Heroes (Season I)
Save The Cheerleader, Save The World
Bolehland (Season 51)
Save RPK, Save Malaysia
If RPK was an action figure, he deserves to stand there among some of my mighty heroes in my office, alongside Superman, Son Goku, Full Metal Alchemist brothers, Iron Maiden (well not exactly a hero).
RPK is true defiant hero.
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Friday, September 12, 2008
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When In Rome…don’t be “unfriendly”
The wise folks of the olden times have left us some very good advice to learn from and practice where applicable as it is through experience that they have left us their wisdom. One well known Malay proverb that would be very useful for those of us who are either passing through or staying in foreign land is “Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung…”.
We can hold our heads up high and be proud that many Malaysians have traveled near and far into foreign lands for various reasons. We can also take pride that many fellow countrymen have done our motherland proud by being positively outstanding in their contributions towards their adopted motherland.
However, we also have to acknowledge that some fellow Malaysians have done this country disfavour and some incidents are so severe that it brings dishonour through their unprofessional and unbecoming behaviour. One such example is the recent incident involving our High Commissioner to Singapore Dato’ N. Parameswaran.
It is very disappointing and very frustrating for us Malaysians when any of our fellow countrymen misbehave wherever they are in the world. If it happens often enough, Malaysians are labeled according to the way these unscrupulous individuals project themselves. We have the same attitude towards some nationals from foreign land; just because some of their fellow countrymen are crooks here; then we think most of them are crooks.
For Dato’ Param who is a very high profile Malaysian in Singapore due to his official status as the official representative of the Malaysian Government, his behaviour and reaction towards the new Singapore’s ruling at the Immigration checkpoint is very unbecoming and unprofessional. I may go as far to describe his handling of the situation as unpatriotic. He was the one who has “embarrassed and was disrespectful towards the Malaysian flag”; not the Singapore authorities who were just doing their job.
As a Malaysian Government civil servant (lest he forgets and starts comparing his status similar to the Johor Royal family in terms of the “special privilege” that he expects from his host country), his primary task as a High Commissioner is to pave the way to develop good and fruitful relationship. His other primary duty would also involve helping to resolve issues in the interest of our country. BUT what has he really achieved in the last 51/2 years? Instead, in the last 5 years many “historically negative” events have occurred in our bi-lateral relationship with Singapore.
The bridge project which would have benefited Malaysians generally and the Johoreans especially was cancelled resulting in disruptions and delays to the overall Southern Johor development. We lost Pulau Batu Putih. Other outstanding bi-lateral issues such as the price of water supply, the use of Johor’s air space by Singapore air force, KTMB land and the Tg. Pagar / Woodlands immigration check point for train travelers as well as several other major issues remain outstanding and no nearer to being resolved. These are issue that he should think about and focus his idle mind on. Instead of making headway in resolving the above major bi-lateral issues, he has instead created another miniscule issue which only serves his personal interest.
The Government allocates and spends a fair amount of money and resources in setting up embassies and foreign offices in countries all over the world. All the Government servants who have been given the honour to serve these offices are sent with specific missions and that is what they should be doing. Their role and responsibilities towards the nation cannot be underestimated and only those who are deserving of this trust should be allowed to uphold it. Those who do not perform and instead is an embarrassment to the country should be removed immediately. In the case of Dato’ Param, he has proven to be not worthy of the role and his time to proof his worth has also run out.
Five years is a too long a probation period; not only has Dato’ Param not performed, he has even done a disservice to the country by his recent misbehaviour. As a Malaysian, I urge the Foreign Office to review his appointment and take the appropriate action in the interest of this country and its people.
Parameswara
Kandang Kerbau
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