Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Malaysia has not progressed as much as these countries.
Fifty
years ago, Malaysia was at par or ahead of countries like South Korea,
Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Today, these countries have become
developed nations. Taiwan and South Korea are major manufacturing
countries, and Singapore is a financial centre, overtaking both Hong
Kong and Switzerland.
What differentiates these countries from us? What did they do right and what did we do wrong?
Consider Singapore,
our nearest neighbour. Singapore has a population of just over five and
a half million, a GDP about equal to ours and whose currency is three
times ours - three times what it was 50 years ago. It has no resources,
except a good location. It relies on the talent of its own people and
the inefficiency and problems of its neighbours.
Singapore has
benefited enormously from talent from Malaysia. Our talent exodus leads
mainly to Singapore and Australia. We have two million young people
working abroad. Singapore would not have achieved its phenomenal growth
without Malaysian talent. Singapore also imports talent from Asean and
from India and China. It gives scholarships to top students from all
these countries. They pay their civil servants, including teachers, well
to attract the best.
Singapore
has chosen English as their operating language. They measure themselves
against the advanced nations of the world. Their educational standards
are high. Singapore's school system ranks among the best in the world -
it is often number one for maths and science. Two of its universities
are among the top 20 in Asia.
Singapore Airlines, Changi Airport
and the Port of Singapore are among the best in the world. Singapore has
housed more than two-thirds of its population in affordable housing
built by the government. Its public transportation system is
super-efficient and not owning a car is an option for many Singaporeans.
Why
has Singapore surpassed us to this extent? Our history is similar. Our
people are culturally and ethnically quite like Singapore. In addition,
we have a huge land area and a large population. We have tin, rubber,
oil palm, tea, cocoa, pepper and fruits and vegetables. And we have oil
and gas.
In summary, all the countries named above have good
educational systems - good schools, top universities and through various
measures obtain or attract talent from all over the world for its
industries and research facilities. All of them have zero tolerance for
corruption. If one looks for what is common in most advanced economies,
one will see democratic governments, free press, good schools and
universities, low levels of corruption, peace and stability.
Democracy and development
Studies have demonstrated a clear correlation between democracy and development.
There are no democratic governments in the Middle East and if not for
oil money, most would have remained relatively undeveloped. Countries
with military governments have not done well either. Look at Myanmar,
Thailand, Egypt and Pakistan. Russia relies heavily on its oil and gas
and also its arms sales. A multi-party system, individual freedom,
freedom of expression, freedom of movement, separation of powers and an
independent judiciary are required to bring out the potential of a
people.
China is an exception
to the rule. Although a one-party state, it has become a powerful
nation. Its educational system is highly competitive, China sends tens
of thousands of its young people to study abroad. The Chinese diaspora
invests heavily in China and tens of thousands of overseas Chinese find
employment in China. Its large workforce and market have resulted in
huge investments in China and a rapid transfer of know-how. The Chinese
have proved very adept at reverse engineering - like the Japanese -
first copying and then improving. The Chinese Communist Party claims
that the party is democratic and meritocratic. Only the brightest can
rise to the top. State exams are extremely competitive.
And what about us?
Why
have we not been able to advance as rapidly as the others? Why is there
so much poverty in the country? The Malaysian government acknowledges
about 5.6 percent of Malaysian households live in absolute poverty, The
UN estimates
that 15 percent of Malaysians live in relative poverty. Bank Negara
estimates at least 30 percent of Malaysians earn less than a living
wage. The indigenous people of Sarawak and Sabah are very poor. There
are more poor Malay households than Chinese or Indian households.
Why is this so? There are many factors. Here are some of them.
In
the 1970s, we changed our medium of instruction from English to the
national language, Malay. The objective was to retain English as a major
second language. But with time, English language proficiency declined.
Teachers could not teach effectively in English; public universities use
both Malay and English to teach. Textbooks and research material remain
mainly in English. Recent graduates from public universities lack
English language proficiency.
It is an undeniable fact that the
English language has become a global language. It is the language of
international trade and diplomacy. It is the language of the internet
and that gives you access to knowledge in a way unparalleled in history.
Our leaders and our people know the value and importance of the English
language. We have 178 international schools in the country, most of
them teaching in English. And we have hundreds of colleges teaching in
English.
Unfortunately, our government schools and vernacular
schools do not produce English-proficient students. And remedial classes
at college or university cannot do much to improve their English. This
has a significant impact on the quality and employability of our
graduates.
There is also the view that our universities do not
produce the graduates we need. For instance, a recent statement from a
government minister expressed concern about the relatively few students
pursuing science and engineering courses at university. Mathematics is
the foundation of courses in science, engineering, and technology.
The United States ranks first in the world
in science and maths with almost 50 percent of the top maths scientists
in the world. It is followed by UK, Germany and France with 6 percent
or less, and China with 4.3 percent. In a Pisa (Programme for
International Student Assessment) worldwide study conducted in 2018-2019
for 15 years olds, proficiency in maths, science and reading Singapore came second after China and Malaysia 48.
But
all is not bad in the country. In 1967, there was only one university
in the country. To do law, one had to go either to the UK or to
Singapore. Few could go into the only engineering faculty in the
country. Today, there are 20 public universities with 500,000
undergraduates and about 467 private colleges and universities with
600,000 students. Forty-four percent of students between 17 to 23 are in
college or university compared to 14 percent in the 1980s. It is an
undeniable fact that Malaysians are more highly educated than they have
ever been. And that must be a good thing.
However, standards are inconsistent
and English language proficiency is an issue. It is also not certain
that universities are producing the type of graduates the nation needs.
Brain drain
Many
of our young people work abroad for higher wages. Malaysia is caught in
what economists call the middle-income trap. We hold ourselves out to
be a low-cost nation and attract industries that rely on low-cost
labour. First-year lawyers earn much more in Singapore, Hong Kong and
the UK. Accountants who speak English and Mandarin earn much more in
China. Canada, America, UK.
Australia has schemes to attract the
talent of the world into their countries. A Malaysian economist says
that many of our SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) cannot move
to the next level because of a shortage of talented people. Political
uncertainty also results in investors taking a short-term view and
cashing out early. Malaysians need to be more productive. Malaysia needs
to move higher up the value chain producing higher-value goods and
paying higher wages for qualified people..
Ironically, we have about two million foreign workers
working in the country. Without foreign workers, we will have no
workers for construction, for our plantations, our industries and to
some extent our hospitality industries. Low-cost foreign workers depress
wages that would otherwise be payable to Malaysian workers. Employers
take the easy way out. There is little investment in training or in
technology. Little thought is given to the effect that foreign workers
have on our own people.
Our young people move out to work in other
countries. In fact, many of our people work in low-level jobs in other
countries for higher pay. So, Malaysians live and work abroad whilst we
bring in low-cost labour from overseas. These foreign workers pay no
tax, burden our infrastructure and remit most of their income back to
their homes.
Our politics does not help either. We are a
multiracial, multicultural, and multireligious society. And that could
be a source of strength, Our Constitution guarantees freedom of worship
and the equality of all its citizens. Unfortunately, there are elements
in our society that are ambivalent about this. PAS, for instance, wants
to take us in a different direction. There are policies that are clearly
discriminatory. And discrimination whether in the public or private
sector is wrong.
I am not questioning Article 153 and Malay
special rights. I am in favour of a system that continually monitors the
situation in the country to make sure that all races enjoy the
opportunities available in this country. The distribution of wealth and
opportunities must be fair and just to all, between races and within
racial groups. Discrimination and racism in all its forms create stress
and anxiety, and result in many leaving the country, It also results in
many talented individuals not being able to grow into their full
potential.
Sabah and Sarawak came into Malaysia with high
expectations. Poverty levels are very high in these two states. We do
not pay enough attention to the people of Sabah and Sarawak. We cannot
just see them as a vote bank but not bother about their welfare. Their
resources contribute much to the federal government, but these states do
not get a proportionate share of state-derived revenue.
So, what can we do to change things?
1. Raise English language proficiency.
Consider this, China and India each have more English
language-proficient people than any of the English-speaking countries of
the world. In India's case, the school of preference for the middle
class is an English school and all universities conduct most of their
courses in English.
China has a policy of creating a pool of
English-proficient Chinese so that they can benefit from international
trade and diplomacy, and from the flow of knowledge from the western
world. China, like India, also wants, to provide services to the rest of
the world. To do so, their people have to be proficient in other
languages. English is an important language. Make Malaysians at least
bilingual.
2. Raise educational standards. We
must have first-tier colleges that can compete with the best in the
world. At one time, Universiti Malaya was such a university. Even now,
Malaysians achieve great academic distinction everywhere. Establish
top-class business schools in the country to train entrepreneurs. Our
undergraduates should be able to spend time in good universities in
other parts of the world. They should also spend time in internships
with private firms.
3. Have proper manpower studies.
Our universities must produce graduates that are required in the
marketplace. Technology is changing the workplace. Robots and AI will
replace many if not most of the existing jobs. We must look into the
future and educate our young for the jobs of the future. The new
graduates must be able to adapt to a world that is rapidly changing.
4. Leverage our diversity.
Malays have been uncomfortable with the large number of non-Malays
brought into the country and have feared being swamped by them. But they
must see the positive side.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the
population of the country was very small. The British together with the
Malay rulers saw the economic potential of the country. And needed
labour to develop the infrastructure, establish the plantations and
extract tin. They brought in Chinese and Indian indentured labour. The
country at the time was covered with teeming jungles filled with snakes
and mosquitoes. Tens of thousands of indentured labourers died clearing
the forests and building roads. railways, ports, airports, setting up
telephone and transmission lines and establishing the plantations and
mines. The country prospered. And when independence came, we were ready
to take on the helm of government.
After 1969, there was a
perceived need to accelerate Malay development and that was achieved
through the NEP (New Economic Policy). Today, the Malays have come into
their own. There is a large Malay middle class - professionals, civil
servants, businessmen, etc. It is time to come together as Malaysians.
The Malays must embrace the non-Malays. And non-Malays must embrace the
Malays. And together, we advance the nation.
The
dynamic created from the convergence of so many cultural streams and
traditions has created a people who are able to punch above their
weight. We should stop pitting the races against each other. We should
use the talents of our people whatever their race or religion. We want
the best minds in all institutions of government, and in industry as
well.
The UK, Singapore and Canada have more Indians in their
cabinet than we have. But do not point our fingers at just the
government. The private sector must examine itself too. Racism is also a
problem in the private sector. Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj of PSM, in a
recent book launch, called on the private sector to look at racism in
its ranks as well.
5. Zero tolerance for corruption.
Corruption bleeds the country of much-needed resources. We have seen
the damage done to the country with 1MDB and other scandals. We have
also seen how inflated prices for unviable projects can raise our debt
levels and burden taxpayers for generations. Our national debt has surpassed RM1 trillion.
More
than 70 percent of our national budget is to meet operational expenses
including debt servicing. The auditor-general has warned that it is not sustainable
to service debt through borrowings. Insufficient money goes into our
development expenditure. We must prepare ourselves for the day when our
oil and gas reserves run out. Our enforcement agencies must be made
independent and empowered to root out corruption wherever it finds it.
6, Look after the poor.
Look after their housing, health and nutritional needs. They are our
people too. Get Singapore's help in tackling our affordable housing
problem. There is no shame in that. They lead the world in affordable
housing in terms of design, speed of construction and cost. Our health
system is very good. Make it better. And institute a system of food
rationing so that the very poor get enough food to meet their
nutritional requirements.
7. Implement the minimum wage forcefully.
Malaysian employers must commit themselves to the development of our
people and our nation. They must train our people to be more productive.
They must bring in technology to reduce their dependence on foreign
labour.
8. Have schemes to attract talent from all over the world.
The deputy vice-chancellor of Monash University in a talk in Kuala
Lumpur spoke of a global battle for talent. The UK gives special entry
visas to graduates from the top 50 universities of the world. Two of
Singapore's universities are on that list. Singapore has their Asean
Scholarship Programme. The US attracts thousands of the most talented
students from all over the world.
9. Pay special attention to the people of Sabah and Sarawak. A disproportionate amount of the Malaysian poor come from there. Make Malaysia meaningful for them.
We
need to reset or reboot the nation. The forthcoming elections will give
us a chance to do so. We need younger leaders. We need leaders who are
not encumbered by historical baggage. We need young leaders who are more
open-minded and global in their thinking. We need leaders of vision and
integrity.
It is imperative that all Malaysians come out and vote in GE15.
DAVID DASS is a lawyer, a Malaysiakini subscriber and commentator.
