The Other Side of Social Media

Today’s social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Facebook, Viber, Live, We chat, and Twitter has become an essential and indispensable tool for most of us. Facebook was first launched in 2004,  WhatsApp in 2009 and Viber in 2010. According to Wikipedia, we have more than 600 million active users for WhatsApp, 1.3 billion Facebook active users and 100 million Viber active users.

Besides individuals, institutions like universities, colleges, schools, departments have created WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Viber accounts to disseminate information in a faster mode among lecturers, teachers, staffs, colleagues, friends, students and acquaintances. Organizations and business sector also benefit from the social media. These media serve as instant messaging platforms, and are currently available free of charge. I too utilize WhatsApp to convey information to my students and fellow-colleagues. Of course, with these media we save time, and it is indeed a speedy way of conveying information.

For many of us, not a day will pass without us updating our social media. Some even update these social media before going to bed and the first thing in the morning after they rise from their beds. There are also media users who post messages in Facebook in order to get the most number of likes.

We also hear stories of how housewives, school and college going students hang-on to the social media every available time to log-on to these media to see the latest updates. With these media, information is disseminated fast and across boundaries within seconds from a person to another, and from one end to another end.

Although these media are useful for disseminating news, information and sometimes photos and videos, the other side of the ill-effects of the media needs to be looked at. At times, controversial issues and divisive issues and matters are posted in the media to attract more likes, especially in Facebook.

Among the controversial issues are on personal life, politics, religion and sex. We had many such cases reported in our country itself. Some of the social media users were brought to court for judgment. Medias like Facebook should be for individual and personal use and purpose. At times, users transgress the boundaries by posting and updates by insulting or smearing the names of others.   

We also have users, especially the young users posting trivial matters in their Facebook. It is irritating at times to read such updates, like “I am now having my coffee now at Starbucks Mid-Valley” or “I am now lazing around in Times Square”. Such updates are very personal and should not be shared in the social media.  Users should be cautious by not updating such petty stuffs.

Social media came to existence since early 2004 for the purpose of dissemination of information and news in a rapid way through instant messages and information. Let us utilize the best of the media, and not abuse them for personal gains and glory. Technology is for the betterment of society, and moderation should be the key word as regards to the use of social media.  In all matters moderation is desirable. If a thing is carried to excess, it will prove a source of evil.

Unity pivotal for the nation

                  

       The nation’s 57^th Independence Day will be celebrated by Malaysians of all walks of life on 31^st August. This year’s theme is “Malaysia, Where Love Grows”.  This theme is chosen with the hope that the citizens of this nation will show more love and patriotism towards building a strong nation and become resilient to all challenges. Where there is love, nothing is too much trouble and there is always time. When our hearts are filled with love everything seems beautiful and delightful to us.

As a nation, Malaysia is unique compared to many countries of the world. Malaysia is a multi-racial society with diverse cultures, language, beliefs, and races, including indigenous groups.  In such a multi-racial context, I believe unity among the people of this society is pivotal. Without unity, harmony and solidarity among the citizens, I am sure the nation could not have achieved such heights, progress and achievements in all sectors. Our leaders acknowledge that the unity in diversity as the plus point for the nation.

Truly, unity is the key for the progress of our nation.  As such, unity should be preserved and treasured at all cost. Unity among the members of our society can be promoted by inter-faith activities among believers of the all Faith. We should learn to consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.

More inter-ethnic studies should be initiated among the students to understand the different ethnic groups living in Malaysia. In such ways, tolerance and understanding will prevail among the peoples of Malaysia.

Unity should be regarded as a stepping stone towards lasting material and spiritual prosperity of the nation. People of all walks of life should actively engaged in determining the direction of our nation. We have the ownership of our own future and have come to realize the collective power we already have to transform ourselves. United we stand tall, and divided we fall.

Any incidents that cause disunity and contention among the citizens of the nation should be condemned. Severe penalties should be enforced for those who incite hatred and prejudice against segments of the Malaysian society. Unity should be upheld at all cost. We cannot afford to ruin the strong foundation of unity that has been painstaking built by our forefathers of this nation.

 We hope that the principle of unity in diversity will serve as a guiding light for the way forward for our nation, Malaysia. Long live Malaysia, motherland for more 27 million Malaysians.

True prayer is the heart

Often we get messages, emails or phone calls saying that someone is not well, or recuperating after a surgery or admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU). Lately, I received two emails informing that a friend of mine is recovering from a major operation and another one about a friends’ wife receiving treatment in ICU. It was really sad to hear such news. We always feel grieved hearing such sorrowful news because of our close intimation with the unwell persons.

Often, we want to express our sincere feelings to these ailing persons. So, we call them, send SMS or bouquet of flowers to them or their family members. If possible, we want to visit them personally to show our deep concern. Often times, in such occasions we are requested to say prayers for their speedy recovery.

Sometime ago, a friend of mine used to visit sick persons admitted in hospital to say prayers for them at their bedsides. Although he does not know them personally, he visits and chats with them to give assurance of speedy recovery. Before he leaves, he says a prayer for them, if they permit. He also leaves behind a copy of the recited prayer.

What a novel gesture! If all of us can emulate his act, many sick persons will find some relieve while recuperating at hospitals.

Saying prayers is a special way to show our care to the sick persons. What is actually a prayer? In a healing prayer, words are uttered for one’s good health and speedy recovery of the ailing person. In such a prayer, the ailing one is remembered and thought of.

Actually, the very thought of the ailing person in our mind is already a prayer. True prayer is the heart. Prayer is from the sincere heart. The words said in prayer contains genuine concern for the person remembered. By this mere act of focusing on the well-being of a person, the sick person’s illness gradually improves. This is the special potency of prayers. Mahtama Gandhi once said prayers is the most potent instrument of action if it properly understood and applied.

Recently, the air tragedy involving MAS killed many passengers and crew members. We need to remember them in our prayers. It is really soothing to hear that many prayers gatherings are held for the departed souls. Such gatherings are really wonderful and humane in nature. Only human beings can demonstrate such compassion, concern and sympathy to other fellow human being at times of perils and difficulties.

Let us all always pray for ailing people and down-trodden ones, whether we know or we don’t know them. Prayer should not be resort in times of trials and afflictions only, but rather become a way of life. Only we, as human beings can offer prayers for the well-being of fellow being. 

Remember our mother and father

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are usually grand annual celebration in May and June.  Many events and occasions are held to honour the most senior members of a family, i.e. the mother and father by other family members, in particular children.

Special lunches, dinners, outings, gifts, package tours and cutting of cakes are some events organized by children sorely for their mothers and fathers. All such events are truly heartening and pleasing for mothers and fathers. Tears sometimes do trickle during these occasions. It could be an emotional occasion, for some. After all, this relationship and bond between mothers, fathers and children is about passionate feelings between them.

As stated these are some occasions where mothers and fathers are appreciated, valued, thanked and honoured. Even my eldest daughter came all the way down to celebrate Fathers’ Day with me and my wife. We really had good time.

But, all the pomp and fancy that encompassed Mothers and Fathers’ Day seems to have subsided with the passing of time. Everyone is back to their daily chores.  The mother and father are again left to themselves as many children are far away in cities and towns earning their living.

It seems Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day looks like just an annual event to appreciate the parents. The point that needs to be stressed is that every day should be a day remembered for the sacrifices of a mother and father.  It should not be just focused on a special day only. The fathers and mothers endured difficulties and hardships for their children during their entire life.  

Hence, the sons and daughters are duty bound to serve their mothers and fathers.  The sons and daughters should also show forth utmost obedience towards the mother and father and seek diligently to ensure the comfort and welfare of their loving mother and father, and always prioritize fathers and mothers good pleasure. 

Show kindness and consideration to parents so that they are pleased and contented. All this should do frequently as there are many avenues to do it.

There are times when the children reach maturity, the father and mother pass on to the next world. So, the fathers and mothers rarely see the reward of the care and trouble they had undergone for the children.

Of course, there are children who remorse greatly when the fathers and mothers are no more in their midst as the opportunity to serve them is not available. I too missed my mother as she passed away when I was young. I always feel the sense of guilt for not being able to repay all that she did to me while she was alive.

Therefore, we all should know that we need to honour our parents and pay homage to them when they are still around. When we do this, the blessings will descent upon us. This is assured. But, do all our children realize and acknowledge it?

In this life travel, there at times children would have committed that which would sadden the hearts and mothers. Seek pardon and forgiveness from fathers and mothers. The parents’ good pleasure ensures children happiness and advancement in their life.

Let family ties and bond go deeper with more frequent interaction between the children and parents, not only on Fathers and Mothers’ Day though such celebration is an excellent way to further strengthen the bond and ties.

Teachers generate transformation in education system

Teachers Day  is dedicated to all teachers for their contributions to the education of children.

In Malaysia, it is celebrated on May 16 annually with a theme. This year’s theme is “Teachers Generate National Education Transformation”, which is aimed at bringing transformation in the education system.

What is transformation? It simply means complete change, that is, from the current system to a new system. But, how can teachers play their role in the change of the system?

Teachers first need to take owner­ship of the transformation that is expected in our education system.

They should also give up the notion that they are the source of all knowledge. Rather, they should form a partnership with their students in a shared learning process.

Students should be made to realise that they are directors of their own learning and as indivi­duals they can determine the courses their wish to take. Teachers should play the role of facilitators and mentors.

As children are inherently noble, teachers need to cultivate students’ noble attributes, virtues, qualities as well as living skills as this would enable children to contribute their share to the building of an ever advancing civilisation.

Devoid of these values, children will be lost in this material world. It is not only facts and figures that the children should learn about but also moral values. These noble values will be their stronghold throughout their lives.

Education should not only consider the physical and intellectual side of children but also spiritual and ethical aspects. Sadly, our educational system laid too much focus on the cognitive domain.

Therefore, education should strive to develop an integrated set of capabilities; technical, artistic, social, moral and spiritual, so that individuals can lead a meaningful life and become agents of positive social change.

The curricula and methodologies used in schools should foster such inter-related capabilities that will require an education system that responds and is governed by universal spiritual principles.

Happy Teachers Day to all our teachers who have slogged all year round to educate our children.

Work is Worship

Labour Day is celebrated on May 1^st annually throughout the world to appreciate all those involved in toiling in various types of jobs. This includes work contributed at the lowest level to the highest level. Work has been always a predominant issue in our society. Without the workers, all activities will come to a standstill. At this juncture let us salute all the workers who have toiled to make our nation progressive and prosperous.

What is work? Work is something that one is doing, making or performing especially as an occupation or understanding as explained in a dictionary. All men and women are obligated to engage in any work, whether trade or any other profession to earn a living. But what kind of engagement is wanted in carrying out our work?

Let us view the perspective of work in a spiritual sense.

Firstly, the desire to work should be paramount. It is pointless if a worker has no desire to work but merely carries out work as a mundane one. This kind of mendacity should be wiped out in the work force as it brings no betterment for the employer and the nation.

Work should be seen as a form of worship which means work performed in a spirit of service.  Work should be done in the right spirit. i.e. in a spirit of worship. Work is not carried out merely for monetary gains only but as a form of service rendered for the betterment of society at large.

If such a notion prevails among our workers, I am sure we will have an excellent work force in our nation.  Such a notion is conducive for our budding nation. Work is truly worship. 

Spirituality and Education

At the World Education Forum 2014, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister cum Education Minister recently made a noteworthy statement, citing ethics and spirituality should be taught in schools. As an educationist, I truly welcome this courageous announcement.

Basically education taught at large is secular in nature. Spiritual education is always not given prominence in education. I believe Malaysia is one of the few countries where Moral Education and Islamic Education is taught in schools. School is the source of various kinds of knowledge. Spirituality should be one the most prominent one to be imparted to children.

Ignoring values, ethics and spirituality in education is not acceptable at this juncture as rightly put forth by the Deputy Premier. Education without the spiritual element is not a wholesome education.  In fact, spiritual elements are the basics of a human being. Spirituality differentiates human being and other creations of the Almighty. Children can attain human perfection through spiritual qualities. 

Spirituality teaches us unity, union and harmony among men, to show respect elders and others, promote tolerance and brotherhood. If all these values are taught and embedded in the young minds of children, we have a more peaceful and beautiful world. Every child is potentially the light of the world and the same time darkness; therefore the question of education be accounted as of primary importance.

Let us hope embedding compulsory spiritual education in schools a step towards making our children excel in their life and thus become a brilliant child to their parents and  outstanding citizen to this nation. 

Mental Health of Children

 It is disturbing to read the report in English daily that some 20 per cent of children in schools are depressed as shown by a study conducted by NHMS. One of the causes cited for depression was lack of parental guidance. Parents fail to  understand their children, in particular, their emotional needs.

 As advocated by deputy director-general of health (public health) Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman, schools, in particular, parent-teacher associations (PTAs) should provide social support through holding parenting courses. Parenting seminars and courses should be made mandatory to identify mental health problems among children.

Parenting skills are essential for parents to cope up with the mental issue of students talked about much today. One of the best ways to impart the skills is through parenting seminars, workshops and courses. At large, not many parenting programmes are organized in schools, whether primary or secondary schools. In the West parenting programmes for parents are conducted regularly to educate the parents on the parenting skills, unlike in Malaysia parenting programmes are scarcely conducted in schools. 

As one who is involved in conducting such programmes, I see this as a wake-up call to all PTAs and parents.

They need to collaborate and tackle this problem. We should not allow more of our children to succumb to this mental problem.