Ill Mannered Malaysian

Before we further discuss into this topic, allow me to cite several malay poems (pantun) and proverbs so that we fully understand the situation we have in hand.

Kalau tuan jalan ke hulu,
Carikan saya bunga kemboja;
Kalau tuan mati dahulu,
Nantikan saya di pintu syurga.

Kuat rumah karano sandi,
Rusak sandi karano rumah binaso,
Kuat bangso karano budi,
Rusak budi hancuala bangso.

Bunga melati bunga di darat
Bunga seroja di tepi kali
Hina besi kerana karat
Hina manusia tidak berbudi

Apa guna berkain batik
Kalau tidak dengan sucinya?
Apa guna beristeri cantik
Kalau tidak dengan budinya

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion”. (Dalai Lama)

“There is one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life - reciprocity”. (Confucius)

“One can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind”. (Malayan Proverb)

“A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives roses”. (Chinese Proverb)

“A smile you sent, will always return” (Indian Proverb)

Without an inch of doubt, Malaysian, especially Malays understand the culture of kindness. It has long been taught by their ancestors, respectively, the virtue of kindness and humanity. However, this quality has evaporated from the lives of many urban dwellers. We can see this everywhere in Malaysia, in everyday life, people tend to be selfish, reckless drivers, push to get on the bus and train, not giving up seat to the much needed individuals, littering, and the list goes on. Worse of all, Malay females of which in the Malay cultures have been long proud of them being gentle and fair (ayu), rather ironic what has become nowadays. My worries are for the majority of this "Gadis Melayu". However there are a small part of which still hold to this principals and I admire them for that. As cited in the last poems above, what is the point of having a beautiful wife if not of her virtues. Make no mistake though, I am not here to discuss conservating Malay classic norms, but rather towards exploiting the admirable standards.

"I scratch your back, you scratch mine"

This old English saying justify the social order of todays modernised Malaysians. This disappoints me as much as it does to others who acknowledge the existance of this illness circulating in our society. But what is to blame the occurance of this disease? Obviously generation of passing customs is not the factor here, nor can religion be the cause of it. Some might say globalisation and modernization are the main cause of this; and as far as I'm aware, this may be the answer to it. During the reign of Tun Dr. Mahathir, his development philosophies was to lead Malaysia from a third world country to a first world country. The idea was correct, but alas he only focused on the economic side of it and not taking in consideration the human capital as Tun Abdullah Badawi did. Some critics mentioned that Malaysia has a 1st class infrastructure, but a 3rd class mind. Fair enough, the "Malaysian Industrial Age" happen in courtesy of Tun Dr. Mahathir and we thank him for that; but what takes developed nations a century to revolutionised, we did it in two decades. Undoubtedly, some of the politicians, economic strategist, and visionaries missed out on the importance of proper education that needs to cope with this sudden growth. Thus creating what seem to be a culture shock of this New Malaysia.

Therefore, to create civic awareness amongst Malaysians, there should be a proper education taught on civic virtues. It should be implemented throughout ones' life, especially during their young ages. Institutions such as schools (Driving schools aswell), religious bodies, and local governments play the critical role in making this a reality. However, this doesn't mean that the private, NGOs, and federal and state governments are scot-free. By merely conducting a few programs such as planting trees and gontong-royong would play an important part in this nation-building.

Below are guidelines from Council Of Europe, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities towards building a civic virtues.

Responsibility towards others

1. Human rights give rise to responsibility towards others. All persons should morally assume responsibilities as their own and base their attitudes towards others on the human rights ethos.
2. This has its corollary in a duty to respect the life, dignity and freedom of all people. to fight for justice and solidarity and to show tolerance for the beliefs of others.
3. No one shall discriminate against others on grounds of sex, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, culture or language.
4. In pursuing their life plans, all persons should endeavour to develop the qualities which people look for in one another. This principle of reciprocity embodies the golden rule: do as you would be done by.
5. This entails a readiness to be well disposed, courteous and helpful towards others, and honesty in one's speech and conduct.
6. Anyone party to a conflict of interests should attempt, as far as possible, to settle the matter through a willingness to negotiate and compromise, instead of treating it as a strategic contest.
7. All persons should show respect for other people's reputation, honour and privacy and for the property of others as the sphere in which they exercise their freedom.
8. All persons should commit themselves, as far as possible, to the protection of the natural environment and the husbanding of scarce resources, so that future generations may also live in conditions conducive to human dignity.

Society

1. Everyone should endeavour to be a good neighbour to the people living locally and show a considerate, friendly and helpful attitude towards them, and should strive to settle disputes through a readiness to negotiate.
2. The social duties inherent in ownership should result in personal responsibility of the owner of property, over and above that provided for by law.
3. In line with the subsidiarity principle, the economic security of each household should, as far as possible, be guaranteed first and foremost by its members' gainful employment. This entails efforts to find employment and a willingness to do one's work carefully and reliably.
4. Within firms and administrations work always involves co-operation between individuals. Everyone, above all those in senior positions, shall therefore treat all colleagues properly and fairly and show respect for their human dignity.
5. Honesty, respect and fairness are also owed to competitors within the market economy.
6. Freedom of the media means that persons active in that field have a special responsibility to impart information in a truthful, balanced manner, to respect people’s privacy, to show regard for standards of decency and morality and to refrain from glorifying violence and brutality.
7. In exercising any occupational activity, all persons should constantly fulfil those duties which generally follow from the responsibilities towards others set forth in this declaration. No-one is exempt from such duties on account of his or her occupation. They shall apply without restriction, likewise in respect of fellow-citizens of foreign origin.

REFERENCES

www.quotegarden.com/kindness.html

www.usm.my/pantun/

Resolution 91 (2000) on responsible citizenship and participation in public life
(Council Of Europe, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities)