Leadership at its best

The ideals of a proactive leader will always reflect upon their subjects.A good leader in due course will produce excellent followers.On that perspective,I look upon the Johore Sultanates who have brought about tremendous development to Johore in their reign.With a mind of their own,the constitution and its legislative assembly,they have successfully propagated that no one is above the law, the necessity of a good education,efficiency in administration and good ethics brings any nation to unimaginable heights.They have proven that good political administration is still possible in Malaysia.Try getting a 'datoship' from the Johore Sultanates??Its not as easy as you think..You REALLY have to deserve it because since 1885 there are only 700 people who have received it! Being born and bred in Johore,and coming from a family who has loyally served the Johore Sultanates for three consecutive generations,I have come to realize that a great working attitude and hard work are excellent trademarks that will get its due admiration and recognition after time.Their leadership has definitely left a profound impression in my ways of thinking, which emphasizes that good leadership qualities is an important benchmark for development in a family and in a nation.Also not forgetting the neighbor whose a stone's throw away-Singapore and its former glory- President Lee Kuan Yew have proven the same as well..and yes,the similarities between these two icons are nothing but supreme leadership qualities and world class professionalism..

The rapist or the ideologies to the gallows?

A rapist is stereotyped as someone who is psychologically affected. But the man who was an accomplice to Nirbhaya’s rape ( Mukesh Singh) was someone who was totally ‘normal’ by medical standards and as odd as it is, he was unflinched by his remorseful act and what he said outraged many of us alike. Some even requested Mukesh to be sent to the gallows for his thoughts of believing that it was Nirbhaya’s fault that she got raped! What should be questioned here is the scary sanctity of his mind towards his belief. Where did all his convictions come from? Won’t it be ludicrous if we hung Mukesh Singh for what he said then? You may want to answer that question. The words we speak are the product of a systematically constructed practice and belief which has been indoctrinated into a person’s mind for centuries and generations. Any course of action, attitudes and thoughts are composed by these ideas. Anything that’s uttered is a presentation of such beliefs. So who should we blame now? An ideology or concept is usually formed by the ruling class to encourage their continual dominance over a particular society of the ruled classes. The truth is ideology distorts reality! Sadly, we don’t see it that way as there is too much fear of practically everything.We love playing safe than questioning! It is the safest bet right? An ideology is often believed to be true because it serves the purpose to orderliness and these ideologies are easily acceptable when it performs as a policy, doctrine or an economic system that would otherwise be rejected. An ideology is often used as a tool to falsely manipulate an individual’s consciousness. Unless ideologies are questioned and blasphemy, which is the most overly-abused-political mechanism, is studied, and the need to think becomes imperative, these abuses and every cruelty towards humanity on earth shall continue to happen. Even god can’t stop that!

The 'facilitating ghost' Debut - A True Story

Date    : 21/7/2014

Time   : 5.30 pm

Venue :My House

Yesterday I was back at 5.30 pm.I was glad that my landlady was not at home as she is one prying woman who picks on the silliest things imaginable. Shortly after entering the house, I walked to the kitchen to wash my lunch box. Afterwards, I decided to cook something for dinner. As I walked towards the dustbin to dispose the leftovers,I noticed that the back door was open about three quarters apart. However, the iron grill was locked. I decided not to close the door as I wanted to get back at my landlady for being careless herself. It was around six thirty in the evening when it happened.

You see, the stove in my kitchen faces the "shutter like" pane windows which were apparently closed.The sky was still bright actually. As I was cooking, I noticed something which looked like a faint white shadow passing by right outside the window as if gliding but not in a walking motion. I'm pretty sure I saw something lucidly moving across but I couldn’t really figure out what it was. For a while I thought it was the landlady who had returned home. Instinctively, I opened the shutters to see if it was her as I have to mention that she is infamously creepy at times. Surprisingly, there was no one there! For a while, I thought that someone had come to the house and so I decided to take a look. As I was about to walk out of the kitchen, I actually noticed that the back door which was earlier open, was now shut close!!

I was confused for a while as I was darn sure that no one else was at home except the both of us. My daughter came running to me giggling away from the living room when she saw me coming out from the kitchen. That affirms the fact that she was not in the kitchen either. I stood still for a while trying to figure out how did the door get closed by itself? I was very sure that the weather was not windy either. Even if it was, I am sure I would have heard the loud thud of the door!!Soon after my landlady came home, I asked her if she had come home in between to which she answered "NO". When I narrated the incident to her, with a quirky look on her face as if she knew something, she gave a sinister smile and responded:"Next time, don’t feed your daughter food outside the house and don’t let her play outside the house very late in the evenings. Things like this are normal around here. I told you the other day itself when you car alarm went off that day but you didn't believe me." Only then I knew that the rental package included 'ghostly facilitators' who 'helped' you set your car alarm off and close doors for you as well, when needed. 

After the very fruitful conversation with my landlady, I got back to my room going about doing my normal routine. Before going to sleep at about 11.45 pm, I did my usual prayers requesting for a protection from any bad entities. As I was meditating, I heard someone knocking my room door twice. I called out but no one replied. Right then, I paused, swallowed some air and in my mind's voice I said,"Whatever "you" are…your debut was good and one of a kind, but I can't promise you a role even in the local movies but please spare me your reappearances after this and for the ghostly antics, thanks again for closing the door, it's appreciated but it will not be necessary after time. I am going to sleep now." Let's hope it's a decent ghost with good manners and knows that it's rude to disturb and play with people's car alarm and doors... 

Own up to your utterances

We must be accountable for any words or statements we make. It is the duty of leaders to ensure that their words are calculated and that they are responsible for what they say in Parliament.

When a mistake is made, whether intentionally or otherwise, it is only right for the person to apologise to show he is sensitive to the sentiments of others.

We live in a polychromic and polycultural society and we must remember that we are not merely Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Malays, Chinese or Indians. We are Malaysians first and the latter is secondary.

A good leader should cultivate this truth. Once this is established, it will gradually eradicate narrow selfishness, hatred and prejudice.

Leaders play an important role in shaping the nation, thus it is their responsibility to choose the right course of action to ensure that it doesn’t affect anyone in a negative way.

Lastly, what is done today will be important for the future. There must be a paradigm shift where everyone must acknowledge that unity is the most important priority and we cannot afford to be dogmatic nor orthodox with our views but rather must keep ourselves open to multiple options, value systems, ways of thinking and to learn to embrace humanity with open arms despite our differences and practices.

We should be a mosaic nation where everyone can coexist on equal footing and ever citizen should be respected and perceived as human beings who are special in their own way beyond anything else.

Oh My Gaaawd!!

With all these issues of the A***h (SORRY THAT ITS SOOOO FORBIDDEN IN MALAYSIA THAT I HAVE TO USE ASTERISKS )word usage, I think firstly,I wish to thank my liberal-minded parents,and I wish to convey my gratitude to all the teachers who taught me Islam. All my school friends know that I took Pendidikan Islam throughout my tertiary education and I was quoted by the Education General of Malaysia in The Star for being the first student who sat for an Islamic paper for PMR an also completed the Fardhu-Ain requirement. Thank you to my teachers who taught me everything that I needed to know about Islam and never did they once discourage me from learning it. I started learning Islam when I was seven and I have completed the recital of the Al- Quran and I was thought to read Jawi by Ustad Rashid Sidek who was a scholar from the Al-Azha University of Egypt.I remember whispering to a Muslim friend of mine to read a sentence in Jawi on the blackboard when she was asked by the teacher to do so, because she didn't know how to read it. After that, I completed my SPM by again being the only non-Muslim student in my school who took Tasawwur Islam when the rest of the Muslim students in my school themselves were not allowed to sit for the paper because the teacher claimed that the subject was tough and it was for those who went to the Maad School(religious Islamic School). I remember being the only student sitting for the Tasawwur Islam paper in the exam hall and the invigilator was so astonished to see a non-muslim earnestly sitting in for an Islamic paper(Tasawwur Islam)on a Saturday morning. I passed both Islamic papers with distinction! I scored the highest grade in hafazan Al-Quran(recital) during tests and I am proud to say that! I continued until pre-University sitting for the Syariah and Usul-Fiqh paper and later I pursued a Certificate in Islamic Law at University Islam Antarabangsa.I was never once discouraged nor prohibited by the Malaysian Education Ministry nor anyone else throughout my life learning Islam. I am and I will be very grateful to all my teachers who taught me Islam and I will certainly say that Islam is one of THE MOST comprehensive, systematic, and universally tolerant religion TO THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND IT.. AGAIN, TO THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND IT!!!And to those STUPID ignorant fools out there, who claims ownership to the mere use of words..Let me tell you this.. Firstly,YOU ARE NOTHING BUT STUPID.. Secondly, the first Quranic verse was delivered to Prophet Muhammad s.a.w(who was a shepherd, an illiterate who supposedly spoke Arabic only; WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING WHY THE QURAN IS IN ARABIC) in the Hira Cave by Gabriel was Surah Al -Alaq which read "Iqra/ bi-ismi rabbika allazhee khalaq" which means "READ"- IN THE NAME OF THE LORD." This is because God wanted the prophet to preach Islam to ignorant human beings.. Technically, the prophet was not taught phonetics nor phonemics but was urged to acquire knowledge and god's revelations. 'Read' could also mean acquire knowledge…So to those fools out there who don’t understand Islam, firstly, 'READ'. Then read and understand Islam, then you will see the stupidity and that your senseless argument over the usage of mere words is the epitome of ETYMOLOGICAL STUPIDITY! CAN YOU CONTAIN GOD IN 5 letters??YOU MUST BE REALLY REALLY DUMB UP THERE FOR ACTUALLY HAVING AN ARGUMENT ABOUT THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE…

Children at their wits end

There's been many issues involving children in the headlines and it is about time we take these matters very seriously as it is now plaguing the society and the nation. Recently, we have come across news such as funds misused for undernourished children, mum gets custody of Islam converted children from their Islam converted father and even a shocking news of a 9- months-old baby charged for attempted murder in Pakistan! 

Ironically, the 21st century has experienced great paradigm shifts where we have fought for causes championing the eradication of child labor, child marriages and children's rights, but yet, we still continue to witness numerous disturbing practices related to children. A child as young as 2 is subjected to rape and 6 year olds abusing drugs still continue to happen! Sometimes, some parents even use their children as tools to avenge themselves in pursuit of an ugly divorce resulting in the children being torn apart. Eventually they become very angry and confused; and end up living in fear of their unknown circumstances. 

Children who suffer emotionally often develop severe anxieties and this contributes to social ills and juvenile crime such as rape, sex and drug abuse. Imagine the trauma that the children go through and imagine how this will influence them as adults? Children who are psychologically affected will subsequently grow into incompetent adults who will in turn affect the general development of a nation in whole. It will be disastrous if this is not seriously considered.It's about time we re-examine our perspectives with regards to childhood development. We as adults play a very crucial role in being responsible in developing the awareness to protect the rights and the welfare of children. 

However, it's refreshing to see that even the blue-blooded take their babies on official visits as they too have started to propagate the importance of parent-child relationship and they too insist on raising a child to be a part of a happy and prosperous nation. It is extremely crucial for children to be nurtured and cared for as they are the human capital of a nation. Thus, it is not just a matter of acknowledging them as this cute little beings running around, but we must know that they are the future of a great nation. As a measure, good childcare policies and laws must be implemented and the existing ones realigned and made sure that it is really workable and 'child-friendly" to ensure that it can be steered towards a successful, developing nation. Moral ills stem from children who are denied from getting the basic need for love and care. As such, they must be celebrated and nurtured, but not tortured.

Well,its refreshing to see many who have achieved impressive SPM & STPM results.It doesn't matter what their ethnic background, cultural beliefs or religion may be, because when it comes to education, we are one.Performance is and should be the only thing that matters.Malaysia is a LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES and it's a place for everyone under the sun.These vibrant young minds have been working so hard, smart, having their hopes, vision and ambition that belie their youth.Coming from all walks of life, no matter whom they are or what they do, or where they come from, these students share three things in common: they are the leaders of tomorrow, they love their country and they too wish to see Malaysia being at its best. On that note,I believe, that they should equally get good opportunities and facilities to further their studies up to the next level and I seriously hope that political beliefs and other issues should not be a hindrance to their progress.These individuals are the country's assets.In a time when the world is getting smaller and globalization is on the rise, the last thing that should be in our minds is to keep focusing on our differences. If we want to grow, we need to know that the real enemy is within. That's how it is in business, that's how it is in sports and that is how it should be with life.Congratulations again!