MALAYSIANS - CALM DOWN!

- relevant to all CAT & ACCA candidates. (by extension the world)

“ISA invoked! Police detained 3 individuals who reported the truth as messengers but left the perpetrator scott free…” so the report goes. (The Star A, 2008; The Star B, 2008 )

Malaysians (especially CAT and ACCA candidates)! Calm Down! Change is the only constant. The political landscape is shifting. But beware, when the earth opens and shift as if an earthquake, it can swallow (many) victims.

You may not believe this, but Malaysia has good corporate governance with:
1. The Royalty family having ultimate military powers. They can invoke powers of intervention to restore peace. I meant in a good way. If you apply “Game Theory” it makes no sense for such powerful dignitaries to not want peace and order in the country they rule.

2.The police force is merely doing their job. They said racial tension is a biggest threat. That is true! Look at Rwanda where 800,000 lost their lives, World War II saw 6 million Jews snuffed out. That is nothing compared to 6.6 million Poles (Poland) systematically executed.

Police is ethically doing their job. Apply Utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham) ethics and you will see letting minority suffer for the greater majority well being. What about the perpetrators of racism? I can’t say more as I don’t have the facts to the whole picture. Maybe actions done is unfair, have you considered the possibility “maybe not”.

3.Opposition parties are merely doing their job to oppose, rightly or wrongly, its left to individuals to decide.

There are bigger threats:
x USA is stumbling economically with potential default in US$8trillion in real estate sector. They are our biggest customer. They catch a (economic) flu, we catch pneumonia. Mind you, the twin power house UK, has announced a double digit percentage fall in real estate prices in which Gordon Brown is so nervous. In fact announced that UK faced worst economic prospects in 60 years.

x Commodities rose as fast and fall as fast. The latter is reflected by weak demand in world. China has completed infrastructure development for the Olympics. This means they will not have the heyday frenzy of development that translates to lower demand for steel, oil to name a few.

x Globalization is forcing Malaysian economy to open up to competition. The days of political-commerce ties are almost over. Compete or die. Opposition parties claimed we lost a multi-billion dollar Korean investment because of refusal of federal government to construct certain bridge linking to an island. But do we have all the facts? Could it be the bridge is just a “necessary resource” (Prahalad & Hamel)? Could it be that Philippines have cheaper labour, tax free zones, skilled labour in other words the subsidiary there is a “Contributor” (Bartlett & Ghoshal)? Craig Barrett of Intel founder said that we are losing our “advance factor” of skilled labour.

x THE BIGGEST THREAT : Your future! EXAMS are coming. Have you been putting energy and time studying, grasping concepts and practicing questions? Your career is at stake.

I have frequently openly state I am politically neutral, but when I observed the mass media and blogs, I notice the unease, unrest, anger and even frustration (such as the quote above). Well don’t be. This is change. For better or worse, but stay on sidelines and focus on your future, your studies and pursuit of excellence. President John F. Kennedy: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Do your bit as law abiding citizens. Life is unfair due to political stakeholders (Mendelow model) strife. Remember “Keep Inform” and “Secondary” quadrants? I know you will say that in P1, you are taught that when “Keep Informed” stakeholders will to combine forces, they can push up to “concentrate” stakeholders. Even so, that is a risk as this is only an “if” they unite. Apply risk management in F8 and P1 (ACCA). But hey, wait a minute, aren’t you arguing so well? See what I mean as to how well educated you are when applying concepts you learnt in ACCA?

I hope you all have the maturity and insight to see the bigger picture. ACCA has already in process of equipping you with such wisdom. You studied corporate governance in P1 (Public Accountant), well guess what, its at play now in this country. Should be shocked? No, it’s a progress. The future is always a hope for the better. Why not build your own future for starters?

So please don’t dwell on politics that incite hatred, unease and worse civil unrest. Spread this message of peace. I know some of you will disagree and say stuff like - “We are the ones who are change agents, if you don’t voice out, who will?” Or equivalent rebuttals. Don’t get me wrong. I am saying "be peaceful (verbally, emotionally, definitely physically)". Don’t add kerosene to fire. Say in civilized manner but don’t cause ill-will to one another. We are ALL world’s citizens. If we are attacked by aliens (good possibility that will happen), humans will set aside differences and unite. Well, why not now?!

Conclusion : CALM DOWN! Our job is study hard, graduate and contribute positively to our own future, as globalisation is indiscriminatory. If you don’t invest intellectually, you will be marginalized by this global force. Example: You don’t want to buy a Proton cars just as much as the (former) East Germans who abhor their Skodas. Both marques famed for poor quality and only sells due to government unsustainable protectionists measures. Will you as a person be another “Proton”?

References:
The Star A, 2008, Raja Petra, Teresa Kok and Sin Chew reporter arrested under ISA, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/13/nation/2022362&sec=nation), 13th September.


The Star B, 2008, MCA shocked by arrest of reporter and not perpetrator, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/13/nation/2022800&sec=nation, 13th September.

Please visit : http://marcusong88.blogspot.com/2008/08/life-as-student.html for motivational article to study.