One of the less discussed points of Anwar phenomenon is how he has restored the credibility of the Malaysian political class. at the peak of the Reformasi movement, politicians were lampooned as an arrogant, corrupt elite Anwar changed all that. Anwar has set high standards for himself. The craze for entitlements finds no place in Anwar’s scheme.For him being in public life is amission. This has restored people’s faith in the political class. Anwar has followed up words with action. His innovative approach has forced conventional politics to stand on its head. By changing the idiom of political discourse, he has left traditional politicians looking out of sync with their hackneyed ideas of race, clan, language and chauvinism. That is why where Chinese politicians from vernacular school backgrounds were looked down as caricatures.An editor of Umno-owned Utusan has blamed vernacular schools for the inability of Chinese Malaysians to speak the national language, describing them as worse than Bangladeshis.For long ,Malaysia politics suffered from an absence of political gravitas. Politicians failed to command respect. As a result, they had to constantly harp on race the lowest common denominator. Anwari’s assertive dignity and powerful oratory and his mass appeal have infused a sense of pride in the political establishment to speak in one’s mother tongue — not a mall thing in this milieu of globalisation. And this complex transformation has been smooth and naturalAnwar has established a political stake for the common man and the youth active on social media by connecting to them directly. This has democratised our democracy like never before. Who are the most ardent supporters of Anwar other than hard-core party workers? It is fascinating that the common man and the youth has taken a great liking toward Anwars. Of late, in their circuit, Anwar is often the topic, he has come as an antidote to the middle-class refrain of “Nothing can change, nothing will move in Malaysia”. People have got interested in politics.
The good, the bad and the ugly. Highs and lows. Dignities and indignities. Success and failure. The loving and the hating. If the only certainty about life is that it ends, why should anything else be allowed a more permanent state?
And if change is the rule of life, the intelligent thing to do is to whiff the winds of change and steer our own selves. We need to change ourselves before life changes us. Planning ahead and remaining in sync with our own selves and the world is the only way to occupy a dignified and happy space.
Whether you like it or not, we are changing with every passing moment. A part of us dies with every second that passes. You are not the same person you were 10 years ago, so wouldn’t the last hour have changed you in some teenyweeny manner? As a friend put it, “We are dying every second… we also add something to ourselves every second.”
If we stay stuck in a comforting time warp, soon the cocoon of comfort will become constraining, keeping us on the periphery as the world flows past. Constant change and reinvention is as much the fundamental rule of personal lives as it should be of any dynamic business. Morals, principles, adages, emotions, thoughts or beliefs – nothing is sacrosanct as we allow the winds of change to whistle through our lives. Just be true to your own self and in sync with life around. As for the rest, go with the flow of the life force. A friend put it very well, “Let go and do what you believe in as right. Drop all sense of propriety if it holds you back. Nobody is giving you brownie points… there is no scorer anywhere.”
UM deputy vice-chancellor for student affairs Prof Datuk Dr Rohana Yusof Your self-image and what you convey about yourself to rest of the world influences perceptions and the ultimate reality about you!
Prof Datuk Dr Rohana Yusof, who has ordered students to stop tomorrow's event "40 Years: From UM to Prison". Rohana has also said that the organiser, Universiti Malaya Undergraduates Association (PMUM) president Fahmi Zainol, would face suspension and a fine if he proceeded with the event.
"[Rohana] is showing utter contempt to the rights and dignity of not just Fahmi but the thousands of students themselves.
-"Universiti Malaya must support academic freedom and the deputy VC must stop talking like an UMNO branch leader and start showing some intellectual back bone," Anwar said in a statement tonight.
"To suggest that the event would ‘damage the image’ of the university defies logic. On the contrary, such an event would help to enhance its image as an institution that fosters vibrant discourse on socio-economic and political developments."
Anwar was invited by PMUM to speak tomorrow night, the eve of his appeal at the Federal Court where he is seeking to overturn his sodomy conviction. If unsuccessful, he faces five years in prison.
PMUM's Fahmi has refused to retract the invitation and insists the event will go one.
Anwar's aide, Dr Fahmi Ngah, told The Malaysian Insider earlier today that the PKR de facto leader plans to attend the event, which will be held in the square outside the Dewan Tunku Canselor on the campus grounds.
"I deplore the latest acts of intimidation by UM against Fahmi," Anwar said of Rohana's statement reported by Berita Harian on October 24, that Fahmi could be suspended and fined RM200 for disobeying the university's ban on the event.
Anwar, who was once a student leader at UM, said students needed exposure to political and current issues for their academic and intellectual development.
"You cannot sweep under the carpet issues such as the rising cost of living, social injustice and the use of the Sedition Act as a tool of political repression and the economically oppressive National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN).
"Rather than trampling on the fundamental rights of the students in exercising their freedom of association and expression, the university authorities should instead focus its attention on how best to improve the university’s international ranking," he said.
UM was criticised earlier this month for not participating in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2014-2015. It justified this saying that the indicators used in the survey were not suitable for Malaysian universities younger than their western counterparts.
Anwar praised Fahmi for "braving the threats of expulsion and criminal prosecution" and said Putrajaya could to expect to remain in power "indefinitely".
"They must stop the current campaign of marginalising and intimidating student leaders, academicians, professors and lecturers who dare to question the establishment," he said.
UM deputy vice-chancellor for student affairs Prof Datuk Dr Rohana Yusof and her gang They’re all thieves What’s not to admire about the changeover from ugly duckling (metaphorically speaking) to graceful swan, with all its attendant soul-searching and metamorphosing pangs? It certainly requires immense courage to look at yourself from an outside perspective, have the gumption to work on negatives; to actively project the positives, and finally emerge a winner! Years ago,
a couple of examples in real life as well, but the phenomenon is rare enough to deserve applause. The event that triggered this thought process was Hillary Clinton’s recent town hall interview in Washington, broadcast worldwide. Gone is the uptight humourless, diffident Senator and later Secretary of State Clinton talking from a distance. In her place was a relaxed, warm, confident-in-her-skin Hillary accepting questions with a smile and answering them honestly. Indeed, in the digital age, Hillary has embraced new media effectively to get a swift makeover and reach out to the youth in an ageless maneuver!
UM deputy vice-chancellor for student affairs Prof Datuk Dr Rohana Yusof and her gang They’re all thieves What’s not to admire about the changeover from ugly duckling (metaphorically speaking) to graceful swan, with all its attendant soul-searching and metamorphosing pangs? It certainly requires immense courage to look at yourself from an outside perspective, have the gumption to work on negatives; to actively project the positives, and finally emerge a winner! Years ago,
Whether or not Hillary decides to take a go at breaking the Presidential glass ceiling for the most important job in the world, her journey from cheated wife to Presidential hopeful, to Secretary of State, to chilled-out model for women, has been a pleasure to watch!
At the CNN interview, Hillary was asked by a student to describe herself in three words. “Oh my gosh!” Hillary laughed. “Oh wow. Well, it would depend upon the mood I was in. Some days it’s a little less favorable than other days.” Then came the three words – Intense. Passionate. Service-minded. That’s how she has tried to live her life, she said, admitting, “sometimes just like every other human being, I’m disappointed in what I did or didn’t do.” In those days she has “less happy” words to describe herself!
And then Hillary said something that seems a direct learning from her own experience and response to public criticism. Addressing young women and men, but particularly women for when they get into the public arena, she said, “I think it’s very important for you to take criticism seriously but not personally. And don’t let yourself get pulled down by other people’s opinions, because I think what you think about yourself, what you say to others about yourself, really does affect how you present yourself, and eventually, who you are.”
Indeed, so true! By being well aware of our own selves, our triggers and aspirations, we can project the image we wish the world to see. Hillary herself is a living example of this principle. Far from allowing herself to be pulled down by jibes and criticisms, she has used them as a springboard to improve and catapult herself to greater heights. What others say about us becomes irrelevant in the face of the confident foot we set forward and our self-belief.
If we are able to convey our self-perception effectively to the world, it fast becomes our identity and calling card – and eventually, our reality – who we really become! And so the power is in our hands; we are responsible for who we are and what we make of our lives. Marketing guru Shama Hyder talking of Hillary’s smart digital moves says, “Today, participating in digital media isn’t a choice. Your digital footprint is created regardless of your participation, and any smart politician knows that it is best to help curate that image vs. leaving others to define it for you.” So as on digital, Hillary exhorts youngsters in real life as well, to put that message you wish to convey out into the Universe!
Finally to conclude, Hillary said, “I try to practice what is called the discipline of gratitude — so I’m grateful.” And that she says is her one word for herself!
No comments:
Post a Comment