We Are A Big Family

Recently the Sultan of Perlis had expressed unhappiness that there are still some people trying to use the racial line to split the people. To me I have always believed that we are all a big family. In the family, we would help and protect our brothers and sisters who need help and we would not try to split the family. However we would not pamper our brothers and sisters lest they become too dependent and worse still start to take things for granted and capitalize on others kindness.

I have always held on to the belief that we should not be racial in our outlook. In 1980, when I was promoted to act on the senior engineer's post ( Superscale"G"), Hj Hosni was working with me as senior time scale engineer. In one of the pep talk session to motivate him, I told him frankly that one day towards the end of our career in JPS, I would expect that he would bypass me and become my boss but for the time being he should listen to me to learn and be ready for his future promotion. In the end Hj Hosni really overtook me to become Deputy Director General and another of my junior (joining service later than me) got the promotion to JUSA C post earlier than me although I was at that time the only one managed to pass the PTK 6 (highest level of competency test in government service) . In addition to that I almost missed my confirmation to the JUSA C post but finally got it a few months after my obligatory retirement. I believe there are a few fair minded fellow brothers in the civil service who have bravely spoken out for me. These personal bitter experience of mine did not distract me from the belief that we should not be racial in our outlook but to extend our helping hands to our fellow brothers and sisters irrespective of race. Malaysia would have a very bright future if we reject racial outlook.

When our fellow brothers need help I would be willingly extend my helping hands even though they may overtake me. But when enough has been done and I see that our fellow brothers have grown up strongly and confidently to face the challenge of the world , any further help extended or expected is a case of taking thing for granted or trying to take advantage of the kindness of others. I would disapprove of such attitude from our fellow brothers. Indeed now there is another group of fellow brothers in our big family who have been neglected and being pushed to the corner Now they have no choice but to demonstrate their frustration and despair through rally and ended some of them detained under ISA. If nothing is done to help them greater havoc may be resulted to this big family to nobody's advantage . Now I would expect that the fellow brothers who have earlier received gracious help from their fellow brothers and are able to stand on their own feet should now join hands to graciously bring up this new group of fellow brothers who are waiting in despair for our help. Although there is still reluctance and resistance from some of this group of successful fellow brothers to extend their gracious helping hand to this new group of deprived fellow brothers, I strongly believe that one day in the not too far future , for the sake of this big family, this group of fellow brothers who have succeeded would come to their senses and step forward to extend their helpful hand and at the same time confidently and proudly reject the helping hand which they do not really need it now.

The future for this big family would be bright only if everyone in this family does not harbour on racial line, not greedy and sincerely wants to see that everyone in this big family is strong, confident and successful. Our challenge is not from within but from the world outside Malaysia but first we have to be united , care and love our fellow brothers and sisters irrespective of race, religion and class.