Many of us wield our intellect as an important instrument that uses reason and persuasion to inform and communicate ideas.
Our intellect helps us reason, divide, discuss, examine, judge and cut into slices information to be used in communicating ideas.
But the reality is our reasoning is very much linked to our intellect and our identity which gives it the necessary focus.
The intellect is very much a victim of our biases and prejudices all neatly packaged to promote a particular point of view or agenda. Strip away our sense of identity, and our intellect becomes stranded.
While one cannot diminish the role of the intellect, we have to accept that it presents a particular dimensional view or perspective. How many personal, national and international conflicts have been solved through the intellectual process?
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What we are speaks louder than what we say, and so the communicator is as important as his message.
This is where qualities of the heart are important. Many dismiss this as ‘fluffy’ but if one can bring into the domain of the intellect qualities of care, concern and forgiveness, then faith makes a difference. This develops an agenda to heal, reconcile and provide an alternative.
A combination of intellect and qualities of the heart provides not just a critical evaluation but also paint positive and humane possibilities.
In contrast, an intellectual approach alone perhaps clarifies but often polarises and rarely unifies.
What do I mean by qualities of the heart? Some indicators that help are reflection, introspection, silence and the capacity to see oneself as well as to feel in other people’s shoes. The need for a moral compass remains so critical.
The reality that we experience can either be a trigger for reactions or a response.
When it triggers a reaction, then the effect becomes a cause and we get trapped within our own cycle of reactions. This then becomes the cause which has an impact on our reality. Our views become polarised and the cycle repeats itself.
When we respond, then the cause is positive and the effect will also be likewise. We cannot run away from these natural laws that guide all our lives like the law of gravity or that you reap what you sow.
Qualities of the heart are those factors that enable us to become positive causative agents that inspire and enable positive outcomes.
There is so much negativity that we often miss simple points that do make a difference. Perhaps our own hurts, bitterness and hatred for the other or our strongly held partisan views are possibly a source of attraction. Could this be the reason why negativity resonates within us?
We must ask why negativity attracts and a critical hopeless story resonates with us and we respond to such negativity. Hurts and hatred not transformed will be transferred, to paraphrase a saying.
Like bacteria or parasites, these infect our minds and heart. There is enough of this globally which only leads to much hopelessness and fear. Some migrate in the hope that human nature is different elsewhere.
Social media narratives and regional context
Let’s consider the many narratives that we come across on social media about Malaysia, the present government, the personalities, the opposition and the challenges facing the current coalition government. While these challenges are real, let us have some contextual perspective.
Surely, we are in a better position than Myanmar, which is facing a civil war and ethnic tensions.
Consider Thailand, which has just faced a constitutional crisis and their issues with Cambodia, where the son has succeeded the long-serving father, Hun Sen, and an autocracy is in place though they also have a monarchy.
We hear little about Laos while Vietnam, though a communist nation, has faced a serious corruption crisis.
Then we have Brunei, stable under a monarchy.
Indonesia and the Philippines have their continuing internal challenges.
Then we have the secular city state of Singapore, perhaps an example of stability with some positive responses since its last general election. Its attempts at engineering a more cohesive society amid its diverse population are something that needs study.
Economic bright spots
Is it all doom and gloom in Malaysia? While perfection is a global dream, there are things happening that need to be spelt out.
The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) was 5.1% in 2024, up from 3.6% in 2023. Is this not something to be happy about?
We’ve seen lower new government borrowings from RM99bn in 2022 to RM77bn in 2024. Can this be ascribed to prudent financial management?
Those who have no good feelings for Malaysia will dismiss this as figments of my imagination. I urge them to seriously check these facts.
Total trade has risen 9% to RM9tn in 2024.
Inflation has come down to 1.8% in 2024 from 3.3% in 2022, despite my reservations about the basket of goods used to determine this figure.
Do these not indicate that some good things are being done?
The value of our currency has increased against the US dollar to become the top performing currency in the Asean region for 2024.
Deloitte, the accounting firm, also highlighted the positive performance of the Malaysian equity market.
We have seen higher dividend payments through the Employees Provident Fund at 6.3% for both Sharia and normal dividends involving investments – the highest since 2017.
Bank Negara reserves are at its highest at US$120bn.
Does this mean there is a need for a more evenly balanced response to what is happening in the nation? Is it all good about the PM? No, it is challenging to manage a coalition government and there are pressures and balances, and these have to be managed.
That said, this does not excuse the shortcomings, and improvements still need to be made. This will be reflected in actions that may not be well interpreted by the public.
Yet the PM has to manage and provide the necessary leadership. It’s not an easy task when you add to this the internal challenges faced within parties in the coalition.
Reformasi challenge
Then there is the whole baggage of Reformasi that PKR has to contend with. No one can deny that we need independent Institutions, increased levels of governance, transparency and accountability.
The PM must himself be realising that there is a great difference between the call, walks, shouts and sloganeering for the need for Reformasi and the realisation of the same. The process has to go through Parliament and must have the needed support from within the coalition.
There will be amendments and counter-suggestions, committee meetings and debates. All this consumes time. The tabled bill then meanders through the lower house and then the upper house to finally secure assent from the King. Surely all this takes time.
Add to this is the need for greater cooperation from within the civil service. If you antagonise this already fractured sector, then heaven help you with greater delay.
We have to work within the reality we live in and the civil service remains one of the greatest bulwarks against change. Yet, we cannot do without them.
So, we must not let our guard down. As writers and commentators, we need to speak truth to power even in a milieu where race takes precedence and accountability is badly lacking.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
