Not doing

I've led my life as a very irrational JC student thus far.

Not running for SC, HEXCO, Choir presidency, Scholars' Development and so on. Many asked what in the world I'm thinking. Here's what I'm thinking:

When you're good, you don't compete.  Look at the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra for instance. They don't involve themselves in the All-Japan Ban Contest as a participant but as the benchmark for wind band standards in Japan (by recording the set pieces for reference). This is the same for the world's top orchestras, though they are being ranked. Nevertheless, lists don't define the soul of these mature institutions. They typically the serve as the pride and soul of their home cities. That's way more important.

In all that you are good at, you have to be very confident. People compete because they are uncertain of their abilities. Isn't this a show of self-disrespect? When you're good, you should strive to be the one who sets the standard and be the mentor for your counterparts. Also, you don't need to compete if you're able to distinguish yourself from others such that you are in-substitutable. (Recall PED)

I recall Mr Teo Ser Luck's wisdom that one is not made a leader because of his position but by his character. One does not need to be a leader only when given a position. Positions are merely a source of empowerment to drive on to greater heights in the organisation. However, is this necessary if the individual if self-driven? In other words, one is a leader if he behaves like one in everything that he chooses to do.

Conversely, one is merely an administrator when given a position but has no leadership traits in him. Singapore schools are very good at producing administrators.

Leadership is a lifestyle, not a post. When you have unshakeable values and beliefs, you don't need accolades or leadership posts for you to be noticed. You find opportunities knocking at your doorstep because they know you are different. You don't need to go into scholar development or school programmes to prove your worth. Just do what you like to do and you will reap the benefits. Just look at how ministers are chosen. They come from various backgrounds, doctors, bankers, economists, generals, etc. They are chosen because they are good at what they do, coupled with strong beliefs and conviction.

For me, driven by beliefs and causes that I advocate, I chose to be a president of a non-niche CCA of 20 people, the Malay Cultural Society.  I don't think I'm devaluing myself by heading a very small CCA. I strive to unite all Malay NYJC-ians such that our different strengths would be put together to great causes for our community when we go out and work. I fear that my friends would forget their roots; the people who have helped them exceled, and that their success in the future would depend on the mandate of their own community. Why are the Chinese so successful?It's because they never forget to contribute back to their society when they succeed.

Now you know how I think. 

Antara Sayur dan Nafi

Niat terbotol dalam kalbu
Menjual sayur
Niat terbantut di pasar
Menuntut pembeli


Pembeli
manusia
buta
Kebaikan terlindung
Mudarat disanjung


Penjual
manusia
waras
Kebaikan dikongsi
Mudarat dibasmi


Natijah:
Penjual tak untung
Pembeli rugi

Is there hope for the world today?

I feel there is hope.

While most of the challenges we face today are often created by people
who wield power, either democratically or by unwilling submission of
peoples, what gives us hope really are ordinary people who care. One
will say that only people with power (at least in name) have the
capacity to change the course of events in the world. But real power
lies in the people who are willing to share and give. People who
advocate total inclusion of the disabled in our economy, for example.
Or those who merely come up with recipe books for fellow cancer
patients. These people impact your world, more effectively than guns
do.

And a lesson from Keefe:
Civil unrest should not cause us to lose hope, even on the grounds
that many lives are lost. Such conflict happen in the hope of a better
future for the society.

- done during GP. ;)

Woken Up

Phew, it's a heck of a long time since I put anything here. As you can see, new year - new template design.

The major event of this year has to be my getting posted to Nanyang Junior College. This is where I will spend two years (hopefully only two) of university preparation. I must say I have no regrets putting this institution as the first choice.

1. Mr Kwek
What better way to start tertiary education than to have the school principal pat your back as you enter the school. Mr Kwek was also the principal of Anderson Secondary School in the early '90s and under his leadership, the school has made a giant leap forward, made obvious by its achievement as the "Best Neighbourhood School" in 1992, awarded by The Straits Times. If I'm not mistaken, it was he who convinced Mrs Chong, my Math teacher in secondary school to get an MSG of 1.0 for Maths, which materialised.

What makes Mr Kwek so adored by many, I think, is through his straightforward-ness and friendly demeanour. We have a strong sense of security being in NY, thanks to his repeated calls to "find him in the General Office if you have no money because nobody should be deprived of education." He is a principal who truly put the interests of his students first. He is one in a million.

2. O.G.
Imagine 900 people from 100 secondary schools converging to bring a school hall down. That's exactly what happened.

Across the causeway

Why is merger and separation removed from the social studies syllabus, I wonder.

However, after reading a few books on the above, it becomes obvious that the above matter is simply too controversial. I am certain that even till today, academics still cannot reach a "net" agreement on why we left or even joined Malaysia.

SEPARATION

We are taught, or if not, have the impression that separation was due to difficult differences, mostly on domestic issues. For one, the promised common market never did happen.

However, this Malay book by Mustapa Mohamed, titled "Kemelut Politik Melayu" said that Tunku Abdul Rahman "sacked" Singapore out of Malaysia in order to protect Malaysia interest. Of course, we do know that Lee Kuan Yew did call for a "Malaysian Malaysia" rather than a "Malay Malaysia".

GOOD VS BAD

Another source of headache is the contention over who was the protagonist or antagonist in this matter. Either  party seem to always be antagonising the other.

Lee Kuan Yew mentioned in his memoirs of the presence of "Malay Ultras" in UMNO and the central government. One of these ultras include former PM Dr Mahathir. Conversely, Malaysian minds tend to think of the PAP as exclusively Chinese and a group of extremists who threaten to make torn the socio-political fabric of Malaysia. 

As a Singaporean, I am the worst person to soberly and objectively make sense of the situation then.

SS
These complications, on the other hand, can actually be made a reason for this topic to be reintroduced in the Social Studies syllabus. We need to let students appreciate these unique, interesting and abstract kinds of relations. Then, we get to groom young openminds to be critical yet objective. Coupled with sensitivity to the world around them, we get to build a generation of youth who are discerning and active in this country's workings.

Piece of my mind

If you do what your peers do, you will get the same results as them. To be better, you need to do more.

However, I believe one can work in a smarter manner, more efficiently - even if this means NOT doing certain "things" which your peers do.

These things include going to the movies, hanging out, etc.

Gene

I recall Mr Kamal's "extra-extra" lesson with the DHS HC team that hard work is in the DNA of Singaporeans. 

Founding

Our forefathers are not from this land. They migrated from all over Asia to Singapore in search of wealth and a spur to start earn livelihood. The Chinese, for example, came from the Southern parts of China, considered the "short Chinese" back in their homeland. While conditions at home were atrocious, the conditions of their journey to Singapore was no better, so as were their early days in Singapore. And so they worked as coolies, Samsui women and such. Some learnt their trades very well to become successful merchants, with the dividends to contribute to their homeland and local community. 

Singapore was never meant to be called home by these peoples. Singapore was merely a place to bag cash and send home, where they belong. However, only time understands love, hence, people become attached to this island. They gave birth to a new generation. 

Occupation

The Japanese Occupation purged the community of anti-Japanese sentiments. This is the period of time where we hear of anecdotes of how families and friends of different origins cooperate harmoniously to resist, or at least, to survive torment. Clearly, to live through severe rule requires strength and courage. In other word, survival of the fittest. 

Merdeka

Singapore was created with little resources given to capitalise on. Here, hard work occurs across all levels of society. As the individual, one had to be sure to be hardworking in order to raise their children, accompanied by sufficient faith to the government to lead them. At the government level, the government had to be adamant to do what others won't and fear in order to serve the people's interest, including allowing the entrance of MNCs. 

21st Century

For new citizens or even PRs, this kind of hereditary characteristic is even more prevalent. In spite of the challenges of living in an expensive city, the fact that one can still procreate and educate them well is very telling of their effort. 

Think about it.