Transcending racial, cultural and religious barriers.

Look around and we see people in the political arena who put on a show of leadership through various issues and causes, purport to represent certain quarters and in doing so willingly scatter lies and half-truths to achieve their aims. Of course, there are those who genuinely fight for the rights of the downtrodden.

Especially in politics, it is so interesting to study the individuals who, despite their supposedly maturity which ought to be a necessary requirement in leadership, hurl curses and arouse their followers to racial, cultural and religious fervour.

Sometimes, the followers are to be blamed for being so easily led astray. But then that is human nature; being easily influenced by words and the person espousing the ideas and falsehood, especially when that person is of the same race and religion as his followers. Great is the guy who can get people from other races, cultures and religions to follow his ideas and opinions. Just as great are the people who are able to transcend such racial, cultural and religious influences to join someone to achieve even greater heights in whatever endeavour.

Especially in a multi-racial country, and the number of such countries is increasing as immigration of people occur frequently due to easy transport and better acceptance of talented people from other countries, national leaders must be able to transcend racial, cultural and religious differences and limits. Only when leaders are able to achieve such an open-mindedness can they be acceptable to every citizen in a country. If such leaders constantly are thinking of their original race's welfare and giving only his race preferential treatment, they can be assured of reducing support and popularity among the citizens. In Malaysia, racial parties are losing popularity as the citizens become aware of the unfairness of the policies of leaders from such racial parties. Racial parties are certainly on the way out. How can a country be really united in the true sense of the word when the leaders are always thinking along racial lines and hiding truths from the public as well as preventing their being questioned with the Official Secrets Act. (Imagine having the privatisation of its highways under the Official Secrets Act. It certainly sounds fishy.) The increase in the number of educated people, through educational institutions and the internet with easily available knowledge and understanding have mentally developed sufficiently to appreciate justice and righteousness for all human brothers and sisters.

A few years ago, we rejoice in the election of the first American Negro as the President of America. It was a moment of celebration for mankind as humans recognise the truth that all man are of the human race. It is not the member of which race who was elected but the most capable, respected individual in a country. In this aspect, Malaysia is still far behind although there are signs that people are becoming more and more truly educated. Recently, we saw a protest when a capable woman of a minority race was chosen to head just a department. The protesters claimed that heads of departments must be held by a person of the majority race. So much for the maturity and mentality of those people. Of course, it could be due to immatured leaders posturing a master race concept. These poor people forgot what happened to the Japanese with their World War One or Hitler with his Second World War. People who believe in a master race cannot be a true believer of God for God created all humans equal.

Education and understanding are important in the fight against racial, cultural and religious discrimination. Thus, it is essential that governments take education to every nook and corner of their countries, to every rural district, ensuring that schools in those areas are given all possible financial assistance to equip such schools with sufficient and proper facilities so that no child is deprived of excellent educational opportunities, no matter where he or she is located. In a country like Malaysia which ought to be rich with its many natural resources can easily implement such a development.

Unfortunately, due to reasons best known to the politicians, such a possible development never come for the rural poor. Instead, politics seems to be determined to use the excuse of improving the lot of the poor majority race to actually enrich only a small group of the majority race. And this small group of enriched politicians are still shouting the same racial cries in the hope of enriching themselves even more without much thought to the rural poor except the time before another election. Apparently, racial politics is more about enriching politicians and their cronies. Sad to say, there does not seem to be a way out as the number who are still easily led astray by racial and religious incitement is still considerable.

Therefore, the only hope which exists is the rise of multi-racial or truly Malaysian represented parties to replace such racial parties. As citizens, we have to play our part to ensure future leaders transcend racial, cultural and religious barriers.

Where is our country heading to?

Sometimes the most unexpected things happen. you would think that in an adult world, there must be sufficient maturity and good sense to elect leaders who can be highly respected wherever his/her name is mentioned.

Lately, we have read of one politician in Malacca who was elected despite his being found guilty of corruption. So, what do we have? Where are we going to hide our shame each time someone points out that we have a corrupted leader?

Recently a political party's delegates were unperturbed to elect a person who had admitted to a sexual scandal as the top leader of the party. What is our criteria of a truly respectable leader? Would a man who had succumbed to temptations at the expense of his own wife think twice about the party he heads should an even more attractive temptation be placed before him?

Besides the leaders mentioned there have been happenings which point to the decay that is bringing our country down to a depth most improbable when we know that our country, Malaysia, is one of those most fortunate countries to possess so much natural resources and wealth.

We have scandal after scandal. We read of a horrible murder which is still discussed among the citizens in which explosives from the army that would certainly be not so easily available, had been used. We read of missing airplane engines being transported out of a well-guarded army camp to be sold to another country. Yet, those caught were of the lower ranks. If such lower ranking officers have such brains to smuggle out plane engines not just out of an army camp but also out of the country, then they ought to be given higher commanding posts to hold. We have controversies in medical autopsies on people who had died in custody. We have a court appeal by one political party made so fast while the other party's appeal took a few months. All these are so clearly unjust that the attention of most of the citizens are drawn to its unfairness. We also have the PKNZ in Port Klang, a project in which, according to reports, there has been obvious corruption. This corruption had been exposed by the ousted top leader of the political party which had replaced him with a tainted leader in an election.

With the bold leader defeated, will the PKNZ corruption case continue to be investigated? Will there be a cover up? Will big fishes in the corruption case escape? Well, we have to wait and see. with hindsight, we will be able to understand why certain quarters were so determined to have the election to topple the man who could have brought dignity back to the party.

The picture I paint is not pretty or bright. But then, unless we know the darkness, we may not be able to appreciate the light. No matter what, we know that after the night, dark, mysterious and unfathomable it may be, comes the light to show us the way forward, bringing forth new hope in the future. The knowledge of the night can help us find the right path forward, hopefully.

Attention and love make the difference.

Today, in the star newspaper, was this sad and tragic report of the death of one young twenty-six year old man who was stabbed to death by his own younger twenty-three year old brother as a result of a quarrel.

According to the report, the parents blamed the tragedy on siblings rivalry since childhood.

It seems improbable that such a deadly ending could be possible of their relationship as both the brothers had apparently acquired education above that of the average individual. The elder brother was in his final year of a master degree while the younger sibling hold a diploma in business management.

According to the parents, the quarrels and fights between the two children were over petty issues, probably arising from jealousy and unhappiness.

From the case, parents should be aware that even among siblings, every indication of unhappiness ought to be looked into seriously. So often have I seen parents so slipshod in treating such cases. They consider such happenings as natural and would certainly peter out as the children grow older. The words, 'They are just like that. It's normal for them to behave thus at such an age.' are so frequently heard by parents who believe everything will turn out right as the children grow older.

Perhaps parents ought to read or be taught child psychology where we are told children can become jealous of the fuss and attention given to the new-born baby. If we understand this part of the feeling of the elder child and not neglect the elder child but get him/her involved in the process of giving attention to the new-born, then his jealousy may abate or be defused as the new-born became a part of him/her and not a distraction of the attention he/she had been used to.

Jealousy and sibling rivalry can result from the one-sided appreciation of the siblings by the parents. Well, no two individuals are the same. One may be quicker, smarter, more agile, more capable or more in everything than the other. Parents heap praises on the one who achieve more, obviously. However, parents should always pay just as much attention to the one who seems less capable. Give that less capable child as much love as the capable one. Hug him/her as much as the other. And show as much enthusiasm and heap praise on him or her achievements as they happen no matter how much smaller the achievements are comparatively. In fact, never compare in words as well as in deeds. I believe every child is as beloved as another. If the talents are not seen, they perhaps have not been given the opportunity to emerge yet.

Furthermore, when it comes to ability, our measuring instrument is more often than not, faulty. For example, some are spiritualist and their capabilities may not be so obvious. Capabilities are only obvious when someone is able to excel in matters of education and the arts where there are opportunities to be tested, to have a platform to perform, with talents that can be evaluated with certificates and monetary awards. Capability with handling children and social work for example is not as obvious. Later in life, while working at something else, do the people themselves discover the niche most desirable. Other people may not even realise that these people are talented in such matters.

However, coming back to children, be it obvious or not that they possess certain abilities, parents should always give them all the attention and love possible despite the time constraint in their lives. In a family, which adult have no time constraints?

The return of Captain Latib Keroh of Tanjung Dawai.

"Do you know that I believe in being possessed by a spirit?" this friend asked me.
"How's that so?" I inquired with curiosity.

"Well it happened during my childhood days in Tanjung Dawai, Kedah, Malaysia. I was about ten years old when I witnessed a man possessed by a spirit. And this isn't any cock and bull story. It's a true story. I can vouch for it." He nodded his head vigorously as he stressed that it was the truth for he was a witness to what happened when the possessed fisherman was brought back to the beach of Tanjung Dawai.

This is his story:

It was in the evening, about six o'clock when a boat with a few fishermen tied up their boat and pulled and dragged their friend out of the boat onto the beach. This friend was tied with a rope and the reason given was that this friend would struggle frantically and talked gibberish. He was talking in a strange language none of them could understand. He sounded like an Englishman or an European. At that age I could neither understand nor know the difference. To ensure his as well as their safety in the boat, they had no alternative but to tie him up.

I had seen that tied up fisherman's walk and behaviour before as he was a familiar figure on the beach in Tanjung Dawai. That evening, his voice was not similar to his; it being hoarser and louder than his. The manner he carried himself and walked was different too. He moved as one holding some kind of authority and the way his shoulders swung as he strode forward could be described as swaggering.

Then, he gave himself a name, "I'm Captain Latib(possibly 'Latif') Keroh." It sounded like a Malay name but he certainly did not talk in Malay. Not during the first part of that encounter anyway. Was it a Malay name or did our ears associate the sounds of an English name with Malay equivalent sounds?

Then, suddenly, he surprised us with "Lu mau harta? Ada harta. (You want treasure? Have treasure.)"

All those people of Tanjung Dawai who had gathered to watch the incident were interested and went closer to listen to whatever revelation there could be. There were told the conditions for finding the treasure. A goat had to be slaughtered and offered to him. Then, only one person, the one who wanted the treasure, would have to follow him back to the island where he came from, to be shown the treasure.

Upon being told that only one person is allowed to follow him back to one of the islands near Tanjung Dawai, none dared to speak, none was brave enough to go for the treasure. If the spirit of Captain Latib had allowed three or four, perhaps there would have been takers of such a venture to look for treasure. One? No dice. Nobody was game for it.

Eventually, the spirit of Captain Latib said,"If you don't want the treasure, then I am going back." With that, the tied up fisherman fell forward onto his hands and face. When he came to, he looked in astonishment at the crowd gathered around him. He wondered what had transpired and upon being told about the spirit that had taken over his body, he was shocked for some time.

Accoding to this friend who told the story, anyone his age or slightly older would know the story of Captain Latib Keroh. This friend is forty-nine years old.

So, believe it or not, there is such a thing as possession by spirits.In fact I had witness another case in a school I taught where each time it happened, the bomoh (the local spiritual medicine-man)would have to chant and pray to persuade the spirit to leave the victims in peace. Among the Malays, it was and still is quite common although Islam, the religion of the Malays, does not accept the existence of such spirits.

I have seen it happen. So have quite a number of other people. Some think they are merely a creation of the mind. If you are lucky,witness such a happening and realise the truth. Truth is certainly sometimes stranger than fiction.

Quiting is not the way out..

John entered an organisation. He had a vision of how the organisation could move forward to achieve the purpose of helping the poor and downtrodden. He put in a lot of effort because he had a good cause. His work was appreciated and despite some detractors, he continued as the top man in the organisation welcome and supported his ideas. He was never a threat to anybody as his aim was never to take over anyone's position. He was happy to be just a member of the committee watching the progress of his ideas as they materialised into beneficial, appreciated work in the organisation. His vision of speedy assistance where needed was being implemented as he had planned.

Then, with his capability recognised, it was just a matter of time before he became the president of the organisation. With a post other might aspire to occupy, it was only a matter of time before someone arose to oppose some of his ideas. It did happen and that brought some annoyance. As the problem dragged on, annoyance turned to frustration and then anger. As the tide of opposition increased in strength, he vacated the post he had never craved for in the first place as he merely wanted to see his vision become reality.

Was that the right thing to do? What would happen to the ideas implemented? Would not there be change from the people who took over? Could the vision be lost, the effort wasted just by quitting?

That was exactly what happened. Of course, he was not the only person who faced disappointment. So did his supporters in the organisation. He did not give it another thought but went off in search of another body to pursue his vision again. After all, there are other organisations with almost the same goals.

Still, the question; Is quitting the right move?, remains to question one's wisdom. If on is ousted from a post through an election of office-bearers, that is another matter. We have to accept the vote of the majority.

First, it is a fact that in any family, community, group, club, society or country, that the people in them comprise of individuals. Every individual has his or her own characteristics and mannerisms. No two persons are totally the same. We have those who can joke and those who can't. We have people who are always trying to find fault no matter how you may try to please them. There are people who think they are the best and all the others have to move aside when they put forward their views. Some would like to talk about their capabilities for hours while others merely want to be inconspicuous in the crowd. There are some who want things done their way or else. Now all kinds of people are around everywhere and anywhere you go. There is just no way we can avoid them unless we want to stay secure in our little world of four walls surrounding a little space.

So these people are everywhere. We have our ambitions and we just have to accommodate these people as they come into our path. Be angry with them if we wish to but let not the anger stay to interfere with our programme. Be annoyed and fed-up with them if necessary but let the feeling pass and carry on with the task at hand. Stop and listen to them, admit that they have their point and their point will be given consideration as well as changes made if possible, apologise to them for not being able to implement their suggestions if necessary but we have to carry on with our vision, our cause or whatever. We must never quit unless we are voted out.

We should never quit and join another organisation for what is there to guarantee that the same type of people will not be around to mess up our efforts. Such people will always be around everywhere we go and so, to quit, and start all over again in another group is not the right option. We just have to persevere with the understanding that wherever we go, there can always be such obstacles and hindrances. We have to accept them as part of the problems we will encounter in our struggle for our cause. With that understanding, such annoying, disturbing and infuriating people will become more acceptable in our mind and will not be too much of a problem to handle.

Therefore, in life, it is alright to lose but never be a quitter.

Children look towards their parents for encouragement.

A child would put full enthusiasm into everything of interest. In their enthusiasm, they concentrate on their project without thoughts for their surroundings, their clothes and the condition of their appearance. Thus, it is not surprising to find a child so involved in something that he/she does not bother about time. The child will go on and on with his/her interest.

This is something parents ought to understand to appreciate the cause of their ignoring calls to dinner and so forth which is interference to the child’s present time joy. Understand that the child is putting in one hundred percent interest in his effort. Do not expect him to stop immediately. Go and get his attention slowly and gradually, then tell him/her about his/her next project. Get the child to turn his interest towards another direction.

As the child puts in effort into whatever is being done, clothes are bound to be dirtied, wet and crumpled. Even the hair, face and body may get some nature’s colours and pastes. So, if possible, keep the dirt and bacteria from him/her, not keep him/her away from the contaminants. Meaning that if the child plays in a clean environment; a well-kept room or hall perhaps, then the chances of him or her getting dirtied can be very slim. However, let the child play on sandy, clayey or loamy ground and we can expect more changes of clothes.

Now, the above would warn parents about the things they can expect and so not go into a rage over such matters. Do not grumble or scold about the messiness of his/her efforts. Give him a smile instead and get him or her to bathe more often. Encourage all his/her efforts for, good or bad, clean or dirty, artistic or not, they are all sincere efforts at achievement. Never judge the work done by our adult standards. If we do that, the child does not stand a chance to feel confident to carry on. Remember that children learn through such play. They learn about things around them, the effect of such things on their hands, the feel and texture and, even more important, the appreciation of their work. Without adult appreciation, there can be no encouragement to continue putting in effort. So never ever dampen such efforts.

To understand the importance of this, adults should stop and think of the feelings felt each time someone appreciates their efforts, be it games, fun or work. If you know these feelings, then you understand how vital appreciation is to the development of any child.

So, the next time your child were to scrawl or drawl something on a piece of paper, colour it with crayons or colour pencils, do ensure that you find the time to stop at least for a short moment whatever you are doing to take a look at his/her work, smile lovingly to him or her and show your appreciation of the effort. Be grateful that your child is trying something and learning in the process.

I stress on this because of the numerous times busy parents would shoo away their children with their seemingly unimportant piece of art work or small piece of self-made craft. Of course, you may not be impressed with his work as you are an adult but that is your child’s wholehearted attempt at expression or creativity in a piece of child art. Know that those few minutes of appreciation, now and then, each and every day can bring so much much needed encouragement for your child’s progress in his growth of self-esteem, a self respect which would give him/her the confidence to learn even more and develop positively as he or she transforms from a child to a teenager into an adult with a sense of self worth that would hold him/her in good stead in every sphere of life.

So do stop to appreciate whenever a child approaches with something he/she had made. The fact that this child approaches to show it must mean that he/she have to be looking for some assurance that his/her efforts are worthwhile and his/her learning process can continue with confidence.

What’s courage? What is fear?

During my secondary school days, my parents rented a floor of a three-storey house in Bishop Street, Penang. At that time, I had already taken up weight-lifting to strengthen my weak body. I can still remember the great feeling of my strength developing each day as I conscientiously followed a regime of exercise and nutrition to develop strength as fast as I could, enjoying each moment of pain as the muscles in my body grew bigger, firmer and tougher.

It was also in Bishop Street that I had my moment of truth. In those days, there were street gangs and to be safe you have to acknowledge them as your big brothers. I belonged to no such gangs and such people like me were at the mercy of those people. With their numbers, the individual was no match for them. Move away or be mowed down. That was the law of the concrete jungle. Obey that law or your safety is at risk.

However, one evening, with two years of strength training and a solid body to prove it, I returned home from the gym to find my path blocked by one such 'big brother'. Fortunately, he was alone. Young and egoistic, seeing the guy as just my size then, I continued my way instead of moving to the other side of the road like I had done whenever they had a group of them. He faced me as I walked straight towards him. I could have just walked pass him without either of us having to move to one side. However, as I got nearer, he sifted his position to place himself directly into my path. My stupid ego refused to safeguard myself by moving to one side to avoid him. I plowed on. Then, unbelievable as it was, he moved aside for me. Elated, I went on to pass him without looking back, for I was also fearful of the consequences should he decide to call upon his group to teach me a lesson which did happen in another incident at Great World Park, Penang; the incident in which I have written about how a friend and I went through back lanes and places to evade their search. (I have written that in an earlier post on the ego.)

Yes, my heart did beat faster and there was that fear in my heart. But that moment of truth taught me that such people were only brave when they are backed by others. They are courageous because of the numbers. It also taught me that fear could always be there in us when we understand the danger and risk we encounter even when we gather sufficient nerve to face it.

It was a moment of truth that has taught me that courage comes to those who are confident of winning. The fear will be there if we understand that we are sure the chances of losing is greater or when we have no chance at all of winning. And fear of losing something valuable to us may give us the courage to try. Or the fear of hurting someone we love may stop us from carrying on or trying further. Yes, the courage to sacrifice for a loved one can be due to the fear of hurting that somebody. Such are the moments of truth and hurt that I have faced.