With the general elections looming so close, everyone is sitting up and pointing up what’s wrong with Malaysia and the current government. Those for the government would be happy to defend while justifying every action which has been done by the government.
Well, this post is not about who’s right or who’s wrong when it comes to the government. It’s more about those outside of this country who are also ‘concerned Malaysians’.
You see, I’ve noticed that some Malaysians who are overseas are very concerned about the country. They hardly come back, and yet they are as vocal or even louder than those who are actually in Malaysia. In most cases, these people are actually students sponsored by the Malaysian government, yes.. the MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT is paying for them to pursue their studies.
Instead of saying thank you, they however voice out their discontent about how Malaysia is such a horrible place, and how the government is corrupted, bad and not as good as where they are at the moment. They continue to show their concern of the nation while staying glued in-front of their computer screens, sipping coffee, while staying in a land far far away from Malaysia, and probably hoping never to return to Malaysia if it was possible.
Issues like Lynas, Bersih, Reformasi, Ubah, 1Malaysia, Freedom of speech, MPO and many more get their attention, as they update their status on social media sites about how the government is not good and doing so much bad. The facts are obtained from third sources such as blogs (yes, like this one), word of mouth, or ‘you know…. i heard this bla bla”.. or in other words: unreliable sources.
Now here’s the problem. While it’s good for them to be concern (or overly concerned) about Malaysia, I wonder why they are not willing to return to Malaysia to help solve the problems hands on here in Malaysia. On top of that, I believe it is very ungrateful of one to be paid to study, but end up bashing and condemning the same person whom is paying for their studies. Thirdly, no government is perfect, and I think there is no guarantee that a new government would actually address what you are condemning because it is indeed easy to make promises and point out mistakes, but actually doing something is a whole different story.
Therefore, for those overseas and being very concern about Malaysia, why not come back and do something about what you are concerned about. Don’t just sit behind your computer and rant out what’s bad about Malaysia, but yet fail to actually take action when you are most needed. Doing so only makes you look bad, and Malaysia look bad. You are actually not helping.
For example, if you are unhappy with the Lynas, you could help by coming back to Malaysia and actually do your part in creating awareness to those unaware of it. Bitching about it on social networks isn’t actually helping. If it did show something, it’s how immature you are. Malaysia really needs less of people like you, but more of those giving ‘constructive criticism’.
I know, sitting in front of the computer making abusive comments towards those concern is for you an action, but it’s really nothing close to actually coming back and helping the cause to repair/improve the situation.
Last but not least, the government can’t do anything if all its own people do is complaint, but then fail to show up when most needed to help improve the situation. Hey, the government can’t do EVERYTHING.
Therefore, if you still say “Hey, I can’t do anything because I’m nobody”… then remember, YOU ARE A VOTER!! If you can’t vote because you are under 21, please shut up because the government is really not in your hands and the best way you can help the country is by promoting Malaysia as a tourist destination, and not by saying it’s the worst place you have ever lived. Cheers!
here, here! well said. i agree when said no government is perfect. I have spent almost 10yrs
of my life overseas, and in many countries, and the political problems they face are as bad or
maybe even worse than ours.Malaysia is truly I feel a miracle considering our differences therefore
any action we take is responsibly an acid test. Yes, we must come back from our berjalai, and work
together definately not for our future but our children’s and their’s. I for one am
thankful to be Malaysian.Leaving the country have swelled those sentiments and I believe every
Malaysian should leave the country for a while to see the good and bad of us.
Some do not share the same stories with you unfortunately. I’ve not been far, but I think Malaysia still is better off.
Hey, I like this. Spot on! those who rant and rant or become a part of or instigate these sort of thoughts when away from this country, beware, it’s easy to bite the hands that feed you, wait till you get kicked in the ass for being so ungrateful. Jadi protestor satu hal, but to be protesting something you know very little or nothing about is just pure stupidity. Good piece Cyril.
Thanks Coffee Girl. Itulah… if they know head and tail, its okay maybe to say something, but if they don’t.. shutting up is better.
your observation and comments are correct if one looks at it from one perspective – yet at the same time one needs to look at both sides of the argument – remember there are always 2 sides to a coin and the same applies too for arguments.
students nowadays are totally different from students of yesterday .. in that due to the environment and with the increase in the amount of information, students particularly those studying overseas could not bear to just sit and be quiet not making any comments when they are brought up to be vocal. living in a foreign country and having the ability to make comparison between a system of government which they are currently at and that which they are brought up – i am certain it would be an insult to their intelligence not to speak up and be heard eventhough you may consider it as a futile or not welcomed.
if we look at the situation in the past in other countries for example like China – during the Tianamen incident- the efforts came from the students and it is these students who were willing to make the sacrifice and being critical of the government and when they did so they were basically slaughtered and silenced by the government.
when we bring that into perspective, what we have here is a student population who were willing to speak against the government for a better future and in this case their own future as they were the next generation yet these students were brutally slaughtered for what they believe and wish for their own future. if we have students who are willing to speak their minds up for their own future in their own country would you not think that their – scholarship be in jeopardy or even cancelled and they would have to return home without anything ?
this is the real situation and for some who wished to return home after completing their students would not want to do so as they are unable to face the inequalities and the disadvantages they may have to face when they are in their own country and having to look at their own children facing such issues would be heart broken indeed.
and even if they are back would you think it is possible for them to actually be vocal or be part of an organization which is not for the policies of the government of the day but the opposite end – which automatically means they are not to be employed in the public sector due to their believes and conviction …?
what we see here is basically a situation where the middle class is rising and civil society is building – a situation where shows progress of a society from one level to another and this should be nurtured rather than destroyed by comments made by you. students need to be nurtured with the correct information but not suppressing them and letting them grow in their own time based on their own abilities and environment but not to stamp out their imagination and creativity.
many years ago the then Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew spoke about whether is it possible to teach creativity and the answer from experts and society at large was ‘NO’ …but for creativity to thrive in any society ‘freedom’ especially ‘freedom’ of expression must be allowed and in this context may i say to you Sir, Singapore had done rather well when Lee Kuan Yew allowed a certain degree of ‘freedom’ especially to the youth and younger generations of Singaporean to express their freedom and creativity without reprimanding or punishing these future generations of the country.
this should be the direction Malaysia should be moving to instead of suppressing ideas or thoughts – basically expression which if controlled or suppressed will ‘implode’ rather than ‘explode’ with detrimental effect on society.
Owww nicely put, Cyril. Impressed by the way your posts are able to trigger much thought-provoking ‘debates’ — like this LONG response (justification much?) I enjoyed reading. (I hope this isn’t one of those ‘terasa’ cases &/or where someone might’ve gotten the WRONG idea… OR once again using the “do-not-suppress-our-voice/let-us-use-our-intelligence/freedom-of-speech’ card(s).)
Nobody said anything about clamping down ideas or constructive criticism… in fact this blog provokes such ideas and constructive criticism, IMO. I believe Cyril was only talking about those blatantly childish criticizers-WHINERS who only start bravely voicing out their trendy-looking opposition from a SAFE distance, particularly those who just whine whine whine, compare compare compare, criticize and promote “what a terrible country we are” and believe they’ve suddenly become white folks… THAT particular group of people, NOT generalizing to EVERYONE who’s overseas and voice out their concern for the nation in a proper way… unless if one would believe EVERYONE who’d studied overseas fits that shoe, there wouldn’t be much entertainment value in anyone getting overly sensitive about this :p
Unfortunately, some people just don’t get it. It’s not about suppression indeed, and freedom of speech is always there.
However, these people should think of WHY they are sent overseas by the government, and not to some local uni in Malaysia.
I think its simply because the government believed that there are things to learn from the outside world, and they are the chosen ones to learn this skills.
Rather than shouting on FB, twitter and on any other social media sties and press, why not excel in the areas they were asked to study, come back, and then introduce these good things to Malaysia. That’s the whole idea, kan?
Why complain and bark when you are someone not even in Malaysia, and not even planing to come back? If it’s hope to have a better situation when you come back, then what’s the point of me paying tax to send you overseas to come back and help my country improve?
…and their sources: Newspapers, blogs, tweets, youtube…come on lah… Those are tertiary sources of information. You can’t believe all as it can be manipulated.
The point here isn’t about suppressing ideas an thoughts, but for me is more of learning about something based on no proper facts, and voicing out their thoughts based on this information.
It’s bad enough that they are sponsored to study overseas, and they are condemning the government which is sponsoring them (Not a political party, but the Malaysian government- be it PR or BN led). They should be ambassadors to the country, not decrying what is not right. I believe also that it is the governments effort to send these people outside of Malaysia with hope they would come back and implement what is good in Malaysia, but how can you do that if you choose to stay overseas? I don’t think barking at the government would help, but its better for them to study, learn as much as they can, come back, and do something to make it better.
I don’t know about you, but why should one, a Malaysian, paint such a bad picture about his own country to others? Why should you discourage economical chances which we could gain from tourism and investment? Isn’t it better to focus on the good things in Malaysia, hence promoting Malaysia to the world, and bringing in tourist and investment?
When it’s time to act as for changes they hope, they should do so willingly. There’s so many methods like voting, write a letter to those concerned, come up with a petition to show your support of what you disapprove. BUT why need to say the government is stupid, Malaysia is not safe, the government sucks, security is bad etc, decisions to do this is not good and bullshit. It’s just based on rumour, as everything is from social networks and with no concrete proof.
Seriously, we could do with all the negativity on the country, and for those wanting change, I hope they come back and actually do something. Not just bark from afar and hope that change will happen, because at the end of the day, it’s those staying here in Malaysia which needs to have a say and act. It’s not those abroad and not even in Malaysia.
Come back, do the dirty work and take action. Don’t just yell from afar and stay clean.
Susah mau cakap. Semua org ada pemikirannya sendiri kan?
Yes, indeed bro.
i really like your comments, it is true that i see that no government is perfect. and it really sucks to see so much problems are rising. but at the end of the day, it is the economy of malaysia that matters. although the current government is not perfect, at least they have develop our country malaysia. and even if the next government will take over, hope they will do what is right. if not it will be another 4 years of circus.
[…] post is similar to a post I did back in 2012 titled “Talking about Malaysia from a land far far away…“, so if you may have read that, feel free to scroll down to the comment section immediately, […]