Sslee blog
Once we were beautiful by Art Harun
Dear all,
Sharing an article from our newly appointed Election Commission (EC) chairman Mr. Azhar Harun (Art Harun)
https://www.malaysia-today.net/2013/07/24/once-we-were-beautiful/
Like our football team, the state of our racial integration and inter-faith relationship has moved in reverse gear. Years of political posturing utilizing religion and race have now begun to show its ugly consequences. We need to take a real good look at ourselves and examine our ways. And we need to reboot our operating system if we want to avoid a total crash. And we need to reboot fast.
Art Harun, TMI
I am blessed.
So are many of my friends who are of or around my age.
So are many who are older than me.
As a child of the 60s, I went through my formative years in an English-stream school. It was a big school in town.
And there were hundreds of us Malays, Chinese and Indian boys (it wasn’t co-ed).
Our first headmaster was a Chinese gentleman who was as fierce as they came those days.
When he left, he was replaced by an Indian gentleman, who also was as fierce.
My first class teacher was Ms Leong, all long haired and short skirted.
And yes, armed with a wooden ruler, she would knock my knuckles for failing to properly write the number 8.
My first English sentence, learnt on the first day at school was to be uttered after raising my right hand, “Please teacher may I go out?”
That was to be said if any of us had to go to the toilet to do the normal stuffs we all do in the toilet (and not to eat).
Then there were Mr Linggam, Cikgu Aziz and wife, Sharom, Mr Lee the karate guy, Mr Khor, Cikgu Mutalib and various others.
We were a happy bunch. We played together, ate together, learned together and of course, at times, punished together.
And we were equal. In standard 5, I began fasting.
The school canteen stayed open for the whole month.
No renovation. No closure. Muslim and non-Muslim kids, who did not fast, ate as usual.
If they bought a proper meal, such like nasi lemak or mee goreng, they would eat at the canteen.
If it was some kind of snack, they would just eat while walking around, in the class or where ever.
No fuss. No issue. No problem.
My impressionable years were spent in a boarding school. It was the same scenario.
All of us, regardless of race or religion studied together, ate together, played together and at times, getting one or two rotan together.
Visiting a non-Malay house was not a problem.
Eating there was not a problem too. Sharing food with non-Muslims was not an issue.
Things have however, sadly, changed.
And change for the worse. Nowadays, non-Muslims don’t send their kids to national school anymore.
They prefer to send the kids to the vernacular schools.
The ones who could afford would send their kids to private schools.
National schools are almost invariably filled with Muslim/Malay students.
National schools would recite prayers before class begin in the morning.
Quranic verses and hadith would adorn walls in the canteen, school office and even classes.
Ustaz and ustazah would even ask school kids to raise their hands if their parents do not pray 5 times a day.
In secondary schools, the tudung is not compulsory for girls – according to the Ministry of Education’s circular, if I am not mistaken – but girls without tudung would be viewed askance by schoolmates and teachers alike.
Due to the small number of non-Muslim/Malay kids in national schools, the Malay kids do not have the opportunity to mix around and integrate with non-Malays in their formative and impressionable years.
The small number of non-Malay kids also gives a sense of false superiority complex to the Malay kids as well as teachers.
Thus, my race and my religion are more important than you, your religion and everything else.
Hence the closure of the school canteen during Ramadhan.
This is prevailing in many national schools. Apparently, this is done to “respect” the Muslim students who are fasting.
Forget the fact that non-Muslims do not fast and they, like any other human beings or animals, have to eat and drink.
Forget the fact that there are Muslim kids who do not fast.
Anybody who just about mentions the word “food” would have been taken as insulting Islam.
On Facebook last week, there were two guys admonishing a hotel which advertised its breakfast package on its page.
They viewed it as disrespectful.
But to be fair, the two were widely condemned by other Muslim facebookers.
The eating-in-the-changing-room debacle yesterday is just the surface of a far unhealthier trend in Malaysia.
Beneath that surface is a society which is fractious, intolerant, selfish and uncompromising.
The obvious question is how did we, as a nation, become like this? As a nation we started so well.
The Federal Constitution was agreed upon by consensus between three major races anchored to give-and-take and win-win camaraderie.
There was a blemish in 1969 but that was quickly nipped in the bud and we soldiered on.
In football, we were in the Olympic final in 1972 and 1980.
By the law of progression, we should be in the World Cup by now. By contrast, Japan and Korea, whom we used to beat, were already in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
We now struggle to beat the likes of Vietnam and even Singapore.
Like our football team, the state of our racial integration and inter-faith relationship has moved in reverse gear.
Years of political posturing utilizing religion and race have now begun to show its ugly consequences.
The so-called Islamisation that we embark upon, which is shorn of any meaningful spiritual understanding of the religion, but rather born out of political necessities, convenience and mired in political one-upmanship has now produced a nation which is unsure of itself and a people who are fractious, angry, suspicious and at odd with each other.
We need to take a real good look at ourselves and examine our ways. And we need to reboot our operating system if we want to avoid a total crash. And we need to reboot fast.
PS. http://chedet.cc/?p=2888#comment-142624
Dear PM Tun Dr. Mahathir,
Mr. Art Harun, “Once we were beautiful” say it all what are the ills plaguing our current society.
https://www.malaysia-today.net/2013/07/24/once-we-were-beautiful/
Tun holds some responsibility for our current ills. Tun had spared the rod and spoil the child it is time now for Tun to be mean and cruel in order to be kind.
Thank you
Yours truly,
SS Lee
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Discussions
1 person likes this. Showing 33 of 33 comments
The deterioration start after mahathir retired as PM in 2003 loh.....!!
During Mahathir time, although it is still not so good but the trend changes is small but it accelerated strongly after he left loh....!!
Can the change be reversed ??
Difficult loh....bcos it is not only happening in msia only, but in the whole wide muslim world mah.....!!
Raider suggest & advice to non muslim & non malay, please prepare to fend for yourself on your own & do not expect & hope for miracle loh.....!!
2018-09-23 10:34
a.k.a. EngineeringGood&FruitfulTimeTogether (against time wasters in school.......and Zzzzzz edu mini)
Evil begets evil.......so bad becomes worse
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
NOT THIS TIME
ENOUGH OF EVIL TIME
THIS TIME IS HERO TIME
2018-09-23 10:48
a.k.a. EngineeringBeautifulTimeAgain (against time wasters in school.......and Zzzzzz edu mini)
THIS TIME WE DON'T WANT KIDS TO LEARN THE WRONG THINGS IN THEIR TENDER AGE
NO VIOLENCE, CRIMINAL ACT OR ANYTHING UNLAWFUL IN ANY FORM, IN WHATEVER NAME
THIS TIME WE DIDN'T WANT SELF-SERVING LEADERS WHO ARE INSINCERE IN DOING WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE SELFLESS SPIRIT OF TRUE NATION BUILDING
NO MORE DIVIDE AND RULE SORT OF 'TIME AND RESOURCES WASTER' TOXIC POLITICKING
THIS TIME WE WANT TONIC SERVANT LEADERS WHO ARE WORTHY, TRUTHFUL AND COMPETENT IN A MULTIRACIAL WITH MULTIRELIGION AND PLUROCULTURALISM
2018-09-23 11:09
B4 u hope for all these things...u better work for yourself 1st loh...!!
Raider suggest;
1. primary school- send to chinese school
2. secondary- Go for private school if got monies or chinese independent school or vocational school.
3. Higher education: Go for Tar College & University and oversea university here on twinning basis, xiamen university here or taiwan ,china and singapore university if not much monies and go for oversea university if got alot of monies loh....!!
4. Do not pursue only university education...must consider trade skills like vocational like electrical, plumbing, automotive etc loh...!!
Also culinary, hair stylist etc mah.....!!
Do not overspend for general education loh....!!
Posted by EngineeringProfit > Sep 23, 2018 11:09 AM | Report Abuse
a.k.a. EngineeringBeautifulTimeAgain (against time wasters in school.......and Zzzzzz edu mini)
THIS TIME WE DON'T WANT KIDS TO LEARN THE WRONG THINGS IN THEIR TENDER AGE
NO VIOLENCE, CRIMINAL ACT OR ANYTHING UNLAWFUL IN ANY FORM, IN WHATEVER NAME
THIS TIME WE DIDN'T WANT SELF-SERVING LEADERS WHO ARE INSINCERE IN DOING WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE SELFLESS SPIRIT OF TRUE NATION BUILDING
NO MORE DIVIDE AND RULE SORT OF 'TIME AND RESOURCES WASTER' TOXIC POLITICKING
THIS TIME WE WANT TONIC SERVANT LEADERS WHO ARE WORTHY, TRUTHFUL AND COMPETENT IN A MULTIRACIAL WITH MULTIRELIGION AND PLUROCULTURALISM
2018-09-23 11:21
THESE PPL ALSO BECOME SO INSENSITIVE WHEN POSTING USING ARABIC THINGS IN WATSAPP GROUP THAT INVOLVE NON-ARABIC PPL....
.......LOSS COMMON SENSE OR COURTESY
SIMPLY RUDE OR BAD MANNERS?
2018-09-23 11:42
U need to understand when we change the govt, we r just slowing down the decay loh....!!
We r unable to turn it around & achieve success loh....!!
Msia can only be successful & progressive if the majority prepare to embrace progress instead of battle cry of malay & muslim agenda loh....!!
2018-09-23 11:47
a.k.a. EngineerFirstWorldMalaysia (against overdued Msia Tak Boleh )
They can't be salvaged.......unless realize god sent saviour like Siti Kasim......
........a truly patriotic by any criteria.........rare national treasure
Imagine how Msia can make a dent in the universe if she were given the PM post
yes......first woman PM we need next
Msia Boleh........
2018-09-23 11:56
1st of all mahathir must be prepare to appoint siti kassim & rafidah aziz to his cabinet loh....!!
2018-09-23 11:57
a.k.a. EngineerMalaysianValue (against islamarabic copycatting )
Born original.....die as a copycat?......before it's too late (better than never)
A real saviour needed timely
First woman PM we need next
Msia Boleh........
2018-09-23 12:01
They are more women voters then men....but they play 2nd fiddle loh...!!
2018-09-23 12:02
"my race and my religion are more important than you, your religion and everything else"
The wrong value for schooling kids
Ask Richard Dawkins
2018-09-23 12:04
......also the my God is mightier and more true......than yours!????
2018-09-23 12:06
What to do ? the majority are bought up this way mah....!!
Posted by EngineeringProfit > Sep 23, 2018 12:04 PM | Report Abuse
"my race and my religion are more important than you, your religion and everything else"
The wrong value for schooling kids
Ask Richard Dawkins
2018-09-23 12:06
a.k.a. EngineeringSustainablyProductiveWorkCulture (aagainst wastage of public fund(
One Friday morning, I arrived early but got stucked at the reception counter with this female receptionist.....
......told to wait for a hour for the officer that I wanted to see
as he .....and the rest of officers of his rank......
......all busy praying
FOR THE WHOLE HOUR....I WAS THINKING.....
COLLECTIVELY HOW MUCH LOSS IN WORK PRODUCTIVITY?
TOTALLY RIDICULOUS, NO? NOT FOR THEM
2018-09-23 12:13
Don't even have a reliable channel to complain about all the abuse of ........bla bla bla
so corrupt in a way
still pra_ for what?
......so that work outcome got better
ya....dream on
2018-09-23 12:17
a.k.a. EngineeringQualityWork (against sinful office time stealers)
ALL TIME WASTING CULTURE STARTED YOUNG IN SCHOOL.......PROCEED TO WORKING CULTURE WHEN GROW UP
SITI KASIM IS 100% CORRECT THAT RELIGION SHOULD BE A PERSONAL AFFAIR
......HENCE SHOULD USE ONLY PERSONAL TIME TO CONNECT TO GOD
OFFICIAL TIME NEEDS TO PERFORM PROPER JOB PROFESSIONALLY
2018-09-23 12:24
a.k.a EngineeringBeautyAgain (against ugly mind and bullying culture)
"The closure of the school canteen during Ramadhan.
This is prevailing in many national schools. Apparently, this is done to “respect” the Muslim students who are fasting.
Forget the fact that non-Muslims do not fast and they, like any other human beings or animals, have to eat and drink." SSLEE
Basic universal value of being considerate and mutual respect should be upheld.....
......but not?
Loss of those values...........COME THE BULLY CULTURE (by any standard) I CAN SEE
2018-09-23 12:31
The fact, for change, the current leadership must be prepare to initiate unpopular changes mah....!!
The PH govt is cautious now loh...!!
2018-09-23 12:34
a.k.a EngineeringChangeInstantly
JUST 100% EXCUSE
THEY WERE GIVEN THE MANDATE TO REDIFINE AND DO THE RIGHT THINGS
THERE WILL NOT BE A PERFECT TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING
......JUST CUMULATIVE OF SMALL CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AT EVERY GIVEN OPPORTUNITY
2018-09-23 12:43
they have no balls to do it mah....!!
Posted by EngineeringProfit > Sep 23, 2018 12:43 PM | Report Abuse
a.k.a EngineeringChangeInstantly
JUST 100% EXCUSE
THEY WERE GIVEN THE MANDATE TO REDIFINE AND DO THE RIGHT THINGS
THERE WILL NOT BE A PERFECT TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING
......JUST CUMULATIVE OF SMALL CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AT EVERY GIVEN OPPORTUNITY
2018-09-23 12:47
a.k.a EngineeringBeautyAgain (against ugly mind and bullying culture)
Siti Kasim Boleh
.....balls are extra.....and if anything....meaningless?
2018-09-23 13:10
No hope already! Decades of super low quality education has taken it's toll! You have millions of dumb national school leavers who don't dare to do trade or develop survival skills! Instead they depends on 'tuan melayu' card! Of course Mahathir always promise that the sky belongs to 'tuan melayu' helps alot!
2018-09-23 13:41
AS LONG AS MSIA EXIST THERE IS HOPE LOH.....!!
BUT U MUST TAKE ACTION B4 TOO LATE MAH....!!
JUST IN CASE, WE MUST TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT OURSELVES LOH...!!
Posted by stockraider > Sep 23, 2018 11:21 AM | Report Abuse X
B4 u hope for all these things...u better work for yourself 1st loh...!!
Raider suggest;
1. primary school- send to chinese school
2. secondary- Go for private school if got monies or chinese independent school or vocational school.
3. Higher education: Go for Tar College & University and oversea university here on twinning basis, xiamen university here or taiwan ,china and singapore university if not much monies and go for oversea university if got alot of monies loh....!!
4. Do not pursue only university education...must consider trade skills like vocational like electrical, plumbing, automotive etc loh...!!
Also culinary, hair stylist etc mah.....!!
Do not overspend for general education loh....!!
Posted by Speedy Boy > Sep 23, 2018 01:41 PM | Report Abuse
No hope already! Decades of super low quality education has taken it's toll! You have millions of dumb national school leavers who don't dare to do trade or develop survival skills! Instead they depends on 'tuan melayu' card! Of course Mahathir always promise that the sky belongs to 'tuan melayu' helps alot!
2018-09-23 14:22
a.k.a. ReEngineeringBeautyInThreeSteps
Step 1: Make Siti Kasim the adviser to the education minister immediately
Step 2: Dissociate religion from mainstream education with immediate effect
Step 3: Bring back quality to education in stages
2018-09-23 15:32
But item 2 how to dissociate when mainstream malay & muslim love it ??
Furthermore mahathir go & appoint a muslim scholar Mazlee as Education minister loh....!! Should have let mahathir hold this position better loh...!!
Posted by EngineeringProfit > Sep 23, 2018 03:32 PM | Report Abuse
a.k.a. ReEngineeringBeautyInThreeSteps
Step 1: Make Siti Kasim the adviser to the education minister immediately
Step 2: Dissociate religion from mainstream education with immediate effect
Step 3: Bring back quality to education in stages
2018-09-23 15:44
a.k.a. ReEngineeringGoodOldDays (against obsession....and compulsive behaviour)
SITI KASIM: In Malaysia today, we are obsessed with religion. Politicians and Ministers talk about religion and upholding religion. We have dedicated channels and programmes on religion on mainstream TV. Teachers force their religion and religious interpretations on children. Even the technical department, JKR (Public Works Department) for example, has set up sign boards espousing religious thoughts. Ever go to civil service offices? Observe just how many religious seminar banners and thoughts are plastered all over these places. Sometimes I wonder whether these are public services departments or religious propaganda functionaries.
Why this parade of religion in the public sphere? Is it because our people obsess on religion, as they personally have got nothing else of substance to promote that would enhance their work and the lives of the people they serve? Or that they have to cling to religion as that is their one and only part of their lives that provide them any sense of self-worth?
This has been the unintended consequence of the assimilation of Islamic values in governance (“penerapan nilai-nilai Islam”) instituted in 1985. The road to hell, they say, is always paved with good intentions. If nothing is done this nightmare is just beginning for the Malay society and Malaysian in general will suffer for it.
Religion by its very nature will always veer towards conservatism and fundamentalism, no matter how one wants to spin those words. Because institutionalised religion is about following. The attractiveness of institutionalised religion is the abdication of thinking to religious leaders with easy answers one shall not question. More so, when the population is uncompetitive against the outside world. In Malaysia, we have one of the most sophisticated array of institutionalised Islam in the world today.
So, without a change from the religious-centric environment the Malay society is currently in, and an education system that indoctrinates rather than enhance critical thinking, Malay society will continually drift towards the insularity of religious conservatism and away from progressive capabilities to succeed in the modern world. And population demographic will ensure that a progressive Government will eventually lose out
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/siti-kasim-thots/2018/08/26/the-real-malay-dilemma-the-issue-is-whether-any-of-the-malay-leadership-would-be-willing-to-change-i/#ebg5gGRvcvI6Gk6y.99
2018-09-23 16:48
We cannot have a beautiful country without functionally fit and professional ministries.
Extra clowns don't make a circus.
https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/444329
2018-09-23 17:32
Tahfiz school sodomy: Never assume any place is safe, says Yeoh
https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/444329
Never assume anyone is holy......unless they are honest enough to admit Charles Darwin is correct
2018-09-23 17:40
a.k.a. EngineeringBetterSchools
Our Bornean counterparts are also keen to pioneer this...
.......lots more steps to improve we need to do
but cannot.......as long as the edu mini continues Zzzzzz
2018-09-24 17:14
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EngineeringProfit
a.k.a. EngineeringGood&FruitfulTimeTogether (against time wasters in school)
ENOUGH OF NONSENSE FROM IRRESPONSIBLE AND NON DESERVING SO-PROCLAIMED COUNTRY LEADERS
.........TIME TO REFLECT AND FEEL SHAMEFUL OF ALL THE WRONG DOINGS TO THE NATION
FROM SUPPOSEDLY NATION BUILDING DUTY.....TO COMMIT SINFUL NATION BREAKING
GOOD OLD DAYS: "All of us, regardless of race or religion studied together, ate together, played together and at times, getting one or two rotan together." SSLEE
GONE WERE THE DAYS OF "No fuss. No issue. No problem." when RM TO SGD was 1:1
CURRENT STATE ( AS A MATTER OF THE ULTIMATE END RESULTS OF ALIGNING FAULTY POLICIES AND DEEDS)
"National schools are almost invariably filled with Muslim/Malay students.
National schools would recite prayers before class begin in the morning.
Quranic verses and hadith would adorn walls in the canteen, school office and even classes.
Ustaz and ustazah would even ask school kids to raise their hands if their parents do not pray 5 times a day." BY SSLEE (100% agree....as observed)
WHILE IN VERNACULAR SCHOOLS, I OBSERVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME WAS USED TO BETTER USE......
.......KIDS LEARN ABOUT UP-TO-DAY LEARNING AND LIVING PHILOSOPHY AND SKILLS.......
........DO SOME PHYSICAL WARM UPS........STRETCHING......TAI CHI.....OR YOGA......WHICH CAN IMPROVE CONCENTRATION...........THAT LOOK VERY ENERGIZING AND MOOD UPLIFTING EVEN TO ON LOOKERS.......TO GET READY TO START THE DAY.......MORE PRODUCTIVELY HENCE FRUITFULLY
(TO BE CONTINUED)
2018-09-23 10:12