a choice to serve in the army of Singapore or my own country Malaysia, I would have no problem choosing Singapore despite you claming it is unfair (and you maybe right too).
Why? Do you think the Malaysia government cares for me to putting my life on the line for the country? Let us be honest.
Like I said, Singapore is not perfect, but it is anytime better than living in Malaysia.
While Singapore government is sincere and doing all the right things, saying all the right things, in contrast, we can't say the same about Malaysia government, filled with hypocrites who only sing song, nice racial harmony song on certain occasions, the once in a year Merdeka speech, in general elections vote-fishing speeches, that is all.
And talks are cheaper than bull shit, or dinosaur shit for sure. Cause on many other occasions, during Umno assembly, meetings in kampung etc, we see the apes come out of their cages, instigating hatred, this is our land, waving keris, we are the tuan, we deserve this and that, we need to be strong so that other races won't get to take advantage of our weaknesses, blah blah blah……….no more Chinese schools, no more funding, blah blah blah. Same old shit from the same old clan of monkeys.
Open your eyes, go and live in Singapore for a few years, then you will feel differently perhaps.
On the surface, Singapore government is doing everything right to forge racial harmony, that is important, because perception is everything.
In Malaysia, we have all the opposite. That is the difference. Big difference. Big mama difference. Huge difference.
When I first lived in Singapore, I had the mentality of a "Malaysian".
Guess what? I now don't think like that. Every time, you hear a speech given by the Singapore prime minister, you know he is speaking from his heart and that matters.
I am a very skeptical person and it is very hard to buy me over unless you are speaking the truth. Do you know the government tells all their citizens in their national day rally speech to welcome us foreigners?
I personally admire the Singapore government, they actually walk the talk, really! I can see this with my own eyes! Nothing is more convincing than this. As for our Malaysia politicians, all they care is their bloody self (MCA, MIC, Umno) and their hoodlums.
The large publics of Chinese, Indians and Malays have to fend for ourselves. Why should I go back to Malaysia if I believe I have a better life in Singapore! I don't want my kids to grow up in an environment where they are told there is a distinction between malays and non-malays. Think about this!
This is my personal answer. The 10 years of being happy in Singapore is nowhere compared to the 30 years of rubbish I have got from Malaysia as a non-malay.
I will pass you my Malaysian passport next year (hope you are happy now).
Yup right, what an irony, I am willing to die for Singapore being a PR and not for Malaysia being a citizen. That shows much we feel we belonged in Malaysia.
In 1994, I tried to apply a scholarship in Malaysia but I couldn't get it due to the impartial system albeit I desperate for a scholarship as I was very poor. I tried to re-appeal but to no avail.
Fortunately, Singapore had offered me a scholarship and I was in fact forced to leave Malaysia no matter how reluctant I was.
Having stayed in Singapore for 10 years now. I salute the Singapore government for its efficiency. Whatever promises they make to the citizens, all will be materialised. This country practises meritocracy and if you capable and work hard, you will definitely be able to hold high post regardless of race.
I agree that Singapore is not a perfect country but it treats everyone in Singapore fairly whereby there is no discrimination at all.
On the contrary, Malaysia marginalises the non-malays which ultimately will have great impact on itself. I believe eventually Malaysia will lose (already lost) the competitive edge in which all the capable and smart non-malays will leave to other countries.
It is no doubt our Malaysia education system is getting down the drain as almost all the key posts are filled with all the cronies who are incapable and apple polisher. Besides, lots of our ministers act like an uncivilised person and speak with no substance.
We have already suffered a high level of brain drain - a lot of Malaysians have left for greener pastures in Australia, Singapore etc. Some of these are my friends and they are very happy where they are.
These are people whom others recognized as huge contributors not only to the company they are working with, but the country as well.
Imagine how great Malaysia would have been, if these people are working in Malaysia, and contributing to the growth here.
A lot of non-malays are feeling the pinch of staying in this Malaysia country, especially when our politicians are becoming more confident about being louder and vocal at being racist to win more votes.
But I have heard very few Singaporeans saying they would prefer Malaysia. I know - I was there for about 10 years.
Yes, the erosion of freedom on expression and choice has robbed us non-Muslims and Muslims alike, of our basic human rights.
This country has become 'talibanised', religious fanaticism uncontrolled, daylight robberies and corruption.
Malaysians, let us stand together and stop the rot. Enough of these nincompoops, regime change is the answer.
As a post-independence-born Malaysian, I would like to offer my thoughts on Article 153 of the federal constitution which mentions the special position of the malays. Please note that there is no mention of the words 'special privileges' or 'special rights' in the constitution.
For too long, there has been a lack of understanding of what our forefathers had in mind when they included this clause in our much talked about social contract. To gain a better understanding, let us take a trip back in time to 1957 to actually visualise the scene then.
In a scenario where the immigrant Chinese and Indians were seeking citizenship rights in Malaysia, it is reasonable to presume that they would have had to understand and acknowledge the difficulties faced by the majority malays.
And this is where the meaning of the words 'special position' comes into focus. What did our forefathers mean by the special position of the malays? Did they mean that the malays would enjoy a higher status than all the other races? Did they mean that the malays would have special rights and privileges in perpetuity?
If this is what our forefathers had intended, then our constitution would have mentioned this specifically. However, the constitution or social contract does not say so.
What then, could the words 'special position' mean? It is reasonable to infer that our forefathers were concerned first by the fact that the malays were left behind economically despite being the indigenous majority in the country.
Secondly, they were concerned by the fact that, despite being immigrants, the Chinese and a small segment of the Indian community were relatively much better off.
The clause was therefore more so of an acknowledgment by the non-malays of the disadvantageous economic situation of the malays. The consideration given by the former to the latter when entering into the social contract for citizenship rights was agree to provide some measure of support for the malays to improve their economic standing.
If our forefathers had meant for these preferences to last in perpetuity, then there would not have been a request for a review in 15 years.
When I see the compulsory requirement for non-malay companies to hand over a certain portion of their equity to the malays for no input at all, I am tempted to ask: Is this what our forefathers had in mind? I can go on listing the abuses forever because there are plenty of them.
It is intriguing to hear senior BN and Umno leaders repeatedly asking the people to adhere to the social contract. What contract they are referring to? It cannot be the federal constitution. It is most probably some contract that they have entered into unilaterally without the agreement of the non-malays.
So it seems to be incorrect to firstly equate the words 'special position' with 'special rights and privileges'. Secondly, it also seems incorrect to suggest that the malays have special rights and privileges in perpetuity and therefore, that they have a higher status than everyone else.
The non-malays only agreed to allow them preferences over the others for a finite period of time. It has now been almost 50 years since independent but has such a meaningful review of those preferences taken place at all? Absolutely not.
In fact what has happened is that successive BN governments, dominated by Umno, and especially after the 1969 tragedy, have taken the liberty to very liberally interpret Article 153. This has led to the wholesale abuse of the consideration provided by the non-malays in 1957 for their citizenship rights.
It seems to me that the real social contract of 1957 was torn up long ago by the BN government with the way in which the NEP was implemented from the 1970s onwards.
To me, the real social contract of 1957 has long been dead. I hope the day will come when the people of Malaysia in the true independent spirit will make it live again.
Then perhaps, we would not have to spend hundreds of millions ringgit on nonsensical projects like the National Service to inculcate unity amongst the races.
In Malaysia, corrupt ministers get to keep their jobs because we are so pathetic, we don't have anyone more able or clever like Rafidah.
So, she gets to keep her post. Better keep the corrupt and smart, than to train newer ones!
Oh, forgot brain drain. All the rubbish we have, have gone to other countries. The rubbish we have is the best among the best.
There is nothing to lose if you have made up your mind. Best wishes to you.
I agree that there are more opportunities outside Malaysia for non-malays if you don't have the right connections at home Malaysia. The pasture is definitely greener on the other side!
I went through the same process 15 years ago with my three children, and today, they are very successful in their respective careers. To these young qualified professionals, the world is their oyster.
15 years ago, by the racial discrimination in terms of quota system, my children had slimmed or no chance to enter local university which was the dream of every kid in those days.
With the comparison of the result with that of the outside world now, it is of no priority or consideration at all by the present generation.
It is like one says: "In the old days, students were forced to go overseas only when they could not secure places in University Malaya. Now it is the reverse - students go overseas as a priority".
With the proficiency of the English language and substance (my children) they have, they have secured their professional jobs by choice and have the opportunity to work in Australia, then Singapore, then back to Australia, and one is still working in London because of the pursuit of a specialist course.
It is amazing that they could just secure their job with the submission of CV through Internet followed by telephone interviews. This is the type of ability that our present Malaya 60 thousands of unemployable graduates could not have.
Two my children have now settled down in Australia with secured jobs and one is still in London. However, three of them have secured on their own each with a residential property in Australia, and they are all at an age of below thirty.
We are no traitors as we use our own resources all the way unlike some government scholarship holders who spent away money and now refuse to go home to serve the country because they too find that overseas life is comfortable.
We cannot keep living in an environment where robbing A to pay B is a norm, and the world is now our children performing stage.
If we didn't move out in those days, my children would be in the present group of the 60 thousands unemployable graduates if they were lucky to be admitted to those local Malaysia university.
I am very happy with their achievements and what someone say, "Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime." is very true as my children really know how to fish and in such a manner, I can retire comfortably in my twilight years. I suppose this is my harvest time.
Complaining and pointing out small worthless individuals in the field of corruption will not yield any results. Let us look at a bigger and a more thorough example:
UMNO
I don't need to justify why I state this, due to the fact that the whole world knows about it. Somebody might come and argue, stating that corruption at this scale happen everywhere. I agree.
But Umno is different, they play dirty and show it to everybody, with the most obvious ways. In certain ways I think they play dirty just to show who is in control.
A lot of Chinese leaders are also crook and want money only, and when Umno Youth speaks, they keep quiet, taking care of their own asses only. We must be realistic, whatever politicians, races or religions, there are bad and good people.
Nobody going to help us unless we help ourselves. Don't depend so much on Grerakan and MCA. We serve us well when we vote for no matter what party. Ask the ruling party don't say they are helping Chinese all the while, at the main time they get money and title for themselves. While the Chinese community don't get any things.
You are so right too! Malaysians prefer to have no respect for law and order. They prefer to bribe their way through everything. And they complain about corruption!
Corruption is bad for society, bad for you and me. You better believe it. If not, wait till you are stopped by the police for doing nothing wrong and asked a bribe to be let go.
A graffiti I saw this morning in the Kuala Lumpur suburb, on the wooden wall surrounding a field, with its 1000 car parks says it all: "If you meet a snake and Umno, kill Umno first."
It is either Badawi has given his blessings or he is such a lame-duck prime minister and Umno president that even Umno Youth don't care a damn about what he says.
The prime minister should resign and take full responsibility for the clowns in his circus.
To blame others and to cast aspersions on the achievements of non-malay entrepreneurs show a lack of responsibility.
Yes, Public Bank is doing well because it is managed professionally. Can the same be said of Bank Bumi or Bank Islam? Who is to blame for this? With all the help that the GLCs have secured, just ponder on what are the achievements of MAS, Telekom and Tenaga!
The government can keep on paying and supporting questionable ventures but without accountability and professionalism, greed is the factor that will undercut everything.
Let the people remember the very words uttered by these malay supremacists when the general elections come around. We all know that with the general elections, the rhetoric switches to one of a more conciliatory voice; i.e. BN component hand-in-hand serving the people, Malaysia unity, working together for a better tomorrow, etc, etc.
This is the voice of a double-headed animal. Unfortunately, this is what gives politics in Malaysia a bad name. Politics is not dirty. It is only when we have politicians who have no principles, no shame and devoid of any integrity in what they say that politics become dirty.
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