>> MIM Speaks
THE AMBASSADOR IN ALL OF US (MIM SPEAKS).
JULY 2, 1995 -
SUNDAY STAR
By HADI ABDULLAH
RECENT reports written on Malaysia by foreign magazines and
newspapers are a cause for concern. Sometime ago, Time
magazine had spoken about Malaysia training terrorists,
Fortune magazine elaborated on the impending drop in the
ringgit's value.
The fun media seem bent on f exaggerating or › eat47 0 X
sto;ties imagined or as repuy
"reaiXble" sources fromin the: cobntry.
-This :article proposes -to discuss 7 the issue of
MalaysiansDand their
"ambassadorial" role.
Not long ago, the Institute of Strategic and International
Studies (Isis) invited Mitsubishi Corporation president Minoru
Makihara to talk on Asia in the Pacific Rim towards the 21st
century.
He spoke about Japan's position in the developing Asian market
and the growing importance of the Pacific Rim. He elaborated
on Mitsubishi going international. Throughout the talk, while
he agreed that there was a need for changes in Japan, he never
wavered about his view of Japan.
He was a son of the Land of the Rising Sun whatever the
political
1 situation. His patriotism, feelings and thoughts were clear:
Japan first, second and last.
: Fuji Xerox chairman and CEO Yotaro Kobayashi, the famous
turnaround man, was also intited by Isis. He spoke on Japan's
position in the New Asia-Paci0r.t
Kobayashi was certainly less "defensive" of American palicies
when compared to Makihara. Eiowever, he explained why Japan
gave so much weightage to American opinion regarding EAEC, WTO
and others s.ubjects.
He also mentioned that there was a great need for deregulation
in Ja The Malaysian Institute of
Management welcomes feedback and response from the public.
Readers can write to: MIM Speaks, c/o Research & Publications
Malaysian Institute of
Management, 227 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur (Fax: 03
2643224).
pan and that it should "re-Asianise," to become close to Asia
unlike in the period after the Meiji restoration when it
embarked on its "deAsianisation" policy, emulating Europe and
America in order to progress and prosper.
Although Kobayashi has views that can be said to be more open
and off the mainstream, he too was for Japan first, second and
last.
Malaysians have become ardent travellers, moving and going on
package tours, family travel, visiting children or relatives
overseas or going on business trips. Are we giving the right
picture about our country?
Never mind about the fact that we do not like a particular
political leader or that we feel that we have been left out on
a business opportunity. Do we rise above our own selfinterest
and be able to look at an issue unemotionally?
First, we must know enough about the country, be able to
analyse-not gulp down everything we read and hear-and be able
to "correct" people's misgivings or distorted picture about
the country
Recently, I had separate discussions with a management
consultant and a manager, both Australians. They raised the
question of racial tension in the country, "Isamic" management
and the managing of "inter-cultural" (raciallymixed)
organisations.
"What racial tension are you taking about? I don't see or feel
any," I replied. Asked where they got this impression, they
talked of the foreign media or some Malaysians, including
businessmen, telling them what was happening back home.
Two years ago on a visit to Europe, I came across a family
from Hong Kong that had just migrated to Canada. The father
spoke with great conviction of racial tension, inequality and
misuse of power in Malaysia. Asked where he obtained his
information from, he said that he had relatives and friends in
Malaysia who had briefed him about what was happening in the
country. A considerable time was spent on "educating" this
person, who seemed in the end to be only partly convinced.
Last year, during the Malaysia Cup final between Singapore and
Pahang, I spoke to some Singaporeans who were visiting Kuala
Lumpur. Asked who would win the final, a couple of them (both
ladies) said they were hoping that Pahang would. "You can
never be sure what will happen if Singapore wins," said one of
them.
What will happen if Singapore wins? Are our supporters going
to be so unruly that the Singaporeans have to fear for their
lives? Somebody obviously has not been painting the true
picture, whatever his or her reason. It happened that
Singapore won the cup. There was so much jubilation with
Singapore banners and flags flying everywhere in the stadium
and on Singapore vehicles. Nothing happened.
We are unlikely to hear a similar story again as Singapore is
no longer in the Malaysian League.
There have been incidents before when Malaysians, trying to
cope
,.. with foreigners' ignorance or simply to accommodate them,
talk of Muslims in the country going to the "church" (mosque
may be too confusing) on Fridays to pray. One need not bend
backwards or distort facts just to simplifying things. For
Malaysians who are working or studying overseas, this problem
is less evident now.
The average American does not seem to know much about
Malaysia. A number of Americans I had spoken to showed
interest and wanted to know more about Malaysia. However, some
intellectuals at Rand Corporation (a think-tank) wanted to
know about human rights, racial tension, etc. They were
seeking information and were quite happy with the explanation
given. This is not so in other parts of America.Many people
tend to be influenced by the media and what they hear. Readers
would be interested to know that when some college students in
the US were tested on relationship of things, (eg, pyramids
with Egypt, oil with Saudi Arabia), many of them wrote down
"terrorist" as its relationship when the word "Muslims" was
put. That was what they had been told by the media and
friends.
A Malaysian who is now pursuing further studies in the US
wrote a touching letter to his former classmate in Kuala
Lumpur. He missed Malaysia, the food, the friendliness of the
people, the weather, even the traffic jam. He could not wait
to come home to his Malaysia.
He cited an incident when his fa ther's friend, a
businessthan, spoke to some of his new colleagues about
Malaysia, its phenomenal growth and opportunities, and ended
by highly recommending a visit to Malaysia to see for
themselves. These are the type of people who do us proud.
Malaysian businessmen are travelling to all parts of the
world. There would be ample opportunity to meet and talk to
foreigners. It is therefore, a responsibility for them to give
a fair picture of their country or correct any
misrepresentations.
Malaysians going overseas are "unofficial ambassadors" of the
country. They must show love and pride for the country. This
does not mean having to exaggerate or distort facts; only give
a balanced and unemotional view.
We should not forget that the listener is not going to think
very highly of a person who runs down his own country.
|
