A Moment In Life – A Renewal

  I’m back for a quick bite.  Tomorrow is Christmas, just dont feel that ummph nowadays…perhaps as I grow older, I tend to complicate my  life (unlike the children).  The gifts under the tree are waiting to be opened while I truly hope to spend some great moments later – dinner, church mass and quality times.

The day after, to some of us it will be a time to renew or make New Year’s resolution.  Maybe to lose weight, make more money, manage debt wisely, drink less alcohol, quit smoking, taking a holiday, volunteering to help others etc.  Although majority of us (or just myself) hardly met the goals set previously, I believe it is normal.  Read an article previously that said successful people dont write down their resolution but act on it, hmmm… interesting reflection.  Most importantly I must feel positive and energized each time I face with any obstacles in life.  It is the desire and the right strategy with a clear mind…it is an understanding and wisdom that see things for what they are, with empathy, courage, patience and love.  Life is meant to be enjoyable, it is only a matter of how we deal with it.

Then there may be a financial storm ahead.  It is slowly picking up and would be devastating.  I am feeling the pinch now.  Around the region, governments are taking precaution but surprisingly in Malaysia they say we are still ok.  What is in store for us in the next 3 to 4 years?  There are too many white elephants, abandoned projects and ineffective policies, lest to mention about our political fights where most of them are doing it for self-interest.

We need to understand that our real asset is the populace.  We need to stimulate creativity and encourage individualism.  Indeed people of all ages and status are more concern with politicis and efficiency of the government (be it state or federal) nowadays.  With an open society, Malaysians must take care of Malaysia.  Think of Finland, a country of about 3 million population, home of Nokia, Olympic champions and a caring social service by the government that few in the world can match.

So as we are approaching 2009, when the music starts playing again, we have to make sure that it is not the same tune.  Every moment of our life’s journey is a challenge.  There is always a hope as it is the law of eternity that everything follows a cyclic pattern and at the end of the day justice and conscience will prevails.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

GERAKAN: Are you moving or not?

Holidays, festive seasons, shopping sale – It’s year end!  Time to reconstruct my life and plan for a better future ahead.  2008 has been an exciting year – groundbreaking, disturbing and provocative in every aspects of Malaysians’ lives.  Before taking a break I am obliged to post these final words of the year. 

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Last night after an hour discussion with a few comrades, an inconvenient thought sprang into my mind while driving home.  The question where is Gerakan actually heading now was the main issue.  Coincidentally over the last 3 days at the human rights debates, Ragu, Khoo and Chris did asked me the same question.

The way I see it, within the leaders and members it has been merely an acknowledgment of the ‘need’ to change in the party.  What this change constitutes is still shrouded in mystery.  I wonder if there have been cohesive plans initiated to chart out the future direction of the party.

Despite the general election results and change of leaderships in the party (well, actually only the Youth wing, in term of who is the ‘boss’), no one seems to make a real move in the name of transformation.  Ethinic-based politics seem to continue dominating the political agenda within BN.  Gerakan now is clearly a Chinese-based party (majority) with some Indians/Malays who try to believe the ideology of a multiracial party would excel.  Nothing seems to change.  In the spirit of so-called political game, leaderships in Gerakan are still very much concern with who’s who in a team.  For unknown reason, they are still adamant to follow through the voice of the grassroots.  They still do not believe in the impact of the cyberworld, thus no one really bother to reconstruct the party’s website.  To be a humble servant is even out of their mind.  Capitalism continues; loyalty and ’satu hati’ concept is clearly worth an asthetic value only.  Cempaka is still very much the ‘coffer’ as well as the ‘unknown’ game plan within the party among certain quarters.  What are the hopes and common goals among the members?  Where are the visionary leaders who have kept that flame?  Perhaps, it is the easier option, the one that doesn’t upset the apple cart.  Maybe Gerakan is contented just to be another ‘weak’ political party or a platform to serve some of the leaders’ ulterior motive (apa lagi:  power or  moneylah!).  Wouldn’t that will be a waste as the party has so many talents, resources and intellectually capable leaders?

So if Gerakan does not go back to the drawing board to analyse political realignments and why they failed to capture voters’ imaginations, (we) are in deep shit.  Inter alia, there is a serious need to comprehend sincerely the issues people are concerned with.  All that is needed is the true wisdom and political will in Gerakan.

Cul-de-sac, survival or revival – Gerakan must decide before the next election.

Happy X’mas and New Year!

“Many years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.  So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour…If you cannot change the direction of the wind, you can adjust your sail”   -  Anonymous.

Prof, I respect sama lu.

Bingo!  Another person who thinks in line with my belief in promoting nationalism, just can’t help but to reproduce the related article herein…Expectedly like myself, he will receives criticism from several quarters of the Chinese community.  By the way, I hope the tabling of the corruption and judicial appointment Bills by the PM could be a good start.  Another 4 ISA detainees were released, that leave with 46 more at Kamunting, another positive act by the government.  Well done.

  ACADEMICIAN-HISTORIAN Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim says Chinese and Indians, being minority races in the country, should give up the use of mother-tongue language as the medium of instruction in their schools to be out of the racial box and stay competitive.

He said non-Malays need to compromise and relinquish the Chinese or Tamil education they are conducting in their primary schools in favour of the one school education system for peace in the country, China Press reported today.

His remark drew quick rebuttals from Chinese educationists who deemed him lacking race pride and in contempt of Chinese education.

Khoo, 71, said the current education system of having many types of schools in the country has created a batch of people who do not understand Bahasa Malaysia and English, unable to communicate with other races or compete with the outside world.

He said the United States adopted the single school system out of which born the first black president, Barrack Obama, whereas Malaysians are still arguing over race issues 50 years after Independence.

He felt that while making Chinese and Tamil the second languages in primary and secondary schools, the government should continue with the current policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English.

When told by the daily that Singapore’s national schools are using English as the medium of instruction, in response to his recent remark that Malaysia should look to Singapore in adopting a single school system, Khoo said that as Malays are the majority race in Malaysia, any proposal to use English as the medium of instruction in schools would surely meet with overwhelming objection.

Does this mean the Chinese and Indians will have to make sacrifice?
“As minority races, we have to give and take, and compromise,” said Khoo.

He felt that the issue (single school system) will eventually be taken to parliament for debate and a decision. “Who will win in the end?”

He said development in Malaysia has been overtaken by Vietnam and Thailand and felt that there should not be any more delay in implementing the single school system.

He believed the system, which will propel the country’s standard of education to world class, takes nine to 10 years to bear fruit.
Khoo also ticked off politicians for blowing their trumpet on such education for political mileage.

His eyebrow-raising remark drew sharp criticisms from both Dong Zong and Jiao Zong, the guardians of Chinese education.

Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association) president Ong Chiaw Chuan said “it is purely Khoo Kay Kim’s personal view”, and warned that the suggestion can uproot Chinese education.

He did not agree with Khoo that parents can imbue Chinese cultural values and thinking at home, giving as an example that the third generation American Chinese no longer possess Chinese moral values and virtues.

“This shows the importance of Chinese education. If Malaysia adopts a single school system, (all) children will be exposed to Islamic teachings,” he said.

Ong stressed that education not only nurtures talents, but more importantly, it also inculcates the moral values of a race.

Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) president Dr Yap Sin Tian said Khoo’s remark showed that he did not know mother-tongue education is protected under Education Act 1966, or is in touch with the reality of Chinese education in the country.

He said Khoo’s view that Chinese schools produced students who lacked knowledge in Bahasa Malaysia and English did not hold water as both languages are compulsory subjects in these schools.

Legitimacy of Human

Recently I presented a paper on humanity and nationalism at a roundtable talk organised by several NGOs.  I was more attracted to the feedbacks pertaining to the recent behaviour of our politicians.  Who are the politicians serving?  That reminds me the notion of ‘by the people, of the people and for the people’.  It was clear from the electoral results that across the board Malaysians demanded better service from politicians and did not buy the racials claptrap from the running elite.  Malaysians wanted good governance and not racial politics.  Malaysians want a better economy and quality of life.

By all means, there is a need for us to be reconceptualised and reformulated in a more intellectually informed discourse of a nationalistic ideology.  At least for the sake of our future generation…

I also found out that the DNA Identification Bill 2008 is deferred to next year as it was at the stage of third reading yesterday.  This is welcomed by certain social and activist groups.  They are of the view that the Bill is tabled without consultation of the stakeholders and will prove unsatisfactory in due course.  Several parts of the Bill both internally and externally need to be resolved.

To me, there is no doubt that the DNA analysis would affect our right to privacy ie bodily privacy.  It constitutes some of the most basic liberties of individuals and to a large extent, can be considered inalienable.  It concerns the protection of our physical selves against invasive procedures as privacy is not a constitutionally guaranteed rights in our country.  Its existence, therefore, is debatable.

Political or Holistical Education

  To a certain extent, over the last decade non-Malay teachers, students and parents in the nation were struggling against the forces of the politicians mis-education and oppression in schools of all levels.  The preferential treatment has discouraged many of them to believe that they are on the direction towards national unity.  As it is reheated, by now many blogs, websites, smses and media voice out their concerns on Mukhriz’s proposal to abolish the vernacular school in this country.  For those who know me, I would have said: Eureka!  Nevertheless after discussing and reading on the similar issue, I am inclined to believe that it all boils down to the politicians’ fault.  Thus I have enough of it now.  This is not something new.  It is a complex issue when one proposes to abolish vernacular education in order to solve our national unity and integration woes.  The focus should be on genuine integration and not assimilation.  At the end of the day, it is the same politicians’ belief or political mileage rather than the education system being the primary factor; think about it…

During my childhood days, I mixed very well with non-Chinese friends.  I can still remember vividly names like Syed Najib, Ahmad Farikh, Kumaresh, Mohd Ali of whom I had stayed in their house during the holidays.  It was indeed a memorable experience.  I regretted losing in touch with them today.  Unfortunately nowadays the situation proves otherwise.  My current experience teaching at INTI College affirms it where even college students hardly mingle with friends of different race.  So who is the culprit?  Who is causing this disunity?  Who refuses to mix:  Chinese or Malays or Indians?

  As for now let us ignore what the politicians said or would say in the future.  What shall we teach our students about May 13 and bangsa Malaysia, and how shall we go about doing it then?  For the sake of my children’s future I draw the following fundamentals:

Teach real diversity.  The uniqueness of our country gives us the opportunity not to preach the usual pap about diversity—that different cultures see the world in different but equally valid ways.  Rather, we now have the opportunity to show that there are people and cultures with ideas radically different from our own. Different even on the most basic givens we take for granted as the basis of civilised life—that, for example, the ends do not justify the means, that innocents are to be treated with respect, that people should not be exploited as means to ideological or religious ends, indeed that there is such a thing as human dignity. Consider with our students how, despite the fact that human nature may be everywhere the same, political, religious or economic ideologies might so affect people’s outlook that even the deepest principles of civilized society are, to some, easily rejected.

Teach respect and tolerance.  In doing so, be prepared to acknowledge that understanding doesn’t equal acceptance. The more that decent people understood a criminal or selfish politician, the more they rightly hated him.  While we might wish to understand the mind of a racist, a child abuser, a serial killer, a stalker, there’s no reason to believe that understanding their views, divergent from ours, will lead to acceptance or acquiescence in those views.  Diversity leads naturally to comparisons; and comparisons lead to judgments. If our children wish to draw conclusions about the stark diversity of outlooks given us by historical events—that there is something to the distinction between civilization and barbarism, for example, or between decency and evil—do not stand in their way.

Teach Malaysia.  It’s not very helpful to understand other cultures and outlooks and not understand our own country and what it has tried to achieve. What is it that has brought millions of immigrants to our country, not to destroy it, but to better its future and their own?  What is it about the promise of liberty and equal treatment, of labor that benefits both you and your neighbor, of an open field for your enterprise, ambition, determination and pluck?  Why special treatment only to the Bumiputeras?  Try not to look at Malaysia through the lens of your own ideology or political preferences but see it as it truly is.  That can be a fine antidote to smugness and academic self-righteousness.

Teach patriotism.  Here’s where red flags go up. Surely that would be too “political” for schools and teachers. Yet many educators have no difficulty in teaching cynicism about Malaysia or pointing out what they see as its tremendous shortcomings and failings. At the same time, few educators have trouble teaching students to respect each other, to love their neighbors, to treat their fellow students with justice—no taunting, no bullying, no fighting. Yet, what is patriotism other than love of our fellow citizens?  What is it more than a simple, yet deep and heartfelt devotion to the lives and well being of people we consider neighbours, friends and fellow countrymen, even if we know them not?  At its highest level, it’s a willingness to sacrifice our treasure, toil and even our lives so that others will survive and prosper.  Seeing it in this light, as the willingness to look upon all one’s fellow citizens as friends and neighbors, makes patriotism not some twisted fealty to the “state” but a selfless act of the highest order.  Ask your children how it can be that so many who consider themselves educated and elite can so cynically disparage patriotism.

Teach virtue and character.  What we may learned was and is not only the horrors of ideological fanaticism and savagery, but also something about human nature at its apogee.  We see people of all races helping and cooperating during emergencies.  We see ordinary men and women perform extraordinary acts of selflessness and courage.  We see what it means to be an excellent human being.   Do not keep our children from celebrating these acts.  Our highest function as a teacher or a parent might be to expose our children/students to what human excellence truly is.

Finally one text we might refer to is the Constitution. It usually gets short shrift as we move on to the structure of government or the Acts, which we erroneously think of as the heart of the document. Yet the Constitution explains why we came together as one nation.

Why does it list different parts that its authors sought to make real by that coming together, not just one—not just “to protect our rights” or “to set up a government”?  Why is the first thing it mentions that we wish to take care of our fundamental liberties?   Why Articles 8 and 153?  Why do we want to be one people?  What does it mean to be one people?  Why did our forefathers look forward to becoming neighbours and fellow citizens with people from so many different places, backgrounds, status and devotions?  What exactly is it that makes us one people?  Malaysia tentu Boleh if we are sincerely farsighted…