Be doers, not mere talkers

As the 13th General Election continues to loom around the corner, politicians from both sides of the political divide are sure to be busy getting the attention of the voters. In such contest and just like anywhere else, everyone is confident of victory that they will capture the required votes.

However, the sad part is, many vote according to their own whim and fancy or are heavily influenced by the propaganda forced down their throats through the influence of party agents, the media, their relatives and whoever closest to them. Once these candidates are voted in, it will be in the next election you can get to see their face. Many like to wear the YB badge but are not willing to soil their hands or sit side by side with the farmers and general labourers sipping tea by the road-side stall. If at all the YB turns up it's usually with all the pomp and pageantry scaring the kampung folks out of their wits. It's very rare to see one turning up as an ordinary folk with that genuine touch.

There is no difference in this small town. I am 50+ and had voted since I was eligible. It may not be over exagerating to say that it's easier to see the king than to see the wakil rakyat. There is no difference whether he is from the ruling pary or the opposition. If for 4 or 5 years we can hardly see the wakil rakyat's face, then what is he for and who is he representing. Wakil rakyat should be easily available, approachable and knowledgeable enough to articulate when the need arises.

Sometimes voters are given no choice but to go ahead and vote picking the best of the worst as listed. Voters may be 'forced' to vote for the person who is well-known, popular and a workaholic but unfortunately could be representing the 'wrong' party. Spoilt votes could be the result of voters disillusion with the choice of candidates presented or the parties they represent.

Let's pray that this time around we truly have 'winnable' candidates who can fulfil the wishes and aspirations of the rakyat. Political parties from both side of the political divide should analyse and scrutinise very thoroughly their aspiring candidates who would not be a mockery of the party they represent. Voters are looking for candidates who are knowledgeable, sincere, honest, trustworthy and can be counted upon to deliver for their constituencies and the nation. Many are sick of the yes-men and those there to make up the number and to warm the chairs. Voters do not need their future wakil rakyat who hardly open their mouths or tend to doze off during assembly sittings. If the needs arise,they should be seen talking and performing.

Jeremiah Tan

Be self-reliant

Dear Editor,

A survey recently showed that many graduates are employed due to various reasons including demanding high salaries and the grads poor command of English. While this may be true, I believe there are still ample grads who are willing to work as long as they are given the chance. More concerted effort by sincere employers and recruitment agencies must be made to woo these unemployed grads before the situation escalated into a major social problem. The government must be seen to be going all out to lessen the frustration of this seemingly hopeless situation.

To the unemployed grads, why fret over your dilemma. Just keep on trying your hands on every job opportunity that comes your way. After all the attempts and being on the verge of giving up, hang on. There is still a beacon of hope. Why not try your hand in small business? Don't expect overnight growth. Another reason given for the high unemployment rate is due to being too choosy in getting a job. Show to everyone that you are willing to do whatever work that comes your way.

Graduates should not think that their degrees are a passport to easy lives. They should be willing to soil their hands to make ends meet and to see light at the end of the tunnel. I remember many years ago during the economy recession, a chemistry graduate turned to be a night market trader after having been retrenched. When the economy recovered, he preferred to stay on and be independent earning an honest living. Another UKM grad in social science, after having his application to become a policeman turned down, soiled his hands to become a blacksmith. Today, he is a successful businessman in his trade working along side his fellow workers.

Graduates need to think out of the box and not to be too rigid waiting for recruitment agencies or the government to help them. It would be foolhardy to insist in getting a job or doing some thing based on what they had studied in the university. Maybe it would be wise for the unemployed grads to pool their resources and expertise to work in the agriculture sector or to work on the huge tract of land still available in the country. I believe it is not shameful to even tap rubber or to become small time farmers while waiting for a rosier future. How long do these graduates expect to wait?

On the other hand, the government need to rethink on the existing courses available in our public universities. Are the present courses still relevant and needed in order for the graduates to be employed after they graduate? Do we need to drum into the heads of the undergraduates that what they are studying may not necessarily grant them employment?

Graduates need to realise that their degrees are just another piece of paper and nothing more than that. They are probably equipped with more knowledge but would fall short of practical working experience. They still need to compete with the many non-graduates with umpteen years of working experience.

Be transparent

The scholarship problem seems to be a perennial one with no end in sight. When the Prime Minister announced last year that students who score 9 As would be automatically given scholarships, I thought that was a very crystal clear guideline but it was not so.

Of all the people who seem not to understand this is the PSD, including its DG. To an ordinary man like me, it's either the cabinet directive is very vague and ambigous or the PSD is going all out to sabotage the PM and the cabinet.

Malaysians, especially the non-malays, surely do not need such kind of low class treatment. Do the students who scored 10 A+ or 9 A+ and their parents need to go down on their knees to beg for scholarships or a place in matriculation? If Malaysia cannot help and seen to be fair to these creme de la creme Malaysians, then who else can we help? Where is the 1Malaysia slogan we are shouting about?

Please remember these students had slogged hours to achieve their dreams and to make their country proud. In the end what they get is heartache and broken heart. This never-ending scholarship problem has not only become a laughing stock among Malaysians but mock and laugh at by others as well that Malaysia does not know how to value and appreciate its bright and brilliant children. No wonder brain drain is the norm.

Now we need the PM to intervene and tell the PSD once and for all to either shape up or ship out. If the officials in the PSD are unwilling to toe the line they have no business in wasting taxpayers' money in the department. Let's straighten the matter before the molehill becomes a mountain.

Tribute to all teachers

As the nation celebrates Teachers' Day, let's spare some thoughts for all our teachers who had taught us directly or indirectly as well as teachers who are serving at present.

I can remember vividly my teachers in Sultan Yahya Petra Primary School and Sultan Yahya Petra Secondary School who had contributed immensely to my well-being and made me to be what I am today. One particular Standard One teacher of mine was Miss Sia with her special big sunglasses who would play the piano while we sang. Another was Jimmy Ong, my Standard Three teacher with his calm and composed personality who very rarely lost his temper. Of course there were some who were very fierce whom many would never forget, particularly one whom we called Mr Lion.

Secondary school was just as interesting as well. One Industrial Art teacher was always teased by the students in Form One but his caring attitude will not go forgotten. Students always had good laugh during his lesson. Once he messed up the word 'milli' with 'mini' and the whole burst into laughter and of course he blushed!. Another time a student was hammered with a mallet for joking around the petrol engine while he was away just for a split moment.

Those days there were no computers but only the old, rusty typewriter where teachers would click, cluck away. There were no calculators and students were trained in mental arithmetics and to use their God-given brains to find solution to many of the sums. For Geography, there was one Mr Jerome who loved his students to draw maps and identify the places (of course, we trace not draw). Then there was one impatient Miss Ng who taught me Chemistry who would get all cooked up if she had to keep on repeating the same thing. Finally there was this motherly Mrs Verghuese who taught Biology to a class of 40+ students who had to keep blaring in the midst of the lost sheep.

To all my teachers, you will always be remembered. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten. There might be pain and sorrow, some anger perhaps but never treasured in the heart. You meant good when you disciplined your students. God bless you.

Happy Mother's Day

On this special day, let's give some thoughts to all mothers.

They are so special but we tend to take them for granted at times. Think of the time when they were in labour just waiting for the right hour so that we could come into this world. The pain, anguish excitement all roll into one. Suddenly we are here in the light far so different from the darkness within. Happiness, joy and laughter could be heard as mothers cuddled their cute little ones in their loving arms not really knowing what to expect on the long road to freedom but always praying and hoping for the best to come.

Some had to endure terrible anguish and sorrow courting danger in the process after months of heaviness but always ever ready no matter what happened. When the joy finally settled down, mothers face the monumental task of bringing up their precious gifts. Oh, it's not easy for the path to success is not laid with gold!

Many begin to wonder what the next step to take and how to bring out the best in their precious ones. What if I fail to perform? What if my precious gifts do not make it?

Mothers have to toil through sleepless nights shouldering the heavy burden, much heavier than their first eight or nine months.

Finally after years of sorrow and care and seeing the success of their little ones who have now blossom into manhood and are now ready to enter the next phase of life, mothers can proudly say, "I have made it".

Let's hold our mothers in high esteem because they deserve it. They may not have done everything that you want but surely they never intend to forsake you. There is always a special place in mothers' hearts for their children, though we may never understand. We can have thousands of other things but only ONE mother. Happy Mother's Day

Don't play with fire

Fire can be very good and helpful but if we are not careful it can scald you, burn you or even kill you! Sometimes people like to play with fire not realising of its serious consequences. Physical fire may not be that bad but what is more potent is that unseen, hidden fire that can destroy relationship, consume a nation and finish off your soul. The words that we say, the things that we do and the people we associate with may make or break us. We are accountable for every word that we speak.

What is more damning is when our words begin to spread like wild fire without any hope of it being extinguished. Many play with fire for their own selfish benefits with little or no consideration for others. Their policy is, 'as long as I gain and survive, who cares about what happens to others'. This precisely is evil and these devils tend to hide under the covering of their so-called religion. They pretend to be religious and pious walking around trumpeting high and low. Beware of such danger lurking beneath you.

Some try to hide themselves under the cloak of the mass media purportedly trying to champion the cause of their own kind without any thoughts of others. At the same time these poisonous writers seem to enjoy the protection and blessing of their pay masters. They know fully well that if there is any big hue and cry later on, they can always count on their pay masters to plead ignorance. The usual words are, 'they are speaking for themselves, not on behalf of the media'. The mass media must be held responsible for every word utter by their staff and those associated with them.

Political leaders and those holding positions need to be extra careful not to breathe out fire unnecessarily. Those in power especially must be quick in dousing the flames so as not to create the wrong perception that they condone the immoral acts of such people. Problems today must be nibbed in the bud and people hate to see leaders who drag their feet in finding solutions.

Leaders are not indispensable

The waves of people's uprising against their leaders, first started in Egypt, are just unfortunate and disturbing. Whatever it is, the citizens become the ultimate victims of such tyranny. Such disturbances probably have been brewing for a long time without the leaders realising them or out of sheer pride and arrogance that they feel they are untouchables. Many of the leaders have being ruling for between 20 to 40 years plus and must have been too comfortable in their pews that they take the citizens and the people for granted.
I am not sure how these leaders were put in power but whatever it is you just cannot ignore the voices of the people, even if you rule with guns and cannons. When people become desperate and fed-up with the government, constantly listening to the lies and unfulfilled promises over the years, they will revolt at whatever cost, even their own lives. Take for example Egypt where 40% of the citizens live in poverty. Therefore it is not surprising that the Egyptians rose and toppled their leaders. I believe what happened and are happening in the Arab world can happen anywhere else
Let's not forget leaders come and leaders go and they are not meant to be there on the throne forever. Leaders are voted into power and if the people are not happy with their performance, they have every right to vote them out. Leaders must know when to step down or retire graciously, no matter how popular they may be. Unfortunately there are some who do not know when or how to step down giving the lame excuse that there are still unfinished business to attend to. Such excuses only give rise to suspicions and create ill-feelings and help to quicken the downfall of themselves and the party they lead. This is pure selfishness and bring unnecessary misery to others. Nobody is indispensable. When one steps down there will always be others to take over and lead the nation to scale greater heights. The willingness of some in Sarawak to pave way for others is to be saluted and appreciated.
Remember we can fool some of the people some of the time but we cannot fool all the people all the time. The people in the Arab world and elsewhere, including our country are well connected and they know what's happening. To think and believe that Malaysians are still not matured enough is far-fetch and childish. Leaders must treat the citizens with dignity and accord them the highest respect if they do not want to be dumped. Government is put in power to fulfil the aspiration and wishes of the people and not for cosmetic purposes. Abraham Lincoln aptly summed up: "government of the people, by the people, for the people". Leaders must not outlive their usefulness.

Give sports equal footing

The 1student 1sport policy is a very good move and a step in the right direction. However, I dread to think of its implementation in most schools if the gut and the willingness to move the policy is not carried out with zeal and zest by teachers. Afterall teachers are the people who either make the policy work or see its early demise. Your article, 'Declining interest a major worry', (New Sunday Times, 13 March) is not without justification as most of the national sportsmen and sportswomen have to come through the school system. The policy will just another policy if no serious effort and attention is paid at the school level.

First we have to take a relook at how Physical Education (PE) is carried out in school. To be honest it is more of an eye-wash just to hoodwink the ministry and the public. Most of the time students are on the field just because PE is in the time-table and they are there in their school uniform with their ties on! The PE teacher will be there using the remote control method or worse no teacher to supervise. If there is any monitoring by the District Education office or State Education Department it is announced before hand. Of course it is good and bravo. Just so much about PE.

When I was schooling, we have inter-house matches for most games and from those matches selection is carried out. Teachers had a good sampling of students to choose from followed by intensive training before they went for competition. Now students are selected on an ad hoc basis with one or two training or even worse no training. Schools send students for competition for competition sake just to avoid the hassle of more questions later on.

Most schools are more interested in the academic performance of the students rather than sporting excellence. When Heads of schools meet they are more interested to find out the number of As at the UPSR, PMR and SPM. Day and night tuition in some schools is the norm besides private tuition. When can students find time to indulge in sports? Parents are pushing their children for tuition for almost all subjects. Children are told that the only way to excel in this mad, mad world is through academic excellence and sports will NOT be able to feed you. Unless something is done quickly and seriously to the education system, there will be more major worries for the sporting fraternity. Unless the country starts to have professional sports for almost all discipline like in the west where players can earn a decent living, it is going to be a mammoth task to convince parents to push their children in sports.

Be safe rather than be sorry

The Tsunami in Japan is something very unfortunate and the whole world is mourning the huge loss of lives and properties. What is even more tragic is the leak from the nuclear plant that could bring untold misery and long term health problems for generations.

Now the whole world is pondering whether the building of nuclear plant is a wise move and does the benefit far outweighs the danger nuclear plant can pose. As our country tries to jump on the bandwagon joining the world in its pursuit of nuclear energy, it is good if the government can just abandon this idea if it has the citizens at heart. If a survey is to be conducted I dare say for certain that it will be an overwhelming majority against the construction of a nuclear plant in any parts of the country. Let's pray that the 'rakyat didahulukan' will be given prominence.

Nuclear plant is just too risky to any country. There is no doubt we are free from earthquake and tsunami but no matter what technology is applied, who dare to guaranttee its safety over a period of time. Dr Mahathir is right when he pointed out once there is a leak it is very difficult to control. Here we are talking of radiation, something you cannot see, feel or touch but can only be detected. Radiation is the word that will haunt every human being as far as nuclear is concerned. Which experts dare to certify that if a nuclear plant is to be built on very solid ground far from the maddening crowd, the ground will remain as it is till doomsday?

I call upon the citizens to voice out their displeasure loud and clear. Sometimes common sense prevails. Prevention is better than cure.