Pada Hemat Saya
Oleh AZMAN ANUAR
(WARTAWAN UTUSAN)
Tanpa berasa jemu, Perdana Menteri terus mengingatkan masyarakat supaya mengubah gaya hidup lama kepada corak baru sesuai dengan perubahan dan kehendak negara ini yang sedang menuju negara maju.
Sudah tentu kita sendiri akan berasa malu apabila orang luar melihat Malaysia yang boleh mencapai status negara maju tetapi malangnya gaya hidup masyarakatnya masih belum mencapai tahap seperti orang yang bertamadun.
Kemerdekaan yang kita capai 46 tahun dan lebih dua dekad kita tekun memajukan pembangunan ekonomi dan infrastruktur negara, apakah budaya hidup negatif tidak berubah sedikit pun?
Jika zaman baru merdeka dahulu, ketika segalanya serba tiada, kita boleh menerima jika ada yang menghina negara ini tetapi dengan pembinaan imej melalui penyediaan kemudahan yang bertaraf dunia, apakah kita masih mahu dihina sebagai masyarakat yang tidak tahu menilai kemudahan yang disediakan? Pendek kata masyarakat yang tidak pandai menghargai hidup bertamadun.
Bukan payah untuk kita mengubah sikap daripada mengamal budaya yang rendah nilainya kepada gaya hidup yang lebih ke hadapan sesuai dengan kecekapan dan kemudahan canggih serta bermutu tinggi yang disediakan untuk kegunaan rakyat negara ini sendiri.
Entah mengapa ketika melakukan pecah tanah Festive Street Mall di Danga Bay Bandar Wawasan Selatan di Johor Bahru, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad menegur perkara ini lagi. Jelas, kita dapat menangkap mesej beliau bahawa tahap perubahan gaya hidup rakyat negara ini belum memuaskan hati beliau. Beliau tidak marah tetapi akan terus mengikatkan kita supaya berubah daripada gaya hidup negatif yang kita amalkan sekarang.
Sebagai Perdana Menteri sudah tentu beliau berasa agak malu apabila ramai pelancong menegur cara rakyat negara ini menggunakan kemudahan tertentu dan jika kemudahan kelas pertama diberikan tetapi kita terus menjadi pengguna kelas Dunia Ketiga.
Mentaliti masyarakat kita yang tidak bijak memanfaatkan kemudahan canggih inilah menyebabkan kita tertanya-tanya, jahil sangatkah mereka hingga tidak tahu memanfaatkan kemudahan ini?
Ada laluan pejalan kaki yang kotor kerana sampah sarap dibuang merata-rata, tandas awam berbau busuk akibat pengguna tidak berdisiplin, gerai-gerai didiami tikus, lipas, lalat, pemandangan rumah pangsa dengan jemuran pakaian yang memalukan dan sebagainya.
Biarpun banyak kemudahan bertaraf dunia disediakan seperti sistem pengangkutan awam yang canggih, kompleks beli-belah yang hebat, ia tidak banyak mendatangkan faedah kepada imej negara jika sikap warga kota yang datang daripada pelbagai lapisan masyarakat, pendidikan dan budaya hanya dilihat lebih mencacatkan pemandangan sahaja. Kita harus berasa bimbang akan perkembangan mentaliti masyarakat kota sekarang yang mengamal sikap ambil mudah.
Banyak kali pemimpin negara menegur masyarakat tentang perkara ini. Benarkah kita masih berfikiran Dunia Ketiga? Haruskah kita membiarkan sahaja ia berlaku kerana ia sudah sebati dengan amalan hidup masyarakat? Apakah kita tidak mahu mengubah sikap agar kesan negatifnya tidak terpalit kepada imej masyarakat setempat dan negara?
Kita pandai membandingkan ibu kota kita dengan ibu kota negara lain yang dikatakan cantik dan rakyatnya berdisiplin tinggi.
Kita beri pujian kepada kerajaan negara berkenaan kerana prihatin.
Kita memuji-muji kerana payah hendak lihat pakaian bersidaian di tingkap atau di balkoni rumah mereka. Kita memuji-muji kerana payah hendak jumpa sampah-sarap bersepah-sepahan di ibu kota mereka.
Pendek kata kita hanya pandai memuji-muji keindahan ibu kota lain tetapi tanpa kita sedari penghuni ibu kota berkenaan tahu tanggungjawab mereka dalam sama-sama menjaga keindahan ibu kota mereka. Justeru dengan kerjasama merekalah ibu kota mereka cantik dan indah.
Kalau dibaca dan dihayati sahaja tanpa mengubah pemikiran dan sikap, kita bimbang apa yang dinyatakan oleh Perdana Menteri tidak akan ke mana-mana. Sebab itu pihak-pihak tertentu perlu memainkan peranan untuk menukar teguran Dr. Mahathir kepada pelaksanaan.
Tidak ada gunanya kita mengangguk setuju dengan teguran tersebut tanpa membuat apa-apa ke arah yang lebih baik.
Masih banyak kelemahan yang perlu diberikan perhatian sama ada melibatkan individu, sektor korporat mahupun awam yang boleh menjejaskan perancangan untuk Malaysia muncul sebagai sebuah negara maju pada tahun 2020.
Perdana Menteri nampaknya bimbang tentang masyarakat negara ini yang sukar membuat anjakan minda. Sedangkan negara sudah banyak berubah dari segi fizikal dengan penyediaan kemudahan infrastruktur bertaraf dunia, tetapi pemikiran masyarakat kita masih di takuk lama bertaraf kelas Dunia Ketiga.
Jika demikian, bagaimana masyarakat kita hendak mengharungi cabaran dan persaingan dalam menuju Wawasan 2020.
Sebagai rakyat Malaysia, kita semua diseru supaya tidak membiarkan teguran dan peringatan pemimpin negara ini berlalu begitu saja.
Sebenarnya dalam membangunkan kota-kota di negara ini supaya `hidup', ia mesti disertai dengan peningkatan kesedaran sivik masyarakat yang tinggal di dalamnya, manakala infrastrukturnya pula perlu sentiasa dikemas kini dan diselaraskan mengikut peredaran masa.
Kita patut melihat masalah sikap dan mentaliti masyarakat dalam hal ehwal menjaga dan menggunakan kemudahan bertaraf dunia ini sebagai isu besar negara.
Tidak ada gunanya kerajaan menyediakan dan membelanjakan peruntukan yang besar, tetapi akhirnya disia-siakan kerana rendahnya tahap kesedaran sivik para penggunanya dan rendahnya etika kerja bersungguh-sungguh kakitangan kerajaan dan swasta.
Utusan Malaysia, Sabtu 23/8/2003
Saturday, August 23, 2003
Living, breathing, thinking modern
Aug 23: THE Prime Minister is exhorting Malaysians to make a lifestyle change, adapting themselves to the country’s “first-class facilities”. Simply put, what Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants is for the country’s development to be reflected in the people’s conduct.
Food stalls, for example, should be restricted to places where the standard of public hygiene is easily monitored. The proprietors must maintain the highest standards of quality and cleanliness. The patrons should demand the standards as sensible and responsible consumers.
There is also the need to conform to demanding ethical practices, another indicator of the modernised person. Take the banking industry, for instance. The banker and his or her officers must have impeccable integrity. On the part of the borrower, there is clear understanding of the need to meet every requirement head-on and not expect rules to be bent and exceptions made. In these circumstances, both the service provider and user know not to smudge the transparency needed to foster a healthy banking sector.
In politics, democracy defines ethics. Money politics and strong-arm tactics are indicators of political under-development. Politicians who have no qualms about the utility of these methods in advancing their careers are not democrats and do not belong in the democratic process. For it is the country's political development, above all else, which will determine whether the Prime Minister's exhortations will come to pass, since politics determines leadership.
It is, therefore, not enough for Malaysians to know how to queue or to flush toilets. The Petronas Twin Towers, though a symbol of the nation's achievement cannot, on its own or even together with the many other splendid brick-and-mortar edifices, claim to have modernised us. As the Prime Minister observed, far too often these buildings are not maintained. The Light Railway Transit (LRT) system, meant to make travel in and out of the city convenient, is now said to be breeding petty crime, which is fast ruining that pretty picture of modernity. Because modern is as modern does, are we then, modern?
Schooled abuse
THERE was a predictable response to the assault on the student in Batu Pahat: the setting up of a committee to look into the matter or, rather, two committees, one to review the situation in the entire residential school system, and the other to investigate the particular incident. It is to be hoped that these committees will not live up to one wit's definition of a committee as "a group of men who indvidually can do nothing but as a group decide that nothing can be done".
Over the years, while action has been taken in specific cases, nothing seems to have been done in a systemic manner to address the underlying causes of the culture of violence in schools and the non-school factors which cause school violence, and to develop preventive strategies through the collective involvement of schools, families and local communities. The latest case to surface has been the expulsion of 20 students for alleged secret society activity from the Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Ipoh. This form of insidious indiscipline must be stopped at once, if it is not to infect the rest of the residential school network on which the country depends for its best and brightest.
The allegation that a similar case last year was hushed up because the school wanted to protect its reputation is worrying because this is a self-defeating approach that forces the problem underground rather than out in the open. Schools can only begin to tackle the problem if they admit that it exists in the first place. Residential schools can't shrug off humiliating rites of initiation, ragging, bullying, peer rules and codes of silence as adolescent rites of passage. The unwritten rule that only male fifthformers are allowed to talk to female students is not a harmless tradition but a form of abuse. Residential schools need to find their own solutions to the abusive hidden school culture rather than wait for committees to tell them what to do.
New Straits Times, 23/8/2003
Food stalls, for example, should be restricted to places where the standard of public hygiene is easily monitored. The proprietors must maintain the highest standards of quality and cleanliness. The patrons should demand the standards as sensible and responsible consumers.
There is also the need to conform to demanding ethical practices, another indicator of the modernised person. Take the banking industry, for instance. The banker and his or her officers must have impeccable integrity. On the part of the borrower, there is clear understanding of the need to meet every requirement head-on and not expect rules to be bent and exceptions made. In these circumstances, both the service provider and user know not to smudge the transparency needed to foster a healthy banking sector.
In politics, democracy defines ethics. Money politics and strong-arm tactics are indicators of political under-development. Politicians who have no qualms about the utility of these methods in advancing their careers are not democrats and do not belong in the democratic process. For it is the country's political development, above all else, which will determine whether the Prime Minister's exhortations will come to pass, since politics determines leadership.
It is, therefore, not enough for Malaysians to know how to queue or to flush toilets. The Petronas Twin Towers, though a symbol of the nation's achievement cannot, on its own or even together with the many other splendid brick-and-mortar edifices, claim to have modernised us. As the Prime Minister observed, far too often these buildings are not maintained. The Light Railway Transit (LRT) system, meant to make travel in and out of the city convenient, is now said to be breeding petty crime, which is fast ruining that pretty picture of modernity. Because modern is as modern does, are we then, modern?
Schooled abuse
THERE was a predictable response to the assault on the student in Batu Pahat: the setting up of a committee to look into the matter or, rather, two committees, one to review the situation in the entire residential school system, and the other to investigate the particular incident. It is to be hoped that these committees will not live up to one wit's definition of a committee as "a group of men who indvidually can do nothing but as a group decide that nothing can be done".
Over the years, while action has been taken in specific cases, nothing seems to have been done in a systemic manner to address the underlying causes of the culture of violence in schools and the non-school factors which cause school violence, and to develop preventive strategies through the collective involvement of schools, families and local communities. The latest case to surface has been the expulsion of 20 students for alleged secret society activity from the Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Ipoh. This form of insidious indiscipline must be stopped at once, if it is not to infect the rest of the residential school network on which the country depends for its best and brightest.
The allegation that a similar case last year was hushed up because the school wanted to protect its reputation is worrying because this is a self-defeating approach that forces the problem underground rather than out in the open. Schools can only begin to tackle the problem if they admit that it exists in the first place. Residential schools can't shrug off humiliating rites of initiation, ragging, bullying, peer rules and codes of silence as adolescent rites of passage. The unwritten rule that only male fifthformers are allowed to talk to female students is not a harmless tradition but a form of abuse. Residential schools need to find their own solutions to the abusive hidden school culture rather than wait for committees to tell them what to do.
New Straits Times, 23/8/2003
Friday, August 22, 2003
‘WORLD RECOGNISES ONLY MIGHT’
Aug 21: Excerpts from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s dialogue with ulama, intellectuals and religious leaders of Syria in Damascus on Monday (18.8.2003)
DR MAHATHIR'S views on progressive Islam found good response from the Syrian Islamic scholars and leaders. They were greatly appreciative of Dr Mahathir's frank opinions, and one scholar urged him to write a book on Malaysia's development in line with Islamic teachings.
The dialogue was chaired by Mohamad Ziadah, Minister of Endowments.
PM: I'm sure that you will agree with me that today the Muslim ummah is being oppressed and Islam itself is being insulted. The Prophet of Islam has been described as a terrorist.
Muslims today cannot defend themselves. They can be arrested, they can be tried anywhere and they can be sentenced to death even. Muslim countries are not able to protect Islam or the Muslims.
We have become extremely weak. This is a fact that we have to admit. We can claim that we only appear to be oppressed but actually, we are triumphant, we are doing very well, the fact is that we have lost the glory of the past Muslim empire.
In those days, nobody would dare to oppress the Muslims because we were strong in every way, strong in terms of our knowledge, in terms of our Government, in terms of military capability.
Yes, there were attempts to invade Muslim countries but the leaders were able to defend Muslim territory successfully. But at the beginning of the last century, the Muslims began to weaken, and the Ottoman empire collapsed and was divided up into many nation States.
The States are not united, instead they are subjected to pressure and manipulation by outside forces. The Muslims became weaker and weaker, and more and more ignorant.
Some of us say that we need not acquire modern knowledge, that it's secular knowledge, that we only need to study the religion and theology, and that other knowledge can't bring us any merit.
The result: Muslims are intellectually backward and are quite incapable of competing with the detractors and enemies of Islam.
We have been enjoined by our religion to protect ourselves, yet we don't have armies that have defence equipment. Instead we need the help of those who are not sympathetic to us. We have to rely on them for our needs and defence.
We have neglected the need to acquire knowledge. In the early years, the Muslims had knowledge. The non-Muslims had to come to Muslim countries to acquire knowledge. They had to learn Arabic.
But there came a time that the study of these things was considered as non-essential. Since then, we had neglected the study of science, mathematics, medicine etc.
We have neglected what is enjoined to us, and required by our religion. We are endowed with riches and wealth, but are incapable of using it.
The Quran begins with an injunction to read. To read is to acquire knowledge. Is knowledge only about religion or knowledge as a whole? Obviously, we have to acquire all knowledge that is available.
Yes, we are very religious but the world recognises only strength today. If you are strong, you are respected. It is the law of the jungle where might is right, but the fact is that the world recognises strength. If you are weak, you will be oppressed, your country will be invaded and you will live under the power of powerful nations.
I believe this has happened because we had neglected the fundamental teachings of Islam. In Malaysia, we believe in fundamentalism, and focus on the original teachings of Islam.
We neglected what is fundamental to Islam and instead, we focus on issues that do not contribute to the development of the Muslim ummah.
We are more interested in minor differences in the interpretations of Islam. There was only one religion of Islam but we are divided into many different sects, and because we have different beliefs, there is conflict between us and such conflict merely weakens us.
We tried to unite the Muslim ummah but it has not proven possible. Until now, in organisations like the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, we are not united even in our stand on the issue of the oppression of the Palestinians by the Israelis.
Emboldened by their success in oppressing Palestinians, they are now oppressing Muslims in other countries. They now want to change the Government of many Muslim countries, and we have seen it happen in Afghanistan and Iraq, and maybe even in Syria as they have already said the Syrian Government is not the type of Government they want.
We are being threatened by the big powers, that is because we are not united. Even if we are weak, if we have one voice, we can influence the course of the world.
We have to accept that this is the truth, it is a fact today. Is it because Islam is a religion that cannot accommodate modern way of living? I don't think so. Islam is not only for the seventh century or the first century of Hijrah. It is for all times and places. But many of us think that the only way is to go back to the first century of Hijrah, or the seventh century AD.
But if Islam is for all time, surely, it is suitable for today as it was 1,400 years ago. If 1,400 years ago Islam could become a great civilisation, it cannot be said that today because our environment has changed, we are no longer capable of achieving the great Islamic civilisation of the past.
I am quite sure that it's not our religion that is wrong, it is perhaps our interpretation of our religion that is wrong, it is perhaps because we are not really following the religion of Islam.
Instead, we are following our own needs and base desires. That is why we find we are unable to agree with each other, and then of course, we can be manipulated by our enemies.
We cannot express our anger by killing people, we are not getting anywhere with that. That is why we are against terrorism. Malaysia wants to become a developed nation, to have all its capability, most in terms of wealth and intellectual capacity, so that we can compete with them and maintain our independence and the wellbeing of the Muslims.
Q: You have talked about Islam being on one side and Muslims on the other side, as they are not following the true teachings of Islam. Now, Islam is accused of terrorism, yet it is the true religion. I wish you all the best as you are in the correct direction. You have called for us to unite. How do you see the role of Islamic movements and scholars?
A: There are many movements. Some want to spread Islam, but some are not thinking about teaching the true meaning of Islam. They are campaigning for support for their political objectives.
As an example, in my country, a Muslim scholar said that Allah is a rogue, the biggest rogue. We were shocked. Of course, we can translate one of the names of Allah to mean that, but surely, it is not meant to be that.
And that Allah uses obscene words; I tried to find them in the Quran if there are any obscene words there, there are none.
He (the Muslim scholar) said that because one of his leaders used obscene words. In order to say that the leader is not wrong, he said even Allah uses obscene words. So when we have Islamic scholars more interested in politics, then you are going to have wrong interpretations of Islam.
It confuses the Muslim ummah; which one is right? The interpretation of Islam to fit objectives that are not Islamic, they confuse the people. The intention is to get something for oneself.
The Islamic scholars are important but we cannot believe everything. It is important to determine what is right and wrong. Today, there are so many interpretations, and sometimes they are against each other.
I've been described as an infidel by this group. Can we accept that? I don't know, they want to describe me as a non-Muslim. Because of wrong interpretation, we fight against each other.
I think the scholars should come together and try and reach a consensus on the true teachings of Islam.
Q: I thank you for your opening remarks, they were very carefully considered and accurate. I agree with your understanding of humanity. Islam is a religion of mercy for all humanity. The message of Christianity is also of love and mercy. Islam has a system for life. We are happy with the prosperity and morality that Malaysia has reached, while many Islamic countries are backward. Syria wants to follow you, and to overtake you!
A: There are many instances where people make use of religion in order to do things that are against the religion. They say that they are fighting for Christianity when in fact, what they wanted was to conquer other people's land when the Crusaders came here.
Muslims, too, use Islam in order to justify things. Killing innocent people is not part of Islam but they tried hard to hide behind Islam.
I visited the Umayyad Mosque just now, and my perception of Islam has been broadened. Because in the mosque is the crypt where the head of St John the Baptist was supposed to have been kept. To find a Christian relic inside a Muslim mosque is, of course, something that is unusual. Certainly, it'll be a shock for Malaysians, but it is clear that it is the teaching of Islam that we must respect the religion of others. To them their religion, to us our religion.
The best of us are those who obey God but we are far too busy thinking of our own personal ambition, to use our religion as a means to justify the wrongs that we do.
Thank you very much for your views, I really appreciate them.
Q: Do you still believe in this conspiracy of Jews in the Asian financial crisis?
A: I will have to give a very comprehensive answer to that. There are not that many Jews, only about 30 million. But they want to control the world, it has nothing to do with their religion, it's their personal Zionist ambition to rule the world.
The answer lies in capturing the most powerful country in the world — the United States.
How was it done? They invented and propagated the idea of democracy. If you are democratic, they have a right to all the rights of a democracy. They can stand for election, they can campaign, you cannot have any more massacres as they used to have in Europe.
Secondly, they promote the idea of human rights, that they must be given the same rights as anybody else. So again, there cannot be any discrimination against Jews.
Now, having spread these ideas among all the people, the majority feel that it is wrong to discriminate against the Jews.
At one time, Harvard University will not accept Jews. At one time, Jews were not allowed to participate in banking in America.
Through the spread of democracy and human rights, they can do all that. They can carry out banking, and they are very good in banking. From ancient times, they are the ones who collected the greatest amount of interest.
When they became equal, they went for institutions that have the most influence on society. They captured the media. The media in the West belongs to them, that includes the electronic media (TV) and Hollywood. It became a propaganda machine for them.
And then, having got the media, they go for politics. Today, the US Government, many of the members of Congress, are Jews. If they are not Jews, their staff members are Jews.
I appeared on the same platform as Mr Ashcroft in Davos, he was assisted by a young man whose name was Israel. Their staff are all Jews.
They come to Malaysia, and they have the same view.
So by controlling the Press and media, controlling the money through banking, and controlling now the Congress, they have become the power in the United States.
They may not be many, American political candidates are extreme candidates, but there are only six million Jews in America.
They can ensure that you win or lose, because they are united whilst the others are divided. In Malaysia, we have the same experience.
In a constituency with majority Muslim Malays, for example, and a minority made up of Chinese and Indians, the Muslims are actually divided. The Chinese and Indians will decide who will win, with their votes.
There are more Muslims than Jews in the US, but they are divided into 1,000 different groups. And they can never get together so they cannot play the same role as the Jews.
The biggest power in America now controls the world and economy. Their ideas about currency trading is that which resulted in the attack on Malaysia.
I said this, and of course, I was roundly criticised at that time. They said they want to make money, it's not because they are Jews. But whether they want to make money or not, the fact is that they are Jews and what they have done, benefit the Jews.
So that is the situation.
Q: You have written many books, and we read them here in Syria, in an Arabic translation. Do you intend to write a book on Malaysia's successful experience in line with Islamic teachings? Syria is one of the very first countries, to want to define terrorism and called for an international conference. But there was no approval for it. If they agree, it will give the people in the occupied territories the right to defend themselves, to differentiate between resistance and others.
A: I'm retiring in October, and after I retire, I would like to record some of my experiences in Malaysia and to assure the world that we do not do anything that is against the thinking of Islam.
It may appear that we are not following the teachings of Islam but we go back to the fundamental teachings of Islam, and we get our guidance from there.
For example, there is a move in Malaysia to apply the hudud law. But these people do not have an idea of justice on how the trial is going to be conducted.
Even if the trial is unjust, they say because the method of the trial is correct, it is Islamic. And the Quran says that we are to judge with justice.
They say it doesn't matter if there is no justice. They say, for example, if a woman is raped and she complains that she has been raped by so and so, and if she cannot produce witnesses, she must be telling a lie and punished with 80 strokes. If later she is found to be pregnant, it is evidence that she has committed zina.
On the other hand, the person who raped her has to get off scot-free because there are no witnesses.
Is this Islamic — to punish the victim while the perpetrator goes free? We don't think that it is Islamic at all.
So, we may not appear to be implementing the hudud law but we are adhering to the teachings of Islam. When we do things in Malaysia, we refer to the teachings of Islam. In administration or application of the law, we follow the teachings of Islam.
With regard to terrorism, actually we had already convened a world conference to determine the definition of terrorism. We know that many people are fighting for the independence of their country, and in the course of the fighting, they may do things that appear to be acts of terror.
But, in fact, there is no way out for them. That is the only way they can fight because they are less wellarmed than their enemies.
We do not want the independence fighters to be called terrorists. But we have to accept the fact that certain acts like killing civilians who have nothing to do with their fight, are acts of terror but there are mitigating circumstances.
The Israeli Government can avoid committing acts of terror because they have the means, they don't have to carry out acts of terror. The Palestinians, they have no aeroplanes, no tanks, no nothing; the only way they can fight back is the way they fight back. They may carry out suicide bombings.
If they act against civilians and not soldiers, it is still acts of terror but it is mitigated; it is because they have no choice. If they have a choice, I'm sure they would not do this.
But the Israeli Government has a choice, the Americans have a choice not to terrorise people by bombing civilians, hospitals etc. But they do that, so that is an act of terror that cannot be excused.
We cannot hit at people because we are angry and frustrated. We are angry and very frustrated now, people are oppressing us but we cannot do anything against them.
But merely to kill people who are innocent because of our anger is not right. At least to me, I don't think it is right. To kill people, not even the person who hit us, it is wrong. We must admit that it is wrong. And we should avoid it if we can. If we have other means, we should resort to other means.
Malaysia had this conference which tried to define terrorism; unfortunately, we couldn't reach an agreement.
New Straits Times, Thursday 21 August 2003
DR MAHATHIR'S views on progressive Islam found good response from the Syrian Islamic scholars and leaders. They were greatly appreciative of Dr Mahathir's frank opinions, and one scholar urged him to write a book on Malaysia's development in line with Islamic teachings.
The dialogue was chaired by Mohamad Ziadah, Minister of Endowments.
PM: I'm sure that you will agree with me that today the Muslim ummah is being oppressed and Islam itself is being insulted. The Prophet of Islam has been described as a terrorist.
Muslims today cannot defend themselves. They can be arrested, they can be tried anywhere and they can be sentenced to death even. Muslim countries are not able to protect Islam or the Muslims.
We have become extremely weak. This is a fact that we have to admit. We can claim that we only appear to be oppressed but actually, we are triumphant, we are doing very well, the fact is that we have lost the glory of the past Muslim empire.
In those days, nobody would dare to oppress the Muslims because we were strong in every way, strong in terms of our knowledge, in terms of our Government, in terms of military capability.
Yes, there were attempts to invade Muslim countries but the leaders were able to defend Muslim territory successfully. But at the beginning of the last century, the Muslims began to weaken, and the Ottoman empire collapsed and was divided up into many nation States.
The States are not united, instead they are subjected to pressure and manipulation by outside forces. The Muslims became weaker and weaker, and more and more ignorant.
Some of us say that we need not acquire modern knowledge, that it's secular knowledge, that we only need to study the religion and theology, and that other knowledge can't bring us any merit.
The result: Muslims are intellectually backward and are quite incapable of competing with the detractors and enemies of Islam.
We have been enjoined by our religion to protect ourselves, yet we don't have armies that have defence equipment. Instead we need the help of those who are not sympathetic to us. We have to rely on them for our needs and defence.
We have neglected the need to acquire knowledge. In the early years, the Muslims had knowledge. The non-Muslims had to come to Muslim countries to acquire knowledge. They had to learn Arabic.
But there came a time that the study of these things was considered as non-essential. Since then, we had neglected the study of science, mathematics, medicine etc.
We have neglected what is enjoined to us, and required by our religion. We are endowed with riches and wealth, but are incapable of using it.
The Quran begins with an injunction to read. To read is to acquire knowledge. Is knowledge only about religion or knowledge as a whole? Obviously, we have to acquire all knowledge that is available.
Yes, we are very religious but the world recognises only strength today. If you are strong, you are respected. It is the law of the jungle where might is right, but the fact is that the world recognises strength. If you are weak, you will be oppressed, your country will be invaded and you will live under the power of powerful nations.
I believe this has happened because we had neglected the fundamental teachings of Islam. In Malaysia, we believe in fundamentalism, and focus on the original teachings of Islam.
We neglected what is fundamental to Islam and instead, we focus on issues that do not contribute to the development of the Muslim ummah.
We are more interested in minor differences in the interpretations of Islam. There was only one religion of Islam but we are divided into many different sects, and because we have different beliefs, there is conflict between us and such conflict merely weakens us.
We tried to unite the Muslim ummah but it has not proven possible. Until now, in organisations like the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, we are not united even in our stand on the issue of the oppression of the Palestinians by the Israelis.
Emboldened by their success in oppressing Palestinians, they are now oppressing Muslims in other countries. They now want to change the Government of many Muslim countries, and we have seen it happen in Afghanistan and Iraq, and maybe even in Syria as they have already said the Syrian Government is not the type of Government they want.
We are being threatened by the big powers, that is because we are not united. Even if we are weak, if we have one voice, we can influence the course of the world.
We have to accept that this is the truth, it is a fact today. Is it because Islam is a religion that cannot accommodate modern way of living? I don't think so. Islam is not only for the seventh century or the first century of Hijrah. It is for all times and places. But many of us think that the only way is to go back to the first century of Hijrah, or the seventh century AD.
But if Islam is for all time, surely, it is suitable for today as it was 1,400 years ago. If 1,400 years ago Islam could become a great civilisation, it cannot be said that today because our environment has changed, we are no longer capable of achieving the great Islamic civilisation of the past.
I am quite sure that it's not our religion that is wrong, it is perhaps our interpretation of our religion that is wrong, it is perhaps because we are not really following the religion of Islam.
Instead, we are following our own needs and base desires. That is why we find we are unable to agree with each other, and then of course, we can be manipulated by our enemies.
We cannot express our anger by killing people, we are not getting anywhere with that. That is why we are against terrorism. Malaysia wants to become a developed nation, to have all its capability, most in terms of wealth and intellectual capacity, so that we can compete with them and maintain our independence and the wellbeing of the Muslims.
Q: You have talked about Islam being on one side and Muslims on the other side, as they are not following the true teachings of Islam. Now, Islam is accused of terrorism, yet it is the true religion. I wish you all the best as you are in the correct direction. You have called for us to unite. How do you see the role of Islamic movements and scholars?
A: There are many movements. Some want to spread Islam, but some are not thinking about teaching the true meaning of Islam. They are campaigning for support for their political objectives.
As an example, in my country, a Muslim scholar said that Allah is a rogue, the biggest rogue. We were shocked. Of course, we can translate one of the names of Allah to mean that, but surely, it is not meant to be that.
And that Allah uses obscene words; I tried to find them in the Quran if there are any obscene words there, there are none.
He (the Muslim scholar) said that because one of his leaders used obscene words. In order to say that the leader is not wrong, he said even Allah uses obscene words. So when we have Islamic scholars more interested in politics, then you are going to have wrong interpretations of Islam.
It confuses the Muslim ummah; which one is right? The interpretation of Islam to fit objectives that are not Islamic, they confuse the people. The intention is to get something for oneself.
The Islamic scholars are important but we cannot believe everything. It is important to determine what is right and wrong. Today, there are so many interpretations, and sometimes they are against each other.
I've been described as an infidel by this group. Can we accept that? I don't know, they want to describe me as a non-Muslim. Because of wrong interpretation, we fight against each other.
I think the scholars should come together and try and reach a consensus on the true teachings of Islam.
Q: I thank you for your opening remarks, they were very carefully considered and accurate. I agree with your understanding of humanity. Islam is a religion of mercy for all humanity. The message of Christianity is also of love and mercy. Islam has a system for life. We are happy with the prosperity and morality that Malaysia has reached, while many Islamic countries are backward. Syria wants to follow you, and to overtake you!
A: There are many instances where people make use of religion in order to do things that are against the religion. They say that they are fighting for Christianity when in fact, what they wanted was to conquer other people's land when the Crusaders came here.
Muslims, too, use Islam in order to justify things. Killing innocent people is not part of Islam but they tried hard to hide behind Islam.
I visited the Umayyad Mosque just now, and my perception of Islam has been broadened. Because in the mosque is the crypt where the head of St John the Baptist was supposed to have been kept. To find a Christian relic inside a Muslim mosque is, of course, something that is unusual. Certainly, it'll be a shock for Malaysians, but it is clear that it is the teaching of Islam that we must respect the religion of others. To them their religion, to us our religion.
The best of us are those who obey God but we are far too busy thinking of our own personal ambition, to use our religion as a means to justify the wrongs that we do.
Thank you very much for your views, I really appreciate them.
Q: Do you still believe in this conspiracy of Jews in the Asian financial crisis?
A: I will have to give a very comprehensive answer to that. There are not that many Jews, only about 30 million. But they want to control the world, it has nothing to do with their religion, it's their personal Zionist ambition to rule the world.
The answer lies in capturing the most powerful country in the world — the United States.
How was it done? They invented and propagated the idea of democracy. If you are democratic, they have a right to all the rights of a democracy. They can stand for election, they can campaign, you cannot have any more massacres as they used to have in Europe.
Secondly, they promote the idea of human rights, that they must be given the same rights as anybody else. So again, there cannot be any discrimination against Jews.
Now, having spread these ideas among all the people, the majority feel that it is wrong to discriminate against the Jews.
At one time, Harvard University will not accept Jews. At one time, Jews were not allowed to participate in banking in America.
Through the spread of democracy and human rights, they can do all that. They can carry out banking, and they are very good in banking. From ancient times, they are the ones who collected the greatest amount of interest.
When they became equal, they went for institutions that have the most influence on society. They captured the media. The media in the West belongs to them, that includes the electronic media (TV) and Hollywood. It became a propaganda machine for them.
And then, having got the media, they go for politics. Today, the US Government, many of the members of Congress, are Jews. If they are not Jews, their staff members are Jews.
I appeared on the same platform as Mr Ashcroft in Davos, he was assisted by a young man whose name was Israel. Their staff are all Jews.
They come to Malaysia, and they have the same view.
So by controlling the Press and media, controlling the money through banking, and controlling now the Congress, they have become the power in the United States.
They may not be many, American political candidates are extreme candidates, but there are only six million Jews in America.
They can ensure that you win or lose, because they are united whilst the others are divided. In Malaysia, we have the same experience.
In a constituency with majority Muslim Malays, for example, and a minority made up of Chinese and Indians, the Muslims are actually divided. The Chinese and Indians will decide who will win, with their votes.
There are more Muslims than Jews in the US, but they are divided into 1,000 different groups. And they can never get together so they cannot play the same role as the Jews.
The biggest power in America now controls the world and economy. Their ideas about currency trading is that which resulted in the attack on Malaysia.
I said this, and of course, I was roundly criticised at that time. They said they want to make money, it's not because they are Jews. But whether they want to make money or not, the fact is that they are Jews and what they have done, benefit the Jews.
So that is the situation.
Q: You have written many books, and we read them here in Syria, in an Arabic translation. Do you intend to write a book on Malaysia's successful experience in line with Islamic teachings? Syria is one of the very first countries, to want to define terrorism and called for an international conference. But there was no approval for it. If they agree, it will give the people in the occupied territories the right to defend themselves, to differentiate between resistance and others.
A: I'm retiring in October, and after I retire, I would like to record some of my experiences in Malaysia and to assure the world that we do not do anything that is against the thinking of Islam.
It may appear that we are not following the teachings of Islam but we go back to the fundamental teachings of Islam, and we get our guidance from there.
For example, there is a move in Malaysia to apply the hudud law. But these people do not have an idea of justice on how the trial is going to be conducted.
Even if the trial is unjust, they say because the method of the trial is correct, it is Islamic. And the Quran says that we are to judge with justice.
They say it doesn't matter if there is no justice. They say, for example, if a woman is raped and she complains that she has been raped by so and so, and if she cannot produce witnesses, she must be telling a lie and punished with 80 strokes. If later she is found to be pregnant, it is evidence that she has committed zina.
On the other hand, the person who raped her has to get off scot-free because there are no witnesses.
Is this Islamic — to punish the victim while the perpetrator goes free? We don't think that it is Islamic at all.
So, we may not appear to be implementing the hudud law but we are adhering to the teachings of Islam. When we do things in Malaysia, we refer to the teachings of Islam. In administration or application of the law, we follow the teachings of Islam.
With regard to terrorism, actually we had already convened a world conference to determine the definition of terrorism. We know that many people are fighting for the independence of their country, and in the course of the fighting, they may do things that appear to be acts of terror.
But, in fact, there is no way out for them. That is the only way they can fight because they are less wellarmed than their enemies.
We do not want the independence fighters to be called terrorists. But we have to accept the fact that certain acts like killing civilians who have nothing to do with their fight, are acts of terror but there are mitigating circumstances.
The Israeli Government can avoid committing acts of terror because they have the means, they don't have to carry out acts of terror. The Palestinians, they have no aeroplanes, no tanks, no nothing; the only way they can fight back is the way they fight back. They may carry out suicide bombings.
If they act against civilians and not soldiers, it is still acts of terror but it is mitigated; it is because they have no choice. If they have a choice, I'm sure they would not do this.
But the Israeli Government has a choice, the Americans have a choice not to terrorise people by bombing civilians, hospitals etc. But they do that, so that is an act of terror that cannot be excused.
We cannot hit at people because we are angry and frustrated. We are angry and very frustrated now, people are oppressing us but we cannot do anything against them.
But merely to kill people who are innocent because of our anger is not right. At least to me, I don't think it is right. To kill people, not even the person who hit us, it is wrong. We must admit that it is wrong. And we should avoid it if we can. If we have other means, we should resort to other means.
Malaysia had this conference which tried to define terrorism; unfortunately, we couldn't reach an agreement.
New Straits Times, Thursday 21 August 2003
Thursday, August 21, 2003
Knowledge frees us, says PM
DAMASCUS, Aug 18: Excerpts from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s dialogue with Members of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, scholars and think-tank representatives at the Al-Assad Library in Damascus on Monday.
Q: We must be able to plant fear in the hearts of our enemies in order to defend ourselves. We must build airplanes and tanks in order to avoid subservience to the West.
A: It is obvious that we must learn to be independent, and able to do the things that the developed countries do. Only then we can compete with them, not necessarily on the battlefield but in the field of economic development and knowledge.
Malaysia does not believe that it is strong enough to challenge the developed coun-tries, but we feel that over time, we can st-rengthen ourselves, our economy, our we-alth so that we can do things for ourselves.
It is not difficult producing a car, it's a thing that you can learn over a short period of time, and from the car to the tank is not very far, and from then on, you can build aircraft. We built a small aircraft, it's not a fighter plane. We built a trainer aircraft and it is the process of learning.
And over time, we can learn little by little and we will be able to catch up with the developed countries. Our target is to become developed by the year 2020. Technology can be learnt by everyone if you make the effort. But of course, if you don't, you will never be able to master it.
Our intention is to learn everything, acquire all the skills, all the technology so that we can be independent. And of course, we will work with other Muslim countries, we can have division of labour.
Some of the things we do, some of the things other people do. Together, we can become as strong as any of the developed countries, not because we want to go to war with them but we want to make sure that they do not threaten us because they think we are very weak.
Q: Do you consider Islam as an important culture in the progress that your country has achieved in the last 30 years? After 9-11, Islam has been linked to terrorism and violence. I would like to ask you, what do you think could address this challenge? A: We are very angry and because we are angry, we do things without planning, without strategy. We just lash out because they did these things to us, and therefore we must retaliate, seek revenge. But the better thing to do is to build up our strength, to be able to achieve our targets and goals.
Presently, we are not achieving anything, yet we have killed so many people.
And they kill you, and you kill them, and they kill you, and you kill them. In the end, what do we get? What do we get from so many of our brave people? Nothing. So, we have to plan and we have to explain what Islam is all about. In Malaysia, we are tolerant because Islam teaches us to be tolerant. Islam says that to you your religion, to us our religion. So why not we live together with them and get something from them? But if we keep on quarrelling and fighting each other, especially among Muslims, we achieve nothing. Maybe we are satisfied because it assuages our anger but nothing more than that.
Q: You succeeded in changing Malaysia from the rule of imperialism. How were you able to do that? A: If you want to change people, you have to involve them, explain to them that they need to change. We must not try to change everything overnight. If you suddenly change, you cause a lot of disruption.
But if you go to the people, explain to them: "Look, this country cannot go on as an agricultural country, we don't have enough land, we cannot give you jobs. We have to become industrialised to create more jobs. If you are prepared to study and change your skills, things that you have never done before, to be disciplined, then you will earn more money than you would if you were to stay in agriculture when land is no longer available." It is always important to win the hearts and minds of the people. The people must be with you before you can change them. So we go to them and tell them exactly what we want to do, in their interest, not our interest. Not because we want power.
You need power only to give to the people what is required by them. Beyond that, there is no need for power. I don't think we should glorify in our power, and that is why, although I have been accused by the foreign Press of being a dictator, I think I am the first dictator to resign. (Applause) Q: We are interested to know how to combine opening of economy with the protection of emerging industries. What is your advice? A: The state has a role to play, to point the direction. But before you point the di-rection, you must also consult the people. We have dialogues with the people all the time. That is the role of the state, before you do something, you don't just go ahead and do it because you think it is good, then you find that it is not accepted by the rest.
The process of consultation must go hand in hand with the use of state power in order to give direction.We have to protect our people. We want to be open to the world but, at the same time, we cannot allow the whole world to come into our country and compete with our small infant industries. We are not strong enough to compete with them.
And because of that, we followed the policy of selective protectionism. We only protect those industries which can become big industries, but we don't protect all. And we give them sufficient time to be able to compete. That is why I mentioned that the tax on motor vehicles can go up to 300 per cent. The Government of Malaysia makes more money from Mercedes Benz than Mercedes Benz itself (laughter).
We get 300 per cent by way of taxes but in the process, in order to attract their market, they have to assemble the Mercedes Benz in Malaysia. Even then, it is still expensive. We started building our car, of course we don't tax our car because it is not coming from outside.
And we give some support to our auto-motive industry so that if we can produce the car at lower cost, we sell it in the market at a lower price. But we have to ensure that the quality of our car is world class. So that applies to other industries as well.
That is why we have been able to grow along with the foreign industries.
Q: You achieved development in a very short time. Do you supervise and control the development that was so quick? A: We supervise most of the things that we do. We have many government agencies which supervise the economic development; we have an Economic Planning Unit which plans a five-year development plan. We also have the Implementation Co-ordination Unit. It reports to the Government, to me at times, complete with illustrations and pictures on what is happening on the ground.
Sometimes, we have a contract. We think that it is going to be carried out, but at the official level there may be some problem which stops it from being carried out. We monitor every step and require that they report back to a central data-gathering centre which we call the Operations Room, actually copying the Operations Room during war.
We run development as if we are executing a war. We know every plan, what is happening, who is spending what money, whether they are spending the money or not, what is their problem, and we try to correct them. All the plans that are made are executed.
Of course, there are failures, but largely the plans are fully carried out.
Q: Why is your situation better than our situation? You spent more than 20 per cent on education, while some spend more than 20 per cent on armaments.
A: It is true that education is very important. Yes, spending money on armed forces when there is an enemy next door is also very important. We have to spend money on defence, but you cannot neglect education.
Without education, you cannot really defend your country. In the long term, defence is for the day, but for the future, you have to have the necessary education.
I would like to stress that education means not just learning about the religion, but also about the sciences, technology, medicine and all the other skills which can help contribute towards your defence capability.
You must have basic knowledge of religion, but we cannot have all our people becoming ulamas. There must be a balance, sometimes there isn't a proper balance. That's why we get into trouble.
Q: Corruption is the main challenge of many developing countries. Will you tell us about how you fight corruption? A: I will not say that there is no corruption in Malaysia. We do have, but we say that it is at the initial stages. We divide corruption into two stages: one is below the table because you are ashamed. But in some countries, corruption is above the table which means that you openly pay an official for the services that he should render. And he receives it openly.
We are still at the "below the table" level (laughter). And because of that, we can control because people are afraid they are doing wrong. We have an agency that can investigate even ministers if there is an accusation that he is corrupt. The officer from ACA can go see a minister to ask him to explain why his bank account is so big, why his house is so big.
Most important, of course, is leadership. If the leadership is corrupt, all the way down is going to be corrupt. The leader must set the example.
After all, what is there for taking so much money? How many plates of rice can you take? How many dresses can you wear? In the end, you are going off to the next world, you are going to leave all these things behind.
So why try to take illegal gratification? We are very strict about our ministers. If at Cabinet meetings, anything at all that may concern the minister and relatives comes up, he has to get out of the Cabinet meeting (applause).
Q: In two months, you will be chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. Will you share with us your ideas, what aspirations do you have for OIC, for Asian values and dialogue for civilisations? A: The chairmanship of the OIC is with the country, not with me. So after I step down, my successor will take over from me. The most important thing, of course, is to have unity. We don't decide together, we always quarrel, that is not going to help us.
There is strength in unity. If you are united, even if you are poor and weak, you can be very strong. Fifty-four Muslim countries (for example) speaking with one voice can do a lot more than one strong Muslim country shouting in any place.
If we cannot be together on all issues, pick at least one issue where we can agree. I think we can agree at least on the Palestinian question.
Or we can have one united view on the Iraq issue. Just one issue. Don't talk about kinds of administration or monarchy. This one is republican, this one is socialist, this one is capitalist, those are the divisive issues. Let's focus on just the item that we can agree. InsyaAllah, we can achieve something.
Q: You encourage to buy local, and you began to make cars. This is beginning to get rid of the hegemony of industrialised nations. Can you give opportunities to Arab countries? A: I think everyone can do what we have done in the automotive industry, for example. I see a lot of motor vehicles on the streets in Islamic countries.
They must buy at least one or two million cars a year. It's a big market. But we don't work together. If we work together, we produce our car together, not a national car and I wouldn't call it an Islamic car (laughter), but let's work together.
I remember once Egypt wanted to build a fighter plane and there was co-operation between two or three Arab countries. But halfway through, I think they had some disagreement and Egypt was left alone to build the fighter plane with no market.
So that is what is hurting us. We can get the technology. They will sell us anything if we pay them money. We have the money to pay. We can buy the technology and then develop it.
We started producing cars in 1985. Today we can design, produce a prototype, test, design the production line and build the car all by ourselves. But the question is how many ...whether we have sufficient volume or not. All these things can be learnt, there is no magic in this.
The Europeans and the Americans do not have better brains than us. In fact, many of our people are now working with them because we provide our people with no opportunities.
We in Malaysia want to master skills. Petroleum, for example. We produce only 650,000 barrels per day. There are countries which produce millions of barrels a day. They are happy to collect only the royalty and not learn the business.
Although we were small, we insisted on the transfer of technology so that today, we operate in 32 countries in the world. We do exploration for many countries, we produce oil in many countries, we built pipelines in Argentina and Australia. We are in Central Asia. This is a small petroleum company, but because we learnt the business we can do it.
We can learn from the mistakes of other people. Some people asked me, you say look East, look at Japan now, it's not doing well. I said I'm still looking East. I see how Japan makes mistakes and I don't want to make those mistakes (laughter).
It is whether you want to learn and be free. Because of our lack of the need to depend upon people, there will be no hegemony, nobody can press us. Even though Malaysia is not very far on its way, still as you know we say a lot of nasty things to the West but we are still independent.
Q: What is the lesson that we can learn from Sept 11? A: To me, the main lesson is that we do not plan things, we do not strategise, we do not calculate. We just feel angry, and we go and kill ourselves, crash ourselves against the building, the building collapses, and what happens after that? Afghanistan is invaded, Iraq is invaded, the whole Muslim world now lives in fear because anytime at all we can be picked up and thrown into jail. So when we want to do something, we must plan. We must strategise, we must calculate the result. We cannot depend upon our anger, our feeling, our emotions, we must be very disciplined in our thinking.
People like Machiavelli, for example, they understand that when you do this, this is the result. Machiavelli will say if we use mercenary soldiers, use them in danger of being dominated by them if they win, or you may lose the war because they won't fight.
There are so many lessons to be learnt from history. We must learn from the history of Islam, from the time when we bloomed to become a great civilisation and then came the decline.
Why did it bloom? If you study Islamic history, it was the period when the Muslims learned all the knowledge in the world. But when Muslims say all this knowledge is nonsense, we don't have to acquire this knowledge, and now we cannot build even our own pumpgun.
So we can't fight and defend ourselves, whereas the Quran says that you must prepare your war horses in order to put fear in the heart of the enemy. War horses at the time of the Prophet. Today you can't use war horses when you fight against the American. You need tanks, you need rockets, you need aeroplanes. That to me is a lesson that we learned from Sept 11. Don't do something without thinking of the consequences.
(Question on International Monetary Fund) A: If you borrow money, you are under obligation to pay them and that makes you a very poor man. It's far better to minimise expenditure so that you minimise your borrowings. We borrow, but only up to the amount we can pay.
Malaysia's management of finance is very conservative. The Central Bank is our watchdog. If you are careful about spending, you know you are obliged to no one.
But the World Bank advises that the way to quick development is to borrow their money. That makes you subservient to them.
I was talking to the Algerian president, he was telling me about borrowing 10 dollars from the World Bank. He said he has already paid 26 dollars for the 10 he borrowed, but he is left with nine dollars. He has managed to reduce debt only by 10 per cent. They have control over you.
(Question on Malaysia's economic strategies) A: When we were trying to recover from the financial crisis, we set up the National Economic Action Council chaired by me. It meets every morning to study all the statistics. We take measures to make corrections.
Even if we have a problem like Sept 11, we can recover fairly quickly by under-standing what is the effect. We are a very big political party which has a very big majority in Parliament, and we have very strong party support. We are constantly talking to party members. I speak to thousands of people to explain what is happening to get them to support and usually, they understand. We also talk to the trade unions.
We talk with as many groups as possible, even members of the different religions. I meet the bishops and explain why we cannot give certain things to them.
NST 20/8/03
Q: We must be able to plant fear in the hearts of our enemies in order to defend ourselves. We must build airplanes and tanks in order to avoid subservience to the West.
A: It is obvious that we must learn to be independent, and able to do the things that the developed countries do. Only then we can compete with them, not necessarily on the battlefield but in the field of economic development and knowledge.
Malaysia does not believe that it is strong enough to challenge the developed coun-tries, but we feel that over time, we can st-rengthen ourselves, our economy, our we-alth so that we can do things for ourselves.
It is not difficult producing a car, it's a thing that you can learn over a short period of time, and from the car to the tank is not very far, and from then on, you can build aircraft. We built a small aircraft, it's not a fighter plane. We built a trainer aircraft and it is the process of learning.
And over time, we can learn little by little and we will be able to catch up with the developed countries. Our target is to become developed by the year 2020. Technology can be learnt by everyone if you make the effort. But of course, if you don't, you will never be able to master it.
Our intention is to learn everything, acquire all the skills, all the technology so that we can be independent. And of course, we will work with other Muslim countries, we can have division of labour.
Some of the things we do, some of the things other people do. Together, we can become as strong as any of the developed countries, not because we want to go to war with them but we want to make sure that they do not threaten us because they think we are very weak.
Q: Do you consider Islam as an important culture in the progress that your country has achieved in the last 30 years? After 9-11, Islam has been linked to terrorism and violence. I would like to ask you, what do you think could address this challenge? A: We are very angry and because we are angry, we do things without planning, without strategy. We just lash out because they did these things to us, and therefore we must retaliate, seek revenge. But the better thing to do is to build up our strength, to be able to achieve our targets and goals.
Presently, we are not achieving anything, yet we have killed so many people.
And they kill you, and you kill them, and they kill you, and you kill them. In the end, what do we get? What do we get from so many of our brave people? Nothing. So, we have to plan and we have to explain what Islam is all about. In Malaysia, we are tolerant because Islam teaches us to be tolerant. Islam says that to you your religion, to us our religion. So why not we live together with them and get something from them? But if we keep on quarrelling and fighting each other, especially among Muslims, we achieve nothing. Maybe we are satisfied because it assuages our anger but nothing more than that.
Q: You succeeded in changing Malaysia from the rule of imperialism. How were you able to do that? A: If you want to change people, you have to involve them, explain to them that they need to change. We must not try to change everything overnight. If you suddenly change, you cause a lot of disruption.
But if you go to the people, explain to them: "Look, this country cannot go on as an agricultural country, we don't have enough land, we cannot give you jobs. We have to become industrialised to create more jobs. If you are prepared to study and change your skills, things that you have never done before, to be disciplined, then you will earn more money than you would if you were to stay in agriculture when land is no longer available." It is always important to win the hearts and minds of the people. The people must be with you before you can change them. So we go to them and tell them exactly what we want to do, in their interest, not our interest. Not because we want power.
You need power only to give to the people what is required by them. Beyond that, there is no need for power. I don't think we should glorify in our power, and that is why, although I have been accused by the foreign Press of being a dictator, I think I am the first dictator to resign. (Applause) Q: We are interested to know how to combine opening of economy with the protection of emerging industries. What is your advice? A: The state has a role to play, to point the direction. But before you point the di-rection, you must also consult the people. We have dialogues with the people all the time. That is the role of the state, before you do something, you don't just go ahead and do it because you think it is good, then you find that it is not accepted by the rest.
The process of consultation must go hand in hand with the use of state power in order to give direction.We have to protect our people. We want to be open to the world but, at the same time, we cannot allow the whole world to come into our country and compete with our small infant industries. We are not strong enough to compete with them.
And because of that, we followed the policy of selective protectionism. We only protect those industries which can become big industries, but we don't protect all. And we give them sufficient time to be able to compete. That is why I mentioned that the tax on motor vehicles can go up to 300 per cent. The Government of Malaysia makes more money from Mercedes Benz than Mercedes Benz itself (laughter).
We get 300 per cent by way of taxes but in the process, in order to attract their market, they have to assemble the Mercedes Benz in Malaysia. Even then, it is still expensive. We started building our car, of course we don't tax our car because it is not coming from outside.
And we give some support to our auto-motive industry so that if we can produce the car at lower cost, we sell it in the market at a lower price. But we have to ensure that the quality of our car is world class. So that applies to other industries as well.
That is why we have been able to grow along with the foreign industries.
Q: You achieved development in a very short time. Do you supervise and control the development that was so quick? A: We supervise most of the things that we do. We have many government agencies which supervise the economic development; we have an Economic Planning Unit which plans a five-year development plan. We also have the Implementation Co-ordination Unit. It reports to the Government, to me at times, complete with illustrations and pictures on what is happening on the ground.
Sometimes, we have a contract. We think that it is going to be carried out, but at the official level there may be some problem which stops it from being carried out. We monitor every step and require that they report back to a central data-gathering centre which we call the Operations Room, actually copying the Operations Room during war.
We run development as if we are executing a war. We know every plan, what is happening, who is spending what money, whether they are spending the money or not, what is their problem, and we try to correct them. All the plans that are made are executed.
Of course, there are failures, but largely the plans are fully carried out.
Q: Why is your situation better than our situation? You spent more than 20 per cent on education, while some spend more than 20 per cent on armaments.
A: It is true that education is very important. Yes, spending money on armed forces when there is an enemy next door is also very important. We have to spend money on defence, but you cannot neglect education.
Without education, you cannot really defend your country. In the long term, defence is for the day, but for the future, you have to have the necessary education.
I would like to stress that education means not just learning about the religion, but also about the sciences, technology, medicine and all the other skills which can help contribute towards your defence capability.
You must have basic knowledge of religion, but we cannot have all our people becoming ulamas. There must be a balance, sometimes there isn't a proper balance. That's why we get into trouble.
Q: Corruption is the main challenge of many developing countries. Will you tell us about how you fight corruption? A: I will not say that there is no corruption in Malaysia. We do have, but we say that it is at the initial stages. We divide corruption into two stages: one is below the table because you are ashamed. But in some countries, corruption is above the table which means that you openly pay an official for the services that he should render. And he receives it openly.
We are still at the "below the table" level (laughter). And because of that, we can control because people are afraid they are doing wrong. We have an agency that can investigate even ministers if there is an accusation that he is corrupt. The officer from ACA can go see a minister to ask him to explain why his bank account is so big, why his house is so big.
Most important, of course, is leadership. If the leadership is corrupt, all the way down is going to be corrupt. The leader must set the example.
After all, what is there for taking so much money? How many plates of rice can you take? How many dresses can you wear? In the end, you are going off to the next world, you are going to leave all these things behind.
So why try to take illegal gratification? We are very strict about our ministers. If at Cabinet meetings, anything at all that may concern the minister and relatives comes up, he has to get out of the Cabinet meeting (applause).
Q: In two months, you will be chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. Will you share with us your ideas, what aspirations do you have for OIC, for Asian values and dialogue for civilisations? A: The chairmanship of the OIC is with the country, not with me. So after I step down, my successor will take over from me. The most important thing, of course, is to have unity. We don't decide together, we always quarrel, that is not going to help us.
There is strength in unity. If you are united, even if you are poor and weak, you can be very strong. Fifty-four Muslim countries (for example) speaking with one voice can do a lot more than one strong Muslim country shouting in any place.
If we cannot be together on all issues, pick at least one issue where we can agree. I think we can agree at least on the Palestinian question.
Or we can have one united view on the Iraq issue. Just one issue. Don't talk about kinds of administration or monarchy. This one is republican, this one is socialist, this one is capitalist, those are the divisive issues. Let's focus on just the item that we can agree. InsyaAllah, we can achieve something.
Q: You encourage to buy local, and you began to make cars. This is beginning to get rid of the hegemony of industrialised nations. Can you give opportunities to Arab countries? A: I think everyone can do what we have done in the automotive industry, for example. I see a lot of motor vehicles on the streets in Islamic countries.
They must buy at least one or two million cars a year. It's a big market. But we don't work together. If we work together, we produce our car together, not a national car and I wouldn't call it an Islamic car (laughter), but let's work together.
I remember once Egypt wanted to build a fighter plane and there was co-operation between two or three Arab countries. But halfway through, I think they had some disagreement and Egypt was left alone to build the fighter plane with no market.
So that is what is hurting us. We can get the technology. They will sell us anything if we pay them money. We have the money to pay. We can buy the technology and then develop it.
We started producing cars in 1985. Today we can design, produce a prototype, test, design the production line and build the car all by ourselves. But the question is how many ...whether we have sufficient volume or not. All these things can be learnt, there is no magic in this.
The Europeans and the Americans do not have better brains than us. In fact, many of our people are now working with them because we provide our people with no opportunities.
We in Malaysia want to master skills. Petroleum, for example. We produce only 650,000 barrels per day. There are countries which produce millions of barrels a day. They are happy to collect only the royalty and not learn the business.
Although we were small, we insisted on the transfer of technology so that today, we operate in 32 countries in the world. We do exploration for many countries, we produce oil in many countries, we built pipelines in Argentina and Australia. We are in Central Asia. This is a small petroleum company, but because we learnt the business we can do it.
We can learn from the mistakes of other people. Some people asked me, you say look East, look at Japan now, it's not doing well. I said I'm still looking East. I see how Japan makes mistakes and I don't want to make those mistakes (laughter).
It is whether you want to learn and be free. Because of our lack of the need to depend upon people, there will be no hegemony, nobody can press us. Even though Malaysia is not very far on its way, still as you know we say a lot of nasty things to the West but we are still independent.
Q: What is the lesson that we can learn from Sept 11? A: To me, the main lesson is that we do not plan things, we do not strategise, we do not calculate. We just feel angry, and we go and kill ourselves, crash ourselves against the building, the building collapses, and what happens after that? Afghanistan is invaded, Iraq is invaded, the whole Muslim world now lives in fear because anytime at all we can be picked up and thrown into jail. So when we want to do something, we must plan. We must strategise, we must calculate the result. We cannot depend upon our anger, our feeling, our emotions, we must be very disciplined in our thinking.
People like Machiavelli, for example, they understand that when you do this, this is the result. Machiavelli will say if we use mercenary soldiers, use them in danger of being dominated by them if they win, or you may lose the war because they won't fight.
There are so many lessons to be learnt from history. We must learn from the history of Islam, from the time when we bloomed to become a great civilisation and then came the decline.
Why did it bloom? If you study Islamic history, it was the period when the Muslims learned all the knowledge in the world. But when Muslims say all this knowledge is nonsense, we don't have to acquire this knowledge, and now we cannot build even our own pumpgun.
So we can't fight and defend ourselves, whereas the Quran says that you must prepare your war horses in order to put fear in the heart of the enemy. War horses at the time of the Prophet. Today you can't use war horses when you fight against the American. You need tanks, you need rockets, you need aeroplanes. That to me is a lesson that we learned from Sept 11. Don't do something without thinking of the consequences.
(Question on International Monetary Fund) A: If you borrow money, you are under obligation to pay them and that makes you a very poor man. It's far better to minimise expenditure so that you minimise your borrowings. We borrow, but only up to the amount we can pay.
Malaysia's management of finance is very conservative. The Central Bank is our watchdog. If you are careful about spending, you know you are obliged to no one.
But the World Bank advises that the way to quick development is to borrow their money. That makes you subservient to them.
I was talking to the Algerian president, he was telling me about borrowing 10 dollars from the World Bank. He said he has already paid 26 dollars for the 10 he borrowed, but he is left with nine dollars. He has managed to reduce debt only by 10 per cent. They have control over you.
(Question on Malaysia's economic strategies) A: When we were trying to recover from the financial crisis, we set up the National Economic Action Council chaired by me. It meets every morning to study all the statistics. We take measures to make corrections.
Even if we have a problem like Sept 11, we can recover fairly quickly by under-standing what is the effect. We are a very big political party which has a very big majority in Parliament, and we have very strong party support. We are constantly talking to party members. I speak to thousands of people to explain what is happening to get them to support and usually, they understand. We also talk to the trade unions.
We talk with as many groups as possible, even members of the different religions. I meet the bishops and explain why we cannot give certain things to them.
NST 20/8/03
Sunday, August 17, 2003
Ucapan KSN sempena Fellow INTAN 2002
TEMA MAJLIS : PEGAWAI CEKAP PERKHIDMATAN CEMERLANG
Assalammualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuh dan salam
sejahtera.
Saudara dan saudari pengacara majlis,
YBhg. Tan Sri Jamaluddin Haji Ahmad Damanhuri
Ketua Pengarah Perkhidmatan Awam,
YBhg. Dato' Dr. Mohd. Shahari bin Ahmad Jabar,
YBhg. Dato' Zakaria Mohd Taib
Timbalan Pengarah Perkhidmatan Awam (Operasi),
YBhg. Dato' Dr. Zulkurnain Hj Awang
Pengarah INTAN,
YBhg. Tan Sri-Tan Sri, Puan Sri-Puan Sri, Dato'-Dato',
Datin-Datin
Tuan-tuan dan Puan-puan serta para graduan yang
dihormati sekalian.
1. Saya bersyukur ke hadrat Allah s.w.t. kerana
dengan limpah kurniaNya kita dapat bersama-sama di
majlis yang sangat bermakna pada pagi ini.
2. Tahniah saya ucapkan kepada INTAN kerana sekali
lagi menganjurkan dengan jayanya Majlis Penyampaian
Diploma dan Penganugerahan Fellow INTAN.
3. Kepada para graduan saya mengucapkan tahniah dan
syabas di atas kejayaan saudara-saudari mengikuti
kursus-kursus diploma di INTAN, iaitu Diploma
Pengurusan Awam (DPA), Diploma Sains Pengurusan (DSP)
dan Diploma Pengurusan Maklumat (DPM). Majlis pagi ini
tentunya menjadi satu lembaran sejarah bagi saudara
saudari setelah dipilih, dilatih dan didedahkan dengan
berbagai ilmu pengetahuan dan kemahiran untuk
membolehkan saudara saudari memegang jawatan sebagai
pegawai yang berkualiti dan berprestasi tinggi.
4. Bagi para graduan DPA, saya mengucapkan selamat
memasuki alam baru sebagai anggota Perkhidmatan Tadbir
dan Diplomatik (PTD). Sungguh menjadi harapan saya
untuk melihat saudara saudari bergerak maju dan menjadi
kebanggaan kepada PTD melalui usaha gigih sepanjang
perkhidmatan. Saudara saudari hendaklah sentiasa
meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kepakaran dalam
menjalankan tugas masing-masing serta sentiasa peka
kepada perkembangan yang berlaku di dalam negara dan di
peringkat antarabangsa.
Pegawai Muda Perlu Bermula Dengan Nilai dan
Keperibadian Yang Baik
Saudara - Saudari sekalian,
5. Dari kalangan saudara saudari Insya Allah akan
lahir beberapa orang Ketua-ketua Setiausaha, Ketua-
ketua Pengarah, serta mereka yang akan menerajui pucuk
pimpinan di agensi-agensi Kerajaan. Mungkin saudara
saudari merasakan itu hanya satu impian dan terlalu
jauh ke hadapan. Namun percayalah, bahawa impian akan
dapat menjadi kenyataan jika saudara saudari yakin dan
berusaha bersungguh-sungguh. Tidakkah semua realiti
bermula dari impian? Tidakkah "A journey of 1000 miles
begins with a single step?". Langkah pertama bermula
apabila saudara saudari melapor diri di jabatan masing-
masing. Adalah amat penting saudara saudari mula dengan
nilai dan keperibadian yang baik, langkah-langkah yang
bijaksana, bertugas dengan penuh integriti dan berazam
untuk sentiasa memberi khidmat yang cemerlang. Dari
awal-awal lagi saudara saudari perlu sentiasa
memikirkan bagaimana hendak menambah pengetahuan,
meningkatkan kemahiran dan memupuk sikap-sikap positif
seperti `rajin bekerja' yang menjurus ke arah
peningkatan mutu perkhidmatan awam secara berterusan.
6. Kita harus bersyukur kepada Allah s.w.t. kerana
pada masa ini Malaysia mempunyai perkhidmatan awam yang
cekap dan berkesan. Malah sebulan yang lalu di INTAN
ini, Y.A.B Timbalan Perdana Menteri ketika Persidangan
Perkhidmatan Awam ke-7, telah menyatakan bahawa
perkhidmatan awam di Malaysia adalah antara yang
terbaik di dunia, terutamanya di kalangan negara-negara
membangun. Walau bagaimanapun, beliau berharap agar
perkhidmatan awam sentiasa diperkukuh dan
dipertingkatkan sejajar dengan usaha negara untuk
mencapai status negara maju mengikut Wawasan 2020. Saya
yakin bahawa harapan ini akan tercapai memandangkan
perkhidmatan awam kita terbina atas asas yang kukuh
dengan tradisi-tradisi yang sihat. Namun demikian,
perkhidmatan awam perlu sentiasa peka dan prihatin
kepada cabaran-cabaran masa kini dan akan datang.
Saudara dan saudari sekalian,
7. Kita semua sedia maklum bahawa peranan
perkhidmatan awam masa kini penuh dengan cabaran-
cabaran baru yang agak berlainan dengan cabaran sedikit
masa dahulu. Cabaran yang diharungi kini lebih
bergelombang akibat daripada perubahan-perubahan yang
berlaku di seluruh dunia dalam era globalisasi dan
liberalisasi perdagangan, yang disemarakkan lagi oleh
perkembangan pesat teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi
atau Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
8. Perubahan-perubahan pesat yang berlaku ini telah
mendatangkan kesan yang rumit, kompleks serta saling
berkait di antara satu sama lain. Ianya merupakan
dimensi baru yang memerlukan pendekatan yang strategik
dan bersepadu untuk menghadapinya.
Perkhidmatan Awam Dalam Era Globalisasi
Saudara dan Saudari,
9. Cabaran utama dalam era globalisasi dan
liberalisasi ialah apa yang disebut cabaran
"interconnectedness or interdependence" (kait
mengait/saling bergantungan). Ekonomi dunia telah
menjadi begitu saling berkait dan bergantung antara
satu sama lain menyebabkan kunci "survival" kita
terletak kepada sejauh manakah kita dapat menyelami dan
memahami "linkages" ini dan dapat bertindak pantas
dengan langkah-langkah yang sesuai dan berkesan.
Sebagai contoh, Tragedi 11 September di Amerika
Syarikat bukan sahaja telah memberi kesan buruk
terhadap ekonomi Amerika Syarikat malah juga ekonomi
global. Oleh kerana Amerika Syarikat adalah negara
dagangan penting bagi Malaysia, kita juga turut
terheret ke dalam kemelesetan ekonomi. Ternyatalah
dalam era globalisasi keadaan yang berlaku di luar
negara boleh menjejas ekonomi negara dan memberi akibat
yang buruk kepada kita jika kita tidak peka dan
menyiapkan diri.
10. Ini bererti semua pegawai perkhidmatan awam di
mana saja mereka bertugas perlu mengambil tahu
perkembangan di luar negara dan di institusi-institusi
antarabangsa. Mereka perlu melihat impak perkembangan
di luar organisasi terhadap tindak tanduk mereka.
Mereka harus sedar bahawa sempadan organisasi tidak
terbatas kepada sempadan fizikal organisasi itu atau
sempadan negara semata-mata. Pegawai perkhidmatan awam
perlu memahami sedalam-dalamnya konsep globalisasi dan
peka mengenai kesannya terhadap Negara.
Pegawai Awam dan ICT
Saudara dan Saudari,
11. Kita juga maklum bahawa globalisasi dapat
berkembang pesat oleh kerana perkembangan ICT.
Misalnya, melalui ICT, setiap hari beribu juta wang
diurusniagakan di seluruh dunia tanpa mengira sempadan
negara. Apa yang berlaku di Wall Street atau Tokyo
Stock Exchange dapat diikuti pada saat ianya berlaku.
Perkembangan dan kemajuan ICT memberi implikasi
terhadap cara perhubungan dan teknologi dalam memberi
perkhidmatan.
12. Perkembangan pengetahuan melalui Internet boleh
disifatkan sebagai satu revolusi bagi abad ini. Pada
masa ini Internet adalah satu sumber pengetahuan yang
sangat penting. Tidak ada sesuatu yang tidak dapat
diperolehi melalui Internet. Bahkan ICT khususnya
Internet telah mengubahkan ekonomi menjadi knowledge-
based. Oleh itu, satu cabaran baru bagi anggota
perkhidmatan awam ialah sejauh mana kita mampu
melengkapkan diri dengan pengetahuan dan kemahiran
berhubung ICT serta mengeksploitasi ICT dalam memberi
perkhidmatan kepada pelanggan. ICT telah merubah
perhubungan antara Kerajaan dan pelanggan. Persoalannya
antara lain ialah, sejauh manakah pegawai-pegawai
Kerajaan celik IT. Adakah kita mengeksploitasi ICT
dalam menyampaikan perkhidmatan terbaik. Melalui laman
web, pelanggan sekarang mempunyai `direct access' ke
agensi-agensi Kerajaan dengan `click' ke atas tetikus.
Saluran makluman balas menjadi lebih meluas. Pemantauan
projek-projek boleh dibuat lebih pantas. Ini memerlukan
kita semua mengubahsuai cara bekerja. Ia bukan sahaja
bergantung kepada pegawai IT tetapi meliputi semua
pegawai dalam perkhidmatan awam.
13. Oleh itu, demi untuk memberi perkhidmatan yang
sebaik-baiknya serta memenuhi keperluan pelanggan yang
lebih sophisticated, saudara saudari hendaklah
meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kemahiran di dalam bidang
IT secara berterusan. Anggota perkhidmatan awam yang
ICT illiterate tidak dapat menjadi begitu produktif
malah akan menjadi obselete dengan pantas.
14. Gelombang globalisasi dan kemajuan ICT yang amat
pesat sedang mengubah struktur ekonomi dunia,
menjadikan pasaran antarabangsa lebih kompetitif dan
seterusnya boleh menjejaskan penguasaan pasaran
sesebuah negara. Arus ini juga turut memberi kesan
kepada kemasukan modal asing ke dalam negara kerana
kita terpaksa bersaing dengan negara-negara sedang
membangun yang lain untuk mendapatkannya. Manakala
kemajuan di dalam bidang ICT pula telah dan akan terus
merubah corak dan kaedah kegiatan ekonomi dijalankan,
urusan pentadbiran Kerajaan, perniagaan, kewangan dan
juga cara pembelajaran. Peralihan kepada penyampaian
perkhidmatan melalui elektronik bukan sahaja melibatkan
perubahan dalam sistem dan prosedur-prosedur serta
proses penyampaian khidmat tetapi juga membawa kesan
kepada cara orang ramai dan sektor swasta berurusan
dengan Kerajaan.
Keperluan Pelanggan Yang Lebih Sophisticated
15. Kita juga perlu waspada bahawa kesan daripada
cabaran-cabaran serta peluang-peluang yang dibawa oleh
arus globalisasi dan kemajuan ICT adalah complex. Dari
suatu sudut, keperluan dan permintaan pelanggan-
pelanggan daripada sektor korporat akan berubah.
Malahan permintaan daripada orang awam juga akan turut
berbeza dan menjadi lebih sophisticated. Oleh itu,
dalam menghadapi cabaran-cabaran ini, seluruh
perkhidmatan awam hendaklah menyiapkan diri dengan
pengetahuan baru, komunikasi berkesan, menguasai bahasa
perdagangan dunia, khasnya Bahasa Inggeris dan lain-
lain bahasa antarabangsa, kemahiran menggunakan
teknologi maklumat yang tinggi serta mengikuti segala
perkembangan di seluruh dunia secara berterusan.
Penggunaan Bahasa Inggeris
Saudara saudari sekalian,
16. Dalam konteks era globalisasi, satu perkara yang
menjadi kebimbangan Kerajaan pada masa ini ialah
penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris di Malaysia termasuk di
kalangan pegawai-pegawai Kerajaan. Tidak dapat
dinafikan lagi bahawa untuk bergerak di arena
antarabangsa dan memperolehi maklumat yang termaju,
penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris amat penting sekali. Ia
adalah bahasa komunikasi, bahasa ilmu dan bahasa dalam
perundingan-perundingan di peringkat antarabangsa.
Banyak pihak agak khuatir melihat penguasaan Bahasa
Inggeris di kalangan pegawai Kerajaan terutamanya
pegawai-pegawai muda, sangat memerlukan peningkatan
dengan seberapa segera. Ini adalah cabaran yang
kritikal bagi seluruh perkhidmatan awam Malaysia pada
masa ini. Jika langkah-langkah tidak diambil secara
serius dan segera, dikhuatiri kita akan ketinggalan.
Oleh itu, saya menyeru kepada semua pegawai supaya
mengambil inisiatif untuk meningkatkan penguasaan
Bahasa Inggeris termasuk penguasaan kemahiran
perundingan. Pegawai-pegawai Kerajaan perlu terus
memainkan peranan aktif dalam rundingan-rundingan di
peringkat antarabangsa demi menjaga kepentingan
Malaysia. Justeru, saya menyarankan setiap pegawai
membaca sekurang-kurangnya sebuah buku Bahasa Inggeris
setiap bulan, termasuk novel-novel yang baik. Usaha
ini janganlah di salah erti bahawa kita mengabaikan
Bahasa Malaysia yang martabatnya akan sentiasa
dipertahankan.
Pegawai Awam dan Persyarikatan Malaysia
Saudara saudari,
17. Dalam konteks pembangunan ekonomi negara,
pentingnya peranan dan kerjasama di antara pihak
perkhidmatan awam dan swasta di bawah konsep
`Persyarikatan Malaysia' tidak perlu dipertikaikan
lagi. Seperti yang dinyatakan di dalam pelbagai
dokumen perancangan Kerajaan umpamanya Rangka Rancangan
Jangka Panjang Ketiga Tahun 2000 - 2010 dan Rancangan
Malaysia Kelapan (2001 - 2005), sektor swasta merupakan
teras dan penggerak utama atau engine of growth kepada
pertumbuhan ekonomi negara. Dalam hubungan sektor
swasta dan awam ini, perkhidmatan awam hendaklah
menjadi catalyst atau pemudahcara untuk meningkatkan
pertumbuhan dan sumbangan sektor tersebut. Anggota
perkhidmatan awam juga hendaklah membantu serta memberi
kerjasama yang erat kepada sektor swasta dengan
menjalankan kerja dengan cekap dan efisyen. Ini
bererti kita perlu memberi kelulusan dengan cepat dan
tidak melengah-lengahkan kerja. Saya ingin mengingatkan
saudara saudari dan seluruh perkhidmatan awam supaya
pengurusan asas seperti urusan fail, urusan pembayaran,
urusan surat-menyurat dan lain-lain tugas, hendaklah
perlu cepat, teratur dan konsisten, sebaik-baiknya
melebihi ekspektasi pelanggan "exceeding customers
expectation".
18. Selain itu, kita semua sebagai anggota
perkhidmatan awam perlu sentiasa peka dan bertindak
secara proaktif terhadap masalah yang dihadapi oleh
sektor swasta dan orang ramai. Di antara
langkah berterusan yang perlu diambil ialah dengan
meneliti semula pelbagai peraturan dan tatacara
birokrasi. Peraturan-peraturan yang bersifat sebagai
penghalang, misalnya peraturan-peraturan yang rumit dan
memakan masa hendaklah dikaji semula serta diperbaiki.
Saya ingin berpesan kepada pegawai-pegawai muda hari
ini agar sentiasa berazam untuk membawa perubahan dan
bertindak menghapuskan amalan-amalan budaya yang boleh
menghalang penyampaian perkhidmatan terbaik kepada
orang ramai.
19. Melalui kerjasama erat antara sektor awam dan
swasta ini, adalah dijangkakan sektor swasta akan
berkembang maju serta memperolehi pulangan yang tinggi
ke atas pelaburan mereka. Ini seterusnya akan
menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi, meningkatkan
pendapatan dan taraf kehidupan kita semua.
Memahami Dasar dan Aspirasi Kerajaan
20. Tidak kurang pentingnya juga, sebagai asas segala
aktiviti dan tindak-tanduk, saudara saudari hendaklah
meneliti dan memahami dokumen-dokumen perancangan
Kerajaan seperti Rangka Rancangan Jangka Panjang
(Outline Perspective Plan) dan Rancangan Lima Tahun
Kerajaan. Dengan meneliti, memahami dan menghayati
dokumen-dokumen ini, saudara-saudari bukan sahaja dapat
mengetahui segala dasar-dasar Kerajaan tetapi juga
dapat menghayati falsafah serta semangat di sebalik
pelbagai dasar. Saya yakin penghayatan dasar-dasar
pembangunan Kerajaan ini adalah amat penting untuk
meningkatkan kesungguhan serta komitmen kita dalam
melaksanakan projek-projek pembangunan.
Amalan Nilai-nilai Murni
21. Selain dari memupuk nilai budaya senggara, nilai
dan amalan murni pegawai Kerajaan perlu diberi
perhatian secara berterusan. Nilai dan amalan murni ini
bertindak sebagai tapak asas (foundation) yang
menggerakkan misi sesuatu organisasi dan membantu dalam
penyampaian perkhidmatan yang cekap dan berkesan. Ia
juga asas utama dalam menjamin kerjaya pegawai-pegawai
dalam perkhidmatan awam. Ini termasuklah tiga nilai
penting iaitu nilai rajin bekerja, nilai disiplin dan
nilai kejujuran (honesty). Kita harus terus bekerja
dengan keras dan memupuk nilai menghormati orang-orang
yang bekerja keras.
22. Pihak Kerajaan telah mengambil daya usaha untuk
membentuk masyarakat yang mengamalkan nilai-nilai murni
sebagai salah satu agenda rasmi yang penting. Di
antara usaha-usaha pengukuhan nilai murni yang
dijalankan secara berterusan ialah menerbitkan pelbagai
garis panduan seperti Panduan Perkhidmatan Cemerlang,
Penerapan Nilai-nilai Islam, Tunggak Dua Belas dan
Pemantapan Keutuhan Pengurusan Kerajaan. Menerusi
usaha-usaha ini, pihak Kerajaan berharap untuk
membentuk satu masyarakat Malaysia yang berjaya, aman,
sejahtera dan harmonis. Bagi merealisasikan hasrat ini,
saya menegaskan sekali lagi supaya anggota perkhidmatan
awam, khasnya anda semua, hendaklah sentiasa
mengamalkan etika kerja cemerlang dengan sepenuhnya
seperti memberi perkhidmatan secara pantas, telus,
mesra, bertimbang rasa, bijaksana, menjauhkan diri
daripada segala gejala negatif dan tidak mengambil
sebarang kesempatan daripada kedudukan yang disandang
dan sama sekali tidak terlibat dengan amalan rasuah.
Ciri-ciri murni ini, di samping kepimpinan yang jitu,
akan dapat menjadikan perkhidmatan awam kita dihormati
dan disegani. Ini seterusnya akan meningkatkan
martabat perkhidmatan awam bukan sahaja di mata
masyarakat setempat tetapi juga masyarakat
antarabangsa.
23. Sebagai penutup, saya ingin menasihati saudara
saudari supaya berkhidmat dengan penuh semangat,
berhemah dan berintegriti. Sediakan minda dan hati
untuk tugasan dan tanggungjawab penting di hadapan
anda. Selami kekuatan dan keistimewaan diri sendiri
untuk menumpukan seluruh jiwa raga saudara saudari
untuk kecemerlangan perkhidmatan supaya siapa jua yang
saudara saudari memberi khidmat akan melihat bukan
sahaja seorang yang bekerja keras tetapi seorang yang
mencerminkan kualiti perkhidmatan keseluruhannya.
24. Teruskanlah tradisi berkhidmat untuk negara,
dengan penuh kesetiaan kepada Kerajaan yang memerintah.
Dengan itu saudara saudari tentu akan menyumbang ke
arah menjadikan pegawai awam lebih professional,
kreatif, fleksibel dan mesra pelanggan.
25. Selain dari itu, teruskan menambah kemahiran IT
dan komunikasi saudara saudari. Tanamkan minat
berterusan terhadap perkembangan dunia antarabangsa.
Lebih penting lagi, baca, baca dan terus membaca.
Banyak cabaran dan liku-liku yang anda akan hadapi
tetapi cabaran yang paling hebat sekali datang dari
dalam diri anda - iaitu misi membentuk suatu
perkhidmatan awam Malaysia di mana nilai-nilai
keagamaan dan budaya terus diperkukuhkan dalam
perkembangan material yang pesat. Berkhidmatlah tanpa
ragu-ragu dengan penuh integriti dan keberanian kerana
saudara saudari sebenarnya berkhidmat kerana Allah dan
negara.
Saudara saudari,
26. Pada majlis ini, kita merasa amat bangga kerana
dapat memberi penghormatan kepada seorang tokoh
perkhidmatan awam yang terkenal dan dihormati. Tokoh
Fellow INTAN pada tahun ini ialah Yang Berbahagia Dato'
Dr. Mohd Shahari bin Ahmad Jabar. Beliau telah banyak
menyumbang jasa bakti kepada negara dan masih lagi
terus memberi sumbangan di mana ada kesempatan. Beliau
pernah memegang berbagai jawatan penting dalam sektor
awam termasuk Timbalan Ketua Pengarah Perkhidmatan Awam
dan Pengarah INTAN.
27. Saya bagi pihak seluruh perkhidmatan awam
mengambil kesempatan ini mengucapkan setinggi tahniah
kepada Y.Bhg. Dato' Dr. Mohd Shahari bin Ahmad Jabar
kerana dipilih untuk menerima Anugerah Fellow INTAN
bagi tahun 2002. Semoga Allah SWT memberikan Y.Bhg.
Dato' dan keluarga kesihatan dan kebijaksanaan yang
berterusan.
28. Sekali lagi saya ingin mengucapkan tahniah kepada
INTAN atas kejayaan melatih sumber tenaga baru bagi
perkhidmatan awam. Tahniah saya ucapkan kepada semua
graduan dan juga kepada ibu bapa serta ahli keluarga
yang turut mengikuti majlis pada pagi ini. Bagi para
graduan yang akan menerima Anugerah-anugerah khas, saya
mengucapkan syabas dan tahniah.
29. Akhir kata, harapan saya agar saudara saudari akan
berkhidmat kepada negara dengan penuh keikhlasan,
dedikasi dan berkeyakinan.
Sekian. Wabillahitaufik walhidayah wassalamualaikum
warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh .
Assalammualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuh dan salam
sejahtera.
Saudara dan saudari pengacara majlis,
YBhg. Tan Sri Jamaluddin Haji Ahmad Damanhuri
Ketua Pengarah Perkhidmatan Awam,
YBhg. Dato' Dr. Mohd. Shahari bin Ahmad Jabar,
YBhg. Dato' Zakaria Mohd Taib
Timbalan Pengarah Perkhidmatan Awam (Operasi),
YBhg. Dato' Dr. Zulkurnain Hj Awang
Pengarah INTAN,
YBhg. Tan Sri-Tan Sri, Puan Sri-Puan Sri, Dato'-Dato',
Datin-Datin
Tuan-tuan dan Puan-puan serta para graduan yang
dihormati sekalian.
1. Saya bersyukur ke hadrat Allah s.w.t. kerana
dengan limpah kurniaNya kita dapat bersama-sama di
majlis yang sangat bermakna pada pagi ini.
2. Tahniah saya ucapkan kepada INTAN kerana sekali
lagi menganjurkan dengan jayanya Majlis Penyampaian
Diploma dan Penganugerahan Fellow INTAN.
3. Kepada para graduan saya mengucapkan tahniah dan
syabas di atas kejayaan saudara-saudari mengikuti
kursus-kursus diploma di INTAN, iaitu Diploma
Pengurusan Awam (DPA), Diploma Sains Pengurusan (DSP)
dan Diploma Pengurusan Maklumat (DPM). Majlis pagi ini
tentunya menjadi satu lembaran sejarah bagi saudara
saudari setelah dipilih, dilatih dan didedahkan dengan
berbagai ilmu pengetahuan dan kemahiran untuk
membolehkan saudara saudari memegang jawatan sebagai
pegawai yang berkualiti dan berprestasi tinggi.
4. Bagi para graduan DPA, saya mengucapkan selamat
memasuki alam baru sebagai anggota Perkhidmatan Tadbir
dan Diplomatik (PTD). Sungguh menjadi harapan saya
untuk melihat saudara saudari bergerak maju dan menjadi
kebanggaan kepada PTD melalui usaha gigih sepanjang
perkhidmatan. Saudara saudari hendaklah sentiasa
meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kepakaran dalam
menjalankan tugas masing-masing serta sentiasa peka
kepada perkembangan yang berlaku di dalam negara dan di
peringkat antarabangsa.
Pegawai Muda Perlu Bermula Dengan Nilai dan
Keperibadian Yang Baik
Saudara - Saudari sekalian,
5. Dari kalangan saudara saudari Insya Allah akan
lahir beberapa orang Ketua-ketua Setiausaha, Ketua-
ketua Pengarah, serta mereka yang akan menerajui pucuk
pimpinan di agensi-agensi Kerajaan. Mungkin saudara
saudari merasakan itu hanya satu impian dan terlalu
jauh ke hadapan. Namun percayalah, bahawa impian akan
dapat menjadi kenyataan jika saudara saudari yakin dan
berusaha bersungguh-sungguh. Tidakkah semua realiti
bermula dari impian? Tidakkah "A journey of 1000 miles
begins with a single step?". Langkah pertama bermula
apabila saudara saudari melapor diri di jabatan masing-
masing. Adalah amat penting saudara saudari mula dengan
nilai dan keperibadian yang baik, langkah-langkah yang
bijaksana, bertugas dengan penuh integriti dan berazam
untuk sentiasa memberi khidmat yang cemerlang. Dari
awal-awal lagi saudara saudari perlu sentiasa
memikirkan bagaimana hendak menambah pengetahuan,
meningkatkan kemahiran dan memupuk sikap-sikap positif
seperti `rajin bekerja' yang menjurus ke arah
peningkatan mutu perkhidmatan awam secara berterusan.
6. Kita harus bersyukur kepada Allah s.w.t. kerana
pada masa ini Malaysia mempunyai perkhidmatan awam yang
cekap dan berkesan. Malah sebulan yang lalu di INTAN
ini, Y.A.B Timbalan Perdana Menteri ketika Persidangan
Perkhidmatan Awam ke-7, telah menyatakan bahawa
perkhidmatan awam di Malaysia adalah antara yang
terbaik di dunia, terutamanya di kalangan negara-negara
membangun. Walau bagaimanapun, beliau berharap agar
perkhidmatan awam sentiasa diperkukuh dan
dipertingkatkan sejajar dengan usaha negara untuk
mencapai status negara maju mengikut Wawasan 2020. Saya
yakin bahawa harapan ini akan tercapai memandangkan
perkhidmatan awam kita terbina atas asas yang kukuh
dengan tradisi-tradisi yang sihat. Namun demikian,
perkhidmatan awam perlu sentiasa peka dan prihatin
kepada cabaran-cabaran masa kini dan akan datang.
Saudara dan saudari sekalian,
7. Kita semua sedia maklum bahawa peranan
perkhidmatan awam masa kini penuh dengan cabaran-
cabaran baru yang agak berlainan dengan cabaran sedikit
masa dahulu. Cabaran yang diharungi kini lebih
bergelombang akibat daripada perubahan-perubahan yang
berlaku di seluruh dunia dalam era globalisasi dan
liberalisasi perdagangan, yang disemarakkan lagi oleh
perkembangan pesat teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi
atau Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
8. Perubahan-perubahan pesat yang berlaku ini telah
mendatangkan kesan yang rumit, kompleks serta saling
berkait di antara satu sama lain. Ianya merupakan
dimensi baru yang memerlukan pendekatan yang strategik
dan bersepadu untuk menghadapinya.
Perkhidmatan Awam Dalam Era Globalisasi
Saudara dan Saudari,
9. Cabaran utama dalam era globalisasi dan
liberalisasi ialah apa yang disebut cabaran
"interconnectedness or interdependence" (kait
mengait/saling bergantungan). Ekonomi dunia telah
menjadi begitu saling berkait dan bergantung antara
satu sama lain menyebabkan kunci "survival" kita
terletak kepada sejauh manakah kita dapat menyelami dan
memahami "linkages" ini dan dapat bertindak pantas
dengan langkah-langkah yang sesuai dan berkesan.
Sebagai contoh, Tragedi 11 September di Amerika
Syarikat bukan sahaja telah memberi kesan buruk
terhadap ekonomi Amerika Syarikat malah juga ekonomi
global. Oleh kerana Amerika Syarikat adalah negara
dagangan penting bagi Malaysia, kita juga turut
terheret ke dalam kemelesetan ekonomi. Ternyatalah
dalam era globalisasi keadaan yang berlaku di luar
negara boleh menjejas ekonomi negara dan memberi akibat
yang buruk kepada kita jika kita tidak peka dan
menyiapkan diri.
10. Ini bererti semua pegawai perkhidmatan awam di
mana saja mereka bertugas perlu mengambil tahu
perkembangan di luar negara dan di institusi-institusi
antarabangsa. Mereka perlu melihat impak perkembangan
di luar organisasi terhadap tindak tanduk mereka.
Mereka harus sedar bahawa sempadan organisasi tidak
terbatas kepada sempadan fizikal organisasi itu atau
sempadan negara semata-mata. Pegawai perkhidmatan awam
perlu memahami sedalam-dalamnya konsep globalisasi dan
peka mengenai kesannya terhadap Negara.
Pegawai Awam dan ICT
Saudara dan Saudari,
11. Kita juga maklum bahawa globalisasi dapat
berkembang pesat oleh kerana perkembangan ICT.
Misalnya, melalui ICT, setiap hari beribu juta wang
diurusniagakan di seluruh dunia tanpa mengira sempadan
negara. Apa yang berlaku di Wall Street atau Tokyo
Stock Exchange dapat diikuti pada saat ianya berlaku.
Perkembangan dan kemajuan ICT memberi implikasi
terhadap cara perhubungan dan teknologi dalam memberi
perkhidmatan.
12. Perkembangan pengetahuan melalui Internet boleh
disifatkan sebagai satu revolusi bagi abad ini. Pada
masa ini Internet adalah satu sumber pengetahuan yang
sangat penting. Tidak ada sesuatu yang tidak dapat
diperolehi melalui Internet. Bahkan ICT khususnya
Internet telah mengubahkan ekonomi menjadi knowledge-
based. Oleh itu, satu cabaran baru bagi anggota
perkhidmatan awam ialah sejauh mana kita mampu
melengkapkan diri dengan pengetahuan dan kemahiran
berhubung ICT serta mengeksploitasi ICT dalam memberi
perkhidmatan kepada pelanggan. ICT telah merubah
perhubungan antara Kerajaan dan pelanggan. Persoalannya
antara lain ialah, sejauh manakah pegawai-pegawai
Kerajaan celik IT. Adakah kita mengeksploitasi ICT
dalam menyampaikan perkhidmatan terbaik. Melalui laman
web, pelanggan sekarang mempunyai `direct access' ke
agensi-agensi Kerajaan dengan `click' ke atas tetikus.
Saluran makluman balas menjadi lebih meluas. Pemantauan
projek-projek boleh dibuat lebih pantas. Ini memerlukan
kita semua mengubahsuai cara bekerja. Ia bukan sahaja
bergantung kepada pegawai IT tetapi meliputi semua
pegawai dalam perkhidmatan awam.
13. Oleh itu, demi untuk memberi perkhidmatan yang
sebaik-baiknya serta memenuhi keperluan pelanggan yang
lebih sophisticated, saudara saudari hendaklah
meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kemahiran di dalam bidang
IT secara berterusan. Anggota perkhidmatan awam yang
ICT illiterate tidak dapat menjadi begitu produktif
malah akan menjadi obselete dengan pantas.
14. Gelombang globalisasi dan kemajuan ICT yang amat
pesat sedang mengubah struktur ekonomi dunia,
menjadikan pasaran antarabangsa lebih kompetitif dan
seterusnya boleh menjejaskan penguasaan pasaran
sesebuah negara. Arus ini juga turut memberi kesan
kepada kemasukan modal asing ke dalam negara kerana
kita terpaksa bersaing dengan negara-negara sedang
membangun yang lain untuk mendapatkannya. Manakala
kemajuan di dalam bidang ICT pula telah dan akan terus
merubah corak dan kaedah kegiatan ekonomi dijalankan,
urusan pentadbiran Kerajaan, perniagaan, kewangan dan
juga cara pembelajaran. Peralihan kepada penyampaian
perkhidmatan melalui elektronik bukan sahaja melibatkan
perubahan dalam sistem dan prosedur-prosedur serta
proses penyampaian khidmat tetapi juga membawa kesan
kepada cara orang ramai dan sektor swasta berurusan
dengan Kerajaan.
Keperluan Pelanggan Yang Lebih Sophisticated
15. Kita juga perlu waspada bahawa kesan daripada
cabaran-cabaran serta peluang-peluang yang dibawa oleh
arus globalisasi dan kemajuan ICT adalah complex. Dari
suatu sudut, keperluan dan permintaan pelanggan-
pelanggan daripada sektor korporat akan berubah.
Malahan permintaan daripada orang awam juga akan turut
berbeza dan menjadi lebih sophisticated. Oleh itu,
dalam menghadapi cabaran-cabaran ini, seluruh
perkhidmatan awam hendaklah menyiapkan diri dengan
pengetahuan baru, komunikasi berkesan, menguasai bahasa
perdagangan dunia, khasnya Bahasa Inggeris dan lain-
lain bahasa antarabangsa, kemahiran menggunakan
teknologi maklumat yang tinggi serta mengikuti segala
perkembangan di seluruh dunia secara berterusan.
Penggunaan Bahasa Inggeris
Saudara saudari sekalian,
16. Dalam konteks era globalisasi, satu perkara yang
menjadi kebimbangan Kerajaan pada masa ini ialah
penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris di Malaysia termasuk di
kalangan pegawai-pegawai Kerajaan. Tidak dapat
dinafikan lagi bahawa untuk bergerak di arena
antarabangsa dan memperolehi maklumat yang termaju,
penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris amat penting sekali. Ia
adalah bahasa komunikasi, bahasa ilmu dan bahasa dalam
perundingan-perundingan di peringkat antarabangsa.
Banyak pihak agak khuatir melihat penguasaan Bahasa
Inggeris di kalangan pegawai Kerajaan terutamanya
pegawai-pegawai muda, sangat memerlukan peningkatan
dengan seberapa segera. Ini adalah cabaran yang
kritikal bagi seluruh perkhidmatan awam Malaysia pada
masa ini. Jika langkah-langkah tidak diambil secara
serius dan segera, dikhuatiri kita akan ketinggalan.
Oleh itu, saya menyeru kepada semua pegawai supaya
mengambil inisiatif untuk meningkatkan penguasaan
Bahasa Inggeris termasuk penguasaan kemahiran
perundingan. Pegawai-pegawai Kerajaan perlu terus
memainkan peranan aktif dalam rundingan-rundingan di
peringkat antarabangsa demi menjaga kepentingan
Malaysia. Justeru, saya menyarankan setiap pegawai
membaca sekurang-kurangnya sebuah buku Bahasa Inggeris
setiap bulan, termasuk novel-novel yang baik. Usaha
ini janganlah di salah erti bahawa kita mengabaikan
Bahasa Malaysia yang martabatnya akan sentiasa
dipertahankan.
Pegawai Awam dan Persyarikatan Malaysia
Saudara saudari,
17. Dalam konteks pembangunan ekonomi negara,
pentingnya peranan dan kerjasama di antara pihak
perkhidmatan awam dan swasta di bawah konsep
`Persyarikatan Malaysia' tidak perlu dipertikaikan
lagi. Seperti yang dinyatakan di dalam pelbagai
dokumen perancangan Kerajaan umpamanya Rangka Rancangan
Jangka Panjang Ketiga Tahun 2000 - 2010 dan Rancangan
Malaysia Kelapan (2001 - 2005), sektor swasta merupakan
teras dan penggerak utama atau engine of growth kepada
pertumbuhan ekonomi negara. Dalam hubungan sektor
swasta dan awam ini, perkhidmatan awam hendaklah
menjadi catalyst atau pemudahcara untuk meningkatkan
pertumbuhan dan sumbangan sektor tersebut. Anggota
perkhidmatan awam juga hendaklah membantu serta memberi
kerjasama yang erat kepada sektor swasta dengan
menjalankan kerja dengan cekap dan efisyen. Ini
bererti kita perlu memberi kelulusan dengan cepat dan
tidak melengah-lengahkan kerja. Saya ingin mengingatkan
saudara saudari dan seluruh perkhidmatan awam supaya
pengurusan asas seperti urusan fail, urusan pembayaran,
urusan surat-menyurat dan lain-lain tugas, hendaklah
perlu cepat, teratur dan konsisten, sebaik-baiknya
melebihi ekspektasi pelanggan "exceeding customers
expectation".
18. Selain itu, kita semua sebagai anggota
perkhidmatan awam perlu sentiasa peka dan bertindak
secara proaktif terhadap masalah yang dihadapi oleh
sektor swasta dan orang ramai. Di antara
langkah berterusan yang perlu diambil ialah dengan
meneliti semula pelbagai peraturan dan tatacara
birokrasi. Peraturan-peraturan yang bersifat sebagai
penghalang, misalnya peraturan-peraturan yang rumit dan
memakan masa hendaklah dikaji semula serta diperbaiki.
Saya ingin berpesan kepada pegawai-pegawai muda hari
ini agar sentiasa berazam untuk membawa perubahan dan
bertindak menghapuskan amalan-amalan budaya yang boleh
menghalang penyampaian perkhidmatan terbaik kepada
orang ramai.
19. Melalui kerjasama erat antara sektor awam dan
swasta ini, adalah dijangkakan sektor swasta akan
berkembang maju serta memperolehi pulangan yang tinggi
ke atas pelaburan mereka. Ini seterusnya akan
menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi, meningkatkan
pendapatan dan taraf kehidupan kita semua.
Memahami Dasar dan Aspirasi Kerajaan
20. Tidak kurang pentingnya juga, sebagai asas segala
aktiviti dan tindak-tanduk, saudara saudari hendaklah
meneliti dan memahami dokumen-dokumen perancangan
Kerajaan seperti Rangka Rancangan Jangka Panjang
(Outline Perspective Plan) dan Rancangan Lima Tahun
Kerajaan. Dengan meneliti, memahami dan menghayati
dokumen-dokumen ini, saudara-saudari bukan sahaja dapat
mengetahui segala dasar-dasar Kerajaan tetapi juga
dapat menghayati falsafah serta semangat di sebalik
pelbagai dasar. Saya yakin penghayatan dasar-dasar
pembangunan Kerajaan ini adalah amat penting untuk
meningkatkan kesungguhan serta komitmen kita dalam
melaksanakan projek-projek pembangunan.
Amalan Nilai-nilai Murni
21. Selain dari memupuk nilai budaya senggara, nilai
dan amalan murni pegawai Kerajaan perlu diberi
perhatian secara berterusan. Nilai dan amalan murni ini
bertindak sebagai tapak asas (foundation) yang
menggerakkan misi sesuatu organisasi dan membantu dalam
penyampaian perkhidmatan yang cekap dan berkesan. Ia
juga asas utama dalam menjamin kerjaya pegawai-pegawai
dalam perkhidmatan awam. Ini termasuklah tiga nilai
penting iaitu nilai rajin bekerja, nilai disiplin dan
nilai kejujuran (honesty). Kita harus terus bekerja
dengan keras dan memupuk nilai menghormati orang-orang
yang bekerja keras.
22. Pihak Kerajaan telah mengambil daya usaha untuk
membentuk masyarakat yang mengamalkan nilai-nilai murni
sebagai salah satu agenda rasmi yang penting. Di
antara usaha-usaha pengukuhan nilai murni yang
dijalankan secara berterusan ialah menerbitkan pelbagai
garis panduan seperti Panduan Perkhidmatan Cemerlang,
Penerapan Nilai-nilai Islam, Tunggak Dua Belas dan
Pemantapan Keutuhan Pengurusan Kerajaan. Menerusi
usaha-usaha ini, pihak Kerajaan berharap untuk
membentuk satu masyarakat Malaysia yang berjaya, aman,
sejahtera dan harmonis. Bagi merealisasikan hasrat ini,
saya menegaskan sekali lagi supaya anggota perkhidmatan
awam, khasnya anda semua, hendaklah sentiasa
mengamalkan etika kerja cemerlang dengan sepenuhnya
seperti memberi perkhidmatan secara pantas, telus,
mesra, bertimbang rasa, bijaksana, menjauhkan diri
daripada segala gejala negatif dan tidak mengambil
sebarang kesempatan daripada kedudukan yang disandang
dan sama sekali tidak terlibat dengan amalan rasuah.
Ciri-ciri murni ini, di samping kepimpinan yang jitu,
akan dapat menjadikan perkhidmatan awam kita dihormati
dan disegani. Ini seterusnya akan meningkatkan
martabat perkhidmatan awam bukan sahaja di mata
masyarakat setempat tetapi juga masyarakat
antarabangsa.
23. Sebagai penutup, saya ingin menasihati saudara
saudari supaya berkhidmat dengan penuh semangat,
berhemah dan berintegriti. Sediakan minda dan hati
untuk tugasan dan tanggungjawab penting di hadapan
anda. Selami kekuatan dan keistimewaan diri sendiri
untuk menumpukan seluruh jiwa raga saudara saudari
untuk kecemerlangan perkhidmatan supaya siapa jua yang
saudara saudari memberi khidmat akan melihat bukan
sahaja seorang yang bekerja keras tetapi seorang yang
mencerminkan kualiti perkhidmatan keseluruhannya.
24. Teruskanlah tradisi berkhidmat untuk negara,
dengan penuh kesetiaan kepada Kerajaan yang memerintah.
Dengan itu saudara saudari tentu akan menyumbang ke
arah menjadikan pegawai awam lebih professional,
kreatif, fleksibel dan mesra pelanggan.
25. Selain dari itu, teruskan menambah kemahiran IT
dan komunikasi saudara saudari. Tanamkan minat
berterusan terhadap perkembangan dunia antarabangsa.
Lebih penting lagi, baca, baca dan terus membaca.
Banyak cabaran dan liku-liku yang anda akan hadapi
tetapi cabaran yang paling hebat sekali datang dari
dalam diri anda - iaitu misi membentuk suatu
perkhidmatan awam Malaysia di mana nilai-nilai
keagamaan dan budaya terus diperkukuhkan dalam
perkembangan material yang pesat. Berkhidmatlah tanpa
ragu-ragu dengan penuh integriti dan keberanian kerana
saudara saudari sebenarnya berkhidmat kerana Allah dan
negara.
Saudara saudari,
26. Pada majlis ini, kita merasa amat bangga kerana
dapat memberi penghormatan kepada seorang tokoh
perkhidmatan awam yang terkenal dan dihormati. Tokoh
Fellow INTAN pada tahun ini ialah Yang Berbahagia Dato'
Dr. Mohd Shahari bin Ahmad Jabar. Beliau telah banyak
menyumbang jasa bakti kepada negara dan masih lagi
terus memberi sumbangan di mana ada kesempatan. Beliau
pernah memegang berbagai jawatan penting dalam sektor
awam termasuk Timbalan Ketua Pengarah Perkhidmatan Awam
dan Pengarah INTAN.
27. Saya bagi pihak seluruh perkhidmatan awam
mengambil kesempatan ini mengucapkan setinggi tahniah
kepada Y.Bhg. Dato' Dr. Mohd Shahari bin Ahmad Jabar
kerana dipilih untuk menerima Anugerah Fellow INTAN
bagi tahun 2002. Semoga Allah SWT memberikan Y.Bhg.
Dato' dan keluarga kesihatan dan kebijaksanaan yang
berterusan.
28. Sekali lagi saya ingin mengucapkan tahniah kepada
INTAN atas kejayaan melatih sumber tenaga baru bagi
perkhidmatan awam. Tahniah saya ucapkan kepada semua
graduan dan juga kepada ibu bapa serta ahli keluarga
yang turut mengikuti majlis pada pagi ini. Bagi para
graduan yang akan menerima Anugerah-anugerah khas, saya
mengucapkan syabas dan tahniah.
29. Akhir kata, harapan saya agar saudara saudari akan
berkhidmat kepada negara dengan penuh keikhlasan,
dedikasi dan berkeyakinan.
Sekian. Wabillahitaufik walhidayah wassalamualaikum
warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh .
Saturday, August 09, 2003
Suami isteri tak semestinya bersikap jujur 100 peratus
Oleh Nor Affizar Ibrahim
HIDUP berumah tangga ada pasang surut. Oleh itu, jika ingin keharmonian berkekalan dan mendapatkan kesejahteraan berkeluarga, pasangan suami isteri harus bijak mengemudikan haluan rumah tangga bagi mengatasi masalah dan rintangan.
Perunding Psikologi dan Klinikal, Datuk Dr Mat Saat Baki, berkata hubungan harmoni suami isteri sememangnya berperanan penting dalam mewujudkan rumah tangga bahagia dan aman damai.
Katanya, untuk membentuk keharmonian hubungan, beberapa perkara wajar menjadi pertimbangan suami isteri, iaitu hormat-menghormati, ambil berat, reda, muafakat, optimis, menikmati kehidupan bersama dan kemesraan.
Dr Mat Saat berkata, reda, hormat-menghormati dan ambil berat antara satu sama lain bukan saja mampu memupuk kemesraan hubungan pada awal perkahwinan tetapi juga apabila usia perkahwinan semakin meningkat. Memupuk sikap seumpama itu turut mengelakkan perselisihan faham berterusan yang boleh menimbulkan perasaan bosan, sikap ambil mudah dan tidak selesa sehingga mencetus lagi masalah kedinginan antara suami isteri.
Beliau berkata, begitu juga dengan permuafakatan yang menuntut pasangan bersikap jujur dan bijak membuat keputusan sepanjang hidup bersama.
Bagaimanapun, Dr Mat Saat menegaskan, biarpun kejujuran itu penting tetapi jika ingin menjaga keharmonian hubungan antara suami isteri, pasangan tidak perlu 100 peratus bersikap jujur. Kejujuran ada kala boleh mencetuskan permusuhan antara suami dengan isteri.
“Tidak 100 peratus jujur bukan bermakna kita harus menipu pasangan. Sebaliknya, kita memberitahu apa yang difikirkan baik dan perlu diketahui oleh pasangan saja. Kita harus ingat, maklumat yang betul ada kala boleh ‘menghentam’ hubungan.
Jadi, bagi mengelakkan perasaan cemburu, marah dan sebagainya pada pasangan, lebih baik sembunyikan perkara yang tidak perlu diberitahu. Ia lebih baik daripada kita bercakap yang tidak betul. Lagipun, dalam hubungan suami isteri tiada istilah ‘tipu sunat’,” katanya ketika membincangkan tajuk, ‘Keharmonian Keluarga’ pada kursus bersiri pembangunan keluarga di bangunan Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara (LPPKN) di Kuala Lumpur, baru-baru ini.
Kursus Belayarnya Bahtera Kasih II itu anjuran LPPKN dan bermatlamat meningkatkan pengetahuan mengenai hal dan tanggungjawab keluarga. Selain itu, untuk memahami punca dan kesan kedinginan hubungan keluarga serta cara meningkatkan kemesraan sesama anggota keluarga.
Dr Mat Saat berkata, berfikiran optimis juga dapat membantu menjaga keharmonian suami isteri. Seseorang yang berfikiran seperti itu, lazimnya bertanggapan bahawa hidup ini lebih baik daripada dulu.
Yang nyata, berfikiran optimis, lebih baik daripada berfikiran positif. “Fikiran optimis adalah penting. Biasanya, apabila berfikiran positif kita bersikap menerima saja dan ini tidak mengubahkan apa-apa tetapi hanya kaedah ‘syok sendiri’. Berbeza apabila berfikiran optimis, kita akan cuba kendalikan gangguan dan godaan yang dihadapi hidup sebagai suami isteri. Kemahiran mengendalikan semua itu perlu jika hendak bahagia dan seronok dalam rumah tangga. Lebih-lebih lagi, hidup sebagai suami isteri memang banyak cabaran. Untuk itu, kita perlu optimis. Tetapi ini tidak bermakna, kita tidak perlu berfikiran positif langsung,” katanya.
Mengenai cara memupuk kemahiran kemesraan dalam hubungan keluarga, Dr Mat Saat berkata, beberapa prinsip kemesraan boleh dijadikan pegangan. Pertama, tunjukkan teladan kemesraan kepada anak kerana mereka akan mempelajari dan mengikuti apa yang ibu bapa lakukan. Kedua, bertindak konsisten dengan apa yang dicakapkan, manakala ketiga, menyediakan masa untuk bermesra.
Katanya lagi, mungkin ada suami isteri yang sering memberi alasan tidak mempunyai masa untuk bermesra. Justeru, dalam menangani hal itu, disarankan menggunakan formula, ‘rebut 15 minit’ atau gunakan ‘kuasa lima minit’.
“Kesibukan selalu menjadi halangan tetapi ini tidak bermakna suami isteri tidak ada cara langsung dan masa untuk mewujudkan kemesraan bagi diri mereka berdua dan pada anak. Untuk mengatasinya, salah satu cara ialah pastikan anda ambil masa 15 minit setiap hari untuk bermesra dan jika tidak boleh, gunakanlah kuasa lima minit serta gunakan masa itu sebaik mungkin,” katanya.
Berita Harian, Jumaat 8/8/03
HIDUP berumah tangga ada pasang surut. Oleh itu, jika ingin keharmonian berkekalan dan mendapatkan kesejahteraan berkeluarga, pasangan suami isteri harus bijak mengemudikan haluan rumah tangga bagi mengatasi masalah dan rintangan.
Perunding Psikologi dan Klinikal, Datuk Dr Mat Saat Baki, berkata hubungan harmoni suami isteri sememangnya berperanan penting dalam mewujudkan rumah tangga bahagia dan aman damai.
Katanya, untuk membentuk keharmonian hubungan, beberapa perkara wajar menjadi pertimbangan suami isteri, iaitu hormat-menghormati, ambil berat, reda, muafakat, optimis, menikmati kehidupan bersama dan kemesraan.
Dr Mat Saat berkata, reda, hormat-menghormati dan ambil berat antara satu sama lain bukan saja mampu memupuk kemesraan hubungan pada awal perkahwinan tetapi juga apabila usia perkahwinan semakin meningkat. Memupuk sikap seumpama itu turut mengelakkan perselisihan faham berterusan yang boleh menimbulkan perasaan bosan, sikap ambil mudah dan tidak selesa sehingga mencetus lagi masalah kedinginan antara suami isteri.
Beliau berkata, begitu juga dengan permuafakatan yang menuntut pasangan bersikap jujur dan bijak membuat keputusan sepanjang hidup bersama.
Bagaimanapun, Dr Mat Saat menegaskan, biarpun kejujuran itu penting tetapi jika ingin menjaga keharmonian hubungan antara suami isteri, pasangan tidak perlu 100 peratus bersikap jujur. Kejujuran ada kala boleh mencetuskan permusuhan antara suami dengan isteri.
“Tidak 100 peratus jujur bukan bermakna kita harus menipu pasangan. Sebaliknya, kita memberitahu apa yang difikirkan baik dan perlu diketahui oleh pasangan saja. Kita harus ingat, maklumat yang betul ada kala boleh ‘menghentam’ hubungan.
Jadi, bagi mengelakkan perasaan cemburu, marah dan sebagainya pada pasangan, lebih baik sembunyikan perkara yang tidak perlu diberitahu. Ia lebih baik daripada kita bercakap yang tidak betul. Lagipun, dalam hubungan suami isteri tiada istilah ‘tipu sunat’,” katanya ketika membincangkan tajuk, ‘Keharmonian Keluarga’ pada kursus bersiri pembangunan keluarga di bangunan Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara (LPPKN) di Kuala Lumpur, baru-baru ini.
Kursus Belayarnya Bahtera Kasih II itu anjuran LPPKN dan bermatlamat meningkatkan pengetahuan mengenai hal dan tanggungjawab keluarga. Selain itu, untuk memahami punca dan kesan kedinginan hubungan keluarga serta cara meningkatkan kemesraan sesama anggota keluarga.
Dr Mat Saat berkata, berfikiran optimis juga dapat membantu menjaga keharmonian suami isteri. Seseorang yang berfikiran seperti itu, lazimnya bertanggapan bahawa hidup ini lebih baik daripada dulu.
Yang nyata, berfikiran optimis, lebih baik daripada berfikiran positif. “Fikiran optimis adalah penting. Biasanya, apabila berfikiran positif kita bersikap menerima saja dan ini tidak mengubahkan apa-apa tetapi hanya kaedah ‘syok sendiri’. Berbeza apabila berfikiran optimis, kita akan cuba kendalikan gangguan dan godaan yang dihadapi hidup sebagai suami isteri. Kemahiran mengendalikan semua itu perlu jika hendak bahagia dan seronok dalam rumah tangga. Lebih-lebih lagi, hidup sebagai suami isteri memang banyak cabaran. Untuk itu, kita perlu optimis. Tetapi ini tidak bermakna, kita tidak perlu berfikiran positif langsung,” katanya.
Mengenai cara memupuk kemahiran kemesraan dalam hubungan keluarga, Dr Mat Saat berkata, beberapa prinsip kemesraan boleh dijadikan pegangan. Pertama, tunjukkan teladan kemesraan kepada anak kerana mereka akan mempelajari dan mengikuti apa yang ibu bapa lakukan. Kedua, bertindak konsisten dengan apa yang dicakapkan, manakala ketiga, menyediakan masa untuk bermesra.
Katanya lagi, mungkin ada suami isteri yang sering memberi alasan tidak mempunyai masa untuk bermesra. Justeru, dalam menangani hal itu, disarankan menggunakan formula, ‘rebut 15 minit’ atau gunakan ‘kuasa lima minit’.
“Kesibukan selalu menjadi halangan tetapi ini tidak bermakna suami isteri tidak ada cara langsung dan masa untuk mewujudkan kemesraan bagi diri mereka berdua dan pada anak. Untuk mengatasinya, salah satu cara ialah pastikan anda ambil masa 15 minit setiap hari untuk bermesra dan jika tidak boleh, gunakanlah kuasa lima minit serta gunakan masa itu sebaik mungkin,” katanya.
Berita Harian, Jumaat 8/8/03
Thursday, August 07, 2003
Real Strong rice farming in Malaysia
By ZAZALI MUSA in Johor Baru
TAIWAN-BASED Real Strong Ltd Group plans to help Malaysia become a self-sufficient rice producing country through large-scale farming throughout the nation.
To be undertaken by its Malaysian unit All Cosmos Industries Sdn Bhd, the project aims at achieving the target in the next three to five years.
All Cosmos managing director Tony Peng said that for a start the company had in June this year started large-scale rice farming at Seberang Perak in Perak.
Tong Peng
He said the farm, sited on 4,800ha owned by Felcra Bhd, would serve as an experimental project before the company expanded the scheme elsewhere.
“Malaysia could become one of the leading rice producing countries in the region and reduce its dependency on imported crops,” Peng told StarBiz in Johor Baru on Monday.
He said Malaysia had all the advantages to become a producer and exporter of rice due to its fertile soil, suitable climate and abundant land.
Peng said the Agriculture Ministry should consider going big-scale on all agricultural products and be willing to work closely with private companies.
He said the company, which produces bio-organic fertiliser for the export and domestic markets, was ready to work with related government agencies and departments.
“We are willing to share our knowledge and expertise in agro-based activities to bring the agricultural sector to new heights and dimension,” Peng added.
On the Seberang Perak project, he said the company had implemented a new planting technique that reduced the number of padi seedlings used.
He said farmers usually used about 240kg of seeds for 165ha, but the company had cut the number by almost 60% and found that the yield per hectare had increased, thanks to the method.
By using this method, yield per hectare could be increased from the current 5.5 tonnes, he said, adding that the company was looking to double the yield per hectare to 10 tonnes at its rice farms.
Peng said the company planned to have large-scale padi fields in every Malaysian state, with each field covering at least 1,000ha.
The Star, Thursday, August 07, 2003
TAIWAN-BASED Real Strong Ltd Group plans to help Malaysia become a self-sufficient rice producing country through large-scale farming throughout the nation.
To be undertaken by its Malaysian unit All Cosmos Industries Sdn Bhd, the project aims at achieving the target in the next three to five years.
All Cosmos managing director Tony Peng said that for a start the company had in June this year started large-scale rice farming at Seberang Perak in Perak.
Tong Peng
He said the farm, sited on 4,800ha owned by Felcra Bhd, would serve as an experimental project before the company expanded the scheme elsewhere.
“Malaysia could become one of the leading rice producing countries in the region and reduce its dependency on imported crops,” Peng told StarBiz in Johor Baru on Monday.
He said Malaysia had all the advantages to become a producer and exporter of rice due to its fertile soil, suitable climate and abundant land.
Peng said the Agriculture Ministry should consider going big-scale on all agricultural products and be willing to work closely with private companies.
He said the company, which produces bio-organic fertiliser for the export and domestic markets, was ready to work with related government agencies and departments.
“We are willing to share our knowledge and expertise in agro-based activities to bring the agricultural sector to new heights and dimension,” Peng added.
On the Seberang Perak project, he said the company had implemented a new planting technique that reduced the number of padi seedlings used.
He said farmers usually used about 240kg of seeds for 165ha, but the company had cut the number by almost 60% and found that the yield per hectare had increased, thanks to the method.
By using this method, yield per hectare could be increased from the current 5.5 tonnes, he said, adding that the company was looking to double the yield per hectare to 10 tonnes at its rice farms.
Peng said the company planned to have large-scale padi fields in every Malaysian state, with each field covering at least 1,000ha.
The Star, Thursday, August 07, 2003
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
North-south rail job to cost less
THE three consortiums appointed to build the various stretches of the north-south railway double-tracking project may lower the final cost of the work from the original price tag of RM23bil as they prepare their final proposals for submission to the government, said DRB-HICOM Bhd group chairman Tan Sri Mohd Saleh Sulong.
“As with other work for the government, the final contracts are subject to further negotiations,” Saleh told the media after announcing the DRB-HICOM group’s appointment as the exclusive sales agent for the Russian BE-200 amphibious aircraft by JSC Scientific Production Corp Irkut.
He said the consortiums had to submit their final proposals for the rail project after receiving letters of intent from the government recently.
He declined, however, to elaborate on the initial prices submitted by the consortiums or the timeframe for submission of their final proposals to the government.
The cost of the project was the subject of a controversy recently following reports that one of the members of the consortiums, Malaysia Mining Corp Bhd (MMC), said it could build the entire stretch of the railway track for RM14.5bil compared with the original price tag of RM23bil believed to have been submitted by the consortiums.
DRB-HICOM is involved in all the three consortiums appointed to undertake construction of the entire railway double tracking project.
The first Rawang-Ipoh stretch of the project is currently under construction by a consortium led by DRB-HICOM.
India-based Ircon International Ltd heads the consortium that will build the 338km Ipoh-Padang Besar stretch, while the China Railway, Engineering and Telecom consortium will undertake the construction of the 298km Seremban-Johor Baru stretch. DRB-HICOM is also a member of both these consortiums.
The Chinese and Indian parties were invited to take part in the project as part of a government-to-government counter trade agreement involving palm oil.
Analysts said the various parts of the project were likely to be divided into local and foreign components and led by the respective local and foreign parties. A DRB-HICOM official told StarBiz the group expected to be a significant member of the consortiums when each had finalised the portion of the project in which they would be involved.
Separately, Saleh said the DRB-HICOM group’s car marketing arm, Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EON), was expected to seal the long-delayed distributorship agreement with Proton soon.
“There was a slight delay from our original target to sign the agreement by June 30, but we hope to sign the agreement soon,” Saleh said.
He said there was no breakdown in the negotiations with Proton but offered no explanation for the delay.
Saleh said EON was confident that the matter could be resolved soon and insisted that there would be no change to the contents of the agreement as both sides had agreed to stick to the “spirit” of the memorandum of agreement signed earlier.
The Star Online > Business
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
“As with other work for the government, the final contracts are subject to further negotiations,” Saleh told the media after announcing the DRB-HICOM group’s appointment as the exclusive sales agent for the Russian BE-200 amphibious aircraft by JSC Scientific Production Corp Irkut.
He said the consortiums had to submit their final proposals for the rail project after receiving letters of intent from the government recently.
He declined, however, to elaborate on the initial prices submitted by the consortiums or the timeframe for submission of their final proposals to the government.
The cost of the project was the subject of a controversy recently following reports that one of the members of the consortiums, Malaysia Mining Corp Bhd (MMC), said it could build the entire stretch of the railway track for RM14.5bil compared with the original price tag of RM23bil believed to have been submitted by the consortiums.
DRB-HICOM is involved in all the three consortiums appointed to undertake construction of the entire railway double tracking project.
The first Rawang-Ipoh stretch of the project is currently under construction by a consortium led by DRB-HICOM.
India-based Ircon International Ltd heads the consortium that will build the 338km Ipoh-Padang Besar stretch, while the China Railway, Engineering and Telecom consortium will undertake the construction of the 298km Seremban-Johor Baru stretch. DRB-HICOM is also a member of both these consortiums.
The Chinese and Indian parties were invited to take part in the project as part of a government-to-government counter trade agreement involving palm oil.
Analysts said the various parts of the project were likely to be divided into local and foreign components and led by the respective local and foreign parties. A DRB-HICOM official told StarBiz the group expected to be a significant member of the consortiums when each had finalised the portion of the project in which they would be involved.
Separately, Saleh said the DRB-HICOM group’s car marketing arm, Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EON), was expected to seal the long-delayed distributorship agreement with Proton soon.
“There was a slight delay from our original target to sign the agreement by June 30, but we hope to sign the agreement soon,” Saleh said.
He said there was no breakdown in the negotiations with Proton but offered no explanation for the delay.
Saleh said EON was confident that the matter could be resolved soon and insisted that there would be no change to the contents of the agreement as both sides had agreed to stick to the “spirit” of the memorandum of agreement signed earlier.
The Star Online > Business
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
`Saya hampir putus asa' -- Malik ceritakan azab, perit dan cemas ketika harungi Selat Inggeris
Daripada: AINOL AMRIZ ISMAIL
ABDUL MALIK MYDIN (tengah) mengibarkan Jalur Gemilang bersama (dari kanan) jurulatih, John Van Wisse, pengurus, Rahayu Ahmad, abangnya, Abdul Mutalib serta bapa angkatnya, Mohd. Nasir Majid di atas bot pengiring selepas menjadi rakyat Malaysia yang pertama menawan Selat Inggeris selepas berenang selama hampir 18 jam dari Dover, England ke Calais, Perancis sejauh 32.8km, semalam. - Gambar HANAFI KHAMIS.
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DOVER, England 4 Ogos - Wira samudera negara, Abdul Malik Mydin menceritakan detik-detik azab, cemas dan perit sehingga hampir `gila' melawan arus dan ombak ganas di dalam tempoh empat jam terakhir sebelum berjaya menyeberangi Selat Inggeris ke Perancis, awal pagi ini.
Dia mengakui `sudah merapu' serta tidak tahu apa yang dikatakannya kepada jurulatih John van Wisse kerana terlalu letih apabila renangannya menjadi sia-sia ditolak semula arus ke tengah laut.
Pada masa itu Abdul Malik telah berenang selama 13 jam.
``Saya berasa teramat perit dalam tempoh empat jam terakhir, walaupun pantai Cap Gris-Nez, Calais sudah berada di depan mata, tapi saya tak boleh pergi ke hadapan. Memang sukar mengawal emosi ketika itu kerana saya tidak diberitahu oleh juruarah, Michael Oram ke mana sepatutnya mendarat.
``Van Wisse memberitahu, saya sudah merapu dan mula bercakap Melayu dengannya ketika itu,'' kata Abdul Malik dalam temu bual bersama media di Hotel Premiere Lodge, di sini hari ini selepas mencipta sejarah menjadi rakyat Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara pertama berjaya merentasi Selat Inggeris yang sejauh 32.8 kilometer itu.
Selepas cubaannya ke pantai Cap Gris-Nez gagal, dia mengubah haluan untuk mendarat ke pantai Le Petit Blanc, kira-kira tiga kilometer dari Cap Gris-Nez.
``Di situ juga saya tidak mampu untuk tiba ke pantai. Arus menolak saya terlalu kuat...saya hampir-hampir putus asa ketika itu.''
``Lokasi ketiga, saya diarah ke pantai Wissant, kira-kira dua kilometer jaraknya dari Le Petit Blanc dekat Calais. Jika saya gagal juga kali ini, saya sudah tidak sanggup lagi, saya putus asa. Stamina saya sudah habis.
``Bagaimanapun cubaan saya berjaya. Saya menjejak kaki di Wissant pada pukul 7.50 petang waktu England (2.50 pagi Malaysia). Saya bersyukur kepada Allah. Saya terharu kerana ada rakyat Malaysia yang menunggu saya di sana. Terima kasih semuanya,'' ujarnya.
Akibat tiga cubaan yang dilakukan itu jaraknya tersasar sejauh 58 kilometer dari laluan sepatutnya 32.8 kilometer. Masa rasmi yang dicatatkannya ialah 17 jam 35 minit.
Cabaran menyeberangi Selat Inggeris ini bukanlah mudah. Sejak 1875 lebih 8,000 perenang telah mencuba melakukan renangan di selat ini dan hanya 800 sahaja yang berjaya menempa nama, menjadikan jumlah yang berjaya hanya lapan peratus sahaja.
Perenang pertama berbuat demikian ialah Kapten Matthew Webb berusia 27 tahun ketika memulakan misi itu dari Admiralty Pier, Dover pada 24 Ogos 1875 dan tiba di Calais, Perancis dalam tempoh 21 jam, 46 minit.
Bagi Abdul Malik, cabaran yang paling getir dihadapinya di selat berkenaan ialah semasa menempuh arah arus yang bertentangan di perairan Calais, serta arus dan angin kuat di sepanjang laluan yang diikutinya di Selat Inggeris.
``Ketika saya berenang air sedang pasang besar dengan suhu 16 hingga 18 darjah selsius serta ombak di antara 1.5 hingga 2 meter. Saya memang sudah menduga keadaan ini, tetapi jika kita tunggu lagi, saya akan berhadapan keadaan yang lebih buruk. Jadi renangan ini memang penuh dengan cabaran,'' tegasnya.
Pada akhir renangan itu, van Wisse dilihat kerap kali memanggil Abdul Malik dan pada jarak 100 meter untuk tiba di pantai Wissant. van Wisse juga bertindak terjun ke laut untuk memastikan arah perjalanan perenang negara ini betul.
``Saya perlu bertindak begitu kerana Abdul Malik sudah mula bercakap bahasa Melayu dengan saya. Dia tidak dapat menumpukan perhatian ketika itu. Lagipun saya tidak mahu dia disentuh oleh penyokong di pantai sebelum siren dibunyikan kerana bimbang renangan itu dibatalkan. Nasib baik dia dapat bertahan dan apabila siren dibunyikan, saya ucapkan tahniah kepadanya. Dia hampir menangis...'' kata van Wisse.
Menceritakan lagi cabaran yang dihadapi sepanjang renangan itu, Abdul Malik berkata: ``Saya terasa penat apabila memasuki laluan kapal kedua di tengah laut dan ketika itu saya bagaikan hilang stamina. Mujur, seorang sahabat dari Amerika di dalam bot pengiring, Matt turun ke laut dan berenang bersama-sama untuk memberikan dorongan kepada saya sehingga berjaya.''
Dia memasuki zon laluan berkabus dengan jarak penglihatan cuma 50 meter selepas berenang lebih tujuh jam.
``Di sini, saya merasa sedikit sejuk dan bimbang jika kapal dagang atau kapal kecil tiba-tiba muncul di hadapan. Saya tahu, kecekapan Oram mengendalikan bot dan dibantu dua pilot lain di dua bot berasingan, setiap laluan saya dikawal sebaik mungkin dari sebarang gangguan.''
Menurut van Wisse, kejayaan ini menakjubkan bagi seorang pemuda dari Malaysia. Memang tidak pernah terlintas adanya perenang dari negara yang bercuaca panas akan mampu merentasi selat yang sejuk dan penuh dengan dugaan ini.
``Tahniah untuk Abdul Malik, tahniah kepada rakyat Malaysia. Saya bangga dengan kejayaannya. Bagi saya penantian empat tahun Abdul Malik sudah pun ditebus,'' jelasnya.
Renangan Abdul Malik ini diawasi oleh pegawai Persekutuan Renang dan Pilot Selat (CSPF) termasuk setiausaha kehormat, Michael Oram dan Freeda Streeter. Mereka merekodkan setiap proses renangan itu termasuk jumlah makanan yang diberikan setiap 20 minit.
Laluan yang digunakan oleh Abdul Malik juga akan dicatatkan dalam sijil penghargaan yang akan diberikan kemudian.
Abdul Malik dalam kata-kata paling bermakna pada temu bual media itu menyebut:
``Saya hadiahkan kejayaan di Selat Inggeris ini kepada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad yang akan bersara dan rakyat Malaysia yang mendoakan kejayaan saya.''
Katanya, dia telah menerima tiga panggilan telefon daripada penaung projek Cabaran Selat Inggeris, Dr. Mahathir dan kali pertama pada pukul 1.36 pagi kelmarin (waktu England), 10 pagi dan sekali lagi, 12 tengah malam semalam.
``Semalam, Perdana Menteri mengucapkan tahniah dan terharu dengan kejayaan saya. Dia minta saya berehat dan balik segera ke Malaysia,'' katanya. - Utusan
Utusan Malaysia, Selasa 5 Ogos 2003
ABDUL MALIK MYDIN (tengah) mengibarkan Jalur Gemilang bersama (dari kanan) jurulatih, John Van Wisse, pengurus, Rahayu Ahmad, abangnya, Abdul Mutalib serta bapa angkatnya, Mohd. Nasir Majid di atas bot pengiring selepas menjadi rakyat Malaysia yang pertama menawan Selat Inggeris selepas berenang selama hampir 18 jam dari Dover, England ke Calais, Perancis sejauh 32.8km, semalam. - Gambar HANAFI KHAMIS.
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DOVER, England 4 Ogos - Wira samudera negara, Abdul Malik Mydin menceritakan detik-detik azab, cemas dan perit sehingga hampir `gila' melawan arus dan ombak ganas di dalam tempoh empat jam terakhir sebelum berjaya menyeberangi Selat Inggeris ke Perancis, awal pagi ini.
Dia mengakui `sudah merapu' serta tidak tahu apa yang dikatakannya kepada jurulatih John van Wisse kerana terlalu letih apabila renangannya menjadi sia-sia ditolak semula arus ke tengah laut.
Pada masa itu Abdul Malik telah berenang selama 13 jam.
``Saya berasa teramat perit dalam tempoh empat jam terakhir, walaupun pantai Cap Gris-Nez, Calais sudah berada di depan mata, tapi saya tak boleh pergi ke hadapan. Memang sukar mengawal emosi ketika itu kerana saya tidak diberitahu oleh juruarah, Michael Oram ke mana sepatutnya mendarat.
``Van Wisse memberitahu, saya sudah merapu dan mula bercakap Melayu dengannya ketika itu,'' kata Abdul Malik dalam temu bual bersama media di Hotel Premiere Lodge, di sini hari ini selepas mencipta sejarah menjadi rakyat Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara pertama berjaya merentasi Selat Inggeris yang sejauh 32.8 kilometer itu.
Selepas cubaannya ke pantai Cap Gris-Nez gagal, dia mengubah haluan untuk mendarat ke pantai Le Petit Blanc, kira-kira tiga kilometer dari Cap Gris-Nez.
``Di situ juga saya tidak mampu untuk tiba ke pantai. Arus menolak saya terlalu kuat...saya hampir-hampir putus asa ketika itu.''
``Lokasi ketiga, saya diarah ke pantai Wissant, kira-kira dua kilometer jaraknya dari Le Petit Blanc dekat Calais. Jika saya gagal juga kali ini, saya sudah tidak sanggup lagi, saya putus asa. Stamina saya sudah habis.
``Bagaimanapun cubaan saya berjaya. Saya menjejak kaki di Wissant pada pukul 7.50 petang waktu England (2.50 pagi Malaysia). Saya bersyukur kepada Allah. Saya terharu kerana ada rakyat Malaysia yang menunggu saya di sana. Terima kasih semuanya,'' ujarnya.
Akibat tiga cubaan yang dilakukan itu jaraknya tersasar sejauh 58 kilometer dari laluan sepatutnya 32.8 kilometer. Masa rasmi yang dicatatkannya ialah 17 jam 35 minit.
Cabaran menyeberangi Selat Inggeris ini bukanlah mudah. Sejak 1875 lebih 8,000 perenang telah mencuba melakukan renangan di selat ini dan hanya 800 sahaja yang berjaya menempa nama, menjadikan jumlah yang berjaya hanya lapan peratus sahaja.
Perenang pertama berbuat demikian ialah Kapten Matthew Webb berusia 27 tahun ketika memulakan misi itu dari Admiralty Pier, Dover pada 24 Ogos 1875 dan tiba di Calais, Perancis dalam tempoh 21 jam, 46 minit.
Bagi Abdul Malik, cabaran yang paling getir dihadapinya di selat berkenaan ialah semasa menempuh arah arus yang bertentangan di perairan Calais, serta arus dan angin kuat di sepanjang laluan yang diikutinya di Selat Inggeris.
``Ketika saya berenang air sedang pasang besar dengan suhu 16 hingga 18 darjah selsius serta ombak di antara 1.5 hingga 2 meter. Saya memang sudah menduga keadaan ini, tetapi jika kita tunggu lagi, saya akan berhadapan keadaan yang lebih buruk. Jadi renangan ini memang penuh dengan cabaran,'' tegasnya.
Pada akhir renangan itu, van Wisse dilihat kerap kali memanggil Abdul Malik dan pada jarak 100 meter untuk tiba di pantai Wissant. van Wisse juga bertindak terjun ke laut untuk memastikan arah perjalanan perenang negara ini betul.
``Saya perlu bertindak begitu kerana Abdul Malik sudah mula bercakap bahasa Melayu dengan saya. Dia tidak dapat menumpukan perhatian ketika itu. Lagipun saya tidak mahu dia disentuh oleh penyokong di pantai sebelum siren dibunyikan kerana bimbang renangan itu dibatalkan. Nasib baik dia dapat bertahan dan apabila siren dibunyikan, saya ucapkan tahniah kepadanya. Dia hampir menangis...'' kata van Wisse.
Menceritakan lagi cabaran yang dihadapi sepanjang renangan itu, Abdul Malik berkata: ``Saya terasa penat apabila memasuki laluan kapal kedua di tengah laut dan ketika itu saya bagaikan hilang stamina. Mujur, seorang sahabat dari Amerika di dalam bot pengiring, Matt turun ke laut dan berenang bersama-sama untuk memberikan dorongan kepada saya sehingga berjaya.''
Dia memasuki zon laluan berkabus dengan jarak penglihatan cuma 50 meter selepas berenang lebih tujuh jam.
``Di sini, saya merasa sedikit sejuk dan bimbang jika kapal dagang atau kapal kecil tiba-tiba muncul di hadapan. Saya tahu, kecekapan Oram mengendalikan bot dan dibantu dua pilot lain di dua bot berasingan, setiap laluan saya dikawal sebaik mungkin dari sebarang gangguan.''
Menurut van Wisse, kejayaan ini menakjubkan bagi seorang pemuda dari Malaysia. Memang tidak pernah terlintas adanya perenang dari negara yang bercuaca panas akan mampu merentasi selat yang sejuk dan penuh dengan dugaan ini.
``Tahniah untuk Abdul Malik, tahniah kepada rakyat Malaysia. Saya bangga dengan kejayaannya. Bagi saya penantian empat tahun Abdul Malik sudah pun ditebus,'' jelasnya.
Renangan Abdul Malik ini diawasi oleh pegawai Persekutuan Renang dan Pilot Selat (CSPF) termasuk setiausaha kehormat, Michael Oram dan Freeda Streeter. Mereka merekodkan setiap proses renangan itu termasuk jumlah makanan yang diberikan setiap 20 minit.
Laluan yang digunakan oleh Abdul Malik juga akan dicatatkan dalam sijil penghargaan yang akan diberikan kemudian.
Abdul Malik dalam kata-kata paling bermakna pada temu bual media itu menyebut:
``Saya hadiahkan kejayaan di Selat Inggeris ini kepada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad yang akan bersara dan rakyat Malaysia yang mendoakan kejayaan saya.''
Katanya, dia telah menerima tiga panggilan telefon daripada penaung projek Cabaran Selat Inggeris, Dr. Mahathir dan kali pertama pada pukul 1.36 pagi kelmarin (waktu England), 10 pagi dan sekali lagi, 12 tengah malam semalam.
``Semalam, Perdana Menteri mengucapkan tahniah dan terharu dengan kejayaan saya. Dia minta saya berehat dan balik segera ke Malaysia,'' katanya. - Utusan
Utusan Malaysia, Selasa 5 Ogos 2003
Monday, August 04, 2003
Malik cipta sejarah --``Saya akhirnya berjaya berkat doa rakyat Malaysia''
Daripada: AINOL AMRIZ ISMAIL
CALAIS, Perancis 3 Ogos - Sejarah tercipta di Selat Inggeris hari ini apabila perenang maraton negara, Abdul Malik Mydin memahatkan nama Malaysia di Wishant dekat sini selepas berjaya melakukan renangan dari Dover, England sejauh 32.8km dalam masa 17 jam 30 minit.
Beliau selamat tiba di pantai Wishant tepat pukul 2.46 pagi waktu Malaysia _ dalam keadaan penuh keperitan, akibat pukulan ombak dan arus laut yang cukup mengganas.
Di satu peringkat, Abdul Malik hampir-hampir putus asa setelah renangannya sia-sia akibat ditolak semula arus ke tengah laut walaupun jarak hampir sekilometer sahaja lagi dari pantai.
``Bila aku nak sampai'' jeritnya putus asa.
Tetapi jurulatihnya John Van Wisse menjerit balas: ``Diam! anda harus habiskannya!''
Ketika itu Abdul Malik sudah berenang tanpa henti kira-kira 15 jam. Suasana cukup mengharukan. Pemerhati dan para wartawan yang berada di atas bot pengiring dapat merasai perasaannya. Masing-masing berdoa supaya Abdul Malik dikuatkan semangat dan jangan menyerah kalah.
Namun, atas semangat jitu, anak kelahiran Butterworth, Pulau Pinang ini berjaya melawan ombak dan tiba di sasaran dalam tempoh 17 jam 30 minit - 3 jam 30 minit melebihi daripada jangkaan awalnya.
Tiba di pantai, Abdul Malik masih mampu berjalan dan bersalaman dengan rakyat Malaysia di Perancis yang menunggunya dengan penuh sabar.
Beliau kelihatan menitiskan air mata - kegembiraan dalam keperitan yang amat sangat.
``Ini hadiah daripada saya untuk seluruh rakyat Malaysia yang mendoakan saya. Tiga jam terakhir tadi saya sudah hampir putus asa kerana sudah tidak terdaya melawan ombak,'' katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di pantai itu.
Lima minit berada di dataran Calais, Abdul Malik terus menaiki bot untuk kembali Dover, England.
Kejayaan wira samudera berusia 28 tahun itu sekali gus menjadikannya rakyat Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara pertama berjaya melakukan renangan di selat yang penuh cabaran itu, sejak kali pertama dilakukan oleh Kapten Matthew Webb pada tahun 1875.
Perlu disebut di sini cabaran renangan merentasi selat itu dikatakan sama azab dan perit seperti menakluki Gunung Everest.
Terdahulu, pada pukul 2 pagi waktu Malaysia, Abdul Malik masih berhempas-pulas mengharungi arus dan ombak laut yang cukup mengganas dalam kedudukan satu kilometer dari pantai.
Saya (penulis) yang mengikuti dengan rapi pergerakan Abdul Malik dari atas sebuah bot begitu gembira dengan kejayaannya walaupun mengalami mabuk laut kerana terlalu lama di lambung ombak.
Tetapi sebaik Abdul Malik mendarat di Wishant, segala pening dan letih hilang terus.
Sukar dibayangkan keadaan tubuh Abdul Malik, jika saya yang berada di atas bot pun amat letih dan pening, apatah lagi beliau yang terpaksa berada di dalam laut selama 18 jam dan berdepan pula dengan angin kencang dan arus kuat.
Namun, semua orang yang mengikuti misi perit itu penuh berkeyakinan Abdul Malik boleh melakukan renangan itu dengan jayanya, walaupun dilambung ombak dan ditarik arus laut tanpa belas kasihan.
Kami semua amat mengagumi keazaman dan semangat Malaysia Boleh yang dimilikinya.
Dengan suhu air laut mencapai 15 darjah selsius, Abdul Malik tidak menghadapi masalah untuk berada lama dalam laut cuma angin selaju kira-kira 15 batu nautika sejam dan arus yang membuatkannya hampir mengalah.
Saya agak cemas apabila beliau mula membuat lencongan daripada laluan asal sebagai strategi untuk mengelakkan diri daripada arus dan angin kuat.
Ini kerana laluan baru itu lebih jauh daripada yang asal. Namun Abdul Malik bersedia melaluinya walaupun terpaksa menggunakan stamina yang lebih.
Saya akui dari segi fizikal, Abdul Malik cukup bersedia tetapi apa yang membimbangkan ialah kekuatan mentalnya untuk berdepan laluan baru itu.
Alhamdulillah, dia akhirnya berjaya.
Biar pun tertangguh 11 hari sejak 23 Julai lalu kerana faktor cuaca dan keadaan laut yang tidak mengizinkan, misi renangan Abdul Malik akhirnya dapat dilaksanakan semalam di Pantai Abbot Cliff di Dover pada pukul 2.08 pagi waktu England (9 pagi waktu Malaysia) selepas mendapat kelulusan Persekutuan Renang dan Jurumudi Selat (CSPF).
Pelepasan Abdul Malik itu turut disaksikan Pengarah Jabatan Penuntut Malaysia di England, Datuk Kamaruddin Mohd. Noor bersama-sama 50 penyokong Malaysia.
Kira-kira sejam sebelum memulakan renangan, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Mahathir dan isteri Datin Seri Dr. Siti Hasmah telah menghubungi Abdul Malik pada pukul 1.36 pagi waktu England semalam untuk menyuntik semangat dan mendoakan kejayaannya.
Kali kedua panggilan telefon diterima daripada Dr. Mahathir ialah pada pukul 10 pagi ini waktu England untuk mengetahui perkembangan misi renangan yang dilakukan oleh Abdul Malik.
Pada misi renangan itu semalam sepanjang tempoh 14 jam, Abdul Malik tidak menghadapi sebarang masalah dan sentiasa diberikan perangsang oleh John Van Wisse, konsultan renangan itu Freeda Stereeter serta juruarahnya, Michael Oram.
Dengan keadaan angin di bawah 15 batu nautika dan suhu di antara 16 hingga 27 selsius, Abdul Malik terus berenang tanpa memaling ke belakang.
Pada awal renangan kira-kira 52 minit, Malik berjaya melengkapkan renangan sejauh 3.2 km selepas tujuh jam berenang dalam kabus tebal yang melanda perairan Selat Inggeris. Jarak penglihatan pada masa itu hanya 50 meter dari bot dengan kedudukan Malik.
Bagaimanapun, Abdul Malik terus berenang dengan konsisten bagi memastikan misi ini berjaya.
Dalam misi ini, sebanyak tiga bot digunakan iaitu Aeegen Blue, Sea Satin dan Pulse One yang membawa lapan wartawan Malaysia, krew cabaran selat Inggeris mengiringi Abdul Malik. - Utusan
Utusan Malaysia, Isnin 4 Ogos 2003
CALAIS, Perancis 3 Ogos - Sejarah tercipta di Selat Inggeris hari ini apabila perenang maraton negara, Abdul Malik Mydin memahatkan nama Malaysia di Wishant dekat sini selepas berjaya melakukan renangan dari Dover, England sejauh 32.8km dalam masa 17 jam 30 minit.
Beliau selamat tiba di pantai Wishant tepat pukul 2.46 pagi waktu Malaysia _ dalam keadaan penuh keperitan, akibat pukulan ombak dan arus laut yang cukup mengganas.
Di satu peringkat, Abdul Malik hampir-hampir putus asa setelah renangannya sia-sia akibat ditolak semula arus ke tengah laut walaupun jarak hampir sekilometer sahaja lagi dari pantai.
``Bila aku nak sampai'' jeritnya putus asa.
Tetapi jurulatihnya John Van Wisse menjerit balas: ``Diam! anda harus habiskannya!''
Ketika itu Abdul Malik sudah berenang tanpa henti kira-kira 15 jam. Suasana cukup mengharukan. Pemerhati dan para wartawan yang berada di atas bot pengiring dapat merasai perasaannya. Masing-masing berdoa supaya Abdul Malik dikuatkan semangat dan jangan menyerah kalah.
Namun, atas semangat jitu, anak kelahiran Butterworth, Pulau Pinang ini berjaya melawan ombak dan tiba di sasaran dalam tempoh 17 jam 30 minit - 3 jam 30 minit melebihi daripada jangkaan awalnya.
Tiba di pantai, Abdul Malik masih mampu berjalan dan bersalaman dengan rakyat Malaysia di Perancis yang menunggunya dengan penuh sabar.
Beliau kelihatan menitiskan air mata - kegembiraan dalam keperitan yang amat sangat.
``Ini hadiah daripada saya untuk seluruh rakyat Malaysia yang mendoakan saya. Tiga jam terakhir tadi saya sudah hampir putus asa kerana sudah tidak terdaya melawan ombak,'' katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di pantai itu.
Lima minit berada di dataran Calais, Abdul Malik terus menaiki bot untuk kembali Dover, England.
Kejayaan wira samudera berusia 28 tahun itu sekali gus menjadikannya rakyat Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara pertama berjaya melakukan renangan di selat yang penuh cabaran itu, sejak kali pertama dilakukan oleh Kapten Matthew Webb pada tahun 1875.
Perlu disebut di sini cabaran renangan merentasi selat itu dikatakan sama azab dan perit seperti menakluki Gunung Everest.
Terdahulu, pada pukul 2 pagi waktu Malaysia, Abdul Malik masih berhempas-pulas mengharungi arus dan ombak laut yang cukup mengganas dalam kedudukan satu kilometer dari pantai.
Saya (penulis) yang mengikuti dengan rapi pergerakan Abdul Malik dari atas sebuah bot begitu gembira dengan kejayaannya walaupun mengalami mabuk laut kerana terlalu lama di lambung ombak.
Tetapi sebaik Abdul Malik mendarat di Wishant, segala pening dan letih hilang terus.
Sukar dibayangkan keadaan tubuh Abdul Malik, jika saya yang berada di atas bot pun amat letih dan pening, apatah lagi beliau yang terpaksa berada di dalam laut selama 18 jam dan berdepan pula dengan angin kencang dan arus kuat.
Namun, semua orang yang mengikuti misi perit itu penuh berkeyakinan Abdul Malik boleh melakukan renangan itu dengan jayanya, walaupun dilambung ombak dan ditarik arus laut tanpa belas kasihan.
Kami semua amat mengagumi keazaman dan semangat Malaysia Boleh yang dimilikinya.
Dengan suhu air laut mencapai 15 darjah selsius, Abdul Malik tidak menghadapi masalah untuk berada lama dalam laut cuma angin selaju kira-kira 15 batu nautika sejam dan arus yang membuatkannya hampir mengalah.
Saya agak cemas apabila beliau mula membuat lencongan daripada laluan asal sebagai strategi untuk mengelakkan diri daripada arus dan angin kuat.
Ini kerana laluan baru itu lebih jauh daripada yang asal. Namun Abdul Malik bersedia melaluinya walaupun terpaksa menggunakan stamina yang lebih.
Saya akui dari segi fizikal, Abdul Malik cukup bersedia tetapi apa yang membimbangkan ialah kekuatan mentalnya untuk berdepan laluan baru itu.
Alhamdulillah, dia akhirnya berjaya.
Biar pun tertangguh 11 hari sejak 23 Julai lalu kerana faktor cuaca dan keadaan laut yang tidak mengizinkan, misi renangan Abdul Malik akhirnya dapat dilaksanakan semalam di Pantai Abbot Cliff di Dover pada pukul 2.08 pagi waktu England (9 pagi waktu Malaysia) selepas mendapat kelulusan Persekutuan Renang dan Jurumudi Selat (CSPF).
Pelepasan Abdul Malik itu turut disaksikan Pengarah Jabatan Penuntut Malaysia di England, Datuk Kamaruddin Mohd. Noor bersama-sama 50 penyokong Malaysia.
Kira-kira sejam sebelum memulakan renangan, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Mahathir dan isteri Datin Seri Dr. Siti Hasmah telah menghubungi Abdul Malik pada pukul 1.36 pagi waktu England semalam untuk menyuntik semangat dan mendoakan kejayaannya.
Kali kedua panggilan telefon diterima daripada Dr. Mahathir ialah pada pukul 10 pagi ini waktu England untuk mengetahui perkembangan misi renangan yang dilakukan oleh Abdul Malik.
Pada misi renangan itu semalam sepanjang tempoh 14 jam, Abdul Malik tidak menghadapi sebarang masalah dan sentiasa diberikan perangsang oleh John Van Wisse, konsultan renangan itu Freeda Stereeter serta juruarahnya, Michael Oram.
Dengan keadaan angin di bawah 15 batu nautika dan suhu di antara 16 hingga 27 selsius, Abdul Malik terus berenang tanpa memaling ke belakang.
Pada awal renangan kira-kira 52 minit, Malik berjaya melengkapkan renangan sejauh 3.2 km selepas tujuh jam berenang dalam kabus tebal yang melanda perairan Selat Inggeris. Jarak penglihatan pada masa itu hanya 50 meter dari bot dengan kedudukan Malik.
Bagaimanapun, Abdul Malik terus berenang dengan konsisten bagi memastikan misi ini berjaya.
Dalam misi ini, sebanyak tiga bot digunakan iaitu Aeegen Blue, Sea Satin dan Pulse One yang membawa lapan wartawan Malaysia, krew cabaran selat Inggeris mengiringi Abdul Malik. - Utusan
Utusan Malaysia, Isnin 4 Ogos 2003
Abdul Malik makes it across the English Channel
By Tan Kah Peng
LONDON: He has made it: Abdul Malik Mydin swam to the French side of the English Channel at 7.42pm on Sunday (2.42am Malaysian time) on Monday) in his epic swim.
He took about 17 hours 34 minutes to reach the village of Wassant, a distance of about 20 nautical miles (37.5km), about four miles south of his original destination of Cap Gris Nez near Calais.
“The tide and winds were a bit choppy during the last four hours of the swim,” Mike Oram, the boat skipper, told The Star on his mobile. “The channel is always a hard swim.
Marathon swimmer Abdul Malik Mydin (inset)swimming across the 32.8km channel from Dover in England to Calais in France as he began his epic journey at 2.08am (9.08am Malaysian time)yesterday
“It’s a great day for Malaysia. Congratulations to the Malaysian Government and the Sports Minister (for giving Malik the support needed to achieve his goal).”
On hand to greet Malik as he waded to shore were about 30 Malaysians, mainly based in France, saluting the 28-year-old Penang-born marathon swimmer for being the first Malaysian to swim the English Channel.
Asked to speak to Malik and his Australian coach John van Wisse, Oram said both of them were fast asleep in the boat, which reached Dover about 11.30pm (6.30am on Monday).
For Oram, it’s another personal milestone, this time guiding the first Malaysian to make the historical swim, proud to achieve a success rate of 75% over 300 swims.
Malik is the 13th successful swimmer under the guidance of the Channel Swim and Piloting Federation.
The Star, Monday 4/8/2003
LONDON: He has made it: Abdul Malik Mydin swam to the French side of the English Channel at 7.42pm on Sunday (2.42am Malaysian time) on Monday) in his epic swim.
He took about 17 hours 34 minutes to reach the village of Wassant, a distance of about 20 nautical miles (37.5km), about four miles south of his original destination of Cap Gris Nez near Calais.
“The tide and winds were a bit choppy during the last four hours of the swim,” Mike Oram, the boat skipper, told The Star on his mobile. “The channel is always a hard swim.
Marathon swimmer Abdul Malik Mydin (inset)swimming across the 32.8km channel from Dover in England to Calais in France as he began his epic journey at 2.08am (9.08am Malaysian time)yesterday
“It’s a great day for Malaysia. Congratulations to the Malaysian Government and the Sports Minister (for giving Malik the support needed to achieve his goal).”
On hand to greet Malik as he waded to shore were about 30 Malaysians, mainly based in France, saluting the 28-year-old Penang-born marathon swimmer for being the first Malaysian to swim the English Channel.
Asked to speak to Malik and his Australian coach John van Wisse, Oram said both of them were fast asleep in the boat, which reached Dover about 11.30pm (6.30am on Monday).
For Oram, it’s another personal milestone, this time guiding the first Malaysian to make the historical swim, proud to achieve a success rate of 75% over 300 swims.
Malik is the 13th successful swimmer under the guidance of the Channel Swim and Piloting Federation.
The Star, Monday 4/8/2003
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