Thuan Chye Responds to “Orang Cina Malaysia, apa lagi yang anda mahu?” (Utusan Malaysia article)

I came across this article this morning. There have been many well written responses to irresponsible articles by national paper journalists who obviously lack integrity in their job for failing to carry out proper researches before producing such careless articles, and this one responded by Thuan Chye is no exception. Please share with as many Malaysians as possible and Utusan Malaysia, stop writing utter rubbish.

Thuan Chye Responds to “Orang Cina Malaysia, apa lagi yang anda mahu?”(Utusan Malaysia article)

By Kee Thuan Chye

Every time the Barisan National gets less than the expected support from Chinese voters at an election, the question invariably pops up among the petty-minded: Why are the Chinese ungrateful?

So now, after the Hulu Selangor by-election, it’s not surprising to read in Utusan Malaysia a piece that asks: “Orang Cina Malaysia, apa lagi yang anda mahu?” (Trans. Chinese of Malaysia, what more do you want?) Normally, something intentionally provocative and propagandistic as this doesn’t deserve to be honored with a reply. But even though I’m fed up with such disruptive and ethnocentric polemics, this time I feel obliged to reply – partly because the article has also been published, in an English translation, in the Straits Times of Singapore. I wish to emphasize here that I am replying not as a Chinese Malaysian but, simply, as a Malaysian. Let me say at the outset that the Chinese have got nothing more than what any citizen should get. So to ask “what more” it is they want, is misguided. A correct question would be, “What do the Chinese want?”

All our lives, we Chinese have held to the belief that no one owes us a living. We have to work for it. Most of us have got where we are by the sweat of our brow, not by handouts or the policies of the government. We have come to expect nothing – not awards, not accolades, not gifts from official sources. (Let’s not lump in Datukships, that’s a different ball game.) We know that no Chinese who writes in the Chinese language will ever be bestowed the title of Sasterawan Negara, unlike in Singapore where the literatures of all the main language streams are recognized and honored with the Cultural Medallion, etc.

We have learned we can’t expect the government to grant us scholarships. Some will get those, but countless others won’t. We’ve learned to live with that and to work extra hard in order to support our children to attain higher education – because education is very important to us. We experience a lot of daily pressure to achieve that. Unfortunately, not many non-Chinese realise or understand that. In fact, many Chinese had no choice but to emigrate for the sake of their children’s further education. Or to accept scholarships from abroad, many from Singapore, which has inevitably led to a brain drain.

The writer of the Utusan article says the Chinese “account for most of the students” enrolled in “the best private colleges in Malaysia”. Even so, the Chinese still have to pay a lot of money to have their children study in these colleges. And to earn that money, the parents have to work very hard. The money does not fall from the sky.

The writer goes on to add: “The Malays can gain admission into only government-owned colleges of ordinary reputation.” That is utter nonsense. Some of these colleges are meant for the cream of the Malay crop of students and are endowed with the best facilities. They are given elite treatment.

The writer also fails to acknowledge that the Chinese are barred from being admitted to some of these colleges. As a result, the Chinese are forced to pay more money to go to private colleges. Furthermore, the Malays are also welcome to enroll in the private colleges, and many of them do. It’s, after all, a free enterprise.

Plain and simple reason

The writer claims that the Chinese live “in the lap of luxury” and lead lives that are “more than ordinary” whereas the Malays in Singapore , their minority-race counterparts there, lead “ordinary lives”. Such sweeping statements sound inane especially when they are not backed up by definitions of “lap of luxury” and “ordinary lives”. They sound hysterical, if not hilarious as well, when they are not backed up by evidence. It’s surprising that a national daily like Utusan Malaysia would publish something as idiosyncratic as that. And the Straits Times too.

The writer quotes from a survey that said eight of the 10 richest people in Malaysia are Chinese. Well, if these people are where they are, it must have also come from hard work and prudent business sense. Is that something to be faulted?

If the writer had said that some of them achieved greater wealth through being given crony privileges and lucrative contracts by the government, there might be a point, but even then, it would still take hard work and business acumen to secure success. Certainly, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, who is one of the 10, would take exception if it were said that he has not worked hard and lacks business savvy. Most important, it should be noted that the eight Chinese tycoons mentioned in the survey represent but a minuscule percentage of the wider Chinese Malaysian population. To extrapolate that because eight Chinese are filthy rich, the rest of the Chinese must therefore live in the lap of luxury and lead more than ordinary lives would be a mockery of the truth. The writer has obviously not met the vast numbers of very poor Chinese.

The crux of the writer’s article is that the Chinese are not grateful to the government by not voting for Barisan National at the Hulu Selangor by-election. But this demonstrates the thinking of either a simple mind or a closed one.

Why did the Chinese by and large not vote for BN? Because it’s corrupt. Plain and simple. Let’s call a spade a spade. And BN showed how corrupt it was during the campaign by throwing bribes to the electorate, including baiting a Chinese school in Rasa by promising RM3 million should it wins the by-election.

The Chinese were not alone in seeing this corruption. The figures are unofficial but one could assume that at least 40 per cent of Malays and 45 per cent of Indians who voted against BN in that by-election also had their eyes open. So, what’s wrong with not supporting a government that is corrupt? If the government is corrupt, do we continue to support it?

To answer the question then, what do the Chinese want?

They want a government…

a. that is not corrupt;

b. that can govern well and proves to have done so;

c. that tells the truth rather than lies;

d. that follows the rule of law;

e. that upholds rather than abuses the country’s sacred institutions.

Because BN does not fit that description, the Chinese have learned not to vote for it. This is not what only the Chinese want. It is something every sensible Malaysian, regardless of race, wants. Is that something that is too difficult to understand?

Some people think that the government is to be equated with the country, and therefore if someone does not support the government, they are being disloyal to the country. This is a complete fallacy. BN is not Malaysia . It is merely a political coalition that is the government of the day. Rejecting BN is not rejecting the country.

A sense of belonging

Let’s be clear about this important distinction. In America, the people sometimes vote for the Democrats and sometimes for the Republicans. Voting against the one that is in government at the time is not considered disloyalty to the country.

By the same token, voting against UMNO is also voting against a party, not against a race. And if the Chinese or whoever criticize UMNO, they are criticizing the party; they are not criticizing Malays. It just happens that UMNO’s leaders are Malay.

It is time all Malaysians realized this so that we can once and for all dispel the confusion. Let us no longer confuse country with government. We can love our country and at the same time hate the government. It is perfectly all right.

I should add here what the Chinese don’t want:

a. We don’t want to be insulted,

b. We don’t want to be called pendatang

c. We don’t want to be told to be grateful for our citizenship.

We have been loyal citizens; we duly and dutifully pay taxes; we respect the country’s constitution and its institutions. Our forefathers came to this country many generations ago and helped it to prosper. We are continuing to contribute to the country’s growth and development.

Would anyone like to be disparaged, made to feel unwelcome or unwanted? For the benefit of the writer of the Utusan article, what MCA president Chua Soi Lek means when he says the MCA needs to be more vocal is that it needs to speak up whenever the Chinese community is disparaged? For too long, the MCA has not spoken up strongly enough when UMNO politicians and associates like Ahmad Ismail, Nasir Safar, Ahmad Noh and others before them insulted the Chinese and made them feel like they don’t belong. That’s why the Chinese have largely rejected the MCA. You see, the Chinese, like all human beings, want self-respect. And a sense of belonging in this country they call home. That is all the Chinese want, and has always wanted. Nothing more.

The Utusan Malaysia article: Orang Cina Malaysia , apa lagi yang anda mahu?

Dramatist and journalist Kee Thuan Chye is the author of ‘March 8: The Day Malaysia Woke Up’. He is a contributor to Free Malaysia Today.

"To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards of people” - Emily Cox

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney

Everyone has a voice. Even those who have none.

This morning while driving to work, I saw a bunch of kindergarteners being ushered by their teachers to stand (safely) by the roadside. And they started shouting excitedly, waving their precious Malaysian flags enthusiastically at groggy drivers off to start another day of work. It was such a refreshing sight! Kudos to whomever (teacher, I presume) who came up with that brilliant idea. It certainly made my day. It made me smile ;)

And just now, a good friend of mine shared a video he made in conjunction with the upcoming Independence Day celebration and I was really touched.

Listen to Malaysia.

We have a new voice. We're searching for an identity which was long buried and forgotten, but had always been there. Our attention was diverted to every other concern, except for the most pressing one - coming together, being united, standing as one. We should be standing for those who don't have a voice. Providing to those who don't have anything to eat. Caring for those who don't have a home. Regardless of ethnicity, religious beliefs, language and skin color.

There is something special this year. On the 31st of August, we will have a new voice. And we will fully embrace being 1Malaysia. Selamat Hari Merdeka ;) If you're Malaysian, I just want to tell you that no matter how f*cked up the government is, she loves you all the same. Just doesn't understand why you couldn't reciprocate.

Love letter to the PM's office on transforming Malaysia ;)

Dear government (or PM's office),

Two days ago, I saw a couple of full page coverage on the results of your recent transformation programme which is based on what you thought are the 6 priority areas (also known as the National Key Result Areas), which for the sake of every Tom, Dick and Hari who are too lazy to do any research, I will state them here:

1) Reducing crime
2) Fighting corruption
3) Improving student outcomes
4) Raising living standards of low-income households
5) Improving rural basic infrastructure
6) Improving urban public transport

Actually, I tried to be very neutral while reading THE STAR which did the coverage and the outcome was, I find myself believing that you're on the right track in pursuing this pressing areas which ultimately can become the foundation of progress of our nation. So, congratulations, good job, keep it up :) But just a couple of reminders (I'm sorry if MCMC is gonna ban me or put this blog out of shop but I thought if you're on Facebook, you may really consider 'listening' for the first time):

1) I think our police force needs better training in emergency response. I would imagine that if I'm a policeman and have always taken my gun for granted, without much training or simulation, honestly, I wouldn't know what to do and what not do. The police force is after all human, right? Wrong. I'm pretty sure there are trainings to make them resemble a little more like Robocop, no? If they're also human, like us citizens... then why do they have a gun and we don't? If they don't know how to react in a high tension situation, why are they deemed law enforcers and we're not? Because they know the law and we don't? Maybe you should start making them watch 'Trauma'. It's on Star World, every Tuesday at 10pm.

2) I read that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission requested for additional staff and budget to help them carry out investigations on related-matters. I think you better. Lest you tempt them... he he he, KIDDING! While I don't really know why they need the extra budget and how much they are getting now, allocated for what, since THE STAR did not report on that, it's really hard to say because on areas where I am directly affected (such as ministries putting out marketing tenders for pitch), I don't see anything happening cause there are still many 2-ringgit companies owned by some Datuks and Datins winning a 20 million account and we only see a 2 million media spend (which is really not the way to promote Malaysia, don't you think?). So, an additional 5,000 staff for? Paper work? Hmm. Let's compromise, how about 2,500 staff and 2,500 computers?

3) Finally, you also agree that our education system is screwed up, huh. Let's shake on that. Well, I do understand that it's one of the most complicated national systems to change but you're right, we have to start somewhere. I don't have any ideas just yet, how about something along the lines of 1Malaysia? Like... Malaysian first and all else second? Then at least (even upon 'force'), we'll have equal distribution of Malay, Chinese and Indian studying forestry or agriculture or something obscure like that. Oh by the way, have I ever told you before that we should be promoting some fields which are directly and indirectly related to the environment before it grills us like barbeque? This I don't really blame you cause the Chinese parents always think about money, Malay parents take it for granted their kid is well looked after by you and the Indian parents tell their kids to really compete in law so that they can bend it when they grow up to protect themselves. That's really very sad. So yea, please change the education system. You want equal opportunity at work? You start with equal opportunity for studies.

4) Totally agree! No dispute. We really need to look into the poverty area especially the low household income families. But like I said, more importantly is to teach them to be self-sustaining and fish their own fish, harvest their own fruits. Stop handing out money to them but give them jobs and help them find fulfilment in that. Oh, the squatter areas... yes, I've seen one of those and I am very fortunate to live in a brick house. I hope you are not intending to clear their homes to give the land to some abang/adik of some Datuk to build bungalows for people like us? I'm moving soon and plan to sell my current house. But my new house is more or less the same size. I don't need a bungalow.

5) Yea! As what I mentioned above, it's important to be able to ensure they are equipped with the basic infrastructure. But like everything which you have built, can you just remember to park some budget for maintenance? For... 10 years? At least up to 2020 if that's too much to ask. I don't know but I think a 5 year old will think that it's stupid to build and rebuild the same thing again and again. Maybe you have a different perspective? Because while you are building all these new infrastructures to help rural areas to ease into modernity, you are tearing down the heritage buildings our ancestors (friends and foes) have build in modern cities. You know, sometimes you confuse me. Are you not talking to each other again?

6) Yes PLEASE! I work on an automotive business and it does sadden me that everyone is looking forward to a YOY growth. On whose expense may I ask? Oh did you just challenge me to sell my car? Well, I'm sorry I can't :( Cause I really love my car. But maybe if there was a better transportation system, I could use a leisurely adventure in and around areas OUTSIDE of KL on the weekends? Or maybe I could just travel to work in my car and take public transportation as and when I need to since you forgot about me who live in Subang Jaya when you build the last LRT stop at Kelana Jaya which is like 20km from my house. But it's okay, no hard feelings :) I could take cabs but you know, it's kind of scary to take cabs alone these days because they run on a fixed fee network and not on the meter which you specified them to. And a lot of them are bogus and may just kidnap me. Yes, this is a very serious problem too. Maybe you want to get the police to catch them instead of 17 year old boys?

WOW. What a long letter! I hope I didn't bore you. I saw your website http://www.transformation.gov.my/ and it does provide some level of transparency and metrics to what you are doing, I love it! And I saw it was linked to Facebook and I thought this is one of your efforts to implement Gov 2.0 following the US (besides someone did request for some transparency during the last social media meeting :x Er... @Khairykj was there too!), but you do know that it's a two-way thing right? So... you're not going to catch me, right? Since I posted on your wall, you know my name, are you going to lock me up for some fish curry rice (which by the way, I know the real story behind that, bet YOU don't!)?

Well... Honestly, and most sincerely, I wanna help out too. Really. Cause I'm also sick and tired of all those Malaysians who talk **** (blipped out cause like you, I don't like vulgarities in my blog), sing song and only know how to criticize others and complain when they haven't even register to vote, when they condone police taking bribes by speeding, 'settling' it and then exclaim what a screwed-up system! Yea, I hate them too. They suck. Not worthy Malaysians. But... you're not thinking about a total annihilation right? Cause most of these critics are Chinese and if you do that, even though it's by default they're the largest denomination in this psychographic personality, people may think you are racist. So don't.

Anyway, I have to go now. I hope this letter reaches you safe and well. Send my regards to all who are really working hard to make a change (thank you) and those who are just 'leeching' of you (shame on them!). We will continue this dialogue some other time. And just so you know, I'm ALWAYS open for conversation ;) We are family, remember?

xoxo
Sparkie.

Malaysia: Perhaps we're not as 'conservative' as we thought we are?

It doesn't get any clearer than catchcheatingspouse.my. You don't even have to click on their website to understand what they do. Talk about single-mindedness. This is spot on :)

I stumbled upon this site by chance and am amazed by the range of 'intelligence' services offered by a 100% Malaysian company called MVD International Sdn Bhd. What piqued my interest is, of all services offered, why this domain name? Following are their list of services:

Corporate & Economic Crime Investigation
White Collar Crime Investigation
Background Investigation
Fraud Investigation
Intellectual Property Infringement/Fraud Investigation
Corporate Security Investigation
Business Intelligence and Integrity Due Diligence
Pre & Post Employment Screening
Assets Searching & Skip Tracing
Money Laundering
Medicaid Fraud Investigation
Insurance Fraud Investigation
Commercial Mortgage Fraud Investigation
Occupational Fraud Investigation
Contract & Procurement Fraud Investigation
Predatory Fraud Investigation
Inventory Fraud Investigation
Contractors/Bidders Verification/Investigation
Forensic Accounting
Risk Consulting & Management
Summon/Process Server
Matrimonial Investigation
Surveillance Investigation
Tracing Illicit Fund/Asset
Tracing of Stolen Vehicle (This one is so applicable to us! Bookmark the site!)

Interesting isn't it? If spouse catching is their cash cow, doesn't that tell us something about our dear Malaysian society? No one denies the growing cases of divorce in this country (which I'm quite sure simply follows a global trend) - a natural trend perhaps. But the insight I guess lies in the reason couples are divorcing. From 20s to 40s. The infamous period of the internet generation X and Y. There are so much gaps here, it'll be interesting to fill them up in order to investigate the social change we're experiencing.

Oh by the way, if you're interested, knock yourself out:

I didn't know you have ISO for this sort of thing...

Automotive: Proton and its 'creative' family day.

There was a recent post on Proton's Family Day in Paul Tan which sparked a heated argument between those who are for the National brand and those who are obviously not.

I understand the intention of this 'Family Day' and personally, I'm rooting for Proton's current leader, Managing Director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin. He's been making some changes (slow, nevertheless with proven results) and it looks like it's improving the brand and most importantly, the marketing of it. But having said that, when I went through the photos posted on Proton employees' concept cars, I held my breath. And then when I went through the 197 comments supporting and bashing these amateur attempts, I almost died.

I wanted to put my two cents worth (being Malaysian, I have to live up to my Kiasu-ism you know), but before an online riot breaks out in Paul Tan's blog, I think he disabled the comment function. Smart move.

So I'm gonna put my two cents worth here. Well... it's MY blog ;)

As I mentioned above, I am rooting for the MD, and I'm rooting for this brand. We're the FIRST in this part of the world to have manufactured a car. Albeit the model took 20 years for FMC. We've had a lot of teething problems especially on R&D, product design, marketing and sales, customer service - basically the whole works. But like it or not, it's been around for over 20 years. That's an achievement. Some of the previous governance was lacklustre (sometimes bordering stupidity), but I'm optimistic about the new change (even if it takes another 20 years). This Family Day thing... well, it's a start.

BUT. I have to admit. The creative concepts while it's an applauded attempt, really looked too amateurish with almost zero practicality in usage, sad to say. I know I know, these people put a lot of effort in building the concepts, but hey, the truth hurts. While I think the attempt is applauded, it tells us one thing. We, Malaysians, really really really need to focus on functional design - aesthetic combined with practicality. It's really about time for us to jump out of our 'tempurung' and get bashed up nicely. We need to wake up, face these harsh judgement, grit our teeth and challenge ourselves to improve. We need funds. We need to send our people to the best practical education they can ever receive. We need a sound talent management strategy. We need to protect our investments so that these people do not jump ship to other countries and forget their peanut shells. We need to motivate them into being leaders so that while they are creating innovative designs here, they in turn will nurture and multiply the cause.

The ROOT of all those bashing comments in Paul Tan's blog is because of the limited eye sight and exposure given and received by the locals. When we increase our view towards the horizon, we increase the possibility of achieving more. So this is the first step, let see the second.

While the write-up was neutral, it's funny to see the post categorized under 'Laughs'. Ha ha, that's a good one Paul, almost missed that.

Malaysia: The true story of three churches burnt.

Headlines are crawling all over the web with regards to the minor bombing of the three churches in Malaysia, speculated to be a result of various groups' contention on using the word 'Allah' by non-Islamic religions.

This is a snippet of the news in the Star Online:

KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the Government would not hesitate to use any means necessary, including the Internal Security Act, on anyone who threatens the security of the country. He also ensured the safety of everyone in Malaysia, including the minorities. Hishammuddin also said that the Inspector-General of Police has confirmed that three churches have been attacked. “We have also received a report that a church has been threatened. The police will monitor all churches in the country,” he said.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan earlier said police were investigating three cases of arson at churches in the Klang Valley early Friday morning. The three churches were the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati, the Assumption Church in Jalan Templer, Petaling Jaya, and the Life Chapel Church in Section 17, also in Petaling Jaya. "Police personnel would also patrol churches throughout the country, especially in the Klang Valley, to prevent any untoward incidents," he added on Friday.

*** end of snippet ***

Dear peoples, online friends and families of this world, if you are reading this,

There is nothing to be alarmed about in the above situation. Not that we don't care neither is it because we're cynical. It's because we have to understand that for Good (and God) to be amongst us, there have to be something called Evil or Harm. The arsonists who did the unspeakable will be sought by the police and Justice will take them into her hands. And should they slip through the imminent cracks when Justice blinks, then God (whether you call him Allah or not) will make the final judgement. Yes, we have to protect the churches because these are holy grounds where one searches for God to ease his troubling soul. Why then, trouble this already troubled soul? Why pick on the weak who amidst the havoc of today's society, searches for sanctuary in churches, mosques and temples? Shame on you, arsonists whose hands are now charred worse than the church's wall due to your own irresponsible actions.

But still. Again, we would like to emphasize that there is nothing to be alarmed. Nothing so much for you to panic and strike your enemy (perceived) and perish in a downward spiral that benefits no one. Not you, not him, not her, not they, not us, not your neighbours, and not your children. In the midst of such chaos, only clarity becomes our weapon. Please. Do come for your holiday, we're not the maniacs running amok on headlines. We're who you used to know and read about. We'll try our best to protect you like how we would with our friends and with our own true blood. We're the Malaysians you read about in Truly Asia campaigns (the oversized coconut might be a fake but we're not). We're the Malaysians who laugh ourselves silly at our stupid governmental mistakes. We're the ones who take the government controlled papers with a pinch of salt. We're the ones who wish for the release of our innocent politicians who got caught over the sillest matters to avoid traffic jams. We're the Malaysians who're still learning and coping with sustainability issues but kinda figure that our country is beautiful. We're the Malaysians who speak multiple languages and don't think it's wrong to jumble them up. We're the Malaysians who don't just mix our blood sometimes, we mix our tea with coffee with Milo with milk as well. Well, we're just Malaysians.

And to those of you who are Malaysians. Stay united in the face of adversity. Those who try to break us are not one of us. That's all you need to know. And don't pass the alarm to someone else. Tell them very calmly, it's okay. And then turn the other cheek.

Malaysia: Lack of apprenticeship?

Over conversations the other day, we agreed that there's something lacking in the new working society. And with that, we're not only referring to the two-second attention Gen Y but the 30-something Gen X. We learned to manoeuvre our way in the corporate world to the best we know how, without someone to really look up to for guidance, example and inspiration. Sometimes our ways are heroic, sometimes in less than moral worthy tactics.

With the advent of Web 2.0 and the wide accessibility of imported media, it's really difficult to say we've not be given a chance. Opportunities to learn have been and will always be there, but I have to admit. Without flesh and blood, sometimes it's really hard to judge what's right and what's best when trapped in tight situations. Which I guess explains, why so many young people (all who are below 40), averse from responsibilities simply because they're like deers caught in headlights when the heat is turned up. Ironically, they just froze. Without an important figure for them to look up to and in some way, even mimic, how can we expect any improvement on the generations thereafter?

Personally, I'm appalled by the lack of management skills and even self-leadership in today's working class. Different layers of the corporate hierarchy they may be, but the end result does not change. I've been blessed to know a handful of senior managing executives who have imparted much wisdom on me - sometimes spoken softly and other times, whipped till I came around. There are colourful and creative ways on how I learned from them of which I'm indebted eternally, thankful today and always will be.

This topic came to mind again today when I was browsing through a magazine which talked about apprenticeship and why it is so important in these modern times. Mastering perfection on a certain skill takes years and even decades (in a couple of years time, I can safely say I have a decade of planning under my belt too, yay) which directly contradicts with today's notion of 'fast food syndrome'. Everything needs to be learned, done, eaten, completed, played, spoken in two seconds. Teaching and learning, to me, is like tango. It's not so much the cliche of taking two to make it work, more like it takes a lot of rhythm for two people to be in sync. A lot of compromise, a lot of hard work, a lot of investment - material and emotional to make it work. While we may find promising students, unfortunately there are only a handful of worthy teachers who almost always are taken for granted anyway.

I am and will always be willing to learn. As I mentioned before, I've been blessed greatly for having met those handful of wise souls I spoke about. They are worthy mentors to the very last atom in them.

And now, for me to impart these experiences and knowledge to others, at times seem like a great detest. I've worked hard for my apprenticeship and I beg of you to let me feel that it's only natural I hold on to my bestowed wisdom so selfishly. But two years of imparting language skills to non-English speakers in Japan, have finally knocked some sense into my hard little selfish head. It's the job of the teacher to inspire learning. My mentors have done me that favour unbeknownst to me. And here I was, picking my apprentices as if I was God sent. At least I thank Him for giving me that chance to have learned how to teach. I'm not good at it yet, but if you'd dance with me, I'd be glad to take your hand too.

If you are in a position to manage and lead, you'd suddenly realize that your everyday job seems more like a social responsibility than just an income generator. The old masters of Michelangelo's time probably didn't care if their apprentice stayed or left and they had extraordinary reasons to do so. Their students were out on a limb most of the time to make things happen anyway - out of fear, out of responsibility, out of survival - I don't know. Obviously, today's execs and interns are otherwise. I guess, when you sign up for something and especially if it means leading your team to somewhere, anywhere, yes it's partially a social commitment.

On a separate but related note, I read this line in Monocle today:

If you have a few million, then you can say you have money. If you have a hundred million, then you can say you have capital. But when you have several hundred million or even several billion, then that money is no longer your money. Rather, it's a resource that belongs to society. You have the power but even more importantly, you have the responsibility to put that resource to good use on behalf of society - Jack Ma, Chairman of Alibaba Group, China.

Same principles yo, same principles.

15 Malaysia.

239,241 videos downloaded so far. 76,446 fans in Facebook. All 4 languages - and the fact that the 'Tamil' version actually works. I think this is by far, the most Malaysian site I've ever came across. If BN talks about 1Malaysia, maybe they should learn from people who are passionate about it.

Reformation number 2?

Since last year, Malaysians have been keeping an eye on the political scene. Once an uneventful issue had since grabbed headlines, becoming more sensational each day. We had an 'unofficial' debate last night on whether it was 'politically' correct (pun intended) for Anwar to seize power albeit in the most non-confrontational manner when the majority had decided and voted for ruling party, BN to continue governance in this country. Well, it's a tough question because, as much as these new generations of Malaysians, inclusive those awakening from their indifference, want to see a positive change in the country and perhaps, even dared to imagine waking up to a new Malaysia two days ago, they however do not represent the majority as proven by the results of the election. Seizing power after a nationwide election does seem like we're sidelining what we have been propagating thus far, which is full democracy (although, how many of us had truly enjoy that privilege?). So do we wait? Do we sit and do nothing for the next 5 years till we vote again and perhaps, this time, we vote with more courage? I have no answers. All I know is, Malaysians have reshuffled their priority and have grown leaps and bounds in terms of maturity which was greatly underestimated by the government. Perhaps the one thing which stands between us and reformation, is racial integration which sadly, is not what BN has in mind. If you ask me, I know what I want and I'll vote for whomever who is able to remove 'racial identification' from any forms, provide monetary assistance and benefits by segregation of socio-economic classes and needs and not by race. This will ultimately give 'bumiputra' (translate: NATIVE) recognition to anyone who has a birth certificate from this country. Also, I will vote for whomever who is able to narrow the digital divide between our country and at least, our leading neighbouring countries, thereby improving our broadband infrastructure and status by injecting funds into the right places for the right projects using the right expertise and to finally allow for fair competition amongst native corporations and a controlled competition from foreign ones.

Racial issue is a sensitive one because unfortunately, some of our leaders are a little short-sighted in this area where they mix business with their personal cause. Drawing the Quran and attempting to use it as the so-called 'infallible' sword to garner forced-support from fellow Muslims is not the way to run the country. At least, not the way I would run the country. And I cannot sum it any better than Din Merican who is one of Malaysia's prominent bloggers especially in his post on the Press Release from the Muslim Professionals Forum - ha! This is for cowards who are hiding behind their false religious beliefs inciting unnecessary dissension amongst our countrymen!

If I, Sparks, were to be detained by the ISA tomorrow (if I stop blogging for a week, you'd know), I won't even know who or where to get help from. I am supposed to feel safest in my country after all, no? Well, perhaps there will be many others like me, probably hundreds, even thousands of bloggers who have the same sentiment as me, detained? It won't be that lonely after all...

Chinese or what?

The Olympics ended spectacularly last night. I still remember the auspicious date of 080808, also the momentous night of the opening. Needless to say, I was impressed. It wasn’t just the Olympics, it was China’s way of showing the world, if this was what she can do for sports, imagine what she could potentially do for everything else. It was her way of getting back at those who undermined her since the less than popular Cultural Revolution days which happened almost half a century ago. With pyrotechnics of equivalent scale, launched simultaneously at the Tiananmen Square last night's closing ceremony, I’m pretty sure Chairman Mao would have rolled over to catch a glimpse too.

Closer to home, ever since the eventful night of lighting the torch of hope in that impressive nest, I’ve been hearing Malaysians commenting on all sorts. Mainly it was about them feeling proud of China and to be more precise, they were proud to be Chinese. Hang on, didn’t I just say Malaysians? Well, Malaysian Chinese to be more precise. I can’t help but wonder where then do our roots begin and where do they end? Honestly. I couldn’t help but feel some for form of emotions stirring in me too when I saw what China did with flying athletes and super visual projections. Yea, I was proud too. Just that I wasn’t sure if it was because I was Chinese or because after my accidental interest in studying about the Little Red Country while in university and no one can deny, they had come far. If my friends and I were proud of being Chinese, would that be considered as being disloyal to our native land? I don’t know. If we grew up without having to identify our ethnicity or to be more exact, without having to be identified through checking the relevant racial boxes every time we had to fill up a form, would we have proclaimed that we are proud to be Chinese? Well, here’s to you, Mr. Government, who can you blame when we were (and still are) being constantly reminded that we’re Chinese?

Well, no need to blow things out of proportion. What we felt was certainly some form of emotional pride (wherever that strange feeling came from). But beyond that, I think the most poignant moment came from seeing badminton silver medalist, Lee Chong Wei repeatedly kissed the Malaysian flag on his baju when he won against South Korean Lee Hyun-il in the Olympics semi-final. I think for any Malaysians regardless of racial segregation, that was what it meant to be Malaysian. It certainly brought some of us back to the glorified Thomas-Cup-Sidek-brothers-Foo-Kok-Keong days. I remember what it was like to stay up that night, gripping with the nation to see them rose as champions. I remember because the next day was a declared national holiday, so there was no school. The perk aside, I just hope we needn’t wait for every 20 years to witness something like that.

*Sparks salutes Lee Chong Wei regardless if he’ll be given datukship in Penang and hopes that he stays true to himself – a great sportsman – and that he will be willing to carry the responsibility of inspiring the young and creating significant change in our sports industry which was inevitably bestowed upon him with that Olympic silver medal.

**Photos from Telegraph UK and NST Malaysia.

AAM Smart Tracker.

Don't fancy having your car get stolen? Subscribe to the AAM Smart Tracker. But. Before you do that, watch the video from this link and see if you can spot anything amiss before continue reading.

Personally. I found the video really funny. In all its good intention to help devastated owners track and immobilize their stolen vehicle, they missed out one of the most important points of having a tracker in the first place. Yes, to retrieve vehicles but isn't it more important to nip the problem in the bud, which in this case, arrest the thief? So when that dude realizes that he can no longer drive away, he walks away? Hmm. That really says a lot about our policing efficiency, no?

A new breed of generation.

About less than a decade back, Malaysia was divided into 3 classes. The rich, the middle class and the have-nots. Today, as fourth generation Malaysians are popping out and growing up everywhere, we also begin to witness the birth of a fourth class. They definitely have a higher disposable income yet they're not exactly to be considered rich. They are probably stuck somewhere in between the rich and the middle class because they have everything the mid-class doesn't. Yet they don't have enough to retire at the age of 40 or truly live a jet-setting lifestyle without having to forego one or two of their designer handbags. Or gadgets. Or the few trips to that fancy mancy restaurant that charges a bomb for less-than-dynamite food quality.

“A small Lexus SUV could be a response to the urbanization of Gen Y buyers and empty-nest boomers. Toyota’s advanced product strategy group is studying a demographic trend - people who are sick of the suburbs, but who don’t want to give up the utility of their SUV. A small luxury SUV might be the right product for that environment,” says Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. president - Paul Tan

So is that what they're called? Gen Y? Who finally grew up? Empty-nest boomers? Another article I read:

The teenage kids of high-achieving wealthy parents (many of whom were first-generation immigrants) are chronic spenders. These are the HAVEs of America. Many of these kids have acute Affluenza and they neither work hard, nor aspire to achieve much in life. They HAVE everything. That resources in the world are finite - is a foreign concept to these kids. They all have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and hence have to be constantly entertained which creates new opportunities for marketeers to sell them new things. The iPod is a classic success story that has done a fantastic job of tapping into this segment, and its desire for the next “cool” thing. - sramanamitra.com

That's right. That's what they're so popularly (and endearingly) called in boardrooms - the Affluents. The consumer segment that everyone wants a piece of because they have the dough to spend but are not as difficult to convince compared to luxury markets. As long as you can convince them that they're cool. So if you take a look at your local TV commercial these days, you see cool ads for shoes, for mobile phones, for mobile service providers, for perfumes, for food, for beverage, for everything. So that's what happened? All brands are suddenly 'affluent' too? Hmm. So is that how we're defined now? We're either cool? Or not? If you're cool then you have it? Come to think of it, that doesn't sound like a new concept at all. I bet that's a classic 50s story - the rich Jock gets Blondie while the poor Geek gets bullied. We're more than half a century forward now, yet we're still running on the same concept? Hmm.