A Challenged Mindset
Before I start this probably controversial discussion, I
hope readers as well as hypocrites are ready to take a step back, breathe in
deep, relax and just be open-minded to give me a chance to be heard. And yes,
give yourself a fair chance to listen to what others have got to offer to you. You
can decide to stop reading here if you think this mumbo-jumbo blogger here is
just another typical nobody who’s fighting to outshine others, do feel free to
miss out what I’m about to share from paragraph 3 onwards.
Let me make an introduction. Yesterday, I went to Putra
Nilai Industrial Area for the first time with my family and it definitely
widened my horizon. I’ll have to say, I love the entire idea of this super
value textile, handicraft, wholesale and shopping industrial spot especially
having linked to the tourism idea! Fabulous! Big hands for the mastermind
behind the idea! Honest. My appreciation to the team behind the amazing idea
and I’m honored as a Malaysian to eye-witness this huge one-stop shopping/
tourist venue/ destination under the extremely Malaysian atmosphere. Yes it’s
open-aired. Sort of similar to the china town idea I guess but perhaps focused
slightly more on our beloved Malay entrepreneurs. I hope our dear Malay friends
out there don’t take this statement and topic as offensive but instead a
challenge if it’s worth internalizing and reflecting upon. And mind you, I am
not any against the public funds channeling to our Malay friends as I do
believe that you need it more than us do, not because you are the natives of
this beautiful country, not just because you are the majority and never that we
fear your power in numbers, but because we as a whole in Malaysia cannot
prosper if the majority is not doing well! We need to work hand-in-hand to make
Malaysia truly spectacular to the world!
So what had I observed in Putra Nilai Industrial Area? First,
plenty of HUGE retail businesses ranging from textile and handicrafts, carpets,
artworks, restaurants, even vegetable market to other smaller retailers such as
dry food retailers and maybe some other I missed out. Secondly, and most
disturbing to me, the ratio of sellers to customers is likely 10 to 1! (Mind
you, I’m not focusing on racial ratio of near 9:1 BUT the prospects of this
INDUSTRY!) If you see what I see, instead of raging against the government’s
unfairness against the minority races, shouldn’t we just focus on the bigger picture of building a stronger
nation?! Thirdly, the distressing fact that I eye-witnessed a lot of “complacency” within these business
owners, who appeared lay back and relaxing while in their OWN SHOPS!! With all the RESOUCES
and EFFORTS subsidized and granted by the government, I’m NOT MAD, but EXTREMELY UPSET seeing this widespread
phenomenon. Honestly upset, not angry, but disappointed..
Take this as a compliment our dear Malay friends, we know
that there are many TALENTED people
amongst you, and you are definitely SMART.
But think again; reflect upon yourself, had you made wiser use of your smarts
and the endless assistance provided by our generous government, shouldn’t you
have achieved the same standard of living the upper middle class races now?
Instead of making use of the government funds and enjoying the fruits of it
laying down there and taking things for granted, shouldn’t you fight hard to
impress us (the non-majority, I’m NOT racist) with DILIGENCE and SERIOUS BRAINWORK?!! You are smart, undeniably, but is it wiser to insist to fight for your
KETUANAN KEPADA TANAH MELAYU for the government to continue feeding you OR
better take this GIFT of god (the
government’s relentless support) to STRIVE
for something that can bring you SUSTAINABLE
GROWTH and SUSTAINABLE WEALTH in
a more REASONABLE MANNER?!!
Think hard, really hard! Is it better you continue to
marginalize the non-majority by making them work harder for you (and hence
tougher and more COMPETITIVE in the GLOBAL level) while you continue to lay
back (lackadaisical, the Malaysian-made-famous “TIDAK APA attitude”), INSTEAD
OF learning the TRAITS of the
non-majority’s SUCCESSES?! My dad used to advise me to set my mind overseas
for better prospects because Malaysia honors no talents.
Think about it, think HARD!
Do we, the non-majorities earn our wealth by mere luck, or enjoy the supports
of our beloved government, or simply because god gives us a chance to be ENTREPRENEURS?!!
NO NO NO!!! Think
again! We fought like hell (not literally with PARANGS and by RAGING to
the government with street demonstrations or politicking with our race to
DRAMATIZE the racial divide and bluntly fight for common interest which is
KETUANAN whatever whatever) in silence by working
extremely hard over the years, by thinking and analyzing very meticulously why
and how we can make ourselves better and stronger (in terms of wealth and
achievements) in the future. It is ingrained in our souls, even in the souls
and rooted principles of our ancestors,
to
work extremely hard through the worst conditions and progressively achieve
optimistic future, even if the light is dim. Perhaps we should fault
the wealth of Malaysian history, which is honestly our PRIDE during then. The Malaysians were amazingly wealthy and well
off during those days as compared to Chinese and Indians in their mainland
those days. Had you seen how we viewed Tanah Melayu as a land full of
opportunities and complete with more HUMANE conditions as compared to
the TOUGHER conditions back then living in China and India during the
historical days, and being willing to work extremely hard simply because of the
little more prospects of wishing for a better life latter on. Think
about it, the Chinese working damn hard in China those days don’t even have a
chance to own what he worked extremely hard for, thanks to Communisms. The
Indians worked darn hard in India during those days under the discrimination by
their own “fairer-skinned” counterparts! Under the worst of conditions, we made
our mark in Malaysia, though tiny compared to other more amazing leaders in the
world. Should you grumble about not having ENOUGH SUBSIDY or NO SUBSIDY instead
of rationalizing how we made our mark and becoming self-sufficient? I’m not
urging the government to erase the Malay quotas or reduce or even erase subsidy
for them BUT educate all Malaysians
about the true and genuine ways of being SUSTAINABLY SELF-SUFFICIENT and INDEPENDENT! Continue to shower the
majority with resources and they have no idea about how lucky they are and what
HURDLE and HARDSHIPS can truly bring
up an unbelievably successful individual. Then again, the minorities
do possess traits that are not admirable too, for instance, being too
realistic, unwilling to share or selfishness at times, a little cunning
sometimes, a little more arrogant and perhaps more you can name a list. But take
notice of this, no matter who and what races we are, we are not perfect, and we
have got to admit that we need to learn from each other, and hopefully better
ourselves. Kick off the bad traits and embrace the good ones; don’t all
religions teach us this? Admit that we were bad and correct ourselves with
sincerity!
Perhaps I’m just one of the culprits who know nothing but
spend all my parents’ hard earned money like water, but I do acknowledge the
fact that my parents work freaking hard to earn NOT for themselves but for
their children! In fact, my mum, up to the age of 50 plus now, spends RM2 something only every meal to save
for us and we, the sons on the other hand spend RM4-5 or even more on every
meal outside and still having “disposable income” courtesy to their generosity,
to go for entertainments! Yes I know I was bad. But the point is, our parents
has this principle deeply rooted into their lives, which is, despite
the hardship and the incommensurable satisfaction earned from their work, they
worked so hard only to make sure that their next generation have a little
something to benefit from their hard work. My mum is definitely a
workaholic who never stops working on things she believed in wholeheartedly and
sleeps only at most 5-6 hours a day. Regardless of how successful my mum is as
an employee, she is definitely my super mum, she is definitely a successful mum
seeing the amazing generosity of a
mother. The point I’m underscoring here is that we, the non-majorities also
believe in working extremely diligently
for the greater good of our NEXT GENERATION, NOT for our own self. That’s
also why we plan around having babies and not many but self-sufficient! We make
sure that our babies get the best education
and shelter we can provide them with. Think about it.
Had I underscored the
number 1 factor non-majorities ingrained in themselves in order to succeed? We WORK extremely diligently despite the
odds of hardship and unfairness. That’s partly why some of us got so
infuriated against the majority sometimes. Not because we are racist but because
we fought so hard for so little. Think about it. And I do understand that the
majorities could be going through a “complicated
self perception conflict” state whereby they do not understand why as the
origins of the land who were very
capable, they didn’t thrive as well as the minorities but seemed left
behind by the nation’s economic developments. If I were you, if not given
enough education and/ or proper mentoring, I guess it’s highly possible that I might
be joining the troop to come against as infuriated people who demonstrates for
dramatic change and attention. I can totally understand how it feels like to see my people suffering or not making their best possible
they can in life and yet restricted by knowing how hard it is to bring them
forward by aggressively instilling into their minds to change especially when
it is contradictory to their ingrained beliefs (thanks to the skeptics who
led ahead of you, perhaps they have brainwashed your people, be it sincere or
with hidden agendas maybe eyeing on power {the fact is some of these “leaders”
are not born faithful nor ready to accept critics and change for the better}), work harder instead of forcing or relying
on the government to save them. It is hard even for an exceptionally genuine
and talented leader born from the less maintained rural areas to be heard his
or her RAGE for a fairer opportunity, especially when he is on his own. He needs the power of number to be heard,
and without the support of at least his people (who could be less open for new
ideas and explanations) in him, can he
even stand a chance to stand out and do something for them?
Everything started
from a sincere wish to help others and make things better, but as time
progresses, and more negative influences from a not-so-ideal world out there,
this little compassionate individual may end up a changed man. Who may
eventually find reality so hard to accept (worse to even temper with) and ended
up embracing the material evil that everyone in the urban devours for. The temptations,
the lusts, the power, the material wealth, the social status, the politics; can
we ever sincerely solve problems? Can corruption ever be changed? I have deep
belief in our current PM Pak Lah despite the wide preference over Tun M. He
showed a different side of a modern day leader. Perhaps there are critics
saying that he is lazy and not doing his work. I don’t buy into everything
critics say, because they never know how to stand from an impartial viewpoint
by analyzing and sharing also the goods of people they criticize against. And the
greatest thing about PM Pak Lah is that he never fought aggressively against
the people who got so personal against his beliefs and actions no matter how
hard they attack. He is a true saint, regardless if he is shrewd or effective
enough to be a CEO. Malaysia is now on a different set of environment compared
to the days Tun M led us, we need a positive mindset change instead of aggressive
remarks and actions to force people to see us, (say NO to WHITE ELEPHANT
projects!) PM Pak LAh is one-of-a-kind leader to set his mark on building a
moralistic and spiritual foundation for Malaysian citizens! (At least this is
what I see him doing, not what he self-claimed that he is doing or asked me to
do!) Strictly not religious.
So, coming to the next observation. As I mentioned earlier
on is that these business owners are
contented and laid back. Take notice
that I am NOT infuriated BUT EXTREMELY UPSET.
Had the government provided them with all necessary workshops and consultation
they need to ensure the investments are
worthwhile in the EXTREMELY LONG TERM?? Yes I am highlighting EXTREMELY Long term, not just long term
or short term!! I am pretty sure the masterminds behind the plan do plan ahead
but had you considered the possibility of the underlying failure of all your enormous plans (turning into WHITE
ELEPHANTS) are not because of the failure of your documented long term plans, BUT the MENTALITY, ATTITUDES, APPROACHES
and the LACK OF PROPER and UPLIFTING EDUCATION you need to plan for your people.
Mentality as I said earlier on, the willingness to endure
hardship and work extremely diligently in order to hope for a slightly better
chance of succeeding and more towards building the strong foundation of sustainable
growth and self-sufficiency or independence.
Attitudes as in the right mindset by seeing your business
truly as your own baby (NOT the government’s funds) and wanting no less than making sure it profits by taking into
consideration strategic plans into the
future, taking actions to counteract inefficiencies and incompetency, and treating your customers as your boss so
as to encourage them to cater your business again in the future! Do you even
have the slightest idea of how hard it is to repair the damage you caused for a
bad reputation you made to 1 client? Look at the sour faces some of your
employees put on. Look at the laid back and don’t-care-a-damn attitude (lackadaisical)
or sluggish/ slow reactions a few of your employees project! Let’s imagine how
you as a customer feel when you are trying to have a nice meal at THAT
restaurant and 9 times out of 10 it’s not even open!! You have any idea how
that sucks and failed your reputation?!! And here’s a hint from the pros, it is
10 times costlier to rebuild your
reputation than to build a new business!!
That’s precisely why
some of us do not agree with the quotas and subsidy you provide the majority.
Not because we are racist but they DO NOT know how to APPRECIATE it! Even if
they do feel blessed, did they project
the appreciation image to the public?? Did they make full use of it to prosper and show the PUBLIC INVESTORS that they
are worth investments?!! Have you
the slightest idea that they have totally no idea how enduring hardship and wanting
to make a difference means? Yes I do agree that the majority of our
Malay friends are living under average conditions that the minority should be
glad we are better off but do you know that we actually fought ourselves very hard to achieve this little difference, and NOT
literally fighting the way I stressed upon earlier (refer paragraph 4 in
the mid section) BUT willingness to work
very hard under stressful and even unfair conditions and yet do not complain so
much!
Approaches as in how the government offer specially tailored
workshops to educate them about businesses in BETTER ABSORBABLE ways (refer to the best workshops produced by
multinational companies that are widely acclaimed their training workshops,
humbly refer to the best people to learn and achieve synergy of efforts!) and
do consistently follow up instead of blindly offering workshops that see slow
progress! It’s a WAKE-UP CALL here!
NOT CRITICS for no reasons. I may not be right completely, but I’m sure there
are solid points you have got to take heed of and at least just try
understanding from my point. Just the way I took heed of every single
individual’s point of views even when I am skeptical about their inputs and
thoughts! And the result is - me! Who am I? A nobody but somebody who at least
knows how to challenge my own mind to analyze and think critically for
solutions to little problems we face in this POTENTIALLY IDEAL WORLD (but I sure believe I am one-of-a-kind as I
dared to speak up despite the potential critiques I am about to face on my own,
I have nothing to profit from this self-made project other than recognition if
that even stands a chance!). Yes I admit that I am just representing my own
stand here, not even a few people, but just me alone, because this is a
one-man-show. So you can choose to ignore my comments. Feel free to entertain
yourself. Stick with your closed box!
If I were you (the government), observing the widespread “epidemic” of failed small and
medium scale businesses in the country despite
your encouragements and subsidies, assemble the country’s potential managers
and accountants, the graduates and make it mandatory that all graduate
accounting students have to go through at least 3 months of internship in these
small businesses! And work on their final year project to impress upon the
community that they can solve a business
failure by analyzing the underlying problems and proposing practical solutions
that can be undertaken! Okay the key point is, empower the accounting graduates
access to these businesses’ accounting records and make them utilize the
accounting and management theories they fucking learn in their courses and
implement them! Have the
lecturers work additionally hard as well to follow up on these graduates’ real
life projects and make sure they are NOT benefiting at the business owners’
expenses! They ought to know how serious it is found guilty of any
accounting or corporate scandal! This is practical learning! Not those gibberish management and accounting internship jobs making
us work like IDIOTS being abused or exploited in even multinational companies
like the banking industry working as a data entry personnel or clerk! Is
that what our internship function
supposes to teach us? I know you employers have your points, “the kids have to
learn through hardship by going through the groundwork and bla bla bla. Furthermore
they are not ready for any decision makings…” And couldn’t you give the
graduates more CRITICAL THINKING
ASSIGNMENTS to challenge them instead when you, the employers are
complaining about the INCOMPETENCE of
our graduates nowadays! Especially our uncompetitive
local university graduates! Trust me; you can’t produce quality youths when
you are skeptical at first, not to mention the quality of the MEDIOCRE STUDENT MENTALITY! Where the
fuck is our DESIRE TO SUCCEED and MAKE A DIFFERENCE?!! I’m sure the
higher education minister has abundance of highly qualified and professional
talents that can work out a superior
education system that is feasible by progressively encouraging their talents to break free from that enclosed box and
think creatively, open-minded, rationally with reality-checks! I’m optimistic that you can prove miracles are within grabs! Why
don’t you, as the highest authority sitting on the top appearing in the public
every now and then, a sincere believer who dares not THINK BIG and LIVE UP TO IT
by INFLUENCING FASTER POSITIVE CHANGES!
I know you are working hard, and I know that you are responsible and great, but
the thing is how can we educate the public that we should be competitive and
energetically hard workers (who are also smart
workers!) when we ourselves are SLOW?!
Does that make sense?? If bureaucracy is
the limitation setting us back, then erase it by all means! Okay I know
things need time to progress and change, but do occasionally give positive surprises highlighting miraculous
achievements (done by the government, of course have to be backed with
solid evidence!) to the public, not just
anticipated progress that kick starts no inspirations!! I AM CHALLENGING YOU FROM A NOBODY’S BIG
DREAMS! Why don’t you make us even
more PROUD of you, you, and you and then collectively all of us, as MALAYSIANS!!
That’s the true essence and spirit of “Malaysia
Boleh!”. NOT just words without actions! (you may say that I am also
wording only without taking actions, but at least with my one man ability, I
wrote up to challenge a drastic change in our Malaysians’ mindset! Had
I done nothing then?!!)
All comes to a conclusion; I wish no more to get racial
about anything in our lives from this day onward. All I wished is that we try
to love our buddy counterparts regardless of their skin colors and together we
thrive and succeed together in the eyes of the world. Take heed of each other’s
advices, not blindly accept them but internalize and self-reflect, then modify them
into one of your own. As Tun M always used dilemma in his speeches, and he
never failed to impress the “followers”, I’m not saying that he’s not good, but
honestly respect him a great lot for his beliefs and visions that put our
beloved Malaysia on the map today. Nonetheless, sometimes we have got to have
faith in the current administration for their benevolent work and try to stand
from others’ points of view. Everybody may have their hidden agendas behind
their vastly accepted public speeches. And not every one of them put others’
interests in front of theirs. Do criticize me by putting forward my
self-interest that you can claim as my list of hidden agenda, I’m definitely
not a great person or how I self-projected here as anyone but another selfish
individual perhaps. The only thing I dare stand up for is that I am an Idealist. And I do believe that IF EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON EARTH CARED TO
TAKE A STEP BACK, REFLECT UPON OWNSELF, AND GIVE OTHERS A CHANCE TO SPEAK OUT
THEIR MINDS WITHOUT PREJUDICE, WE CAN SOLIDLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
The world will not only be a better place to live in, but an IDEAL
WORLD to live in. Believe it or not.
