May 02, 2013
| Jonson Chong is the former Communications Director of Parti Keadilan Rakyat. He believes that true reform (and revolutions) must begin from within. |
MAY 2 — If you think changes in the political arena will bring about changes in our lives, you're right and wrong. There will certainly be changes but not the real changes that matter.
I'm talking about the things that make our lives meaningful and worth living, not about things becoming more affordable or us having higher incomes. Of course, the latter things help to make our lives easier, but they are not the things that give meaning to our lives.
I am talking about the relationships that we have with others and, most importantly, with ourselves. Our dignity and sense of worth should come from ourselves, not from a position or title, or the number of possessions we have in our storeroom.
Today, I wore three watches on my two wrists. It didn't make time more meaningful to me. But the laughs I shared with my wife certainly made my day.
Well, if politics is not the answer, what is? Good question. To me, the answer is education. Let me tell you why.
Politicians are trained to sell, not to speak the truth. And we, being the emotional consumers that we are, fall for the sales pitch especially when there's a promotion.
Why use old technology (BN) when there's a new one (PR). Believe me, if PR wins this round, we will be complaining about them in a couple of years, if not months.
In contrast, education speaks the truth. Well, at least good education. It's about equipping us for life, not about propaganda that will make us vote or buy a certain ideology or brand.
Unfortunately, education has also become a business. Indeed, the contents of today's education perpetuate the mindset in which we are caught.
Alas, we don't often remember what Albert Einstein said: "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."
The education system that exists today (to be fair, not only in Malaysia) is a relic of the past. Indeed, it was designed for a previous age. The age of industry.
In the information age, we need a different kind of education. One that equips and prepares our children for the reality of a fast and furious world. It must enable our children to think fast but also to stay calm in the face of speed. In the ferocity of today's reality, they must also learn to be kind, gentle and patient.
If IQ were all we needed for success, we'd be all very happy beings. Unfortunately, only a very small percentage of us are. And if you investigate what else they have, it's much more than IQ. It's EQ plus SQ (spiritual quotient), and God knows what else.
Anyway, let me try to put it simply. When students seek admission to college, they need to fulfil certain entry requirements. Very often, they are three Cs, meaning three credits.
These, the students have to fulfil. When students graduate, I expect the staff to fulfil the exit requirements, which are also three Cs: communication skills, creativity and character.
In other words, students who graduate today must have these three attributes: good, if not excellent, communication skills, creativity and character. I think it should be obvious why these three attributes are important in our rapidly changing world.
Think about it. Then decide if you have contributed to the mis-education of our youth. All those graduates out there who can't communicate properly. And the lack of creativity.
SOPs are good up to a certain extent but they certainly don't have SOPs for innovation. As for character, why do you think many of our youth lack pride in their work and why is there no commitment to excellence?
We — parents, school teachers, Scoutmasters, sports coaches, professors, clerics, etc. — have an immeasurable influence on the lives of children, the future leaders of our country.
The political and business leaders of today are products of the past. All of us need to contribute to the education of a whole new generation of leaders that will lead by principle and positive human values.
Values that will sustain our earth for generations to come. Values that respect all life, not just human life. Values that appreciate and celebrate the diversity of life itself. Values that make our lives meaningful and worth living.
That, we can find in education. And that, our politicians do not have the courage to sell.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
The Malaysian Insider :: Food
KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — The Songkran Festival is when Thai chef Korn Yodsuk of Erawan draws upon his impressiveculinary repertoire to amaze his guests, mostly loyal diners at his restaurant, and ... Read More 
LOS ANGELES, May 1 — Michael "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz are teaming up with hip-hop scribe Sacha Jenkins to pen a memoir of the Beastie Boys' musical history.The Beastie Boys formed in ... 
KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek hari ini berkata MCA menerima naib presiden Perkasa Datuk Zulkifli Noordin sebagai calon Barisan Nasional (BN), walaupun sekeras-kerasnya menolak kumpulan berhaluan kanan Melayu tersebut. 
"MCA menentang Perkasa ... Dalam kes Shah Alam dia mengamalkan politk pelampau semasa dia dalam PAS. Lepas dia masuk BN dia sudah insaf dan bertaubat," kata Dr Chua (gambar) kepada wartawan merujuk kepada Zulkifli yang bertanding di kerusi majoriti Melayu, Shah Alam sebagai calon dipilih secara terus oleh BN.