By Azhari Karim                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
The idea of forming Yayasan Salam (Salam Foundation) has been                                                                                         
long in coming. Now that it is with us, we should consider it                                                                                         
as Malaysia's gift to the world and heralding Malaysia's grand                                                                                        
entrance into the next millennium.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
Salam comes closely on the heels of several significant                                                                                               
developments in the area of international co-operation forged                                                                                         
by the developing countries, of which Malaysia has carved a                                                                                           
reputation as a trailblazer of sorts.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
We must first note the thousands upon thousands of our youths                                                                                         
who go abroad to study. Apart from pursuing academic                                                                                                  
qualifications, they have helped to spread a bit of Malaysian                                                                                         
culture overseas and also brought back fond memories of their                                                                                         
stay abroad.                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
More importantly, these youths will in most cases contribute                                                                                          
to better understanding between our country and those lands                                                                                           
that have hosted them.                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
The Government has gone a step further by encouraging, through                                                                                        
changes introduced in the education system, foreign students                                                                                          
to come to Malaysia to pursue their education. The benefits of                                                                                        
such a move will only be realised years later when these                                                                                              
students return home to take up responsible jobs. Indeed, the                                                                                         
spirit of Salam is very much alive in this case.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
Second on the list is the Malaysian Technical Co-operation                                                                                            
Programme (MTCP). Since its inception in the mid-70s, Malaysia                                                                                        
has made available funds and technical assistance in many                                                                                             
forms to enable citizens from countries of the South, in                                                                                              
particular, to come to Malaysia for purposes of skills                                                                                                
training and managerial upgrading programmes.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
In doing so, we have contributed to the manpower development                                                                                          
programmes of these participating countries. Through such                                                                                             
programmes we have been able to pass on the benefits of our                                                                                           
development experience to these countries.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
In a broad sense we are manifesting in a concrete way our                                                                                             
Government's cherished policy of "prosper thy neighbour."                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
Third, as an extension of the MTCP, the Government has                                                                                                
embarked on the South-South Co-operation policy where                                                                                                 
Malaysian businesses have moved into countries in South East                                                                                          
Asia, Central Europe, the former Soviet-Asian republics,                                                                                              
Africa and Latin America, to show the flag, only this time to                                                                                         
do business and not fight a war as in the past.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
We are at once doing a "colonialism" but this time in reverse.                                                                              
We are aiming for a situation of continuing dialogue                                                                                                  
Eventually, it is hoped a network of smart partnership can                                                                                            
develop out of this endeavour. In Malaysia's experience, the                                                                                          
expansion of ours businesses abroad has come about as a result                                                                                        
of the deliberate policy of privatisation adopted by the                                                                                              
Government and the attempts, with broad success, to take full                                                                                         
advantage of the environment of globalisation.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
Our businesses have really taken the challenge and Malaysian                                                                                          
companies are now to be found in Cambodia, Papua New Guinea,                                                                                          
Namibia and Chile. Soon, Malaysian brandnames will make their                                                                                         
appearances in these and other countries around the world.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
Likewise, Salam, being an NGOinspired organisation, will be                                                                                           
able to carry on this tradition of "selling the best of                                                                                          
Malaysia" overseas.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
The target countries most certainly are those that can benefit                                                                                        
from Malaysia's experience. The volunteers must also without                                                                                          
doubt be the ones that can make the country proud, and not                                                                                            
least, project the correct values and beliefs of the country                                                                                          
as a whole.                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
The volunteers must, of course, come from university and                                                                                              
college students wanting to take a break from their studies,                                                                                          
government officers with hopes of changing careers and those                                                                                          
who have retired from active public service or from business.                                                                                         
Care must be exercised in choosing the right person for the                                                                                           
right assignment. Here the trials gone through by countries                                                                                           
that have earlier started on such organisations, such as the                                                                                          
United States, Canada, Japan and Korea, need to be studied and                                                                                        
if necessary emulated.                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
Many recall the curious yet enthusiastic looks in the faces of                                                                                        
the American Peace Corps volunteers living it out in the                                                                                              
remote areas of Sarawak and the padi fields of Kedah but                                                                                              
always eager to share their knowledge and skills with the                                                                                             
people and schoolchildren.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
These "new" Mat Sallehs were somehow different. They were                                                                                   
imbued with a high sense of purpose and conviction to the                                                                                             
cause of spreading international understanding so reminiscent                                                                                         
of the Kennedy years in American history.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
The American Peace Corps programme was launched by President                                                                                          
John F. Kennedy in the 60s. What we must instil in the hearts                                                                                         
and minds of our volunteers is the spirit of idealism and                                                                                             
adventure that have characterised these and other successfull                                                                                         
experiences of the countries mentioned.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
In support of this noble vision, Salam and those in working                                                                                           
relationship with it have a big responsibility to ensure the                                                                                          
objectives are met. Equally important, the private sector must                                                                                        
see a role for itself as well.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
* This can take several forms:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
* Formation of voluntary corp of executives,                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
* Packaging of assistance to Malaysian companies overseas,                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
* Programmes for training and orientation for Malaysian                                                                                               
business executives going abroad, and                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
* Directory of services to be made available.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
Malaysian businesses when going abroad must make sure that                                                                                            
they employ Malaysians in their operations. There are two                                                                                             
known benefits accruing: enlarging the pool of executives and                                                                                         
upgrading skills of Malaysians. In both, volunteers must be                                                                                           
registered to make the exercise more effective.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
But it must surely be remembered that as in the Salam                                                                                                 
exercise, and similarly in the business volunteer corps idea,                                                                                         
time is a precious factor. It cannot go on forever.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
Such acts of sacrifice and valour will only last perhaps until                                                                                        
the year 2010. Beyond that, as some have observed, Malaysians                                                                                         
will no longer be willing to give up the good life and venture                                                                                        
forth to seek fortunes and adventure overseas.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
Already some companies are finding it difficult to recruit                                                                                            
Malaysians to work abroad. While the going is hot, they say no                                                                                        
efforts should be spared to make the Salam idea a growing                                                                                             
concern.                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
The momentum should be allowed to gather speed and evolve into                                                                                        
a worthwhile undertaking for all Malaysians before the                                                                                                
interest starts to wane.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
As mentioned earlier, the timing is just right - the economy                                                                                          
is continuing on a good stretch for a few years more, the                                                                                             
people are enthusiastic and the challenges are still out                                                                                              
there.