Work Ethics

Work ethics

Recently, there has been some dissatisfaction expressed by certain quarters about the exit policy included in the Public Service New Remuneration (SBPA).  They have expressed their reservation of the implementation of the policy. 

Firstly, I strongly concur with the exit policy that has been included in the SBPA. I think we should welcome the policy and it should not be withdrawn as urged by many quarters, especially by Cuepacs. 

For efficient and sound working of our public service, such a measure should be advocated. With the current extension of retirement to 60 years by the government recently, we are afraid that a sizeable number of civil servants will not be able to cope up with demands and needs of the civil service. As such, these civil servants will probably become dead wood. We cannot allow dead wood to be present in the civil service. If a civil servant is not able perform for three years consecutively, he or she should be prepared to leave the service and find employment elsewhere, as argued by the Public Service Commission. 

Every individual, no matter how handicapped and limited he or she may be, is under the obligation of engaging in his or her profession, for work, especially when performed in the spirit of service, is a form of worship. It has not only a utilitarian purpose, but has a value in itself, because it draws us nearer to God, and enables to better grasp His purpose for us in this world. It is obvious, therefore, that the inheritance of wealth cannot make anyone immune from daily work. If all civil servants hold to this principle of ‘Work is Worship’, I believe no civil servant will be asked to leave the service.

Therefore, I urge all quarters to support the move of the Public Service Division to go ahead with this exit policy in the SBPA. After all, such a move is to make our public service more competent and productive.

The ills of technology

The advent of technology has truly revolutionized human life. It has indeed made our living, hassle-free, easy, and above all, comfortable. All these have happened at the expense of the erosion of traditional human values practiced for years by our ancestors in our life, like taking time to talk to each other, paying a visit to homes of friends and relatives, and attending marriages or funerals in person.

Today, we ask about each other’s health, convey congratulatory messages, New Year greetings by SMS or emails. It has been accepted norm to send SMS and emails to do these activities.

In the past, we take time to meet friends and relatives to inquire about their health, attend family function and funerals in person. It was unacceptable for one at that time if a person doesn’t attend social events in person.

But today, it is the other way around. I remember a relative of mine said “Just SMS me for your son’s wedding. That suffices, and no need for wedding invitation card.”

Basic human values and requirements are slowly and assuredly are not being practiced nowadays with the coming of technology. I remember reading a newspaper report (NST, 16 Oct 2011) stating the technology has led to parents and children spending less quality time with each other.  Studies show parents spend about 8 minutes a day with their kids, mostly giving instructions and directives to carry out duties and daily chores.

Today, many spend more and more time or rather obsessed with technological gadgets like internet, hand-phones and the like, instead of communicating with family members. Family members are glued to television and spend hours together, but sadly not communicating with each other. 

It is even reported that many spend hours on the internet, chatting, browsing, up-dating face-book and twitting. Even parents send emails and SMS to their children although they stay under the same roof. It is mockery, but a fact of life today. All these happen as each and every one of us are busy in our own way.

At times, it is an irony that we call up friend staying away from us and chat for a long time, but our spouses and children who are just in our midst are not communicated. Our family members will value and appreciate the togetherness when we talk to each other and spend time with them.

The question that arises: Where are we heading? Once a renowned anthropologist said man is a social being. I wonder whether such a definition can be accepted today. Probably, socializing is taking a different form, through these technological gadgets and instruments. Maybe, it is for the better or worse, we are yet to know it.

Meritocracy: Key for development and progress

The Prime Minister, during a dialogue session at Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2011 recently, has announced that the quota system will have to go, and instead meritocracy will be put in place.   

The Premier has put a salient point across to the Malaysians. He has said quota system in the long-run will not benefit any community. 

I strongly support such a move – giving priority to meritocracy rather than quotas allocated to raise the standard of any community in the nation as I believe such a move also applies to the non-bumiputeras, too. 

Personally, I feel that we should do away terms like non-Malays and Malays, bumiputeras or non-bumiputeras to refer to the people of Malaysia. After all we are all Malaysians, born and bred here. All Malaysian, irrespective of race, colour, creed, religion or ethnic group consider this nation as their beautiful homeland. 

I hope meritocracy will become a key factor in developing our nation. We have many shining examples on how many Malaysians have excelled in many sectors based on meritocracy. The time has come to do away with quota system.  This is a long awaited cry among the Malaysians.

We need to employ the best minds in the country to develop our little nation. We should have the best brains to lead all sectors, be it aviation, education, finance, economy, or even the civil service. In promotion, as the Premier has said, the right kind of person should be preferred. The deserving ones should be favoured to hold significant position in all sectors. 

In making Malaysia a modern and vibrant democratic nation, I believe meritocracy is a key factor. Many nations have utilized the best brains to develop their nations. We should also adhere to such a practice to develop our nation. 

History is truth

Recently, statements about certain historical facts have given rise to controversies and polemics among readers. After all, what is history? History is a documentation of facts, events, and happenings in the past.

One on-line dictionary defines history as ‘A usually chronological record of events, as of the life or development of a people or institution, often including an explanation of or commentary on those events’.  Thus, history is documentation of events, people and institutions. This process of documentation is undertaken by historians, scholars in the field of history.

We should never dispute any facts of history. For example, Malacca fell to the Portuguese in 1511, subsequently to the Dutch in 1641. Finally, Malacca was ceded to the British, according to Anglo-Dutch Treaty in 1824.

Likewise, JWW Birch, the Resident of Perak was murdered by Maharaja Lela, a Malay chieftain in Perak. All these are historical facts.  Of course, history is always interpreted by many from their own perspective. From the Malay perspective, Maharaja Lela is a hero and Birch, a villain, but from the British point of view, it is otherwise. Points of view always differ from different perspective, but history is statement of truth, the actually happening of events.

The task of writing history lies in the shoulders of historians, without prejudice, bias or from his or her personal point of view. Historians should rely on historical records based on written records for evidence to support their claims. Sometimes, photographs, films, or other forms of artefacts can be used to substantiate their documentation. 

Trouble often brews when history is interpreted by many. Of course, everyone including a layman can interpret events and happenings. But, interpretation is not history. Normally, interpretation is considered as one’s point of view.

Disagreements raised today can be put to rest, if history is seen as truth. Therefore, I suggest let history be the concern of the learned in the field of history, i.e. the historians. History should not be distorted or misinterpreted and written in a biased and from the personal view-point.

Teachers: the key for learning good English

I refer to DPM: Improve English, The Star (8 Aug 2011). The Deputy Premier, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin cum Education Minister has raised concerned over current the level of English among students despite studying the language for fifteen years, from Year One up to Form Five. Of course, many reasons can be cited for the low proficiency of English among students. 

As an educationist, I believe the main cause is our teachers. I am not pin-pointing at teachers but merely putting my argument based on current reality in schools and in the education system. We can revamp the education system as many times as we want, but things will not change. The main players in the system are the teachers. They should be the correct breed and should have the right perspective in teaching, in particular languages. 

We do hear incidences of teachers who are not competent enough to teach English Language. Some of them could hardly speak English fluently, what more to teach the subject effectively. Ironically, these teachers have been selected and trained as English teachers, perhaps based on the academic qualification. 

Teaching a language is should not be based on academic excellence only, but on the competency of a teacher. The teacher should have the niche for teaching language. Above all, the teacher must be passionate about teaching language, be it any language. I feel these elements are missing among our English teachers today. 

Learning languages doesn’t mean completing exercises from workbooks and revision books alone. This is what is happening in many schools, especially in primary schools today. Learning language involves plentiful use of language orally, speaking activities, reading aloud practices, and other language activities. 

We hear complaints from students and parents that teachers teaching English make grammatical errors themselves and are not able to conduct an effective and interesting English class. 

I do not deny the fact that there are excellent English teachers among the present population of educators. But the number, sadly to say is too few to play an effective role to raise the standard of English among our students. 

What immediate measures can be taken by the Ministry? I strongly urge the Ministry to consider bringing back retired teachers who have proven track records as English teachers. While recruiting new teachers search out for the teachers with the qualities like passion for teaching and competency in teaching English. This should be the right criteria for choosing English teachers. Merit is an important element in selecting English teachers. 

We cannot afford to lose out in the long run, just because we don’t have competent English teachers in the country.  We should rectify and correct the current anomalies so that the teaching of English can be enhanced in the nation.

Junior Youths

Parents today face many challenges in raising good children, in particular children from the age of 12 to 15. This age group is perhaps the most vulnerable age group in our society now.

This group can neither be classified as children nor teenager. They represent a distinct age group with special needs as they are somewhat in between childhood and youth when many changes are occurring within them. At this crucial period of life, they face tumultuous physical and emotional change.

They display characteristics that are unique or particular to this age. Probably, we can refer them as junior youths.

These junior youths are a specific age group faced with a lot of challenges in life. Generally, they are always considered as problematic, unresponsive and self-consumed.

It is at this age that they are often mislead and end up in wrong company and thus become derailed in life. Even the school-going children at this age manifest peculiar and strange behaviours which parents will admit too.

If these young people are left to own whims and fancies, surely they will be lost in life. It will too difficult to bring them the normal facet of life once they reach 15 or 16 as they have strayed too far.

But the question is what are we doing to them? Can all parties concerned do something or render a helping hand to these dismayed youths?

The schools surely cannot handle them effectively. Nowadays teachers are bogged down with too much task that they can’t find time to realign this troubled young people.

Parents too face a lot of challenges in guiding them. Sometimes, these young people are just left alone as they cannot be handled by own parents.

Despite painted negative by the world, the junior youths are actually otherwise. These junior youths are actually eager and curious to learn about the universe. They tend to explore a lot of new things at this age. They have the desire to contribute to the construction of a better world.

But, sadly their acts are sometimes misunderstood and considered as bad by parents and society at large. But, our challenge is to bring care and concern to these youths.

I believe creative attention must be devoted to involve them in programs of activity that will engage their interests, mould their capacities for service, and involve them in social action.

The programmes planned for them should assist them to recognize the moral issues underlying everyday decisions and identify the moral implications of speech and action. The programmes need to empower them to channel their energies towards both strengthening their own character and to serving their community.

I understand that there are communities, social bodies, religious bodies, and NGO’s making efforts to assist these youths. Notably, the Bahá’i community is spearheading programmes called The Junior Youth Spiritual Programme, a global initiative at endowing this group with ability to recognize the spiritual significance of their actions and word.  

The aim of this programme is to assist junior youth to take ownership for their spiritual and intellectual development, to develop a strong sense of purpose and the volition needed to make good decisions, and to engage in meaningful social action in their communities.

Their programmes adopt a participatory mode of learning where the facilitator and participants learn from each other.

Report indicate that these programmes are well-received by junior youths in many parts of the country.  We hope more concerted efforts are taken to help this special group of people. We can’t afford to lose this special group of young people, precious ones who are going to be leaders of tomorrow.

Marriage: A social and sacred institution

The recent controversial statement by the Obedient Wives Club has sparked off a lot of disagreements among Malaysians.  I believe the issue debated is about marriage, in particular the relationship between husband and wife. The other underlying issue is how to persevere a marriage.

I believe in this debate, we need to understand the fundamentals of a marriage. What is basically a marriage? Marriage is a union between two souls that has been instituted by our society to enable the married parties to lead a happy and blissful life.  

Marriage should be seen a commitment and mutual attachment of mind and heart of two parties to each other. It should be a binding agreement to ensure that the tie endures forever. Marriage is simply not only a contract between two parties, but also should be regarded as a divine institution.

Once couples are united in wedlock, they must show forth the utmost faithfulness one to another. Loyalty and fidelity are elements that ensure the marriage endures. Of course, this is the challenge of today’s couples. They need to continually nourish their tree of union with love and affection at all times.

What are then the ingredients of marriage? What makes a marriage work? Are there any specific formulas that exist to preserve the sanctity of marriage?

To sustain a marriage, first love and agreement must manifest between couples. If enmity and hatred exist within them, then destruction and dispersion is inevitable. 

The couples should be thoroughly acquainted with the characters of each other so that they can understand each other better. They should become like loving comrades and companions for time and eternity.

Although marital union do give importance to the physical aspect of marriage, but the spiritual purpose and function of marriage should be also be given prominence.  True marriage should be a unification of two people physically and spiritually.  If only couples are physically inclined, then the marriage probably cannot endure long enough.

In short, where there is love, nothing is too much trouble and there is always time. If this exists among couples, sure that union will sustain.

Use of mantan in Malay

I refer to the news ‘Mantan’ not accurate, says Rais’ NST June 8.  It is rather a surprise when Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the word mantan, a word borrowed from Indonesia is not an appropriate word for the English word ‘ex’ or ‘former’. 

When consulted Kamus Dewan, Edisi Keempat, the latest edition, the entry of the word mantan is explained as follows: ‘dahulunya pernah menjawat jawatan tertentu, tetapi sekarang tidak lagi, bekas’.  It could be perhaps translated in English as follow: ‘previously held a specific post, but not now, former’. 

 The Online Indonesian-English Dictionaries  also cite ‘former’ in English as the equivalent meaning to mantan. I know that this word has been in use quite recently as the earlier versions of Kamus Dewan do not have the entry of the word mantan before 2005.  The Indonesian word has probably entered Bahasa Malaysia vocabulary some years ago. As there is doubt about the correct usage of the word,  the origin of the word need to be traced and its meaning ascertained.  

I hope Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, the guardian of the Malay Language could clarify this issue by making an appropriate statement. Such an announcement is crucial as the word is popular and widely used in Malay, in writing and speaking among Malay speakers.  Such clarification is also important especially in the context of teaching and learning in schools and other learning institutions.