Monday, July 30, 2012
Think Big Dream High E-15 – The Follow Through Strategy,Part 1
Intellectual Discourse
I came from the village. As a result of my experience I am sometimes being invited to participate in seminars and discourse on my countrymen. In general these seminars are organized to discuss how my countrymen can become more successful. Most of the presenters were popular intellectuals with either Tan Sri, Dato’ or PhD titles. Many proposals and comments were put forward for discussion. The participants too were excited to give their comments and debate on the issues. Thus it appeared worthwhile for the organizers to prepare breakfast and lunch for the participants. If you don’t voice out your opinion you will be labeled as just having a free lunch. Giving opinions is our number one role. Same goes with the Tan Sri, Dato’ or PhD presenters, their papers were filled with proposals and suggestions. Proposals must be put forward. The presenters will have ready many young and pretty secretariat officials to prepare reports especially on resolutions or the agreed recommendations.
The Beautifully Designed Reports Are Confidential
Reports need to be prepared. Reports on resolutions, proposals and new ideas need to be prepared. The reports must be done in a proper manner or else the boss will be upset. However, when the boss received the report he doesn’t know what to do with it. Hence the report is kept and labeled confidential. Nobody can have access to it as it is confidential. Many a times the organizer tried to impress the audience with reports that are beautifully designed. Any participants interested in the report will be given a copy. The balance will be kept at the storage area in the boss’s office. This has to be done to avoid reports going into the wrong hands as the report is confidential. Come next year the organizer will organize another seminar with a different theme but the process of presenting it remain unchanged. The seminars has to be done if not the budget will be pulled back. No more budgets will be approved for next year.
Yes, All Seminars Are Important
All seminars, discourse or congress are important only if the resolutions, conclusions and ideas are taken heed of and implemented with full commitment by all related parties. Without these ideas our lives will not be dynamic, it will be outdated, not open and not expanding.
The Golf Swing
In a golf game, there is one famous strategy i.e. the “follow through”. Once in a while, I watched the golf channel especially when Tiger Woods is in the game. There is usually a section of the channel that teaches the audience how to play golf. From thereon I understood the concept of follow through. According to my understanding, the swing of the golf stick before hitting, when hitting and after hitting must follow one and a half cycle from the time it started hitting until the maximum swing after hitting. The swing will not be accurate if after the swing it ended just there. The swing must be continued to the most maximum possible. The swing that has the follow through strategy will result in the golf ball going further and hitting the target. It will not be OB, not going into the bunkle or not entering the pond. This has been what all the famous golfers are doing i.e. Tiger Woods, Michelson, Westwoods, Kymer or Mclroy.
Programmes for My Countrymen
The government has carried out many programmes for my countrymen. The financial allocation maybe reaching billions of ringgit. However, in terms of performance and achievements, they are still not at par with the achievements and success of the other communities. Many financial institutions have been created for my countrymen entrepreneurs such as MARA, PNB, PUNB, PNS, Bank Bumiputera(CIMB),Bank Pembangunan, Bank Rakyat, CGC and many more. Many programmes have been launched by the government such as Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme, Agricultural Entrepreneur Scheme, Competent Contractor Scheme, Mentor Mentee, Middle Class Entrepreneur, Umbrella Scheme, Strategic Partnership Scheme, Vendor, Prosper, Franchise and others. All these institutions and programmes though not exclusive for my countrymen, the priority and reason behind its establishment was to assist them in entrepreneurship and businesses. These are some of the examples in the field of entrepreneurship. In actual fact if we list down, there are many more benefits in the other areas not elaborated upon. Maybe all the programmes under the related agencies can be listed and circulated widely for public knowledge.
Underperformed
Why is it that despite the many institutions and programmes, my communities are still mediocre, average performance only, still below the performance of the other communities, not a five star or megastar businessmen.We have still not reached world class standards.
In general, without any empirical studies and strong evidences as this is the academician’s field, I believed the government as seen through the implementation agencies of the programmes is not practicing the follow through strategy as in the golf game I mentioned above.This in a way contribute to the half baked businessmen,neither here nor there.They are not a failure neither are they successful.
We Like To Change Things
We are not focused, we are not consistent, we change policies, we change programmes, we change players. We are always in the mood of changing things around. A rising tide lifts all boats. When the Minister or Prime Minister changes, things will start to change too. Any players not aligned with the Minister or Prime Minister will not received the same treatment as before eventhough the players may have been at the development phase. As a result, the players may have to close shop or wind up or migrate to another country.
In our works and responsibilities, we do not prioritise to assist in a just and fair manner. We do not assist the entrepreneur the whole way through i.e. until they achieved world class standards. We assisted but not full swing and wholeheartedly. That is why we cannot see the number of our contractors who can be categorized under the competent contractors programme at par with the contractors from China or Korea that have dominated the construction business throughout the world.
All these programmes are not wrong and need not be stopped as in my opinion it is still relevant. What we should do is not to change it but keep on improving it, so that the element of follow through and continuity will be there and not being disturbed. If anything need to be change, change the packaging, the approach or maybe the branding but the goals and objectives should be defended forever. The demand for these programmes will be there forever as demand for world class entrepreneurs will always remain relevant for the future entrepreneurial generations.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Think Big Dream High-E14 – The Culture of Immediate Action (CIA)
Training exposure
I am from the village. As a villager it is the norm for me to daydream, loaf around, postponed my work, take my own sweet time, giving excuses, wasting time, and not effective in most of my actions. I do not bother much whether my actions affected my performance or other related parties. I am lucky and thankful to Allah SWT for the fact that during the early days working in National Equity Corporation group, I was chosen a few times to join the JICA youth programme (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and training programmes under Nomura Securities, Japco and Furukawa Denco in Japan. In the programmes, the participants were taken on a study tour to various associations, departments, institutions and business organizations that were involved in the economic activities, communities and culture in 14 cities throughout Japan. We started our tour in Tokyo, moving on to Sapporo, Hokkaido the northern most island down to Kagoshima city in Kyushu island, the southern most island of Japan. The trip lasted for over 3 months in total.
While in Japan, we visited several government departments, MNCs, SMEs, various agricultural projects, animal breeding farms, fishing villages, various youth NGOs and camps. In the three months, our days were filled with programmes and activities. We rushed here and there. We took the bus, tube, community trains and shinkansen (bullet trains), Our time were not counted in 60 minutes like 6 o’clock, 30 minutes like 8.30 am or 15 minutes like 7.15 pm but in 5.11 minutes in the morning, 1.17 minutes in the afternoon or 9.39 minutes in the evening. Very precise to the last minute and second. Time and time again, our Japanese coordinator and supervisor reminded us the importance of punctuality of time to the last second. However, there were still those who took their own sweet time until our coordinator had to take him out from the study visit for that day and was left all alone at the hotel. After the incident, this friend who came from either Indonesia or Philippines if I’m not mistaken never repeated the mistake again. The daily regime started with waking up at 5.21 am, breakfast at 6.07am, assembled at the lobby 6.49 am, arrived at the station and took the tube at 7.19 am, commenced the MNC factory visit at 8.48 am and assembled back at the MNC lobby at 10.37 am. These were examples of the tightness and preciseness of our study tour and training programmes in Japan.
Work culture
During a briefing session at one of the MNC, Matsushita, in Osaka, the Factory Manager reiterated the incident whereby 10 workers from Matsushita factory in Shah Alam caused one of the production line in his factory to close for half a day. Initially, the workers from Shah Alam were placed in one production line, side by side with each other to undertake a continuous activity and production process.
The 10 Black Sheep
These 10 black “sheeps” were entrusted to assemble one component to a work in progress product. The assembling or assembly was a continuous process. When the first person completed his task, he will then pass it on to his next colleague who will fixed the next item and then pass it on to the next person until it reaches the 10th person. The 10th person will pass it on to the 11th and so on until the end of the production line. There were 20 workers in the production line, 10 from Malaysia and 10 more from Japan. What happened was that there was a bottleneck in the assembly line of the 10 black sheeps with overpouring of components and half completed products. The 11th, 12th up till the 20th worker were waiting for the half completed products to reach them at the set timing.
Slow Hand Movement
Not long after that the emergency siren sounded automatically and the production line had to be stopped. After an investigation, it was later found out that the incident happened due to the lag in the movement of the Malaysian workers hands compared to the normal conveyor belt speed that carries the half completed products to be assembled. When assessed, the delay was about 40% below the normal hand movement speed of the Japanese workers. These 10 workers were taken off the assembly line and had to undergo two weeks of separate training under the supervision of one Japanese supervisor. When the movement of their hands were on the average almost similar to that of the Japanese worker, they were then placed back on the assembly line. This time not together but separated with one Malaysian worker in each of the 10 separate assembly lines.
The 7 Minutes Late
Another incident in this program was when we wanted to make a courtesy visit to a Mayor from the Oita Perfecture in Kyushu island. Our appointment was supposed to be at 9.40 am but was delayed. The reason being, one of our team member did not report to our Japanese supervisor that he had to go to the toilet. He only appeared 7 minutes later than the appointment time. The appointment had to be cancelled. Eventhough we were given another chance to meet the Mayor, we had to wait for about two hours until the Mayor was free to see us. At that particular time we were supposed to have lunch with the Oita Youth Association. Our Supervisor had to apologised to the Mayor the Japanese way by bowing almost 6 to 7 times. As a result of the rescheduling of the programmes, our Japanese supervisor had to appeal to the youth association to have our lunch packed and we ate on the bus as after that we were scheduled to visit the one product one village programmes in different villages about 27 minutes bus ride from the camp.The project, cultivation of tempura leaf tree (used as fried tempura dish underlayer cover when served) This project was cultivated on a half hectare farming land only. The crops were cultivated 5 times in a year and the leaves harvested twice a month intensively. The tempura leaves were exported worldwide including to USA. According to the report, total income from the project was about 350 million Yen annually.
Omeiyage
Another incident which remained in my memory bank was the level of obedience displayed by a Japanese wife to her husband. In the JICA program, each participant was required to stay with their foster parents for about two weeks. My foster parents were cattle breeders in a village in Kobe in central Japan. My other colleagues stayed with different foster family background. The lucky ones stayed with multimillionaire corporate figure foster parents. Upon parting, my friend received a gold chain with a high quality pear pendant. I received a pair of shoes as omeiyage and 2 pairs of socks, Ahamdulillah. Some received camera, camera decoder, watch, clothing etc. and some even received cash money. Long after the program, we received news that one of our friend got married to his Japanese foster sister. Now that is fated and not omeiyage.
Obedience
What I wish to share on obedience is the respect bestowed upon the husband by the wife eventhough the husband is not with the wife all the time and regardless of her activity at the time. One morning I was helping my foster mother doing household chores at the kitchen. My foster mother was cleaning the fish for our lunch. Suddenly a voice called out requesting something from her. As soon as she heard her husband’s voice, my foster mother holding the knife and hands smeared with fish blood put the knife down and with her hands at her knees bowed three (3) times instantaneously responding to her husband’s call. Without washing her pair of hands which was filled with fish blood, she immediately bowed putting her hands at her knees eventhough it was not certain from which direction the husband’s voice came from. After bowing 3 times she rushed to her bedroom to do something quickly and came back to continue cleaning the fish. I later found out that it was only that my foster father wanted her to change the cassette (that time there were no disc even in Japan) to be aired to his cattle in the farm. Every two hours the songs were changed for different cattle breeding process. When milking the cows, a different song was aired. Cattle bred for their meat, a different song was aired. Cattle bred for their milk a different song was aired. For the calves, a different song was aired.
Time management
My experience in Japan taught me a lot about time management. Time management is closely related to our culture of immediate action, the implementation of a particular decision and our work. If before this I like to laze around and keep postponing my work but as soon as I got back home after the JICA programme in Japan I do away with all the negative culture of not bothering about punctuality. Same goes with my daily activities. I no longer laze around and keep postponing my work. There were times the decision and action taken were too fast and beyond time.
The Islamic Way
This is actually the culture in built in our Islamic religion. Sometimes when we emulate the Japanese or the Koreans or even the Western, it is easy for us to practice it. In actual fact time management and culture of immediate action is in our religion. The Ustaz is always asking us to perform the solat immediately after we hear the azan but most of the time we do not follow this teaching. There were times when we prayed, we combined 2 solat prayer times. Five more minutes to Asar solat prayer, we performed the Dzuhur prayer. This is not the culture of immediate action and it is non Islamic. If we observed closely the prayer times, it is not counted in terms of 60 minutes, 30 minutes or 15 minutes. The same goes with the Japanese practices. The Dzuhur prayer time is for example 13.23 minutes, Asar 16.47 minutes, Maghrib 19.31, Isyak 20.48 and subuh 5.49. What can be learned from the precise timing of the prayer times in Islam is nothing less than to ensure that the Ummah managed their time to the precise last second. There’s also 1 surah in the Al Quran that teaches us time management i.e. surah Wal Asri. Allah SWT sworn in this surah that human beings are in a state of loss except those that have faith, do righteous deeds enjoined together in the mutual teachings of the truth and patience. We cannot afford to waste time. We cannot ignore and shirk our work and responsibilities. Denying work and responsibilities will result in a great loss to the Ummah.
Action First Talk Last
A nation that is successful is one that takes priority of its action, not those who talk a lot but no action, not those that argue much but also has no plans of implementation, not those that has a lot of theories, discussions, seminars, brainstorming and meetings but no action. We can do all that but the bottom line is after all the conclusions and decisions have been made and agreed upon, we need to put it into action. Don’t fill up the cabinet with piles of files on various resolutions and decisions but none of it being carried out effectively. We are good at making resolutions but when it comes to implementing it we direct someone else to do it.
Snatching Opportunities Upon Smelling It
We do not want our countrymen loafing around and not doing some meaningful work. We want to use every inch of the space and opportunities available to us to receive the benefits and the gains. Every inch must be filled up before someone else does it. We must snatch every opportunity before someone else grabs it. We must be smart to smell the gain for us. We need to act fast. Not taking too long to decide, too long to research, too long to calculate, not taking too long on the subject matter. We need to act fast, or else our customer or our stakeholders will have to wait for a long time. To become first class and world class citizens, organizations or communities must become an entity or nation that act instantly. We need to think big dream high and have a strong heart. We need to practice CIA, the “Culture of Immediate Action”.
I am from the village. As a villager it is the norm for me to daydream, loaf around, postponed my work, take my own sweet time, giving excuses, wasting time, and not effective in most of my actions. I do not bother much whether my actions affected my performance or other related parties. I am lucky and thankful to Allah SWT for the fact that during the early days working in National Equity Corporation group, I was chosen a few times to join the JICA youth programme (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and training programmes under Nomura Securities, Japco and Furukawa Denco in Japan. In the programmes, the participants were taken on a study tour to various associations, departments, institutions and business organizations that were involved in the economic activities, communities and culture in 14 cities throughout Japan. We started our tour in Tokyo, moving on to Sapporo, Hokkaido the northern most island down to Kagoshima city in Kyushu island, the southern most island of Japan. The trip lasted for over 3 months in total.
While in Japan, we visited several government departments, MNCs, SMEs, various agricultural projects, animal breeding farms, fishing villages, various youth NGOs and camps. In the three months, our days were filled with programmes and activities. We rushed here and there. We took the bus, tube, community trains and shinkansen (bullet trains), Our time were not counted in 60 minutes like 6 o’clock, 30 minutes like 8.30 am or 15 minutes like 7.15 pm but in 5.11 minutes in the morning, 1.17 minutes in the afternoon or 9.39 minutes in the evening. Very precise to the last minute and second. Time and time again, our Japanese coordinator and supervisor reminded us the importance of punctuality of time to the last second. However, there were still those who took their own sweet time until our coordinator had to take him out from the study visit for that day and was left all alone at the hotel. After the incident, this friend who came from either Indonesia or Philippines if I’m not mistaken never repeated the mistake again. The daily regime started with waking up at 5.21 am, breakfast at 6.07am, assembled at the lobby 6.49 am, arrived at the station and took the tube at 7.19 am, commenced the MNC factory visit at 8.48 am and assembled back at the MNC lobby at 10.37 am. These were examples of the tightness and preciseness of our study tour and training programmes in Japan.
Work culture
During a briefing session at one of the MNC, Matsushita, in Osaka, the Factory Manager reiterated the incident whereby 10 workers from Matsushita factory in Shah Alam caused one of the production line in his factory to close for half a day. Initially, the workers from Shah Alam were placed in one production line, side by side with each other to undertake a continuous activity and production process.
The 10 Black Sheep
These 10 black “sheeps” were entrusted to assemble one component to a work in progress product. The assembling or assembly was a continuous process. When the first person completed his task, he will then pass it on to his next colleague who will fixed the next item and then pass it on to the next person until it reaches the 10th person. The 10th person will pass it on to the 11th and so on until the end of the production line. There were 20 workers in the production line, 10 from Malaysia and 10 more from Japan. What happened was that there was a bottleneck in the assembly line of the 10 black sheeps with overpouring of components and half completed products. The 11th, 12th up till the 20th worker were waiting for the half completed products to reach them at the set timing.
Slow Hand Movement
Not long after that the emergency siren sounded automatically and the production line had to be stopped. After an investigation, it was later found out that the incident happened due to the lag in the movement of the Malaysian workers hands compared to the normal conveyor belt speed that carries the half completed products to be assembled. When assessed, the delay was about 40% below the normal hand movement speed of the Japanese workers. These 10 workers were taken off the assembly line and had to undergo two weeks of separate training under the supervision of one Japanese supervisor. When the movement of their hands were on the average almost similar to that of the Japanese worker, they were then placed back on the assembly line. This time not together but separated with one Malaysian worker in each of the 10 separate assembly lines.
The 7 Minutes Late
Another incident in this program was when we wanted to make a courtesy visit to a Mayor from the Oita Perfecture in Kyushu island. Our appointment was supposed to be at 9.40 am but was delayed. The reason being, one of our team member did not report to our Japanese supervisor that he had to go to the toilet. He only appeared 7 minutes later than the appointment time. The appointment had to be cancelled. Eventhough we were given another chance to meet the Mayor, we had to wait for about two hours until the Mayor was free to see us. At that particular time we were supposed to have lunch with the Oita Youth Association. Our Supervisor had to apologised to the Mayor the Japanese way by bowing almost 6 to 7 times. As a result of the rescheduling of the programmes, our Japanese supervisor had to appeal to the youth association to have our lunch packed and we ate on the bus as after that we were scheduled to visit the one product one village programmes in different villages about 27 minutes bus ride from the camp.The project, cultivation of tempura leaf tree (used as fried tempura dish underlayer cover when served) This project was cultivated on a half hectare farming land only. The crops were cultivated 5 times in a year and the leaves harvested twice a month intensively. The tempura leaves were exported worldwide including to USA. According to the report, total income from the project was about 350 million Yen annually.
Omeiyage
Another incident which remained in my memory bank was the level of obedience displayed by a Japanese wife to her husband. In the JICA program, each participant was required to stay with their foster parents for about two weeks. My foster parents were cattle breeders in a village in Kobe in central Japan. My other colleagues stayed with different foster family background. The lucky ones stayed with multimillionaire corporate figure foster parents. Upon parting, my friend received a gold chain with a high quality pear pendant. I received a pair of shoes as omeiyage and 2 pairs of socks, Ahamdulillah. Some received camera, camera decoder, watch, clothing etc. and some even received cash money. Long after the program, we received news that one of our friend got married to his Japanese foster sister. Now that is fated and not omeiyage.
Obedience
What I wish to share on obedience is the respect bestowed upon the husband by the wife eventhough the husband is not with the wife all the time and regardless of her activity at the time. One morning I was helping my foster mother doing household chores at the kitchen. My foster mother was cleaning the fish for our lunch. Suddenly a voice called out requesting something from her. As soon as she heard her husband’s voice, my foster mother holding the knife and hands smeared with fish blood put the knife down and with her hands at her knees bowed three (3) times instantaneously responding to her husband’s call. Without washing her pair of hands which was filled with fish blood, she immediately bowed putting her hands at her knees eventhough it was not certain from which direction the husband’s voice came from. After bowing 3 times she rushed to her bedroom to do something quickly and came back to continue cleaning the fish. I later found out that it was only that my foster father wanted her to change the cassette (that time there were no disc even in Japan) to be aired to his cattle in the farm. Every two hours the songs were changed for different cattle breeding process. When milking the cows, a different song was aired. Cattle bred for their meat, a different song was aired. Cattle bred for their milk a different song was aired. For the calves, a different song was aired.
Time management
My experience in Japan taught me a lot about time management. Time management is closely related to our culture of immediate action, the implementation of a particular decision and our work. If before this I like to laze around and keep postponing my work but as soon as I got back home after the JICA programme in Japan I do away with all the negative culture of not bothering about punctuality. Same goes with my daily activities. I no longer laze around and keep postponing my work. There were times the decision and action taken were too fast and beyond time.
The Islamic Way
This is actually the culture in built in our Islamic religion. Sometimes when we emulate the Japanese or the Koreans or even the Western, it is easy for us to practice it. In actual fact time management and culture of immediate action is in our religion. The Ustaz is always asking us to perform the solat immediately after we hear the azan but most of the time we do not follow this teaching. There were times when we prayed, we combined 2 solat prayer times. Five more minutes to Asar solat prayer, we performed the Dzuhur prayer. This is not the culture of immediate action and it is non Islamic. If we observed closely the prayer times, it is not counted in terms of 60 minutes, 30 minutes or 15 minutes. The same goes with the Japanese practices. The Dzuhur prayer time is for example 13.23 minutes, Asar 16.47 minutes, Maghrib 19.31, Isyak 20.48 and subuh 5.49. What can be learned from the precise timing of the prayer times in Islam is nothing less than to ensure that the Ummah managed their time to the precise last second. There’s also 1 surah in the Al Quran that teaches us time management i.e. surah Wal Asri. Allah SWT sworn in this surah that human beings are in a state of loss except those that have faith, do righteous deeds enjoined together in the mutual teachings of the truth and patience. We cannot afford to waste time. We cannot ignore and shirk our work and responsibilities. Denying work and responsibilities will result in a great loss to the Ummah.
Action First Talk Last
A nation that is successful is one that takes priority of its action, not those who talk a lot but no action, not those that argue much but also has no plans of implementation, not those that has a lot of theories, discussions, seminars, brainstorming and meetings but no action. We can do all that but the bottom line is after all the conclusions and decisions have been made and agreed upon, we need to put it into action. Don’t fill up the cabinet with piles of files on various resolutions and decisions but none of it being carried out effectively. We are good at making resolutions but when it comes to implementing it we direct someone else to do it.
Snatching Opportunities Upon Smelling It
We do not want our countrymen loafing around and not doing some meaningful work. We want to use every inch of the space and opportunities available to us to receive the benefits and the gains. Every inch must be filled up before someone else does it. We must snatch every opportunity before someone else grabs it. We must be smart to smell the gain for us. We need to act fast. Not taking too long to decide, too long to research, too long to calculate, not taking too long on the subject matter. We need to act fast, or else our customer or our stakeholders will have to wait for a long time. To become first class and world class citizens, organizations or communities must become an entity or nation that act instantly. We need to think big dream high and have a strong heart. We need to practice CIA, the “Culture of Immediate Action”.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Think Big Dream High-E 13-The World Class Aspiration
Ensuring Quality
I came from the village. As a villager living in this developmental era, I felt that I deserved to receive the best in life. The best means something which is of good and high quality, no defects in its international standard specifications, giving optimum satisfaction, a must have for every individual to enjoy and owned. Is our country prepared ? Are we prepared to be in that direction? Are the products and services produced and rendered by our country being offered to us met the international standards specification? As good and at par with the products and services imported from the developed countries? This is a collective responsibility. All segments of the communities including the government, engineers, mechanics, technologists, scientists, entrepreneur, financial sectors and all of us as workers or consumers should work together to produce quality products and rendered quality services. This is the issue that I will touch on this time around. Issues relating to good quality, high quality and being superior. Not only superior in our country but also superior in the world.
I chose this topic as I felt my community from now on should act and deserved to have and enjoyed the best in our daily lives. When we talk about standards and quality, it is closely related to our capability. Our capability to produce and to achieve it. It is related to our ability and preparation in terms of resources, infrastructure, physical, emotional, spiritual and mental preparedness to create and produce. We have to prepare ourselves so that we will be ready to achieve all these.
Developed Nation Status
Our country is heading towards a developed nation status by 2020. About 63 years since our independence. If we conduct research on a country’s civilisation, in general, it took about a 100 years for a country to achieve a fully developed nation status i.e. after it obtained its independence or moving into the era of industrialization. Japan became an industrialized country in the middle of the 19th century and after 130 years round about the third quarter of the twentieth century Japan became a fully developed nation. South Korea was a bit more advanced in achieving the fully developed nation status. Philippines in the 1960s, was actually far more advanced in terms of development compared to Korea. However, after slightly more than half a century later, Korea became the most developed country in the Asia Pacific region. Obviously more advanced than the Philippines who more than half a century ago was more advanced than Korea.
If we make a specific study on the Korean way of living, culture and working habits, we can more or less understood why the Koreans achieved an accelerated development rate comparatively. During the late 80s economic crisis, Korea managed to turn around its economy swiftly after receiving assistance from IMF. Now Korea’s economy is developing at a fast pace.
Korean Working Culture
I managed to obtain information on Korea through official and personal visit to the country. Coincidentally, my eldest son graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from Kunsan University in Korea. He went to Korea immediately after his PMR and after six (6) years of study, he graduated with excellence as an Engineer. He was lucky, despite the fact that he received no form of government assistance, he managed to complete his studies by self funding and some assistance from me. Thanks to his good fortune, he managed to secure a part time job at his Korean Godfather’s factory.
Back in Malaysia, he worked as a Mechanical Engineer at a factory in Balakong, Cheras. As time passes, I noticed something unique and strange about him. He goes to work after Subuh prayers and reaches home late in the evening. Nothing earlier than 11 pm almost everyday. He even worked on weekends. I am not used to such working culture. Where can you find a Malaysian, working 18 hours a day, everyday and even on weekends. The only thing I pointed out and advise him is not to forget his solat. After working for 6 months, he managed to increase his factory’s productivity by 116 % and reduced production cost by 30%. As a result of his achievement, he was appointed as the new Factory Manager replacing his boss who has more than 40 years experiences. He was then sent to Austria and Germany for three months by the owner, Mr Yew, to fabricate new machines for use in the two additional production lines. Back from Germany, he produced a new product for the factory. A high quality oxygenated drink that was awarded International Standards certification. I noticed on TV, the Prime Minister’s wife often served this oxygenated drink to her personal guests at Seri Perdana.
My son’s working culture is just one small life example of the Korean working culture. The Koreans worked far better, far greater and with high dedication than my son. Here’s another example. My son’s Godfather, Mr Park, worked continuously for three (3) years in his factory without going back home. That was the time when he first opened his fabrication factory. He slept in his factory throughout those period despite the fact that the distance between his house and factory is only 20 minutes drive. His wife gave him the full support and once in a while dropped by and stayed the night with him at the factory. This decision was made to ensure that the factory operated smoothly. His exemplary actions inspired and motivated his workers. In the fifth year, he managed to export his machines and even to Germany. We know for a fact that the German technology in the machinery industry are far more superior. How did he managed to penetrate the German machine market? Apparently the technology he uses is at par with the German technology but at a cheaper rate.
Apprenticeship
For the first three months working with Mr Park, my son was assigned to clear the rubbish and to clean the drains. It was only in the second three months of work, he was given the opportunity to work in the factory. His assignment was to clean the oil sticking to the machines in the factory. It has to be done until the machines sparkled. That was his daily routine. Though the cleaned machines already sparkled , he was requested to polished them again until it became more sparkled. Mr Park in his walkabout management style will placed his fingers to the cleaned machines. If in the process he found black oil and dust sticking to his fingers, my son Mohd Hezzam Arfaei will be punished by working overtime without any allowance. Only a year later, he was given a computer, a table and a chair to start training on engineering drawing. That was the kind of training and work culture practised by the Korean people and indoctrinated in my son. That was the working culture adopted by my son until he successfully became involved in the manufacturing of a product that is favoured by our First lady. This oxygenated drink produced by a factory in Balakong, Cheras has penetrated and is popular in the Japanese market.
Korean Products
This is just not about my son. It has something to do with quality, standards and satisfaction. This has relation to the kind of training system and work culture adopted. The three characteristics mentioned earlier will not be achieved without having to go through the work culture described briefly through my son’s training experience with his Godfather in Korea. We can see ourselves that Korean products have flocked markets the world over. Right from the biggest ship in the world, power generators and turbines used in developing countries throughout the world, sophisticated designed cars but at a cheaper price, handphones with brands of world class standards, Korean silk favoured by women all over the world, Korean construction companies their services utilized all over the world especially in the Middle East, Korean serial telemovies produced by KBS world, viewed by million of fans in 55 countries in the world, restaurants serving Korean barbecued dishes favored all over the world including leaders from our country Malaysia (there’s even pictures of Malaysian leaders enjoying delicious Korean food at a Korean restaurant in Kuala Lumpur) to the smallest product made in Korea i.e. the brooches with its unique design and quality, adored by women all over the world. Why does the Korean wave happened throughout the world? It is because the Korean made products have become the world’s most popular and leading brand. Its quality is of world class standards and it enjoyed maximum consumer satisfaction throughout the world.
Smart In Reverse Engineering
It is not my purposeful intention to praise the Korean work culture and training practices to the limits. For a fact, that is the basic foundation of the South Korean success story. It is not wrong for us to emulate the Korean’s training programmes, to copy and adopt our work culture to that of the Koreans. It is also not wrong us try to create a Malaysian wave throughout the world. It is also not wrong for us to overtake the Koreans in areas where we have the strengths and niche. It is also not wrong for us to outperform the Japanese. It is also not wrong for us to be at par with the Germans. The most important thing is that we have to strengthen our foundation and be smart in emulating better work culture and technologies. What is the foundation? The foundation is education and knowledge. Another exemplary Korean achievement is that more than 70% of the Korean workforce graduated in technical and engineering field. Eventhough the job is as Personnel or Marketing Manager, the Koreans need to have a degree in engineering to qualify for the position. The opposite is practiced in Malaysia where the basic qualification for a Personnel Manager is an ex army. With a background in engineering, a Personnel Manager will be able to conduct screening and assessment on each of their potential candidates. Only those with technical and engineering background will be recruited. With a background in engineering, a Marketing Manager will be able to explain in detail the characteristics of the products he intended to sell. In this way, the consumers will be satisfied with the products sold. Any complaints later, he will be able to rectify the defects to the extend that the consumer became faithful and loyal to the brand. The consumer will not switch to other new brands.
Technical Education
My countrymen should be prepared to switch our field of study from having too much focus on literature, social science and commerce to that of technical, engineering and technology. If more than 90% of the my countrymen children are in the first category, it is our collective responsibility to reverse this trend. Eventhough not 90% but starting with 51% must pick up subjects in mathematics, pure sciences, technical and engineering. Are there sufficient teachers with qualifications in technical and engineering lines? If it is not sufficient, create and train as many such teachers. If it is still not sufficient, as a suggestion, recruit the retired Engineers from Japan or Korea on contract basis. There are such groups in Korea and Japan keen to migrate to Malaysia as the weather in Malaysia is suitable for these pensioners who are still energetic. This is the basic preparation for our countrymen to achieve excellence, respected and achieving world class standards. Without a strong foundation, it will not be possible for us to overtake the other communities who are far more advanced in this world.
The country’s population, will soon reach 30 million. 10 million less than the Korean population now. This is a reasonable population figure that can create a sizeable domestic market. However, if the figure of 70 million population suggested by the former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir became a reality probably in 30 years time, then Malaysia will be one of the super powers economically. Nevertheless a 30 million population will also be a big captive market for our made in Malaysia products. This will be a good beginning. Actually, we have the potential and capability to be at par with the success and achievements of the Korean people. Our leaders with all sort of transformation agendas have worked hard to develop this country. As Malaysians, all of us need to compete with one another based on a fair and equitable meritocracy system. Then all of us can become good and effective contributors to the country’s development process. My countrymen being the major community in this country, need to work hard to excel, need to practice twice as hard, need to strive twice as hard, need to have a vision to become the best and need to have the ambition and goal to be superior and to succeed as the country’s and world’s best. We need to think big dream high and have strong heart. We need to be innovative, creative, inventive and we need to develop our own technologies. We need to improve, initiate reverse technology or copy in the halal way other technologies. All these are important to enable us to produce made in Malaysia products that within this short period of time achieved world class standards. Products that are admired, sought after, respected for its quality and much talked about for the maximum satisfaction experienced using it worldwide. This has to be the goal and ambition of our countrymen. When all this has been achieved, as Malaysians, we will experience a paradigm shift in our taste and lifestyle of being merely satisfied with products and services that are of mediocre quality and standards to products that are of world class quality and standards.
I came from the village. As a villager living in this developmental era, I felt that I deserved to receive the best in life. The best means something which is of good and high quality, no defects in its international standard specifications, giving optimum satisfaction, a must have for every individual to enjoy and owned. Is our country prepared ? Are we prepared to be in that direction? Are the products and services produced and rendered by our country being offered to us met the international standards specification? As good and at par with the products and services imported from the developed countries? This is a collective responsibility. All segments of the communities including the government, engineers, mechanics, technologists, scientists, entrepreneur, financial sectors and all of us as workers or consumers should work together to produce quality products and rendered quality services. This is the issue that I will touch on this time around. Issues relating to good quality, high quality and being superior. Not only superior in our country but also superior in the world.
I chose this topic as I felt my community from now on should act and deserved to have and enjoyed the best in our daily lives. When we talk about standards and quality, it is closely related to our capability. Our capability to produce and to achieve it. It is related to our ability and preparation in terms of resources, infrastructure, physical, emotional, spiritual and mental preparedness to create and produce. We have to prepare ourselves so that we will be ready to achieve all these.
Developed Nation Status
Our country is heading towards a developed nation status by 2020. About 63 years since our independence. If we conduct research on a country’s civilisation, in general, it took about a 100 years for a country to achieve a fully developed nation status i.e. after it obtained its independence or moving into the era of industrialization. Japan became an industrialized country in the middle of the 19th century and after 130 years round about the third quarter of the twentieth century Japan became a fully developed nation. South Korea was a bit more advanced in achieving the fully developed nation status. Philippines in the 1960s, was actually far more advanced in terms of development compared to Korea. However, after slightly more than half a century later, Korea became the most developed country in the Asia Pacific region. Obviously more advanced than the Philippines who more than half a century ago was more advanced than Korea.
If we make a specific study on the Korean way of living, culture and working habits, we can more or less understood why the Koreans achieved an accelerated development rate comparatively. During the late 80s economic crisis, Korea managed to turn around its economy swiftly after receiving assistance from IMF. Now Korea’s economy is developing at a fast pace.
Korean Working Culture
I managed to obtain information on Korea through official and personal visit to the country. Coincidentally, my eldest son graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from Kunsan University in Korea. He went to Korea immediately after his PMR and after six (6) years of study, he graduated with excellence as an Engineer. He was lucky, despite the fact that he received no form of government assistance, he managed to complete his studies by self funding and some assistance from me. Thanks to his good fortune, he managed to secure a part time job at his Korean Godfather’s factory.
Back in Malaysia, he worked as a Mechanical Engineer at a factory in Balakong, Cheras. As time passes, I noticed something unique and strange about him. He goes to work after Subuh prayers and reaches home late in the evening. Nothing earlier than 11 pm almost everyday. He even worked on weekends. I am not used to such working culture. Where can you find a Malaysian, working 18 hours a day, everyday and even on weekends. The only thing I pointed out and advise him is not to forget his solat. After working for 6 months, he managed to increase his factory’s productivity by 116 % and reduced production cost by 30%. As a result of his achievement, he was appointed as the new Factory Manager replacing his boss who has more than 40 years experiences. He was then sent to Austria and Germany for three months by the owner, Mr Yew, to fabricate new machines for use in the two additional production lines. Back from Germany, he produced a new product for the factory. A high quality oxygenated drink that was awarded International Standards certification. I noticed on TV, the Prime Minister’s wife often served this oxygenated drink to her personal guests at Seri Perdana.
My son’s working culture is just one small life example of the Korean working culture. The Koreans worked far better, far greater and with high dedication than my son. Here’s another example. My son’s Godfather, Mr Park, worked continuously for three (3) years in his factory without going back home. That was the time when he first opened his fabrication factory. He slept in his factory throughout those period despite the fact that the distance between his house and factory is only 20 minutes drive. His wife gave him the full support and once in a while dropped by and stayed the night with him at the factory. This decision was made to ensure that the factory operated smoothly. His exemplary actions inspired and motivated his workers. In the fifth year, he managed to export his machines and even to Germany. We know for a fact that the German technology in the machinery industry are far more superior. How did he managed to penetrate the German machine market? Apparently the technology he uses is at par with the German technology but at a cheaper rate.
Apprenticeship
For the first three months working with Mr Park, my son was assigned to clear the rubbish and to clean the drains. It was only in the second three months of work, he was given the opportunity to work in the factory. His assignment was to clean the oil sticking to the machines in the factory. It has to be done until the machines sparkled. That was his daily routine. Though the cleaned machines already sparkled , he was requested to polished them again until it became more sparkled. Mr Park in his walkabout management style will placed his fingers to the cleaned machines. If in the process he found black oil and dust sticking to his fingers, my son Mohd Hezzam Arfaei will be punished by working overtime without any allowance. Only a year later, he was given a computer, a table and a chair to start training on engineering drawing. That was the kind of training and work culture practised by the Korean people and indoctrinated in my son. That was the working culture adopted by my son until he successfully became involved in the manufacturing of a product that is favoured by our First lady. This oxygenated drink produced by a factory in Balakong, Cheras has penetrated and is popular in the Japanese market.
Korean Products
This is just not about my son. It has something to do with quality, standards and satisfaction. This has relation to the kind of training system and work culture adopted. The three characteristics mentioned earlier will not be achieved without having to go through the work culture described briefly through my son’s training experience with his Godfather in Korea. We can see ourselves that Korean products have flocked markets the world over. Right from the biggest ship in the world, power generators and turbines used in developing countries throughout the world, sophisticated designed cars but at a cheaper price, handphones with brands of world class standards, Korean silk favoured by women all over the world, Korean construction companies their services utilized all over the world especially in the Middle East, Korean serial telemovies produced by KBS world, viewed by million of fans in 55 countries in the world, restaurants serving Korean barbecued dishes favored all over the world including leaders from our country Malaysia (there’s even pictures of Malaysian leaders enjoying delicious Korean food at a Korean restaurant in Kuala Lumpur) to the smallest product made in Korea i.e. the brooches with its unique design and quality, adored by women all over the world. Why does the Korean wave happened throughout the world? It is because the Korean made products have become the world’s most popular and leading brand. Its quality is of world class standards and it enjoyed maximum consumer satisfaction throughout the world.
Smart In Reverse Engineering
It is not my purposeful intention to praise the Korean work culture and training practices to the limits. For a fact, that is the basic foundation of the South Korean success story. It is not wrong for us to emulate the Korean’s training programmes, to copy and adopt our work culture to that of the Koreans. It is also not wrong us try to create a Malaysian wave throughout the world. It is also not wrong for us to overtake the Koreans in areas where we have the strengths and niche. It is also not wrong for us to outperform the Japanese. It is also not wrong for us to be at par with the Germans. The most important thing is that we have to strengthen our foundation and be smart in emulating better work culture and technologies. What is the foundation? The foundation is education and knowledge. Another exemplary Korean achievement is that more than 70% of the Korean workforce graduated in technical and engineering field. Eventhough the job is as Personnel or Marketing Manager, the Koreans need to have a degree in engineering to qualify for the position. The opposite is practiced in Malaysia where the basic qualification for a Personnel Manager is an ex army. With a background in engineering, a Personnel Manager will be able to conduct screening and assessment on each of their potential candidates. Only those with technical and engineering background will be recruited. With a background in engineering, a Marketing Manager will be able to explain in detail the characteristics of the products he intended to sell. In this way, the consumers will be satisfied with the products sold. Any complaints later, he will be able to rectify the defects to the extend that the consumer became faithful and loyal to the brand. The consumer will not switch to other new brands.
Technical Education
My countrymen should be prepared to switch our field of study from having too much focus on literature, social science and commerce to that of technical, engineering and technology. If more than 90% of the my countrymen children are in the first category, it is our collective responsibility to reverse this trend. Eventhough not 90% but starting with 51% must pick up subjects in mathematics, pure sciences, technical and engineering. Are there sufficient teachers with qualifications in technical and engineering lines? If it is not sufficient, create and train as many such teachers. If it is still not sufficient, as a suggestion, recruit the retired Engineers from Japan or Korea on contract basis. There are such groups in Korea and Japan keen to migrate to Malaysia as the weather in Malaysia is suitable for these pensioners who are still energetic. This is the basic preparation for our countrymen to achieve excellence, respected and achieving world class standards. Without a strong foundation, it will not be possible for us to overtake the other communities who are far more advanced in this world.
The country’s population, will soon reach 30 million. 10 million less than the Korean population now. This is a reasonable population figure that can create a sizeable domestic market. However, if the figure of 70 million population suggested by the former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir became a reality probably in 30 years time, then Malaysia will be one of the super powers economically. Nevertheless a 30 million population will also be a big captive market for our made in Malaysia products. This will be a good beginning. Actually, we have the potential and capability to be at par with the success and achievements of the Korean people. Our leaders with all sort of transformation agendas have worked hard to develop this country. As Malaysians, all of us need to compete with one another based on a fair and equitable meritocracy system. Then all of us can become good and effective contributors to the country’s development process. My countrymen being the major community in this country, need to work hard to excel, need to practice twice as hard, need to strive twice as hard, need to have a vision to become the best and need to have the ambition and goal to be superior and to succeed as the country’s and world’s best. We need to think big dream high and have strong heart. We need to be innovative, creative, inventive and we need to develop our own technologies. We need to improve, initiate reverse technology or copy in the halal way other technologies. All these are important to enable us to produce made in Malaysia products that within this short period of time achieved world class standards. Products that are admired, sought after, respected for its quality and much talked about for the maximum satisfaction experienced using it worldwide. This has to be the goal and ambition of our countrymen. When all this has been achieved, as Malaysians, we will experience a paradigm shift in our taste and lifestyle of being merely satisfied with products and services that are of mediocre quality and standards to products that are of world class quality and standards.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Think Big Dream High-E12 – Conviction
My Faith
I came from the village. As someone from the village, I thought a lot about my religion and my countrymen. There are followers of this blog who suggested that I gave my views on matters relating to religion and communities. At first, I do not pay much attention to their views. It is a known fact that I am a Malay and a Muslim. As for my friend, he is a Chinese and his religion is Buddhist. Another friend of mine is an Iban and his religion is Christian. There is nothing much to discuss since this is a fact and a reality. We cannot change the fact. As a pious Muslim, I will of course uphold Islam first than the community. For me Islam as a religion is absolute and supreme. Only the Islamic faith can guarantee my happiness in this world and hereinafter. This is a sure thing as promised by Allah SWT.
Now in the media, a lot has been said about communities. Issues relating to the Interlok novel too invite a lengthy debate from all walks of life. So much so due to the intensity of the debate, the contents of the novel has been asked to change. The reason being to avoid surfacing any sensitive issues on race. Personally, I felt that we have sacrificed our intellectual capacity at the expense of criticism from a particular community. Akin to saying, are we Malays, Chinese, Iban, Khadazan or Indians first or are we Malaysians first? This has been the main topic of discussion more so for the politicians. That is why sometimes due to political reasons, we have to change the reality and facts to a pretense or untruth and made to look like the truth from political perspective.
The Brand
Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Mahathir Mohammad, the former Prime Minister is a popular figure within and outside the country. Is his popularity due to him being a Malay or a Malaysian? In fact people identified Dr Mahathir personally as a Malaysian brand as compared to Malaysia as a country itself. When we are outside the country, people often ask us where do we come from or what community do we represent. We then mentioned that we are a Malaysian or a Malay. Sad to say they cannot placed us in their minds. But when we ask them whether they know Dr Mahathir, then it rings a bell. Why is that so? They recognized Dr Mahathir as a product and a popular brand. When they recognized Dr Mahathir then they know we are Malaysians. Why does this happened? This happen because Dr Mahathir is an outstanding personality. He excelled in many fields and areas; career wise, leadership, communication, character wise, family life, as a negotiator, orator, powerful and strong in English and Malay language, as a strategist, risk taker, knowledgeable person and many more. His popularity is not only acknowledged by us but also the whole world. This include the Arabian people, Japanese and even the Jews. Dr Mahathir is Dr Mahathir. Not because he is a Malay or a Malaysian. People know Dr Mahathir because he is Dr Mahathir and someone who is successful in his political career. Dr Mahathir’s popularity matches that of Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew is not popular just because he is a Chinese. He is popularly known as the leader that developed Singapore into a modern city state and highly acclaimed by the rest of the world.
My Origin
Eventhough I came from the village, I am not of pure Malay origin. My grandfather originated from Shanghai in China. According to my ancestral information, my grandfather travelled far and wide and reaches Singapore by boat, took the train until the end of the railway line to reach Tumpat in Kelantan. He then took a ride in a boat travelled upstream until he reaches my village. My great grandfather was a pious Muslim and an opinion leader in our village. He adopted my grandfather and converted him to Islam. Maybe due to his good looks, my great grandfather married him off to my grandmother. Their offspring i.e. my mother and uncle therefore looked like Chinese. Same goes with me. During my primary school days, my friends used to jeered and call me names; tokpek which means apek. I cried almost everyday. On my father’s side, his origin is Bugis. My father was a self defence silat Tok Guru. This could be due to his strong Bugis blood descendants well known for their marshall arts skills. Now that is my origin. To call myself a pure Chinese or pure Malay, is not appropriate. As for Bugis I’m also not pure Bugis. So what am I then?. What is clear is that I’m a Malaysian. Dr Mahathir according to his life story is in a similar situation as I am; he is not of pure Malay, neither is he pure Indian. He is a true Malaysian.
Actually a lot of people are in the same predicament as myself. Most of their elders or grandparents are descendants from Javanese, Minangkabaus, Mat Salleh, Japanese, Bajau, Russian, Iban, Koreans, Thais, Arabs, Kadazans, Pakistan, Bugis or even Congos. If we studied carefully, most of our previous PMs were not pure Malays. Tunku Abdul Rahman possibly had Siamese blood in him, Tun Razak had Bugis blood, Tun Hussin Onn had Turkish blood, Tun Mahathir has Indian blood, Tun Abdullah has Arabic blood, Dato’ Seri Najib has Bugis blood, Tan Seri Mahyuddin and Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi have Javanese blood.
Our background
If anybody asked, are we Malays or Chinese or Iban first?, our answer should be we are Malaysians first. Similarly with YAB Dato’ Seri Najib Razak, Tan Seri Mahyuddin Yasin, Dato’ Seri Hadi Awang, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar, are known the world over because of their success in their respective fields and they are Malaysians. People know them as Malaysians and not as Malays, Chinese or Indians.
Does it really matter who we are ? or which race we come from? These questions will only crop up when we achieved success and popularity. Then our background will be scrutinized in detail. If a Malaysian lass became a successful fashion designer in Hollywood, obviously people will enquire about her background and origin. If a Malaysian golfer succeeded in beating Tiger Woods, then people will enquire about his background and origin. If a Malaysian girl became a tahfiz Al Quran, AlHadith kitab and obtained a PHD at a young age of 23, then people will enquire her background and origin. If a Malaysian became a nuclear specialist and awarded the Nobel Prize just like Mohammad El Baradei the nuclear specialist from Egypt, obviously people will enquire about his background and origin. This means as Malaysians and parents at the same, if we want to achieve popularity, we need to make sure our countrymen produced children the likes of Ibnu Sina (Islamic Doctor), Rafael Nadal (world ranking tennis player), Mohamad Yunus (created Gramen Bank to help the poor and won the Nobel Prize for his effort), Bill Gates (founder of Microsoft) and Alhamdulillah we have Dr Mahathir. The bottom line and morale of the story; we need to produce more bright human beings like Dr Mahathir and the rest from among our countrymen. Only by being excellent, intelligent and couple with wisdom bring forth and uphold the superiority of a particular community. By personally being popular, will ensure the relevancy of the Malay community many more years to come.
Who we are
We are respected and looked upon not because we are Malays, Chinese, or Kadazans. We are respected because of our knowledge, our intelligence and more so our uniqueness as compared to the others. This is the result of our creation and innovation, our wealth and assets, our religious outlook and good behavior, our iman and takwa, by being the First Nobel Prize winner among our countrymen, by discovering the cure for cancer and HIV, by discovering new technologies until we are at par with Bill Gates, by our popularity and kindness as a technologist and philanthropists. Make ourselves be in the forefront, be successful in whatever field and by itself our countrymen will be remembered and recognized the world over. The probability of being no 1 in the world in any field is 1 in 7 billion or 0.000000014%. Indeed our chances are slim. It is a difficult thing to do and that is the challenge. If our ambition is to succeed only at the country level, then the world will not take heed of us, will not take heed of our religion. We need to be world class regardless of how difficult it is. This is the spirit and conviction i.e. if we love our countrymen.
When Obama was elected President of the United States of America, then only people know that he is a black American, eventhough this is obvious physically. If Obama in his Presidential campaign relied solely on the fact that he is a black American, he will not be elected based on this strategy. He was chosen because of his unique change agenda which became his campaign manifesto. Apart from the fact that he is smart, charismatic, a good orator who manage to push his change agenda into the hearts of the American people. That was the reason why he was chosen. When elected, Obama became more popular as the first black American President. The Kenyans claimed that he originated from Kenya, Africa. The Indonesians claimed that his step father was an Indonesian. All this claims came after he won the Presidential election and not before.
Totally inclusive programme
Sensitivity and racial disintegration are the politicians game plan. What is more important is our own success and achievements as a member of the community. If the government’s Economic Transformation Policy (ETP) succeeded in increasing the living standards of all communities in a fair and just manner, I am confident, that the racial problems will be minimal. That is why the ETP is an important programme to be implemented. It cannot make the rich become richer leaving the poor to only enjoy the gravy of the country’s successful development plan whilst the contents have been taken away by those with more merits.
If the program is not totally inclusive, the sensitivity and racial disintegration issues will still be relevant and continued to be politicized. Till such time situation changes, novel the likes of Interlok with a beautiful story line will have to be harmonized before it can be adopted as a school text.
We need a strong conviction. We must have faith, confidence, determination, and a strong belief. We have no other alternative. Our alternative is to achieve success and excellence through our own effort. The alternative that will enable us and our countrymen to be placed on a pedestal. The alternative that will make us and our countrymen as reference material by anybody in this world. This is the only alternative that will make us competitive and relevant in an environment that practices the meritocracy system.We need to think big dream high and have strong heart.
I came from the village. As someone from the village, I thought a lot about my religion and my countrymen. There are followers of this blog who suggested that I gave my views on matters relating to religion and communities. At first, I do not pay much attention to their views. It is a known fact that I am a Malay and a Muslim. As for my friend, he is a Chinese and his religion is Buddhist. Another friend of mine is an Iban and his religion is Christian. There is nothing much to discuss since this is a fact and a reality. We cannot change the fact. As a pious Muslim, I will of course uphold Islam first than the community. For me Islam as a religion is absolute and supreme. Only the Islamic faith can guarantee my happiness in this world and hereinafter. This is a sure thing as promised by Allah SWT.
Now in the media, a lot has been said about communities. Issues relating to the Interlok novel too invite a lengthy debate from all walks of life. So much so due to the intensity of the debate, the contents of the novel has been asked to change. The reason being to avoid surfacing any sensitive issues on race. Personally, I felt that we have sacrificed our intellectual capacity at the expense of criticism from a particular community. Akin to saying, are we Malays, Chinese, Iban, Khadazan or Indians first or are we Malaysians first? This has been the main topic of discussion more so for the politicians. That is why sometimes due to political reasons, we have to change the reality and facts to a pretense or untruth and made to look like the truth from political perspective.
The Brand
Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Mahathir Mohammad, the former Prime Minister is a popular figure within and outside the country. Is his popularity due to him being a Malay or a Malaysian? In fact people identified Dr Mahathir personally as a Malaysian brand as compared to Malaysia as a country itself. When we are outside the country, people often ask us where do we come from or what community do we represent. We then mentioned that we are a Malaysian or a Malay. Sad to say they cannot placed us in their minds. But when we ask them whether they know Dr Mahathir, then it rings a bell. Why is that so? They recognized Dr Mahathir as a product and a popular brand. When they recognized Dr Mahathir then they know we are Malaysians. Why does this happened? This happen because Dr Mahathir is an outstanding personality. He excelled in many fields and areas; career wise, leadership, communication, character wise, family life, as a negotiator, orator, powerful and strong in English and Malay language, as a strategist, risk taker, knowledgeable person and many more. His popularity is not only acknowledged by us but also the whole world. This include the Arabian people, Japanese and even the Jews. Dr Mahathir is Dr Mahathir. Not because he is a Malay or a Malaysian. People know Dr Mahathir because he is Dr Mahathir and someone who is successful in his political career. Dr Mahathir’s popularity matches that of Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew is not popular just because he is a Chinese. He is popularly known as the leader that developed Singapore into a modern city state and highly acclaimed by the rest of the world.
My Origin
Eventhough I came from the village, I am not of pure Malay origin. My grandfather originated from Shanghai in China. According to my ancestral information, my grandfather travelled far and wide and reaches Singapore by boat, took the train until the end of the railway line to reach Tumpat in Kelantan. He then took a ride in a boat travelled upstream until he reaches my village. My great grandfather was a pious Muslim and an opinion leader in our village. He adopted my grandfather and converted him to Islam. Maybe due to his good looks, my great grandfather married him off to my grandmother. Their offspring i.e. my mother and uncle therefore looked like Chinese. Same goes with me. During my primary school days, my friends used to jeered and call me names; tokpek which means apek. I cried almost everyday. On my father’s side, his origin is Bugis. My father was a self defence silat Tok Guru. This could be due to his strong Bugis blood descendants well known for their marshall arts skills. Now that is my origin. To call myself a pure Chinese or pure Malay, is not appropriate. As for Bugis I’m also not pure Bugis. So what am I then?. What is clear is that I’m a Malaysian. Dr Mahathir according to his life story is in a similar situation as I am; he is not of pure Malay, neither is he pure Indian. He is a true Malaysian.
Actually a lot of people are in the same predicament as myself. Most of their elders or grandparents are descendants from Javanese, Minangkabaus, Mat Salleh, Japanese, Bajau, Russian, Iban, Koreans, Thais, Arabs, Kadazans, Pakistan, Bugis or even Congos. If we studied carefully, most of our previous PMs were not pure Malays. Tunku Abdul Rahman possibly had Siamese blood in him, Tun Razak had Bugis blood, Tun Hussin Onn had Turkish blood, Tun Mahathir has Indian blood, Tun Abdullah has Arabic blood, Dato’ Seri Najib has Bugis blood, Tan Seri Mahyuddin and Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi have Javanese blood.
Our background
If anybody asked, are we Malays or Chinese or Iban first?, our answer should be we are Malaysians first. Similarly with YAB Dato’ Seri Najib Razak, Tan Seri Mahyuddin Yasin, Dato’ Seri Hadi Awang, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar, are known the world over because of their success in their respective fields and they are Malaysians. People know them as Malaysians and not as Malays, Chinese or Indians.
Does it really matter who we are ? or which race we come from? These questions will only crop up when we achieved success and popularity. Then our background will be scrutinized in detail. If a Malaysian lass became a successful fashion designer in Hollywood, obviously people will enquire about her background and origin. If a Malaysian golfer succeeded in beating Tiger Woods, then people will enquire about his background and origin. If a Malaysian girl became a tahfiz Al Quran, AlHadith kitab and obtained a PHD at a young age of 23, then people will enquire her background and origin. If a Malaysian became a nuclear specialist and awarded the Nobel Prize just like Mohammad El Baradei the nuclear specialist from Egypt, obviously people will enquire about his background and origin. This means as Malaysians and parents at the same, if we want to achieve popularity, we need to make sure our countrymen produced children the likes of Ibnu Sina (Islamic Doctor), Rafael Nadal (world ranking tennis player), Mohamad Yunus (created Gramen Bank to help the poor and won the Nobel Prize for his effort), Bill Gates (founder of Microsoft) and Alhamdulillah we have Dr Mahathir. The bottom line and morale of the story; we need to produce more bright human beings like Dr Mahathir and the rest from among our countrymen. Only by being excellent, intelligent and couple with wisdom bring forth and uphold the superiority of a particular community. By personally being popular, will ensure the relevancy of the Malay community many more years to come.
Who we are
We are respected and looked upon not because we are Malays, Chinese, or Kadazans. We are respected because of our knowledge, our intelligence and more so our uniqueness as compared to the others. This is the result of our creation and innovation, our wealth and assets, our religious outlook and good behavior, our iman and takwa, by being the First Nobel Prize winner among our countrymen, by discovering the cure for cancer and HIV, by discovering new technologies until we are at par with Bill Gates, by our popularity and kindness as a technologist and philanthropists. Make ourselves be in the forefront, be successful in whatever field and by itself our countrymen will be remembered and recognized the world over. The probability of being no 1 in the world in any field is 1 in 7 billion or 0.000000014%. Indeed our chances are slim. It is a difficult thing to do and that is the challenge. If our ambition is to succeed only at the country level, then the world will not take heed of us, will not take heed of our religion. We need to be world class regardless of how difficult it is. This is the spirit and conviction i.e. if we love our countrymen.
When Obama was elected President of the United States of America, then only people know that he is a black American, eventhough this is obvious physically. If Obama in his Presidential campaign relied solely on the fact that he is a black American, he will not be elected based on this strategy. He was chosen because of his unique change agenda which became his campaign manifesto. Apart from the fact that he is smart, charismatic, a good orator who manage to push his change agenda into the hearts of the American people. That was the reason why he was chosen. When elected, Obama became more popular as the first black American President. The Kenyans claimed that he originated from Kenya, Africa. The Indonesians claimed that his step father was an Indonesian. All this claims came after he won the Presidential election and not before.
Totally inclusive programme
Sensitivity and racial disintegration are the politicians game plan. What is more important is our own success and achievements as a member of the community. If the government’s Economic Transformation Policy (ETP) succeeded in increasing the living standards of all communities in a fair and just manner, I am confident, that the racial problems will be minimal. That is why the ETP is an important programme to be implemented. It cannot make the rich become richer leaving the poor to only enjoy the gravy of the country’s successful development plan whilst the contents have been taken away by those with more merits.
If the program is not totally inclusive, the sensitivity and racial disintegration issues will still be relevant and continued to be politicized. Till such time situation changes, novel the likes of Interlok with a beautiful story line will have to be harmonized before it can be adopted as a school text.
We need a strong conviction. We must have faith, confidence, determination, and a strong belief. We have no other alternative. Our alternative is to achieve success and excellence through our own effort. The alternative that will enable us and our countrymen to be placed on a pedestal. The alternative that will make us and our countrymen as reference material by anybody in this world. This is the only alternative that will make us competitive and relevant in an environment that practices the meritocracy system.We need to think big dream high and have strong heart.
Monday, July 02, 2012
Think Big Dream High-E11 – Love
Eternal Love
I came from the village. As someone from the village, I’m always evaluating and praying that I can improve myself every minute of the time. More so when I’m on my own in the Wilayah Persekutuan mosque. Many images and visuals come and go. Love is one of the issues that surfaced in my imagination. Love is mentioned many times in the Quranic Tafsir or Hadith or in other forms of writing. All this while, I thought that love is relevant to the teenagers only. They are the ones largely involved in love. The more I pondered, the more I realized that love is not exclusive to the teenagers only. It is relevant to all levels of the communities. It is relevant to all of us.
The Hierarchy Of Love
Our love for Allah SWT is the most important love of all. Followed by love for our religion, love for our Prophet Muhammad SAW, love for the Malaikat, love for the Anbia, love for the Quran, Injil, Taurat and Zabur. Love for ourselves,our parents,our wife and children,relatives,neighbours, the ummah,all of the mankind,all the living things,the universe and all of Allah SWT’s creations. All of these are essential love and borne automatically out of someone with iman and takwa.
I do read a lot of life stories and biographies of successful people either Muslims or non Muslims. They could be the Prophet’s SAW’s friends, Islamic Mujadid or the life stories of the country’s leaders or corporate figures. I am indeed very impressed with the life stories of these successful people. From my observation and research, one of the factors that contributed to their success is that they have abundance feeling of love and affection inside themselves. They love themselves. They love everybody around them, They love everything about their environment. They love the people and their nation. They love their work, career, and their business. They love to gain knowledge and skills and are open to criticisms. They love learning, giving advice and sharing experiences that they went through and gained. They love challenges and risks. They love to win and for the sake of winning they love their success.
Learn To Love Oneself
I often asked myself the question, “Do I love myself enough?”. If I love myself enough, I should be doing only things that can guarantee my happiness in this world and Jannah life hereinafter. If I love myself enough why is it that sometimes I am lazy to put in more effort to achieve success? I am sometimes lazy to perform the late night solat and other ibadat ? I am sometimes lazy to read and increase my knowledge and skills. I do at times think of negative things and sometimes think bad about other people. I do at times feel disappointed, loosing hope and sad. At times I do feel there is no more hope for myself to achieve any ambition, nobody to rely on in solving the many problems I faced. At times I do feel that I’m a born looser and that is my fate. I am always facing dire straits and failure in life. I’m still being unfair to myself. I’m still uncertain of my intelligence and maturity. I still do not love myself wholeheartedly. I still fail to get to know my actual self. At times, I do feel I’m great, successful and getting closer to Allah SWT. In actual fact it’s the opposite. I have not love myself wholeheartedly. I’m still not sincere and transparent to myself, not fair to myself. I still do not know myself.
If all these images still crosses my mind, still exist in my being, still bothering and disturbing my feelings, still affecting my actions and decisions, it looks like I still fail to love myself. I know that I can love myself. I really do want to love myself. I realize the condition for me to love myself is to put aside all negative thoughts, feelings, assumptions and actions that prevent and make me far apart from loving myself completely. I now realize that I am the main culprit to be blamed for preventing myself to achieve any form of success. I actually have not love myself fully. I still put the blame on myself, still having bad impressions, still not confident and belief in myself. I still have an inferiority complex.
Strengthening The Love For Myself
From now on I must strengthen the love for myself. I will not do anything to trouble myself or my family. I will first ask my inner self and myself whether a particular thing is good or bad before making any decisions or actions. I do not want to blame myself anymore. Actually I can criticize and make comments upon myself but not to the extent of hating and blaming myself. Other people too will be invited to criticize, make comments and advise me. This will in no way stop me from loving myself. All these criticisms will serve as a motivation and guidance for me to love myself more. Laziness, disappointment and giving up hope are the actual causes of failure and this failure will dampen the love for myself. Alternatively, self awareness, intelligence, diligence and tawakal are the metaphors for my success and this success is the fertilizer for the love of myself. I love myself. I will not allow any negative elements to become the barrier for me to increase the love for myself. I am very confident and positive that I will succeed in loving myself.
We Do Not Love The Other People Less
Have you heard of the saying,” we have to love the others before we love ourselves?”. How can I love someone else without me first loving myself, my environment. How can I express the love for my countrymen and my country. Take for instance the emergency situations during a flight. We are reminded time and again to fasten our safety jacket before we fasten the safety jacket of the children in our care. This does not mean we don’t love our children. By saving ourselves first we can then save our children in a more effective way. The same goes with charity. We are asked to give donation to our family first before donating to our neighbours and other people. The morale of the story is that the love for ourselves are more important and meaningful. However, this does not mean that we love less the other people. Just like my love for my Muslim brothers comes first before my love towards the other communities. Islam taught me to love every of Allah SWT’s creations. This is a priority. Nobody can question this. This has been my practise, belief and stronghold as a Muslim. Now that we know our real selves, now that we love ourselves completely, we can then share and distribute our feeling of love and success to the people around us in a more effective manner.
The True Meaning Of Love
Now I know what love means. From now on I will appreciate myself more, thanked myself more, respect myself more, reward myself more in whatever achievement I make and placed myself on a pedestal. However it will not be to the extent of making myself proud and arrogant. It will not be to the extent of me being takabur and forgetting my roots. It is just to express my appreciation and love towards myself more. Only this kind of love will be the motivator for my success. I only want to succeed. I just want to think big dream high and have a strong heart in order for me to be successful.I have a right and deserve to be successful just like anybody else before me. InsyaAllah.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Think Big Dream High- E10 – Hijrah
Performing the Hijrah
I am from the village. As someone from the village,I spent most of my free time at the mosque. At the mosque there are a lot of religious classes to increase one’s knowledge and ibadat.The Wilayah Persekutuan Mosque with its air-conditioned prayer rooms open from 10.30 am to 9 or 10 pm is normally my choice. I often wonder whether this mosque which always has its air-conditioned switched on is for mine and one or two guard’s usage? It will be good if this big and beautiful mosque could be used as a learning centre or university so that the large and roomy space could be fully utilized. This mosque is suitable for me to perform the i’tikaf whilst at the same time reading religious books, Tafser Al Quran and the Hadith. My choice of Tafser Al Quran is that written by Maulana Abdullah Yusuf Ali. My favourite Hadith book is Bahrulmazi. From my readings of the kitab books, the one thing I wish to share is the concept and philosophy behind Prophet Muhammad SAW’s hijrah from Mecca to Medina. We read and hear a lot of this historical hijrah, but most of the write ups are urging us to change.The meaning of hijrah in short is to change or to move or to migrate.
The Interpretation of Hijrah
When I analyse this findings deeply, the philosophy and the teachings behind this hijrah is not restricted to just asking us to change. It is more than that. Be it sheer coincidence or as determined by Allah SWT, most people who performed the hijrah are successful in their lives. Indians,Vietnamese,Sudanese, Chinese, Cambodians,English, Jews, Indonesians,Nigerian or Bosnian that performed the hijrah from their country of origin are very successful in building their lives in the new place. Just like me, who came from the village and performing the hijrah to the city. The bottom line is that I am relatively more successful than my friends who did not perform the hijrah. This is not the issue I want to talk about this time around.
History has proven that the priorities of Prophet Muhammad SAW when he reaches Medina was to built a mosque, secondly to construct the market and thirdly to marry off the Muhajiran people with the Ansar people. I pondered why our Prophet Muhammad SAW gave priorities to these three things. Now, if we studied and do a bit of research, and observation around us and in the Islamic countries, I felt that we can find the answers. The conclusion of these three activities are very clear to me. The mosque is the learning centre or university. The market is the centre of economic activity. Whereas the marriage between the Muhajirin and the Ansar is a reflection of the unity and sanctity amongst the Muslim world.
Knowledge, Economy and Unity
Look at the Muslims now, be it in our country, more so in other Islamic countries like Indonesia, Africa, Bangladesh, The Khmer Republic and other parts of the world. In the relative sense, the Muslims are way behind in the field of knowledge, economy and in aspects of harmonious and unity of the Ummah.
The University
Why did the first thing Prophet Muhammad SAW did was to built the mosque?. This is because Prophet SAW, placed the securing of knowledge as the climax to what the Muslims needed. To me the mosque is actually the university, the place to enable the Muslims to teach and acquire various knowledge. At the height of the Islamic glorific era and after many achievements in the field of mathematics, philosophy, religion, medicine, physics, astronomy, geography, and various knowledge relating to livelihood, bit by bit, the excellence era start to deteriorate. Now, look at what has happened to the Muslims? We are way behind in many fields of knowledge and technology. If the Nobel prize can be the yardstick in the field of knowledge, then the Jewish people win hands down. There are around 16 million Jews world over and yet 180 of them have won the Nobel prize to date. As opposed to more than 1.8 billion Muslims throughout the world, only 4 Muslims received the Nobel prize to date.
The Economy
In the field of economy, we need not comment further as comparatively, the Muslims are way behind than the rest of the world’s population. In our country, the equity ownership in the corporate sector for example is not even 20% in the hands of the Muslims. In my previous blogs, many of these issues have been elaborated and discussed. In Indonesia, the biggest Islamic country in the world with more than 250 million Muslims, not even 20% of the country’s wealth belonged to the Muslims. Why did Prophet Muhammad SAW after building the mosque or university, created the market as the Prophet SAW’s second priority? The answer is very clear as the Prophet SAW wanted the educated Muslims to also succeed in the field of economy. The Prophet SAW realized that economy, wealth and assets are important in expanding the Islamic religion. The Prophet SAW encourages the Muslims to be successful and wealthy only after they have gained adequate knowledge, taqwa and iman. The Prophet SAW wanted his Ummah to become millionaires but millionaires with adequate iman and taqwa. With these two strong belief, the Muslims will possess the strength that are feared by the people from the other faith.
The Unity
Is knowledge and wealth sufficient? No, and that is why the third issue expedited by the Prophet SAW is to marry off the Muhajirin with the Ansar. The Prophet SAW saw clearly the unity among these two groups is the pre conditioned to success and development introduced by the Prophet SAW. Only unity and sanctity can increase the strength of the Ummah. The strength of this unity is not only strengthening the resources of the Muslims to face and fight the enemies but it is also important for the Muslims to increase various aspects of their daily lives. For instance, to practice Islam as a way of life, to enhance the Islamic governing system in order to prepare and make the Islamic governing system as the leader to everybody regardless of religion. As the leader, the Muslims need to show and demonstrate excellence in various aspects of life. Now, not only do we see the Arab world fighting with each other, but the Muslims in this country are also not united. If among us, we are not united, hated each other, back stabbing and showing the others their weaknesses, what is the rationale to becoming leaders to all races or nation. Can the other nation emulate, respect and look up to us? Can the other nation look upon us as their leaders? These facts need to be studied especially by our Muslim leaders i.e. if we want the glorific era to come back. A formula to unite the Ummahs need to be derived. This formula has to be inclusive and covers every group of people and not just one or two groups only. When all Muslims are united, then it is easy to unite the other communities. When all of us are united, then other people will offer themselves to be with us. They will adjust themselves to fit with us. Same goes for the Jews, the Christians during the Prophet’s SAW era. The Prophet SAW was able to unite them by strengthening the Muslims. The Jews and the Christians had to adjust and assimilate themselves with the Muslims.
The hijrah is not only one historical episode. The philosophy, concept and what can be learned from this episode is important to follow, understand, and practiced as a sunnah for us and the future Islamic generation. InsyaAllah, based on our realisation, excellence and experience the Muslims can be recreated based on the spirit of hijrah.What we need to have is the drive to think big dream high and have a strong heart.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Think Big Dream High-E9-Be Positive
Life’s routine
I am from the village. As a villager, I do not bother much about the things that happen around me. Suffice there be sufficient food on the table, adequate fixed income to support my family, a car for our transportation needs, a comfortable house equipped with all the necessary electrical equipments. In the evenings, I gather with friends. At night I go to the mosque, studied the yellow kitab with the Imam. Back home, my wife a convert, is very strict in supervising my children’s school work and studies. Back from the mosque, I spent quality time with the family, look at the TV channels that interest me especially the news and sports. Most of the news are covered with pictures of the country’s leaders giving speeches or I turn to watch any interesting sports program and then to sleep. My wife continues to watch her favourite Korean drama or film, whilst waiting for my children to finish their studies. That is largely my family’s routine. Sometimes I wonder, life cannot be that simple. Allah made me a Khalifah. It cannot be that simple for me to ensure that I go to heaven later.
The negative news
Are all those speeches telecast on TV and print media telling the truth? Do we have to accept it without question? Almost all media headlines are featuring negative information on the local and international communities. A lot of news on divorce cases, wars, murders, shooting, nuclear weapons, the destroyed environment, landslide, flood,fire, earthquakes, drugs, accidents, mud slinging the opposite parties, bad mouthing personalities that are not on the same wave length with us, Islamic uprising, Israeli violence, terrorism, dumping illegitimate babies, court rulings on murders, punishment for anal intercourse, police shooting the adolescence and many more negative news if we want to list down. Most of them are negative, and negative only. These are the news we are forced to accept, our wives and children have to accept, every hour of the day regardless of night, day or evening.
The hidden teaching blunder
Happy news, motivation, wealth, millionaires, love and affection, good ethics and behavior, caring, beauty, harmony, happiness, unity, peace, success are also featured but not as headlines. It is indeed included in the newspaper segments. The public is largely exposed to a lot of negative news rather than the positive ones. In order for their media news or network to be sold or subscribed, the media owners are of the opinion that sensational news need to be highlighted or potrayed. Actually they are the ones teaching the public to behave and thinking that way. Eversince, it has been rooted in the minds of the readers to be attracted to negative news. Positive things are not highlighted as it is not interesting. Politicians choosing a TV personality as second wife seemed uninteresting but when written in a provocative manner it became sensational. Thus it deserves to be in the front page. Such news are considered sensational in comparison to news about a 15 year old girl, becoming a millionaire by developing and selling software at the silicon valley which is considered not so glamorous. That is the real fact. We are being exposed daily to negative news. Without realizing it, our media have their own hidden agenda to ruin our generations. To indoctrinate the negative elements in our new generation minds,
Complementing with negativity
As a result of the large exposure to negative news, the public in general became a negative community. From a very young age and in school days, we have been fed with negative news. Our minds have been programmed to be sensitive to negative things. When we grow up and become leaders, ministers, reporters, journalists, novel authors, film directors, engineers ,doctors, script writer, drama producers, chief executives, managing directors, teachers, accountants, like it or not , we continued and contributed towards adopting this negative culture. The drama and films that we produced have negative themes, the news and speeches have negative themes. Our discussions when loafing around revolves around negative things. The whole community became comfortable with negative issues, became complacent with negative things. We don’t feel anything about negative things. We can accept the negative things. We don’t feel guilty about negative things. The negative outlook has become our culture, the norm and no longer a taboo to us anymore. It has not turn into something that is unacceptable anymore. The fact is we can already accept negative things. When we talk we use the word ‘No, No, No’ more and less of ‘Yes, Yes, Yes’. We use more ‘You Can’t’ and less of ‘You Can’. Eventhough our tagline is “We Can” but our practices are the other way round.
What can we do?
As a villager and a Khalifah of Allah,what can we do?
1.We need to be good and become experts in whatever career we are in. Let us be experts in our career. With our expertise, we can make judgements on the negative and positive issues confronting us. With the skill and knowledge of our career that we have mastered, we will be matured enough to put aside all negative issues in our career and our life.
2.We need to increase our knowledge, through reading, listening motivational talks, attending courses and religious classes and visits. Reading becomes cheap now because of the internet. No need to buy many books. In using the internet, we need to be expert in choosing our reference materials, it needs censorship. With the knowledge that we have, we will be guided in making our choice, which one is positive and which one is negative. With knowledge, we become more critical, we become more analytical. We will not accept blindly what we read in the papers and while watching TV.
3.We can become more innovative and creative. We need to ask a lot of questions. We need to ask ourselves on any issues in front of us.Those who are creative and innovative, practice lateral thinking and thinking out of the box or by the side of the box. We no longer think in normalcy or routinely. By getting used to thinking openly, it will not be easy for us to be influenced by negative issues. We are much more smarter in pushing away all negative influences in our daily lives, InsyaAllah.
4.We must carry our responsibilities to motivate, communicate and reach our people with our experiences, knowledge, skill and the truth.We want all of us to be positive and successful in our way of life. We want our people to be able to filter and avoid all kind of negativities. In order for us to be positive at all times, we need always to think big dream high and have a strong heart.
5.We need always to pray so that we, our family, our friends and our community will be protected and blessed by Allah SWT here and the hereinafter, InsyaAllah. I strongly believe,as our country is moving very fast towards becoming a fully developed nation soon, our way of thinking and consideration will also change positively.Our people will be relying more on facts and figures, the truth, the reality, performance and track records in making their wise decisions rather then merely on the beautiful slogans.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Think Big Dream High-E8 – Things that are within our control
Change has to be for the better
I came from the village. As a villager, I often used the “back to basic” approach in whatever actions, be it way of thinking or basis of judgement in making decisions. The world is fast changing and it should remain that way. Our country has changed.My countrymen too have changed a lot.From time to time we changed,to the extent more often than not we changed not for the better.The changes we make sometimes affect our religion, our education, our social life, our way of life and our politics. In general when changes happen we hope these changes will be for the better and is positive for ourselves,our families and our communities.We want something that is good for our religion, our education, our social life, our lives and our politics.
The Win Win Formula
The question that comes to mind which sometimes disturb my thoughts and feelings is how the politicians make decisions for our beloved country. The politicians are those who are in power or in the opposition. Their policies are based on formulas to win the hearts of every communities in this country to the extent there will be some who are not satisfied. We want a win-win situation, we want the best for us. In arriving at this formula, there must surely be those that who are affected.At times, it can be irritating. Since our countrymen are the ones in power, there are sacrifices that we have to make to derive the win-win formula. We are hoping that all the formulas are for our benefit only.
We must face the fact that in a multiracial society, we cannot hope that all the formulas are for the benefit of our countrymen only. This may not happen. Our leaders will derive formulas that can win the hearts of every single member of the multiracial population. This is logical and should be done by our leaders. We cannot do anything about this. Personally it is beyond our control. The real owners of these issues are the politicians.We cannot make the decisions,the people in power are the ones that should make the decision. Our involvement will be when we cast our votes during the election. We can use our vote to choose the candidate that we favour.The best candidate that care for our welfare,our interests,our economy and our religion.These are our basic rights.
Back to Basics
What then must we do? Nothing else but go back to the beginning of the road. We must use the back to basic approach. The approach that we ourselves can use to control our decisions. We are the ones that can control our environment, our children and our families. As an example,as parents, we need to make sure that our children obtained all As in all subjects in their school exams. Ensure that at the university level, our children enrolled in engineering, medicine,law or accounting courses. We need to flood the job market with engineers,doctors,lawyers,or accountants,from our countrymen. These engineers,doctors,lawyers and accountants at one stage will be very successful as world class professionals,hightech entrepreneurs,technopreneurs,corporate figures or even the respectful politicians and leaders.We train them not only to become world class professionals but at the same time strengthened them with iman and taqwa.
Decisions within our control
This means we,our children and those within our control need to always work hard.Other people are not affected by the decisions we made for our children to be successful and happy.The decisions are 100% in our hands. Not in the politicians’ hands. Therefore as a villager, I urge that we pledge to work hard to be successful in our studies,careers or in our businesses. So that our wives are successful in their careers. So that our children are successful in their studies.If we have 5 children,one must be an engineer,one doctor,one lawyer and two accountants.So that all our family members are successful as a professional in their chosen careers.So that in our families we work together to increase our efforts in alleviating our assets,wealth,iman and taqwa.So that we pray,munajat,hope,tawakal and resigned ourselves to Allah SWT.Only Allah SWT have the right to bestow happiness to us in this world and hereinafter,InsyaAllah.
The International Standards KPI
Let the politicians derive their win-win formulas. We need to do our win-win formula ourselves. Our win-win formula is the formula for our family to be successful in this world and hereinafter. This is within our control. We need to maximize what we can do for us to be successful.When we are successful, become rich, excel, our families are well known, the politicians will come running to us. At that time, they will respect, become closer and look up to us. We receive them in good faith, and bless be to Allah. Hopefully, they will use our approach in their political channels when providing motivation and awareness talks to all our countrymen to emulate us. So that our success become a KPI, a standard that can be followed. If this happens, then our whole communities will be successful. Our country will be successful and our countrymen will remain in control of our wealth and respected. Our leadership will not be questioned since our countrymen are at the top and always achieving their KPI. Using standards which relies on merit alone. KPI that is at par with the international standards. Not the village KPI eventhough I am a villager. In order to achieve this world class KPI we need to think big dream high and have a strong heart at all times.
Monday, June 04, 2012
Think Big Dream High,E-7 – Have My Countrymen Changed 200% in the last 30 Years ?
Change
I am from the village. For more than 30 years now I have not resided in the village.Eventhough I am residing in the city,I am still a villager at heart. I still think about the village, the villagers, about my friends and schoolmates from the village during my younger days. Once in a while, I go back to the village to meet my old friends, their families and children.
Physically, my village has changed. The roads are no longer murky and muddy. Children go to school riding their bicycles or sent by their mother or father using motorcycle or car. The villagers houses too have changed from a thatched roof to tiles or ardex or zinc. Children do not go to school barefooted anymore. In 30 years time there appears to be obvious changes physically.
Thirty years is a long period of time. For a country, the situation now compared to 30 years ago is a long period of time. The country’s economy has changed a lot. During the 70’s or early 80’s our country does not have big factories, no highways, no high rise buildings, no modern shopping complexes, no LRT, ERL, Monorail, MRT, very few cars on the roads, no private TV stations and not many TV channels can be watched. In general, our economy expanded nearly 200% in 30 years.The per capital income has increased to about USD10,000.
The country expanded 200% but does my villagers way of life also expanded 200% in 30 years?. Does my villagers that are part of my countrymen developed as fast as that? If previously, my countrymen sells vegetables, fruits or traditional cakes at the market or towns, are their children turning into successful entrepreneurs or respectable businessmen?. If previously most of my countrymen were farmers , labourers, police and soldiers, are their children turning into successful accountants, lawyers, doctors or managers with five or six figure salaries? Indeed, there are some who are successful. Why not?. If the country expanded 200% surely my countrymen too have developed and improved themselves.
Which communities change more?
The question is which communities benefited from the country’s development activities. There is no need to do any research nor look at the statistics about my countrymen’s development. Roughly, it can be said that my countrymen is still living the way they lived 30 years before, Their way of thinking, communicating and attitude have not changed much. In comparison to the country’s economy, the economic development rate of my countrymen cannot be seen clearly.
The country’s development can be seen with our eyes. It is only my countrymen’s economic development that cannot be seen clearly with our eyes. What is obvious is the change from a house with thatched roof to a house with tiles roof, a house with bamboo walls to a house with wooden or half concrete walls. From walking to cycling to school. From cycling to riding motorcycles. From motorcycle to driving a Kancil,Myvy, Proton Waja or Wira secondhand car. Those that are earning a fixed income like clerks, officers, or teachers can afford to own a new Kancil,Myvy, Wira or Waja. From using the sarong to long pants or branded jeans. But where do they purchased the branded jeans?. Obviously not from the five star shopping complexes but from the bundle shops. It is true, all these are changes. These changes are healthy and encouraging. My countrymen have indeed changed a lot. The question now is the level of changes that happens.The non-muslim communities too have changed. The changes that happened to the non-muslim communities are different. They changed from a wooden house with zinc roof to a bungalow house or luxury condos. They changed from using bicycle to driving a Mercedes Benz or Bently. In fact, many owned private jets.
The changes experienced by them are fast and multiplying. Their wealth multiplies.Their numbers are small but majority of the country’s wealth belonged to them.They are in the 20% super rich group and controlling the other 80% wealth of the nation. Why does this happened. It is because their rate of change is not one time but thousands and millions of times. Their rate of change is more then 1000% compared to our countrymen’s change of about 30%. This still make the whole country on average changed 200%.
Previously, they were scrapped steels vendor, now they are owners of steel mills. From a garbage collector to owner of factories. From a mechanic to owner of a repair and spare parts chain shops that are worth millions of ringgit. From a salesmen to owner of supermarkets. From laborers to big contractors. From a factory worker to become the bosses. From hawkers to manufacturers. From real estate managers to owners of real estate companies that are listed on the main board of stock exchange. From the consumers of electrical tariffs to owners of Indipendent Power Plants(IPP) that are earning millions of dollars in a day. From a TV audience to owners of TV stations that offers more than 100 channels.From a handphone user to the owner of the largest telephone company in the region.
Disparity still exists
During the previous school holidays, my family went back to our village. The villagers are very comfortable with their lives. I went back home twice or three times in a year but my village communities year after year remained the same. There are no shocking news except generation after generation have left the village. No such news that says their children have open up a factory, purchased a shopping complex in the city, expand their multi-million dollar housing projects, or news of their children becoming CEO of a listed corporation on the Stock Exchange or their children went back to the village using their own helicopter. No such sensational news as this are heard in my village.
Exponential changes
As I mentioned before, my village have changed so have the villagers. Is that the kind of change that I want to see happening to my countrymen?The water from the spring eventhough not diverted will still reached the cove one day. My countrymen too as time passes by will also changed. Is it sufficient? Or will this guarantee that my countrymen will not be left behind. The changes that happens with time is unavoidable. It flows like the stream from its origin to the cove. It does not make my countrymen advanced in comparison to the other communities. The changes that are required by my countrymen if they want to be at par with the non Muslims must be exceptional, must be exponential. Not just normal changes. The changes that need to be made must be multiple and not just any change.
If during the younger days work as a mechanic, when older owned a chain of repair shops. The father works in the stalls, the children owned factories. Father is a teacher, the children opened their own private hospitals. Father is a soldier, the children owned shopping complexes. This is what you called exceptional changes, exponential changes. The changes in multiples. My villagers need these kind of changes, the changes that will bring progress to the mind of my people, the changes that will bring up the social status of my people. In order to achieve this, we need to change not just 200% in 30 years but change 1000% 10 years down the road.This exponential change will require my countrymen to start to think big dream high and have a strong heart,or otherwise we will continue to remain below par.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Think Big Dream High,E6- I am a Tree with Four Main Roots
Being Too Comfortable
I am from the village. As a villager I am used to the many ways of village life. The most obvious is,my strong belief in my religion that taught me life’s discipline and good morale behavior. Being religious,simple, caring, cooperative, trustworthy and warmth in various aspects of life apart from carrying out the religious wajib and sunnah duties.
Due to the long period of time residing in the city, I found that the positive aspects as described above are slowly fading from my countrymen’s daily rituals. We are too tied up with the western way of life. We have become more individualistic, more egoistic, more me, me, me,and you, you,you,less we,we,we,or us,us,us not bothering about other people, and focusing more on one’s success and excellence. What happened to our friends and our societies we are not bothered. The Ibadat wajib and sunnah is considered more of cultural than religious duties that must be carried out.
I felt that eventhough my countrymen have changed a lot, I still feel that we, our countrymen are not as great as the non Muslims. Eventhough we imitate the western way of living, we are still at the old helm in comparison.
The tree without fertilizer
My countrymen, our economic and political position is very fragile. As fragile as the tree without the fertilizer. It will shrink, if it continues without any fertilizer. It will not produce many good quality fruits and offsprings. To live, this tree must have strong roots to absorb the good fertilizer. Better still, let the main root be more than one i.e. four so that it can sprawl and grip the four corners of the world and absorbed the good fertilizer from every corners. I am confident that this tree will become healthier, stronger, resilient and continue to produce offsprings in the form of trees that are fresh, resilient and strong in multiples. Neither wind nor other strong force can destabilize this tree again.We need fertilizer for these trees so that these trees will grow and strengthen with four main roots.
We Just Cannot Wait Any Longer
In reality, my countrymen, it is still not too late. We actually have a lot of strengths. We still have the numbers. Our purchasing power is strong. Eventhough we are way behind in business but we are strong in the salaried sector. This strengthen our purchasing power.
The non Muslims became rich and famous in this country are actually due to the strong support from my countrymen. My countrymen are the ones making them rich and wealthy. My countrymen are the ones buying goods from their shops. My countrymen are the ones working in their shops or factories, My countrymen are the distributors,dealers, stockists, or downliners in their trading or marketing businesses.My countrymen are the ones serving in franchised outlets with a warm smile on their faces where the owners are the non Muslims. My countrymen are the ones obtaining the permits or licenses that are eventually sold, mortgaged or rented out to the non Muslims who in the process become richer than my countrymen. My countrymen are the ones getting the government contracts sold at lesser profits to the non Muslims who eventually are the ones benefitting out of it.
There are many more examples that demonstrates the fact that my countrymen in reality have many strengths and specialties. We are special, we are strong, we have many opportunities, we have the support, we have the assistance. Other people, other communities don’t enjoy all this. In actual fact they are clinging to us. In reality, before this they were parasites, but now we are the ones pleading and clinging on to them. We have everything, but they are the ones enjoying all the benefits. They are the minority but the majority of the wealth and assets in my country belonged to them.
My countrymen, it is still not too late. We cannot wait any further to take action to strengthen our economy, our financials and our wealth. We have everything, let us start now and reap the benefits. We have the strengths. Let us utilize all our strengths to strengthen our countrymen’s economy.
Move forward With A New Vision
InsyaAllah, we are awake now. We will go back and reflect upon where we come from. It is still not too late. We uphold and assumed back all our normal ways. We scrapped off all the western influences. We close rank and move forward with a new mission and vision. We are a great statesmen. We need not practice what we took from the western world as it is actually making us indifferent, making us comfortable and making us drift far apart from our strengths which is our beloved religion. From now on, nobody can stop us from being successful in this world and hereinafter. We will make sure the tree that grows will have four main roots.
Praying For Our Friends And For Ourselves
My countrymen, we need to cooperate, we need to work together, we need to pray for ourselves, for our friends. We need to be honest with ourselves, our friends and our countrymen. We do not wish to work hard to enrich only the other communities. We need to be responsible towards our countrymen. We will make our countrymen successful, our countrymen rich, our countrymen wealthy. We have helped other communities become successful. It is time now to help our own countrymen. Strengthen our position in all aspects be it economy, social or politics.Ensure that our family, our friends, our neighbours, and our society are all successful and become rich. This is our promise and aim. We are not daydreaming anymore. From now, we need to strengthen our main roots. Not one root but four main roots. We want our roots to sprawl afar and aggressively absorb the good fertilizer from the four corners of the world so that the tree with the four main roots, cannot be uprooted anymore no matter how strong the wind blows. We will do it and we will not postponed it anymore. We have do it right now.We have to think big dream high and have a strong heart.
I am from the village. As a villager I am used to the many ways of village life. The most obvious is,my strong belief in my religion that taught me life’s discipline and good morale behavior. Being religious,simple, caring, cooperative, trustworthy and warmth in various aspects of life apart from carrying out the religious wajib and sunnah duties.
Due to the long period of time residing in the city, I found that the positive aspects as described above are slowly fading from my countrymen’s daily rituals. We are too tied up with the western way of life. We have become more individualistic, more egoistic, more me, me, me,and you, you,you,less we,we,we,or us,us,us not bothering about other people, and focusing more on one’s success and excellence. What happened to our friends and our societies we are not bothered. The Ibadat wajib and sunnah is considered more of cultural than religious duties that must be carried out.
I felt that eventhough my countrymen have changed a lot, I still feel that we, our countrymen are not as great as the non Muslims. Eventhough we imitate the western way of living, we are still at the old helm in comparison.
The tree without fertilizer
My countrymen, our economic and political position is very fragile. As fragile as the tree without the fertilizer. It will shrink, if it continues without any fertilizer. It will not produce many good quality fruits and offsprings. To live, this tree must have strong roots to absorb the good fertilizer. Better still, let the main root be more than one i.e. four so that it can sprawl and grip the four corners of the world and absorbed the good fertilizer from every corners. I am confident that this tree will become healthier, stronger, resilient and continue to produce offsprings in the form of trees that are fresh, resilient and strong in multiples. Neither wind nor other strong force can destabilize this tree again.We need fertilizer for these trees so that these trees will grow and strengthen with four main roots.
We Just Cannot Wait Any Longer
In reality, my countrymen, it is still not too late. We actually have a lot of strengths. We still have the numbers. Our purchasing power is strong. Eventhough we are way behind in business but we are strong in the salaried sector. This strengthen our purchasing power.
The non Muslims became rich and famous in this country are actually due to the strong support from my countrymen. My countrymen are the ones making them rich and wealthy. My countrymen are the ones buying goods from their shops. My countrymen are the ones working in their shops or factories, My countrymen are the distributors,dealers, stockists, or downliners in their trading or marketing businesses.My countrymen are the ones serving in franchised outlets with a warm smile on their faces where the owners are the non Muslims. My countrymen are the ones obtaining the permits or licenses that are eventually sold, mortgaged or rented out to the non Muslims who in the process become richer than my countrymen. My countrymen are the ones getting the government contracts sold at lesser profits to the non Muslims who eventually are the ones benefitting out of it.
There are many more examples that demonstrates the fact that my countrymen in reality have many strengths and specialties. We are special, we are strong, we have many opportunities, we have the support, we have the assistance. Other people, other communities don’t enjoy all this. In actual fact they are clinging to us. In reality, before this they were parasites, but now we are the ones pleading and clinging on to them. We have everything, but they are the ones enjoying all the benefits. They are the minority but the majority of the wealth and assets in my country belonged to them.
My countrymen, it is still not too late. We cannot wait any further to take action to strengthen our economy, our financials and our wealth. We have everything, let us start now and reap the benefits. We have the strengths. Let us utilize all our strengths to strengthen our countrymen’s economy.
Move forward With A New Vision
InsyaAllah, we are awake now. We will go back and reflect upon where we come from. It is still not too late. We uphold and assumed back all our normal ways. We scrapped off all the western influences. We close rank and move forward with a new mission and vision. We are a great statesmen. We need not practice what we took from the western world as it is actually making us indifferent, making us comfortable and making us drift far apart from our strengths which is our beloved religion. From now on, nobody can stop us from being successful in this world and hereinafter. We will make sure the tree that grows will have four main roots.
Praying For Our Friends And For Ourselves
My countrymen, we need to cooperate, we need to work together, we need to pray for ourselves, for our friends. We need to be honest with ourselves, our friends and our countrymen. We do not wish to work hard to enrich only the other communities. We need to be responsible towards our countrymen. We will make our countrymen successful, our countrymen rich, our countrymen wealthy. We have helped other communities become successful. It is time now to help our own countrymen. Strengthen our position in all aspects be it economy, social or politics.Ensure that our family, our friends, our neighbours, and our society are all successful and become rich. This is our promise and aim. We are not daydreaming anymore. From now, we need to strengthen our main roots. Not one root but four main roots. We want our roots to sprawl afar and aggressively absorb the good fertilizer from the four corners of the world so that the tree with the four main roots, cannot be uprooted anymore no matter how strong the wind blows. We will do it and we will not postponed it anymore. We have do it right now.We have to think big dream high and have a strong heart.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Think Big Dream High,E 5-Be Smart and Copy The Good Stuff
Copying
I am from the village. As a villager when I came to town, I received many surprises. The environment in the village when compared to the city is by far very different. Physically, the village is far different from the city. From the livelihood aspects, the village is far different from the city. From the social aspects, the village is far different from the city. From the economic aspects, the village is far different from the city.
From my experience and observation, it is easy for my countrymen,especially the youth group to copy. It is easy for them to copy the city’s lifestyle. It is easy for them to copy the social life in the city. It is easy for them to copy the daily activities of the city folks. There is only one thing my countrymen is not good at copying. This one thing is very difficult for my countrymen to copy. My countrymen is not good at copying how the city folks make money, the ways the city folks accumulate assets, the ways the city folks accumulate wealth and the ways the city folks enjoy and double their wealth. These are the things my countrymen are slow to understand, to copy and to follow.
Copying the negative elements
It is easy for my countrymen to copy to be good singers, it is easy for my countrymen to go clubbing, it is easy for my countrymen to copy, to loaf around, chit chatting at the coffee shops until early hours of the morning. Not caring whether it’s Maghrib, Isyak or Subuh prayer times. My countrymen is also good at following the footsteps of the Non Muslims by living together with their partners of the opposite sex. My countrymen are also addicted to drugs. My countrymen are also not praying 5 times a day. My countrymen are also not fasting during the Ramadhan fasting month. My countrymen are also good at aborting their babies and throwing their illegitimate babies near mosques.
From Islamic perspectives, the things that my countrymen are good and keen to copy are the forbidden acts. But why is it easy for my countrymen to break these code of conduct?.
From Islamic perspectives, efforts to raise one’s economic wellbeing is encouraged. But why is it things that are encouraged to be done become a difficult thing for my countrymen to follow.
Reality TV programs and entertainment contests organized by the private TV stations or that owned by the government are the ones my countrymen look forward to. Any entertainment programs held in cities throughout the country, will be followed and watched closely by thousands or millions of my countrymen. It looks as if life is just one ball game. Should there be any public holidays, public parks will be flocked by the youth group of my countrymen. They don’t care whether its time for Zohor, Asar, Maghrib, Ishak or Subuh prayers. They no longer feel restricted by the prayer times. They don’t feel guilty not praying. It looks as if they are not respectful of Allah Subhana Wata’ala. Being scared of Allah Subhana Wata’ala is no longer in the minds of my countrymen. What comes to their minds is only enjoyment and to unleash their lust.
Just Negligence
It is not a priority for my countrymen to bother about the economic situations. It is not a priority for my countrymen to bother about the level of educational achievement by their cildren. It is not necessary for my countrymen to worry about the level of economic achievement 20 or 30 years from now. Leave it to those generations at that time to solve it by themselves. Now I want to enjoy, I want to be free, I want to be happy. Let others worry about the economic situation of my countrymen, let others worry about the poor educational achievement of my countrymen, let others worry about the social problems of my countrymen, let others worry about the political issues of my countrymen. Let the political masters worry about all this. My countrymen need only to think, tonite I want to enjoy, tomorrow life goes on, be it working at the factory or office, tomorrow nite I will join the motor race, the next day work again, come evening gather and loaf with friends. Weekends, I will join the motorcycle convoy with my girlfriend and spent the nite at the beach front. This is heaven to me.
My countrymen is not interested and does not bother to find out why, the non Muslims are getting richer, the non Muslims are accumulating assets, the non Muslims are controlling the corporate sectors, the non Muslims are controlling the industrial sectors, the non Muslims are controlling the commercial sectors, the non Muslims are controlling the import export business, the non Muslims are the one’s becoming wealthier. It does not cross our minds to be involved in the import export business. It does not cross our minds to be successful in the commercial and e-commerce business, to be successful in the import export business for example.
Be responsible
My countrymen, we come from the village. Go and reflect upon where we come from. Life is not as simple as we thought. Life is not as easy as we dream of. We have responsibilities. Life is about sacrifices. Life is about working hard, life is about working together hand in hand. Life requires financial and economic strength. Life requires mental, emotional and spiritual strength. Life is about meritocracy, competition. KPIs and struggle. Life requires preparation for us to live hereinafter. Life requires wealth in this world and wealth hereinafter. Be prepared. Act now and do something worthwhile to ensure happiness in the both worlds. Look beyond your inner self, not just whet your appetite.Be a good citizen with a clear vision and mission to succeed.Be a good citizen with a strong heart to think big and dream high not only for ourselves but also for the sake of our future generations.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Think Big Dream High,E4- Running a Business is our Main Career Choice
The Norm
I came from the village. As someone from the village the first thing that come to mind when I finished schooling is to work for the government. This is the normal choice for a villager. One must work hard, gain entrance into the university and work for the government. Eventhough not working with the government one must work to earn a living. The fact remains, obtain a good qualification and work for a living. We received a fixed monthly income when working and a monthly pension when we retire.Receiving the assured and fixed monthly income is actually the motivating factor for majority of us to choose working with the government rather then working for ourselves as a business person.
The situation now has changed, and we cannot rely solely on working with the government. We cannot all the time afford to just work for a living. We need to have a few career choices, that can increase our income and economy the halal and blessed way. Never mind if it is working with the government or private sector , running a business or working on your own. What we need is to strive hard to achieve success. What we need is find ways and opportunities how to increase or multiple our income besides the normal working hours.Having a single career is just earning a living which only enough to support our daily expenses.Our income is zerorised at every end of the month.We must find ways to do business.Initially it maybe on part time basis.But it is ok as long as we can earn the exra income.
Multiple your assets
We need to make sure that we have excess income. By having excess income allows us to have savings. We can keep the excess income in the form of unit trusts, buy jewelries, gold coins or buy gold bars and not to touch those investments. If we have enough, try to purchase land or landed property. Land is the best form of asset. I am very certain, InsyaAllah the value of all these investment will appreciate one day.
We need to accumulate our assets now. Don’t be fooled by our desires to purchase a new car, new furniture etc. Avoid getting into debts to purchase wealth. The fact is that we will not be wealthy if we are in debt. We can be in debt but incur the debt for our business sake that can surely provide us with the multiple income. Curtailed our egos and desires as both will stop us from changing and migrating towards success.
Start Doing Business
Please remember,generally non-Muslim communities are getting stronger economically.This means that doing business will provide you more lucrative income.It may not be assured and fixed,on monthly basis,but it definitely will be more on annual basis.
We need to start by increasing our savings and accumulating our assets.This is only possible through business.We need to accumulate our assets in order to protect our heritage and countrymen for the future.Our economy and politics are very fragile.Money can buy politics and countrymen.Without money and wealth at our disposal,other people will buy our politics and countrymen.This has already happened today.It is happening now,right in front of our eyes.
In the future,the economy will focus more on human capital development, state of the art technology and the services sector.These sectors have a high growth potential especially those relating to green and energy savings technology,marketing,trading,branding,finishing,packaging,franchising,biotech,ICT,financial services,agriculture that have a high value added, and becoming less and less emphasis on manufacturing sector.We cannot afford to loose these opportunities. Before, in the manufacturing sector we were not prepared and opportunities were lost. We cannot be unprepared all the time. We must be ready with multi skills and professionalism.We must grab these opportunities now.Please donot miss it again this time around!
The culture of Waiting for The Government Assistances
The government has on many occasions assisted us. This time around, the government may still be making plans and policies just to assist us. Please do not waste time to wait for these assistances anymore but rather quickly identify and grab any available opportunities.We have the strengths in the form of skilled workforce, the number of workforce, number of consumers and the purchasing power.These are actually the most importance assets for us to work with and rely upon.These are the main ingredients for the success in business.Combination of all these strengths will make things more easier for us to excel,especially in these new sectors.
We have various sources and facilities. Don’t waste all these resources.Together and in groups we are actually strong. Just look at the handphone market for example, every one of us own a handphone. The number of SMSs spent, shoppers at shopping complexes, most of them are our countrymen and our children. Don’t just be consumers that enriches the other communities.We are the ones responsible to enrich the owners of these businesses that majority belong to non-muslim .We can do it if we harness and pool our energy and resources, and not be divided by political sentiments that are too strong but immature.Donot just sit down and wait for the government to assist us anymore.Wake up and start something on our own strengths and capabilities.Identify and secure opportunities and take risks.
Prosper by doing business
Start now to familiarize ourselves with the business world. The doors are wide open in the sectors mentioned above. Eventhough starting on a small scale, with sheer dedication and commitment we can succeed.Start by having your own business eventhough its home based. Remember that 9 out of 10 sources of wealth is from businesses.This should be our stand and not 100% relying on a fixed monthly salary alone.
Now is the time for us to help each other.Marketing,franchising,direct selling, trading and retailing for example attracts more than 80% of our countrymen as its workers and consumers.In the pursuit of wealth,many among our countrymen have been cheated for instance through the get rich quick scheme. Our desires to become rich quickly is non stoppable and as a result we are often being cheated. We cannot be cheated and laid back all the time. We need to put in the effort using our energy and intelligence to pursue our own dream to become successful and rich through businesses.
In business we need support,cooperation and networks.Please help each other my countrymen as this is genuine and asked in Islam. We are responsible to what is being inherited by our future generation. The success and excellence of our future generation depended very much on our actions and decisions made now.
Do involve ourselves in businesses my countrymen for the sake of our future generation.We must at all time think big dream high and have a strong heart to take the risks.
I came from the village. As someone from the village the first thing that come to mind when I finished schooling is to work for the government. This is the normal choice for a villager. One must work hard, gain entrance into the university and work for the government. Eventhough not working with the government one must work to earn a living. The fact remains, obtain a good qualification and work for a living. We received a fixed monthly income when working and a monthly pension when we retire.Receiving the assured and fixed monthly income is actually the motivating factor for majority of us to choose working with the government rather then working for ourselves as a business person.
The situation now has changed, and we cannot rely solely on working with the government. We cannot all the time afford to just work for a living. We need to have a few career choices, that can increase our income and economy the halal and blessed way. Never mind if it is working with the government or private sector , running a business or working on your own. What we need is to strive hard to achieve success. What we need is find ways and opportunities how to increase or multiple our income besides the normal working hours.Having a single career is just earning a living which only enough to support our daily expenses.Our income is zerorised at every end of the month.We must find ways to do business.Initially it maybe on part time basis.But it is ok as long as we can earn the exra income.
Multiple your assets
We need to make sure that we have excess income. By having excess income allows us to have savings. We can keep the excess income in the form of unit trusts, buy jewelries, gold coins or buy gold bars and not to touch those investments. If we have enough, try to purchase land or landed property. Land is the best form of asset. I am very certain, InsyaAllah the value of all these investment will appreciate one day.
We need to accumulate our assets now. Don’t be fooled by our desires to purchase a new car, new furniture etc. Avoid getting into debts to purchase wealth. The fact is that we will not be wealthy if we are in debt. We can be in debt but incur the debt for our business sake that can surely provide us with the multiple income. Curtailed our egos and desires as both will stop us from changing and migrating towards success.
Start Doing Business
Please remember,generally non-Muslim communities are getting stronger economically.This means that doing business will provide you more lucrative income.It may not be assured and fixed,on monthly basis,but it definitely will be more on annual basis.
We need to start by increasing our savings and accumulating our assets.This is only possible through business.We need to accumulate our assets in order to protect our heritage and countrymen for the future.Our economy and politics are very fragile.Money can buy politics and countrymen.Without money and wealth at our disposal,other people will buy our politics and countrymen.This has already happened today.It is happening now,right in front of our eyes.
In the future,the economy will focus more on human capital development, state of the art technology and the services sector.These sectors have a high growth potential especially those relating to green and energy savings technology,marketing,trading,branding,finishing,packaging,franchising,biotech,ICT,financial services,agriculture that have a high value added, and becoming less and less emphasis on manufacturing sector.We cannot afford to loose these opportunities. Before, in the manufacturing sector we were not prepared and opportunities were lost. We cannot be unprepared all the time. We must be ready with multi skills and professionalism.We must grab these opportunities now.Please donot miss it again this time around!
The culture of Waiting for The Government Assistances
The government has on many occasions assisted us. This time around, the government may still be making plans and policies just to assist us. Please do not waste time to wait for these assistances anymore but rather quickly identify and grab any available opportunities.We have the strengths in the form of skilled workforce, the number of workforce, number of consumers and the purchasing power.These are actually the most importance assets for us to work with and rely upon.These are the main ingredients for the success in business.Combination of all these strengths will make things more easier for us to excel,especially in these new sectors.
We have various sources and facilities. Don’t waste all these resources.Together and in groups we are actually strong. Just look at the handphone market for example, every one of us own a handphone. The number of SMSs spent, shoppers at shopping complexes, most of them are our countrymen and our children. Don’t just be consumers that enriches the other communities.We are the ones responsible to enrich the owners of these businesses that majority belong to non-muslim .We can do it if we harness and pool our energy and resources, and not be divided by political sentiments that are too strong but immature.Donot just sit down and wait for the government to assist us anymore.Wake up and start something on our own strengths and capabilities.Identify and secure opportunities and take risks.
Prosper by doing business
Start now to familiarize ourselves with the business world. The doors are wide open in the sectors mentioned above. Eventhough starting on a small scale, with sheer dedication and commitment we can succeed.Start by having your own business eventhough its home based. Remember that 9 out of 10 sources of wealth is from businesses.This should be our stand and not 100% relying on a fixed monthly salary alone.
Now is the time for us to help each other.Marketing,franchising,direct selling, trading and retailing for example attracts more than 80% of our countrymen as its workers and consumers.In the pursuit of wealth,many among our countrymen have been cheated for instance through the get rich quick scheme. Our desires to become rich quickly is non stoppable and as a result we are often being cheated. We cannot be cheated and laid back all the time. We need to put in the effort using our energy and intelligence to pursue our own dream to become successful and rich through businesses.
In business we need support,cooperation and networks.Please help each other my countrymen as this is genuine and asked in Islam. We are responsible to what is being inherited by our future generation. The success and excellence of our future generation depended very much on our actions and decisions made now.
Do involve ourselves in businesses my countrymen for the sake of our future generation.We must at all time think big dream high and have a strong heart to take the risks.
Monday, May 07, 2012
Think Big Dream High,E3-Be The Professionals
The early years
I came from the village. Now, I reside in the city. My primary school days were spent in the village. As a result of my dedication, intelligence and brightness I went on to study in the city and later entered University. I continued my post graduate studies overseas(USA). I succeeded as a professional. I succeeded in my career as a professional manager in the government linked companies or corporations (GLC) as well as in the private sector. Praised be to Allah, I succeeded in life.
The professionals among my countrymen
When I looked around me and read statistics reports on the number of professionals, I was taken aback. I assumed my countrymen are as successful as I am,and many have become managers and successful professionals. In actual fact it was far from the truth. Eventhough my countrymen are the majority but the number of professionals and managers among my countrymen are still in the minority. That to me is sheer luck. My countrymen are still controlling the political powers in my country. There are still many more government policies that gave preferences to my countrymen.The practiise of meritocracy is not 100% and not in all fields. There are still many more corporate bodies, government agencies,GLCs that provide scholarships, study loans and job opportunities to the students among my countrymen. There are still many more GLCs that provide opportunities and employed the professionals among my countrymen. My countrymen have all the while enjoyed these privileges. Privileges created and prepared for the students, professionals and managers among my countrymen. Why? The reason being, my government is still being controlled by the political masters who are my countrymen. They are still responsible to care for the needy, uphold integrity and pride of my countrymen. They still care for every aspects of the less fortunate among my countrymen.
The Umbrella
My countrymen, will these kind of scenario continues?. Will these privileges remain forever my countrymen? Will the policies that act as an umbrella and magic wand for my countrymen continues to be upheld?.All these questions need not be answered. No matter what the answers will be, it will not change anything unless we, my countrymen changes our attitude. We are the ones who need to explore our weaknesses and imperfection. Not just exploring but work hard to overcome it. We are the ones who need to upgrade ourselves. We need to excel ourselves especially in education and business.We need to produce more accountants,pilots,lawyers,doctors, engineers,architects,managers,researchers,technologists,nurses, dentists, entrepreneurs,corporate figures and businessmen amongst our countrymen.
In comparison,which community produces more accountants,pilots, lawyers,doctors,engineers,architects,managers,researchers,technologists,nurses, dentists, entrepreneurs, corporate figures and businessmen?The statistics clearly indicates that eventhough my countrymen comprises 60% of the total population but the number of my countrymen in the professional categories that I mentioned above are on the average below 30%. Where have they gone to?Will they remain as normal executives,teachers,clerks, dispatch boy, runners, laborers, factory workers and drivers only? What about the other communities?, Will the numbers in these kind of vocation exceed that of my countrymen?. The answer is clear and need not be elaborated. The fact remains unchanged, my countrymen still needs the umbrella.
Work hard
Which community is controlling the country’s economy? Are they from the clerks, dispatch boy, factory workers or drivers category? Or are they from the accountants,pilots, lawyers, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, corporate figures or businessmen category? The answers again need not be elaborated. All communities are important. All communities contributed towards the country’s development. The question is which community contributed more and largely controlled the economy and wealth of this country? Which community received 5 figure and above income a month? Which community are categorized as millionaires?Again,all these questions need not be answered.
Please work hard my countrymen. My countrymen, as parents, we should encouraged our children not only to excel in their studies but also succeed as engineers, succeed as doctors. In other words our children must be ambitious enough and have vision to succeed as professionals. Don’t succeed only as graduates in the field of history, pure science, geography, literature, religious knowledge, sociology arts and culture, management or economy. Succeed as an engineer, succeed as a doctor.
Fill up the job market in this country as engineers and doctors and lawyers.Engineers or lawyers can also be personnel managers, marketing executive, a district officer or a diplomatic officer. There’s nothing wrong with it as long as we are good at managing. Be knowledgeable my countrymen. Knowledgeable at the professional level. Be in control of wealth, my countrymen. Improve our living standards now, my countrymen. Other people’s children can be accountants. My countrymen’s children can also become accountants. Other people’s children can become engineers, my countrymen’s children can also become engineers. Other people’s children can become entrepreneurs, my countrymen’s children can also become entrepreneurs. Other people’s children can become corporate figures, and businessmen, my countrymen’s children can also become corporate figures and businessmen. InsyaAllah with intelligence, diligence,a strong willpower,always think big dream high and has a strong heart,my countrymen can also become millionaires. Millionaires here in this world and in the hereafter.
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