A Challenged Mindset

Before I start this probably controversial discussion, I hope readers as well as hypocrites are ready to take a step back, breathe in deep, relax and just be open-minded to give me a chance to be heard. And yes, give yourself a fair chance to listen to what others have got to offer to you. You can decide to stop reading here if you think this mumbo-jumbo blogger here is just another typical nobody who’s fighting to outshine others, do feel free to miss out what I’m about to share from paragraph 3 onwards.

Let me make an introduction. Yesterday, I went to Putra Nilai Industrial Area for the first time with my family and it definitely widened my horizon. I’ll have to say, I love the entire idea of this super value textile, handicraft, wholesale and shopping industrial spot especially having linked to the tourism idea! Fabulous! Big hands for the mastermind behind the idea! Honest. My appreciation to the team behind the amazing idea and I’m honored as a Malaysian to eye-witness this huge one-stop shopping/ tourist venue/ destination under the extremely Malaysian atmosphere. Yes it’s open-aired. Sort of similar to the china town idea I guess but perhaps focused slightly more on our beloved Malay entrepreneurs. I hope our dear Malay friends out there don’t take this statement and topic as offensive but instead a challenge if it’s worth internalizing and reflecting upon. And mind you, I am not any against the public funds channeling to our Malay friends as I do believe that you need it more than us do, not because you are the natives of this beautiful country, not just because you are the majority and never that we fear your power in numbers, but because we as a whole in Malaysia cannot prosper if the majority is not doing well! We need to work hand-in-hand to make Malaysia truly spectacular to the world!

So what had I observed in Putra Nilai Industrial Area? First, plenty of HUGE retail businesses ranging from textile and handicrafts, carpets, artworks, restaurants, even vegetable market to other smaller retailers such as dry food retailers and maybe some other I missed out. Secondly, and most disturbing to me, the ratio of sellers to customers is likely 10 to 1! (Mind you, I’m not focusing on racial ratio of near 9:1 BUT the prospects of this INDUSTRY!) If you see what I see, instead of raging against the government’s unfairness against the minority races, shouldn’t we just focus on the bigger picture of building a stronger nation?! Thirdly, the distressing fact that I eye-witnessed a lot of “complacency” within these business owners, who appeared lay back and relaxing while in their OWN SHOPS!! With all the RESOUCES and EFFORTS subsidized and granted by the government, I’m NOT MAD, but EXTREMELY UPSET seeing this widespread phenomenon. Honestly upset, not angry, but disappointed..

Take this as a compliment our dear Malay friends, we know that there are many TALENTED people amongst you, and you are definitely SMART. But think again; reflect upon yourself, had you made wiser use of your smarts and the endless assistance provided by our generous government, shouldn’t you have achieved the same standard of living the upper middle class races now? Instead of making use of the government funds and enjoying the fruits of it laying down there and taking things for granted, shouldn’t you fight hard to impress us (the non-majority, I’m NOT racist) with DILIGENCE and SERIOUS BRAINWORK?!! You are smart, undeniably, but is it wiser to insist to fight for your KETUANAN KEPADA TANAH MELAYU for the government to continue feeding you OR better take this GIFT of god (the government’s relentless support) to STRIVE for something that can bring you SUSTAINABLE GROWTH and SUSTAINABLE WEALTH in a more REASONABLE MANNER?!!

Think hard, really hard! Is it better you continue to marginalize the non-majority by making them work harder for you (and hence tougher and more COMPETITIVE in the GLOBAL level) while you continue to lay back (lackadaisical, the Malaysian-made-famous “TIDAK APA attitude”), INSTEAD OF learning the TRAITS of the non-majority’s SUCCESSES?! My dad used to advise me to set my mind overseas for better prospects because Malaysia honors no talents.

Think about it, think HARD! Do we, the non-majorities earn our wealth by mere luck, or enjoy the supports of our beloved government, or simply because god gives us a chance to be ENTREPRENEURS?!!

NO NO NO!!! Think again! We fought like hell (not literally with PARANGS and by RAGING to the government with street demonstrations or politicking with our race to DRAMATIZE the racial divide and bluntly fight for common interest which is KETUANAN whatever whatever) in silence by working extremely hard over the years, by thinking and analyzing very meticulously why and how we can make ourselves better and stronger (in terms of wealth and achievements) in the future. It is ingrained in our souls, even in the souls and rooted principles of our ancestors, to work extremely hard through the worst conditions and progressively achieve optimistic future, even if the light is dim. Perhaps we should fault the wealth of Malaysian history, which is honestly our PRIDE during then. The Malaysians were amazingly wealthy and well off during those days as compared to Chinese and Indians in their mainland those days. Had you seen how we viewed Tanah Melayu as a land full of opportunities and complete with more HUMANE conditions as compared to the TOUGHER conditions back then living in China and India during the historical days, and being willing to work extremely hard simply because of the little more prospects of wishing for a better life latter on. Think about it, the Chinese working damn hard in China those days don’t even have a chance to own what he worked extremely hard for, thanks to Communisms. The Indians worked darn hard in India during those days under the discrimination by their own “fairer-skinned” counterparts! Under the worst of conditions, we made our mark in Malaysia, though tiny compared to other more amazing leaders in the world. Should you grumble about not having ENOUGH SUBSIDY or NO SUBSIDY instead of rationalizing how we made our mark and becoming self-sufficient? I’m not urging the government to erase the Malay quotas or reduce or even erase subsidy for them BUT educate all Malaysians about the true and genuine ways of being SUSTAINABLY SELF-SUFFICIENT and INDEPENDENT! Continue to shower the majority with resources and they have no idea about how lucky they are and what HURDLE and HARDSHIPS can truly bring up an unbelievably successful individual. Then again, the minorities do possess traits that are not admirable too, for instance, being too realistic, unwilling to share or selfishness at times, a little cunning sometimes, a little more arrogant and perhaps more you can name a list. But take notice of this, no matter who and what races we are, we are not perfect, and we have got to admit that we need to learn from each other, and hopefully better ourselves. Kick off the bad traits and embrace the good ones; don’t all religions teach us this? Admit that we were bad and correct ourselves with sincerity!

Perhaps I’m just one of the culprits who know nothing but spend all my parents’ hard earned money like water, but I do acknowledge the fact that my parents work freaking hard to earn NOT for themselves but for their children! In fact, my mum, up to the age of 50 plus now, spends RM2 something only every meal to save for us and we, the sons on the other hand spend RM4-5 or even more on every meal outside and still having “disposable income” courtesy to their generosity, to go for entertainments! Yes I know I was bad. But the point is, our parents has this principle deeply rooted into their lives, which is, despite the hardship and the incommensurable satisfaction earned from their work, they worked so hard only to make sure that their next generation have a little something to benefit from their hard work. My mum is definitely a workaholic who never stops working on things she believed in wholeheartedly and sleeps only at most 5-6 hours a day. Regardless of how successful my mum is as an employee, she is definitely my super mum, she is definitely a successful mum seeing the amazing generosity of a mother. The point I’m underscoring here is that we, the non-majorities also believe in working extremely diligently for the greater good of our NEXT GENERATION, NOT for our own self. That’s also why we plan around having babies and not many but self-sufficient! We make sure that our babies get the best education and shelter we can provide them with. Think about it.

Had I underscored the number 1 factor non-majorities ingrained in themselves in order to succeed? We WORK extremely diligently despite the odds of hardship and unfairness. That’s partly why some of us got so infuriated against the majority sometimes. Not because we are racist but because we fought so hard for so little. Think about it. And I do understand that the majorities could be going through a “complicated self perception conflict” state whereby they do not understand why as the origins of the land who were very capable, they didn’t thrive as well as the minorities but seemed left behind by the nation’s economic developments. If I were you, if not given enough education and/ or proper mentoring, I guess it’s highly possible that I might be joining the troop to come against as infuriated people who demonstrates for dramatic change and attention. I can totally understand how it feels like to see my people suffering or not making their best possible they can in life and yet restricted by knowing how hard it is to bring them forward by aggressively instilling into their minds to change especially when it is contradictory to their ingrained beliefs (thanks to the skeptics who led ahead of you, perhaps they have brainwashed your people, be it sincere or with hidden agendas maybe eyeing on power {the fact is some of these “leaders” are not born faithful nor ready to accept critics and change for the better}), work harder instead of forcing or relying on the government to save them. It is hard even for an exceptionally genuine and talented leader born from the less maintained rural areas to be heard his or her RAGE for a fairer opportunity, especially when he is on his own. He needs the power of number to be heard, and without the support of at least his people (who could be less open for new ideas and explanations) in him, can he even stand a chance to stand out and do something for them?

Everything started from a sincere wish to help others and make things better, but as time progresses, and more negative influences from a not-so-ideal world out there, this little compassionate individual may end up a changed man. Who may eventually find reality so hard to accept (worse to even temper with) and ended up embracing the material evil that everyone in the urban devours for. The temptations, the lusts, the power, the material wealth, the social status, the politics; can we ever sincerely solve problems? Can corruption ever be changed? I have deep belief in our current PM Pak Lah despite the wide preference over Tun M. He showed a different side of a modern day leader. Perhaps there are critics saying that he is lazy and not doing his work. I don’t buy into everything critics say, because they never know how to stand from an impartial viewpoint by analyzing and sharing also the goods of people they criticize against. And the greatest thing about PM Pak Lah is that he never fought aggressively against the people who got so personal against his beliefs and actions no matter how hard they attack. He is a true saint, regardless if he is shrewd or effective enough to be a CEO. Malaysia is now on a different set of environment compared to the days Tun M led us, we need a positive mindset change instead of aggressive remarks and actions to force people to see us, (say NO to WHITE ELEPHANT projects!) PM Pak LAh is one-of-a-kind leader to set his mark on building a moralistic and spiritual foundation for Malaysian citizens! (At least this is what I see him doing, not what he self-claimed that he is doing or asked me to do!) Strictly not religious.

So, coming to the next observation. As I mentioned earlier on is that these business owners are contented and laid back. Take notice that I am NOT infuriated BUT EXTREMELY UPSET. Had the government provided them with all necessary workshops and consultation they need to ensure the investments are worthwhile in the EXTREMELY LONG TERM?? Yes I am highlighting EXTREMELY Long term, not just long term or short term!! I am pretty sure the masterminds behind the plan do plan ahead but had you considered the possibility of the underlying failure of all your enormous plans (turning into WHITE ELEPHANTS) are not because of the failure of your documented long term plans, BUT the MENTALITY, ATTITUDES, APPROACHES and the LACK OF PROPER and UPLIFTING EDUCATION you need to plan for your people.

Mentality as I said earlier on, the willingness to endure hardship and work extremely diligently in order to hope for a slightly better chance of succeeding and more towards building the strong foundation of sustainable growth and self-sufficiency or independence.

Attitudes as in the right mindset by seeing your business truly as your own baby (NOT the government’s funds) and wanting no less than making sure it profits by taking into consideration strategic plans into the future, taking actions to counteract inefficiencies and incompetency, and treating your customers as your boss so as to encourage them to cater your business again in the future! Do you even have the slightest idea of how hard it is to repair the damage you caused for a bad reputation you made to 1 client? Look at the sour faces some of your employees put on. Look at the laid back and don’t-care-a-damn attitude (lackadaisical) or sluggish/ slow reactions a few of your employees project! Let’s imagine how you as a customer feel when you are trying to have a nice meal at THAT restaurant and 9 times out of 10 it’s not even open!! You have any idea how that sucks and failed your reputation?!! And here’s a hint from the pros, it is 10 times costlier to rebuild your reputation than to build a new business!!

That’s precisely why some of us do not agree with the quotas and subsidy you provide the majority. Not because we are racist but they DO NOT know how to APPRECIATE it! Even if they do feel blessed, did they project the appreciation image to the public?? Did they make full use of it to prosper and show the PUBLIC INVESTORS that they are worth investments?!! Have you the slightest idea that they have totally no idea how enduring hardship and wanting to make a difference means? Yes I do agree that the majority of our Malay friends are living under average conditions that the minority should be glad we are better off but do you know that we actually fought ourselves very hard to achieve this little difference, and NOT literally fighting the way I stressed upon earlier (refer paragraph 4 in the mid section) BUT willingness to work very hard under stressful and even unfair conditions and yet do not complain so much!

Approaches as in how the government offer specially tailored workshops to educate them about businesses in BETTER ABSORBABLE ways (refer to the best workshops produced by multinational companies that are widely acclaimed their training workshops, humbly refer to the best people to learn and achieve synergy of efforts!) and do consistently follow up instead of blindly offering workshops that see slow progress! It’s a WAKE-UP CALL here! NOT CRITICS for no reasons. I may not be right completely, but I’m sure there are solid points you have got to take heed of and at least just try understanding from my point. Just the way I took heed of every single individual’s point of views even when I am skeptical about their inputs and thoughts! And the result is - me! Who am I? A nobody but somebody who at least knows how to challenge my own mind to analyze and think critically for solutions to little problems we face in this POTENTIALLY IDEAL WORLD (but I sure believe I am one-of-a-kind as I dared to speak up despite the potential critiques I am about to face on my own, I have nothing to profit from this self-made project other than recognition if that even stands a chance!). Yes I admit that I am just representing my own stand here, not even a few people, but just me alone, because this is a one-man-show. So you can choose to ignore my comments. Feel free to entertain yourself. Stick with your closed box!

If I were you (the government), observing the widespread “epidemic” of failed small and medium scale businesses in the country despite your encouragements and subsidies, assemble the country’s potential managers and accountants, the graduates and make it mandatory that all graduate accounting students have to go through at least 3 months of internship in these small businesses! And work on their final year project to impress upon the community that they can solve a business failure by analyzing the underlying problems and proposing practical solutions that can be undertaken! Okay the key point is, empower the accounting graduates access to these businesses’ accounting records and make them utilize the accounting and management theories they fucking learn in their courses and implement them! Have the lecturers work additionally hard as well to follow up on these graduates’ real life projects and make sure they are NOT benefiting at the business owners’ expenses! They ought to know how serious it is found guilty of any accounting or corporate scandal! This is practical learning! Not those gibberish management and accounting internship jobs making us work like IDIOTS being abused or exploited in even multinational companies like the banking industry working as a data entry personnel or clerk! Is that what our internship function supposes to teach us? I know you employers have your points, “the kids have to learn through hardship by going through the groundwork and bla bla bla. Furthermore they are not ready for any decision makings…” And couldn’t you give the graduates more CRITICAL THINKING ASSIGNMENTS to challenge them instead when you, the employers are complaining about the INCOMPETENCE of our graduates nowadays! Especially our uncompetitive local university graduates! Trust me; you can’t produce quality youths when you are skeptical at first, not to mention the quality of the MEDIOCRE STUDENT MENTALITY! Where the fuck is our DESIRE TO SUCCEED and MAKE A DIFFERENCE?!! I’m sure the higher education minister has abundance of highly qualified and professional talents that can work out a superior education system that is feasible by progressively encouraging their talents to break free from that enclosed box and think creatively, open-minded, rationally with reality-checks! I’m optimistic that you can prove miracles are within grabs! Why don’t you, as the highest authority sitting on the top appearing in the public every now and then, a sincere believer who dares not THINK BIG and LIVE UP TO IT by INFLUENCING FASTER POSITIVE CHANGES! I know you are working hard, and I know that you are responsible and great, but the thing is how can we educate the public that we should be competitive and energetically hard workers (who are also smart workers!) when we ourselves are SLOW?! Does that make sense?? If bureaucracy is the limitation setting us back, then erase it by all means! Okay I know things need time to progress and change, but do occasionally give positive surprises highlighting miraculous achievements (done by the government, of course have to be backed with solid evidence!) to the public, not just anticipated progress that kick starts no inspirations!! I AM CHALLENGING YOU FROM A NOBODY’S BIG DREAMS! Why don’t you make us even more PROUD of you, you, and you and then collectively all of us, as MALAYSIANS!! That’s the true essence and spirit of “Malaysia Boleh!”. NOT just words without actions! (you may say that I am also wording only without taking actions, but at least with my one man ability, I wrote up to challenge a drastic change in our Malaysians’ mindset! Had I done nothing then?!!)

All comes to a conclusion; I wish no more to get racial about anything in our lives from this day onward. All I wished is that we try to love our buddy counterparts regardless of their skin colors and together we thrive and succeed together in the eyes of the world. Take heed of each other’s advices, not blindly accept them but internalize and self-reflect, then modify them into one of your own. As Tun M always used dilemma in his speeches, and he never failed to impress the “followers”, I’m not saying that he’s not good, but honestly respect him a great lot for his beliefs and visions that put our beloved Malaysia on the map today. Nonetheless, sometimes we have got to have faith in the current administration for their benevolent work and try to stand from others’ points of view. Everybody may have their hidden agendas behind their vastly accepted public speeches. And not every one of them put others’ interests in front of theirs. Do criticize me by putting forward my self-interest that you can claim as my list of hidden agenda, I’m definitely not a great person or how I self-projected here as anyone but another selfish individual perhaps. The only thing I dare stand up for is that I am an Idealist. And I do believe that IF EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON EARTH CARED TO TAKE A STEP BACK, REFLECT UPON OWNSELF, AND GIVE OTHERS A CHANCE TO SPEAK OUT THEIR MINDS WITHOUT PREJUDICE, WE CAN SOLIDLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

The world will not only be a better place to live in, but an IDEAL WORLD to live in. Believe it or not.