KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 — 21-18, 21-18. China’s Chen Long crumpled to the ground but not in agony (as most Malaysians might have hoped) but in absolute ecstasy. Overwhelmed with emotion, Chen Long’s face was a tapestry of joy and disbelief. His first Olympic gold must have felt like his maiden wedding night kiss, first of many to come.
Ominously, the camera pans to Datuk Lee Chong Wei as he registered another form of disbelief. His whole body sags with a different kind of emotion, the despair and sorrow of an entire nation his alone to bear at that tragic moment.
Shoulders slumped, his eyes start to water and swell up. His visage sullen and resolute, determined to weather this Olympic storm. But, here and there one could see the flickers of disappointment and pain dancing as he tries his best to stay composed. With this, Malaysia’s last hope for gold fades away.
Lee’s tale personifies Malaysia: Immense potential and a lot of heart trying his upmost best to avoid a familiar disappointment. His story is as much Malaysia’s story as his pain is Malaysia’s pain.
This coming Merdeka (Independence Day) would mark 59 years of independence for Malaya and 53 years for the Federation. Immediately after independence, Malaysia was among the most destitute of countries with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comparable to Haiti and Honduras.
Now if International Monetary Fund (IMF) GDP estimates are to be believed, Malaysia is on course to be three places above Singapore and two places below Hong Kong. According to World Bank statistics, Malaysia’s GDP grew by a staggering median of 6.5 per cent per annum from the 1957 Malayan independence to 2005.
As the “tiger” of Asia under Tun Dr Mahathir’s tumultuous but otherwise economically successful rule, Malaysia enjoyed unprecedented sustained economic growth of averaging close to eight per cent every year from the 1980s to the mid-1990s.
Either way one looks at the numbers, Malaysia has gone a long way since its early years. From war-torn colonial outpost, to vibrant economic powerhouse in the short span of half a decade. A lot has been achieved but the patriotically informed observer (who henceforth shall be known as “the observer”) can’t help but compare Malaysia to another one of Asia’s more remarkable success stories just south of the Causeway, Singapore.
In many ways, Singapore represents what Malaysia should have been and would never be. When one speaks about Malaysia’s achievements, a familiar feeling of disappointment always creeps in. It is a remorseful feeling of opportunities wasted; of talent spurned and of settling for silver.
Because searching beyond the twin towers of success, the observer finds a disturbing truth: The unrealised potential of a once-great economic powerhouse and the tectonic forces that threaten to unravel it all.
Before we talk about challenges at present and moving forward, the ghosts of Merdeka past must be exorcised. Malaysia as a country has spurned its once great momentum due to numerous factors that the observer shall attempt to narrow down to just one: Mentality.
Right then, let us first look into the pesky business of Malaysian mentality. Malaysia is a nation blessed with immense natural resources, cultural diversity, refuge from environmental catastrophe and political unrest. And with all these blessings, we have taken them for granted, grown comfortable and complacent with what we have.
The famous Malaysian “Tidak Apa” (nonchalant) attitude has consented in the degradation and regression of our once-outstanding education system. The people allowed for and tolerated the endless political decisions in shaping education policy.
For instance, the decision to flip-flop between teaching science and math in English or Malay undoubtedly caused incredible structural stress as quality teaching material is made irrelevant by virtue of language.
Another such example is the hastily and poorly implemented PT3 lower-secondary examinations. A whole generation of students that were taught to think and learn in a certain way was suddenly forced to think and learn in a completely different one, in the span of three years.
Obviously, there is a huge disconnect between policy and implementation. It is often said that complacency exists in the middle ground, between intention and action.
However, there is reason to believe that the landscape changing. Hit hard by global falling oil prices, the repercussions of two generations of brain drain as well as a half century of private and public mismanagement, the Malaysian tiger might be finally showing its teeth.
Our economy is making the transition into a service economy with the “Malaysia Boleh” spirit driving our push into the startup sphere and Islamic finance among other things. Malaysia currently has the largest slice of the global Islamic banking pie and vibrant Malaysian startups like GrabCar are taking huge strides to regional dominance.
Besides, renewed patriotism (especially amongst young Malaysians) as well as efforts by the government are on-track to at least reduce the brain drain issue in the near future. Notable examples include hugely positive reception and nostalgia towards movies like Ola-bola as well as government initiatives like “TalentCorp” and the “Perdana Fellowship.”
Last but not least, the people are more empowered than ever before. Previously, the private and public sector often made decisions with the best interest of the people at heart but would not bother to take into account the views of the people.
Now, both sectors are finally respecting our opinions and concerns (within reason). The examples that immediately spring to mind are of the recent move to “legalise” Uber and GrabCar as well as the decision by the communications and multimedia minister to open up the Malaysia Film Festival’s Best Picture category to all films regardless of language.
In Malaysia, the observer notes that the people are exceptionally resilient and indomitably optimistic.
Even though the landscape seems bleak with the huge elephants in the room — most notably our sluggish economy ahead of Wawasan 2020, there is reason to hope. Change is happening at all levels of society, from the people up to the upper echelons of power. However, meaningful change is gradual.
It takes time and commitment to make sure that our advancements are solid. Change in the Malaysian context is a bit like Lee Chong Wei. No matter how many times we might fail to make gold, we try.
We will try to make the grade, to move past corruption and complacency. We will try to make gold. As our nation moves towards the year 2020, the promise that we embodied the many decades ago might finally be fulfilled. As our nation aims for gold come Wawasan 2020, there is still a slight chance Lee might do the same at Tokyo 2020. As unlikely as both might be, the observer certainly hopes as do all who stand below the Jalur Gemilang.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
