Being Slaves to
Symbolism
23 July 2003
We are a nation obsessed
with symbolism. From the meagre fishermen, conducting ancient rites for
protection; to the Government constructing gigantic buildings that bellow
the emptiness of unfulfilled dreams; we have become slaves to symbolism.
Throughout the ages,
mankind have been using symbols to showcase their cultures, thoughts,
aspirations and most of all their achievements. However in our country,
we have taken a step further by generating symbols that totally contradict
the very values we sought to achieve.
We pride ourselves with
our multiracial age-old traditions and customs; yet we invent a new gesture
of greeting by placing a hand over our hearts and bowing subserviently
to tourists. We strive to create a society of independent progressive
thinkers; yet we impose rules and regulations to curb the flow of knowledge.
We aspire to become
a developed nation by the year 2020; yet we only witness the frenzy to
build more monumental but under-utilized buildings and structures, which
in turn drain our resources and slow our progress.
While the proponents
of these projects regard them as achievements, I, on the other hand, think
that they are merely wasteful embellishments of overzealous planning.
Symbols should only
be a true reflection of the nation's status and not the other way around.
We should never build monuments first, then hope that the nation attains
the level of achievement, proportional to the size of the monument. Hasty
developments such as these, result in the accumulation of under-utilized
facilities and wastage of public fund.
The Kuala Lumpur International
Airport sits in the middle of nowhere like a huge Bedouin tent in the
desert, sky-bridges snaking out like tentacles, waiting hungrily for airlines
that do not seem to arrive.
The Petronas Twin Towers protrudes mightily from the heart of Kuala Lumpur,
emerald glasses held together by shining aluminium claddings, concealing
countless unoccupied offices within.
In the Royal Town of
Klang, Municipal Councillors are adorning themselves with new ceremonial
uniforms and a new mace costing a total of RM 200,000, while the town
remains one of the dirtiest in the country and the Chief Minister has
to go around arresting prostitutes himself.
Not to be outdone by
their leaders in the field of symbolism, the people of Malaysia are also
clamouring for honorary titles to be bestowed upon them during the never-ending
birthday celebrations of Heads of States. Of course there are amongst
them, citizens who have given their service beyond the call of duty and
these are the people who genuinely deserve the accolades. But judging
from the thousands of names in the award list published in the newspapers
for each investiture, one could hardly believe that a country of just
over 22 million people is able to produce so many altruistic citizens.
One would also have
to take into account that Malaysia has thirteen Heads of States and one
King. That means there is an average of one investiture per month, with
two more to spare every year. And this list keeps growing every year,
with new awards being created occasionally.
Another form of symbolism,
which hails from the "Malaysia Boleh Syndrome", is the countless
record-breaking feats attempted by both the Government and the people.
It would be a positive move if these feats could provide inspiration for
the progress of the nation. Unfortunately, almost all these records are
senseless and self-glorifying acts, of which the results are not reproducible
in the general population.
Can the longest buffet
in Malaysia help to feed poor and needy Malaysians? Can the largest Jalur
Gemilang (Malaysia's National flag) provide warmth and shelter for the
homeless? Can the biggest serving of Yee-Sang (Chinese New Year Prosperity
dish made from raw fish and other condiments) stimulate the economy? Can
the tallest tower made with tropical fruits ward off diseases?
Anyone who is self-respectful
enough would have to say no to each of the questions above.
The records that Malaysians
should really break are the ones that could benefit the nation ultimately.
We should strive to be the most educated and most efficient workforce
globally. The police should concentrate their efforts to make Malaysia
the safest place with the lowest crime rates ever recorded anywhere. The
various authorities should coordinate their efforts to make Malaysia the
cleanest country in the world.
Given the advantages of being a multiethnic and multicultural country,
we should overcome our prejudices and work hard together, to create the
most peaceful and understanding nation on Earth.
These are record-breaking
feats that we need to conquer. These are the building blocks towards the
construction of the Greatest Nation in the world.
It is not wise just
to pride ourselves on the physical appearance of things, unless we want
to become the laughing stock of the world. Instead we should judge the
success of any project or action, by assessing the fulfilment of its intended
goal, base on its functionality, efficiency, suitability, sustainability
and safety.
Malaysia and its people should not become the slaves to symbolism. Instead
we should be its master and use it with prudence to move our nation closer
towards achieving our goals.
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts."
(Shakespeare in "As You Like It")
We do not want Malaysia to become a stage
crowded with useless monumental props and backdrops that hinder the flow
of our nation's story. It is the role of each Malaysian, as players, to
weave this story into a tale of success. Our forefathers made their entrances
onto the stage during the difficult years of colonization. It is now the
duty of the present generation of Malaysians to carry on working towards
achieving their vision of a united, prosperous and progressive Malaysia.
We must ensure that when it is time for us
to exit the stage, we leave behind an audience who is deeply inspired
to continue our efforts for generations to come.
Each Malaysian has different parts to play. It is time we stop being obsessed with symbolism and start working hard for the success of our country.
PELITA NEGARA
Footnote: This article is infused with metaphors, which are in turn a form of symbolism. My intention is to demonstrate that judicious use of symbols and symbolism can be effective, relevant and beneficial.
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