Comments On Article - Stumbling Blocks To Nation's Progress (Mkini) By Khoo Kay Peng

You have put beautifully what are the problems besetting Malaysia's progress in view of the current economic recession? And how they can be overcame? The difficulty is that, there is a blockage in the form of personal or vested interest. Connected with money and which has became a permanent feature of political life in the country.

Such entrenchment is not easy to remove. Considering, it is a part of the fabric of politic. It requires a general overhaul of all aspect of Malaysian Society's infrastructures. A gargantuan task indeed! It will need intense concentration and stamina as at every turn and corner it will be met by very strong resistance.

From those who are involved in such a lifestyle. To give up would mean like losing a gold mine. Nevertheless it has to be done. Othewise, like cancer, it will kill investment and the economic life of Malaysia. To the detriment of workers in which case, thousands will lose their jobs.

Money itself is not the root of evil. It is how it's used, like bribing in order to obtain favours from people holding political offices. With both parties having vested interest in the transaction concerned, it is not easy to pin down the culprits. As both sides will be protective of each other.

The difficulty is enormous but it can be done with a strong and determined political will.

Comments On The Article - ABC of Corporate Corruption By SAKMONGKOL AK47

Agreed with Dato's observation, it is not the degree qualification of a person which will make him a good business manager. As has been proven, atitude and experience are the deciding factors. No doubt, having acquired knowledge from colleges and other learning institutions would be a plus factor for the individual.

It is not enough to make him a successful manager. Because to be familiar with the way a business is run, its philosophy and its culture, it is best to start at the bottom of the company's ladder. The grass-roots level where the actual action accurs. The heart of the company, its labour line so to speak.

This is where things get done. The production division. Knowledge of what is happening here is important as it will give a picture of the health of its physical asset, the workers. Are they happy? Are their morale high? These would be reliable indicators of what the workers are feeling? And whether necessary action is required to rectify any problematic issues.

The individual should also repeat the same process with other sections of the company like procurement,finance, human resource, etc. and finally top management. But before sitting on the apex, he must truly be tested by giving him real assigment to determine his capability or otherwise.

This would be appropriately applied on trainee managers with good academic results yet untested in discharging company's responsibilities. More like an apprentice system. However it really help newcomers to have a hands-down experience, bottom-up view of how the establishment function in its totality.

Of course the best would be, those who were involved in creating their own companies. As this will allow them to go through a similar process as noted earlier. This will enrich their actual understanding of how they should administer their respective companies. Learning the dos and don'ts as they progress.

It is through this method that they acquired a storehouse of business wisdom which they could use with their current or future ventures. It would appear that the creator of a business establishment would eventually become a good business manager because of the expertise obtained through this practical learning process.

Comments On Dr. Azly Rahman's Article - Rethinking The Malay Problem

Dr. Azly Rahman's article on Rethinking the Malay Problem gave a fresh insight into this issue. And in this regard considering the position of the Malays in Singapore, they are doing very well regardless of the fact that they are given the same treatment just like other Singaporeans.

Also look at the situation in the United States of America today. For the first time in its history, it has got a Black president, Barack Obama. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the Blacks to be given equal opportunities. His dream was for Blacks to enjoy the same prospects like ordinary Americans.

In Malaysia the context is different and as mentioned by Dr. Azly,this might be due to historical, political and cultural influences. However, it appears that the concept applied in Singapore and the United States are working effectively for the Malays and Blacks respectively.

So the question, what is it? The answer is equal opportunities and the human spirit. The Malay Dilemma by Tun Mahathir disproves the myth that Malays are not smart or intelligent people. What they required is to have equal opportunities in terms of facilities, etc. so that they will be able to compete fairly.

The other point is the human spirit. The indomitable desire to succeed. It is race blind and is part of every man and woman. This spirit will only blossom if it is nurtured positively. Otherwise it will just lay dormant. And serve no useful purpose at all. The Malays need to be given the right motivation and their leaders must play a role in this.

Dr King had a dream that the Blacks would one day be a great race and play important roles in the corridors of power. That dream had already been realised in this century.

All Malaysians too had a wish - to see their Malay brothers stand on their own feet not because of helping hands. But because of their belief in themselves, that they have the capability to succeed in whatever they wanted to achieve.

And as Dr. Azly put it - Rethinking the Malay Problem may be necessary to enable the Malays to meet local and global challenges. And also to put to rest Hang Tuah's fear "takkan Melayu hilang di dunia".

Fantasy On A Hot And Slow Day

Salute to Blogger Articulations for his breezy style which still manage to convey the messages intended whether in pun or otherwise. That's important because we need to have a fair picture of what is happening around us.

Especially in Malaysia! Surreal can become real. What is true can become untrue. It's not easy to live in a country with everything on a go-go mode. So much so that we need to be stretchless. Or else we will end in a stress. But don't be distress cause this is not a game but a race. And progress is not resting but racing.

That is why, Malaysians can now act like a computer. And this show that our brain has advanced to such a level, we need to use 'mode' or else, the rest of the world would have a hard time catching up with us. And to do that, they need to learn our 'modus operandi'. Sounds like spanish and romantic but be careful.

Born of that is the 'swing fever' Because some prefer to make the fever more action oriented. With the 'e' it would just be a fouled smelling word. The end is near but the mighty Karpal have to sink first. A formula have to be found. H1 N1 is not powerful enough for the job. Ultra Virus was the answer - a concortion produced by a computer generated mind.

They forgot that Karpal was sharp and fast. They were in such a hurry that they missed one ingredient. But Karpal like a lightning striker put one and one together. He managed to get that important component. It was 'e'. The secret formula is 'ultra vires' and not 'ultra virus'. So Mr. K is still upstanding because the ace is in his hands.

Well like you say, it's just fantasy on a hot and slow day.

Bahasa Malaysia Yes, English No - Minister Told Journalist Bluntly, To Put His Questions In Bahasa Malaysia

It is improper for the Minister of Culture, Datuk Rais Yatim to humiliate a journalist or for that matter anybody whether a Malaysian or a foreigner as shown in the You Tube. The Malays have a saying which goes something like this " Pantang menjatuhkan airmuka orang lain." If he claims to be a gentleman and a cultured person, he shouldn't have spoken in such a way to this particular journalist.



What is his motive in insulting this reporter? What is he trying to prove? Is his message also aimed at the English speaking businessmen and tourists who came to this country to do business or holiday here respectively. I assumed, the reporter had to speak English because his paper, the Star is an English tabloid. That being the case, it was therefore natural for him to speak English.



It was not criminal to do so. And furthermore, the minister, is himself an English speaker. He did his law in English. Another Malay saying is just appropriate for this situation "Kacang lupakan kulit." It would be a different matter if he was ignorant of the English Language. It would be excusable. But then, he should have put his request and explanation in a more polite manner. Shouldn't have done it, in an abrupt, haughty and abusive style?



For the minister to calm this storm in a teacup, he should apologise to the journalist concerned. That would indeed be a gentlemanly act and maybe a dinner treat too.

Demonstration - A Form Of Criticism

The dictionary definition of the word, demonstration is a public exhibition of the attitude of a group of persons toward a controversial issue, or other matter, made by picketing, parading, etc.. In other words, it is another form of criticism.

The recent protest on the controversial ISA is a case in point. How nice it would be if both the government and the demonstrators could come to an agreement that it could be held in a public place with the organisers of the demonstrations guaranteeing, it would be held peacefully.

What better venue to hold it than in a stadium? It would ensure that the public would not be inconvenienced by traffic jams, etc.. In such a controlled condition, the duty of the police is only to stand guard. To watch that everything is proceeding in an orderly manner without any chaos.

This would avoid direct confrontation between the police and demonstrators unnecessarily. In addition, both parties would have fulfilled their responsibilities though each in a different mode. Nonetheless the burden has been discharged by both sides the police and demonstrators respectively.

Not forgetting its therapeutic effect on the picketers. For this has enabled them to release their anger and pent up emotion on the issue. Thus cutting down the number of heart attacks in the country ( just joking ).

On the part of the government, it must take the issue(s) raised by the demonstrators seriously and positively. And to immediately attend to the matter with a view to rectifying it. This is the secret antidote to lessening dissatisfactions in the country.

Determination And The Right Atitude - Keys To Success

Education play an important role in preparing an individual to earn a living whether on his own or working for others. Therefore it is important that he recieved as much lesson on the information that would help him in this regard. In other words, to ready him for the working world.



Subjects taught should be related to this objective. And if in the end he should decide to start his own enterprise, the information he has obtained through education including online via computer would become handy and useful. It will become the basis of guiding him in running his business.



However the ultimate insurance for success is his own person. Not all that he has learnt. Because it is determination and hard work which will become the factor that will make the business rise or fall. Therefore having the spirit of wanting to achieve the goal set, whatever the challenges or obstacles, will be a very important asset to the individual concerned.



After-all, education is only a means. A bridge if you will, to help a person achieve his ambition in life. As mentioned above, success in any venture is a matter of sweat and toil. A working experience. And therefore, it is important for a Bumiputra to go through a similar process. Not to rely on a handout or government project.



By undergoing this exercise, he will have created a resilient spirit within himself, giving him the ability to overcome failures and to rise again until finally achieving success.



Every race whether Chinese, Indian or Bumiputra can be successful. Education can help but the most crucial components are determination and an atitude or spirit of not being afraid of hardwork and failures.

These are the tools of success which had been proven effective since time immemorial.

Government should rethink its policy on creating a rugged Bumiputra society which can stand on its own economically by applying the above-mentioned techniques.

Instead of helping just a few selected ones, this can be applied to all Bumiputras by inculcating in them the right atitude and spirit as mentioned above.