the Malaysian dream

I wrote this entry months ago but never got around publishing it (have so many other drafts in my folder, waiting for the right moment to be published!). Reading an entry by a wise man reminded me of this entry that I decided it was time to give it a little touch-up and publish it.

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Do Malaysians dream to drive shiny luxury cars, own big bungalows (and several other condominiums) and be the owners of a successful company or two? Or are they often contended with their secure lives: with a guaranteed job, a family and a life free from debts(hopefully!). Well, maybe a small portion of the luxury car and bungalow?

A recent conversation with a young man who has inspiring dreams has made me think of Malaysia today and the generations to come.

Since the early days, the government began sending many of their promising nationales abroad to learn from the west. Engineers, architects, scientists, doctors and even teachers, to name a few, were sent across the oceans to be trained. These were all part of the Malaysian dream: to become a well-developed nation with professionals in all areas.

Yet, upon evaluation, not all good intentions bear fruitful results. Some come home bringing revolution and ideas. Others come home lost in their own dreams. In terms of lifestyle, the West brought negative influence. It wasn't easy combining the western values with eastern values. What more with contrasting religions, it was a struggle for the young souls. They were often described as being succumbed to 'culture shock'.

Decades later, we get what we see today. Malaysia proudly presents.... the new breed. The era of globalisation and modernisation. With sky-scrapers and million-ringgit projects. It's the race towards ultimate development. Yet, what sort of development does one aim for? Material wealth and physical structure? What about the development of the mindset and moral behaviour? Can they all be achieved in a decade or two, via moral studies and patrotism
in school? It's the general mentality that needs to be independent and developed, if you asked me.

Now, my point initially was: what's the Malaysian dream? How different is it from the American dream which goes back to centuries ago. How long ago did the Malaysian dream start?

Look around you and what do you see? Green fields and prosperity?

This year, Malaysia will be celebrating its 50 years' independence. Spend some time to pause and reflect. How much independent are we?