“Malaysia: culture change” for good or worse?

“Malaysia: culture change”
For good or worst?
By suren

The Curtains will soon be down for 2011 and the nation will be welcoming 2012. Reflecting back on how Malaysia has been doing, one significant change seems highly visible, ““demonstrating” culture” which was once a very rare phenomenon in Malaysia before 2011. Most Malaysians now can in a jiffy name a few demonstrations as it has been so common in Malaysia, from demo’s for rights, a cleaner pooling system, a walk to present a toilet bowl as a gift to authorities, demo’s by presenting agitating shaped cake as gifts, students breaking in varsity complexes and bringing down flags, march and riots to amend laws and even as we read there are rumours of coming uproars of demonstrations in Malaysia

Inevitably the political stirs caused by the larger power share to the oppositions has heated up the seats for the ruling party ever since the 2005 elections. The cats and dogs among them has much coloured the political sheets in the people’s eyes. Once Malaysia has been the quiet lot in the political agenda but this is no longer the case. Umpteen numbers of demonstrations, picketing and rioting have been rising every now and then consistently. Of Course the development of technologies which makes it accessible to acquire information’s fast, phenomenal growth of social media’s which makes it easy to get groups coordinated and political uproar in foreign nations are a few causes to be blamed yet what about self-reflection on the peaceful Malaysia we had to be viewed in contrast?


Reflecting on it makes us realize that this has not been the culture of Malaysians, for some time ago we used to watch such things happen in other countries and also neighbouring countries through the mainstream news but now Malaysia is having a culture change where it is becoming a norm in Malaysia to Demonstrate, march or picket to express issues, mostly backed by political reasons, seeking rights or emotional out pours

Name it freedom of expression or human rights; there are numerous questions which needs the answer of true Malaysians such as; are we heading right or is it heading to worst? Are we Malaysians are happy and willing to accept the street demonstrations or whatever forms of “Demonstration” as a part of our culture? Are we doing it right or should it be that way? Is it okay for foreign countries to recognize us as the demonstrating country compared to the fast paced developing country image we had?

These are a few questions need to be thrown to ourselves as Malaysians and it should be answered by us too, does seeking democracy in a non-democratic ways or actions can be justified as an act of democracy?; or a view on how many did truly walked the talk on their efforts through the said demonstrations? Perhaps the culture of Malaysia and how it has been needs to be rekindled and aspired on. It may not be harming to express and practice rights but it has to be for the right cause, by the right people and in the right way which doesn’t harm others physically or emotionally and doesn’t tarnish the image of the country which was built which much efforts and sacrifices. 2012 is still a mystery on whether it is going to cultivate the new “demonstrating” culture of Malaysia or if it has other plans, for sure the people of Malaysia are to answer..

Point to ponder : A people free to choose will always choose peace ~ Ronald Reagan

“Rethinking worship & prayer”

“Worship and prayer” when said at a glance sound like many know what it is and what it is all about, in a more generic term perhaps it can be said as an act of divinity or perhaps putting divinity at practise.

But to the irony of it, observing many worships and prayers, today it has become more of an act of petitioning or putting up requests unto the supreme power, it’s quite common to see many putting up a list of wanting’s and needs to the alpha and omega when in divine places or when engaged in prayers

But is that what worship and prayers are really for? Are we supposed to have a requesting session with the supremacy that we worship and name it prayers or an act of devotion?
It is contradicting for a supreme power which we look upon to not know what are our needs and based on that very logic it means our needs and wanting’s are need less to be said yet not many are aware of it

Being in a divine or a sacred place for worship and prayer is to have a shift of environment and ambience to accommodate the growth and sustaining of the spiritual side of ourselves, that explains the numerous do’s and don’ts in sacred places, abiding in our spiritual beliefs, customs and submission to the supremacy would encourage the change of energy levels in us and provide cosmic energies to flow within thus making one to feel the closeness with the supreme power or the almighty or in a non-scientific term “acquiring the blessings”

These brings forth a great growth spiritually and physically it strengthens the mind and soul to achieve better relevance in divinity, not understanding this many instead of being submissive towards divinity becomes instructive by ordering the creator for what they need and want “what an irony”. Many are being destructive in divine places by reciting petitions and list of wanting’s rather than being humble and submissive in their worship and prayers

Fundamental understanding over their very own religion, customs and meanings of the worships, prayers and rituals would be the ultimate relevance for one to attain divine blessings and spiritual growth to sustain life as in the teachings of the religion despite being drift away from worldly materialistic needs …

Worship and Prayer should be free from list of materialistic wanting’s, self-importance, selfishness & ego but rather for the wellbeing of all others and submission to the almighty sincerely and purely without other worldly concerns ….

Growth, principals & maturity-how & why ...

I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'This the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death. - Leonardo da Vinci

“FRAGILE” is the best word to describe the characters of today’s young ones! Closely observed to day we have numerous followers rather than leaders! Attributes such as innovation, creativity, leadership and more needs to be taught and inculcated rather than self-developed among the lads

This are the effects of living in a group and taking up a group identity as the identity of the self rather than having individuality or principles in life, take a test, if you have a group of students, instruct them to speak up or present an idea in front of the others, first thing up avoiding and resistance takes place and worst hey tend to back off and push their friend forward which eventually does the same!

When wondering why this happens, it pricks that this is due to unavailability of understanding or knowing the self, this then results to the lack of self-principle and confidence which are the sustaining tools of the self!

One should always have the above said qualities which in a cluster will build up the character of the self and through that they would develop a way of thinking and a way of carrying themselves, a good mixture of all this creates a charismatic leadership quality and a great personality which is lacking among many adolescents today

Unfortunately today, the education system emphasizes more on grading which only contributes to route learning and parents or the significant others related in parenting are more prudent towards academic achievement rather than character development amongst adolescents

Adolescents must understand the basic values of life and develop principles for themselves and learn to stand firm in their principles. Only when this happens they would have character and the other related attributes for living such as leadership, creativity etc. which overall brings forth maturity and a well-balanced developed youth whom would be able to sustain themselves towards being a charismatic leader or personality

Acquiring only knowledge isn’t an indicator of having balanced mental development, but building up a character along with the knowledge contributes to “mutual development” … i.e. know a dictionary and the ability to use a dictionary is 2 different things …