How we can achieve 1Malaysia

THE recent by-election results sent many messages to all Malaysians, with many more
suddenly becoming political analysts with a hind-sight of 20/20. Whatever it is, we need
to take stock of who we are and where we want to go from here. Perhaps a two-party
system is now a reality in Malaysia. That would be a good start on checks and balances.

I have travelled and talked to many people from all walks of life and discovered that
Malaysians are actually changing their mindsets on how the country’s political landscape
should look like and what they want in life.

While some of my ideas are not new, I wish to emphasize several pressing issues which
may affect our objective in achieving 1Malaysia. We are a nation built on many races and
religions. Our leaders have professed that this is an Islamic country, and such profession
must come with responsibility.

What I am asking of them is to act within the confines of the beautiful religion of Islam
where our daily conducts in life are very important. This includes, although not
exhaustively, our ethics, trust, charity, and personal responsibility to God which must be
upheld all the time.

The Prophet was a living proof that Islamic leadership can provide harmonious living
conditions to the non-Muslims under the purview of the Islamic government. There is no
necessity to call for unity because the exemplary nature of Islamic leadership would have
inculcated such an environment.

This kind of leadership would be “contagious” and would weed out the bad ones
naturally. This would be a step closer to 1Malaysia.

During my early childhood, I mingled with children from all races and I was indeed
“colour blind” and so were they.

Today, I am seeing that children mainly mix among their own kind. So, they are not
“colour blind” any more judging from their remarks made and hurled at one another.

Such a thing never existed in my childhood days. Even when we were involved in
physical fights, we often fought as a united front. Now the children are fighting with
other races. So, what has gone wrong here? I believe the politicians have the answer to
this.

The formative childhood years are so important. Any changes made would be difficult to
impose when they reach adulthood. So let’s tackle the issue when they are young. This
would be another step closer to 1Malaysia.
Many countries have adopted the “performance system” whereby the leading political
party would even consider appointing individuals from the opposing parties in key
positions, based on their capabilities in a particular area.

This sort of system would lead us to the next quantum as a competitive nation. I can see
many talented locals in my daily walks with people. It would not be wrong to get these
talented individuals to support the nation in the area of their strengths.

While the politicians are the elected officials, I urge them to work with these talented
individuals in propelling the nation to greater heights like never before. Many successful
nations have moved forward through “buying ins” of talented individuals. I believe that
we have sufficient talented individuals to fulfil these supportive roles without much “buy
ins” from elsewhere. This would be a quantum leap towards 1Malaysia.

While I have not lived long enough to see the entire history of this nation, I know our
great nation was ahead of many nations many decades ago. Today we are just trying to
keep up.

We have lost our steam along the way. Now, as 1Malaysia, we can achieve our glorious
years again. This may well be our last key action plan towards achieving 1Malaysia after
all
How to make 1Malaysia motto a meaningful slogan instead of
being the butt of ridicule, derision and contempt

Happy Hari Raya Aidilfiltri to all Muslims in Malaysia.

As the first Hari Raya under new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, it should be an
occasion for Malaysians regardless of faith, race or political beliefs to give real meaning
to his 1Malaysia slogan so that it will not be short-lived and the butt of ridicule, derision
and contempt like the slogans of previous premiers.

However, Najib’s praise for Utusan Malaysia for being “the voice of the people,
especially the Malay community” could not have come at a worse time with a more
disastrous consequence, when Utusan Malaysia had been most guilty in fanning racial
and religious ill-will and misunderstanding in recent months.

Malaysia’s international competitiveness recently came under a cloud with two adverse
global rankings – falling three places from 21st to 24th ranking in the World Economic
Forum (WEF)’s Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) 2009-2010 and a drop of two
places in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2010: Reforming Through Difficult Times
from 21st to 23rd placing.

With institutional efficiency, independence and professionalism a major factor in

Malaysia’s fall in international competitiveness rankings, and no signs of meaningful
institutional reforms as evident from the prolonged crisis of confidence in key institutions
like the judiciary, the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency, the Elections
Commission and the public service, Malaysia’s future in the global arena is grim.

A meaningful slogan, programme and policy of 1Malaysia is one response – but not
when 1Malaysia is mere rhetoric contradicted at every turn of reality that it stands for the
very opposite of an united, harmonious and competitive Malaysia.

Some food for thought