By S. Hadi Abdullah                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
THE last decade has witnessed many changes in our working                                                                                             
environment, among which is the large number of foreigners                                                                                            
seeking employment in Malaysia.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
The sophisticated and technical expertise calls for the                                                                                               
employment of expatriates and professionals working alongside                                                                                         
Malaysians, in huge billion-ringgit projects. The different                                                                                           
cultural and educational backgrounds have brought forth some                                                                                          
lessons.                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
A couple of weeks ago, MIM ran a programme for a multinational                                                                                        
company at Awana, Genting Highlands.  My two colleagues and I                                                                                         
were the course leaders for the group of 33 participants of                                                                                           
whom 11 were expatriates from England, Australia and Ireland.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
The participants comprised engineers, quantity surveyors and                                                                                          
managers. Most of them were diploma or degree-holders.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
During, before and after the course, certain salient features                                                                                         
about the behaviour of the Malaysian participants as against                                                                                          
that of the expatriates surfaced.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
Generally, the Malaysians were loud during tea breaks, in the                                                                                         
corridors and in the toilet. During the training sessions,                                                                                            
they were relatively quiet, allowing the expatriates to                                                                                               
dominate.                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
For example, during group discussions, it was the expatriates                                                                                         
who stood at the flip-chart board and started the discussions.                                                                                        
When it came to presentation, the expatriates volunteered,                                                                                            
although the Malaysians outnumbered them by three to one.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
The course also involved some outdoor experience-learning type                                                                                        
of exercise. Even here, the Malaysians were quite happy to let                                                                                        
the expatriates do the spadework. There were a few exceptions                                                                                         
but they were "outnumbered."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
Just last week, another training programme at Awana involved                                                                                          
an expatriate who was a co-ordinator/director. His                                                                                                    
thoroughness was praiseworthy, although it was a bit on the                                                                                           
forceful side.                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
On both these occasions, the expatriates seemed to be working                                                                                         
towards excellence or dominance or both. They displayed very                                                                                          
good knowledge about their jobs and current affairs. They                                                                                             
seemed to want to lead, although one cannot say that they were                                                                                        
"natural" leaders. They were not afraid to make mistakes.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
Most of them had a good command of the English language and                                                                                           
spoke with authority. They stood tall and erect, displaying                                                                                           
confidence and "command" when they made a presentation.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
On the other hand, most of the Malaysians did not display that                                                                                        
much know-how, or those who knew kept quiet. However, they did                                                                                        
converse fairly well outside the seminar room.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
Few volunteered to take the lead; those who were told to lead                                                                                         
did not "take control" and run the show. Our presentation                                                                                   
skills could do with some polishing.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
I am aware that one swallow does not make a summer, however,                                                                                          
some of us do look up to the "white men" - both physically and                                                                              
otherwise.                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
This is clearly seen in-the way we serve our people compared                                                                                          
to a westerner in our hotels, shops, airlines and elsewhere.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
Is it neo-colonialism our past history that is making us                                                                                              
willingly give away to the expatriates, or is it the eastern                                                                                          
humility that makes us stand back and let them take the lead?                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
Is it our education system, our childhood training, our lack                                                                                          
of verbal skills, our size, our knowledge base, or our                                                                                                
negative attitude that is making us behave so?                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
What is it that makes them tick and shine? The "white men's                                                                                      
burden" is supposed to be long gone.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
On the other hand, is it their training, education, their                                                                                             
custom to challenge and "confront" or their feeling that they                                                                               
have been our colonial masters and "dictators" of our                                                                                       
development that make them stand out? Or do they simply take                                                                                          
it upon themselves to "keep their flag flying?"                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
The panacea for many of these questions starts from a tender                                                                                          
age.  Parents need to provide early "traffic signals" to their                                                                              
children. Encourage them to speak up, sing, dance, get                                                                                                
involved in drama, scouting and other extracurricular                                                                                                 
activities. Help them to role model themselves and build their                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
confidence.                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
I am reminded of a seven-yearold boy I met at a hypermarket in                                                                                        
Shah Alam. That young Malaysian could converse well; he asked                                                                                         
me who I was waiting for and why as an adult I did not go in.                                                                                         
He said he was looking after his four-yearold sister while his                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
mother was inside shopping. I am sure this boy will grow up to                                                                                        
be a confident individual.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
Our education system should do more by encouraging our young                                                                                          
to think, speak their mind, generally be gutsy and                                                                                                    
enterprising. This should not be at the expense of respect for                                                                                        
the elders and community at large.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
Looking up to the westerner in the older generation is                                                                                                
understandable although not welcome. Perhaps some of them find                                                                                        
it difficult to pull out of the Tuan and Ma'am mentality.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
However, the young (the post independence workforce) have no                                                                                          
reason to feel this way. People of an independent nation                                                                                              
should talk to others on equal footing.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
Organisations should train their people in presentation                                                                                               
skills, language command and expose them to the international                                                                                         
arena. Managers on their part should identify their weaknesses                                                                                        
and make amends accordingly.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
If Malaysia aims to be a developed nation by 2020, its                                                                                                
managers, let alone leaders, will have to stand tall. They                                                                                            
have to speak their minds without being offensive. If there is                                                                                        
a need to lock eyes, so be it.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
We cannot expect to make inroads into foreign countries                                                                                               
without being confident, knowledgeable, strong, willing,                                                                                              
expressive, sincere and focused. If we are falling short, then                                                                                        
we must take immediate steps to overcome them. Mostly, it is                                                                                          
all in the mind.                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
A couple of years ago when I had to lead a course that                                                                                                
involved expatriates, it made me "nervous and worried." It                                                                                  
also meant that I had to work hard, prepare and deliver well.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
The participants did not turn out to be the "giants" I                                                                                      
imagined them to be they were certainly intelligent,                                                                                                  
challenging, straightforward and, most of all, appreciative.                                                                                          
They can be said to be interesting, and they help to stimulate                                                                                        
discussion. In fact, they were no different from other                                                                                                
participants.                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
Those of us who are awed by foreigners need to take a good                                                                                            
look at ourselves and take positive steps to improve                                                                                                  
ourselves. If we know our jobs well, are willing to learn and                                                                                         
build sufficient confidence, we should be able to face                                                                                                
difficult situations.                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
Express yourself at seminars or meetings, and don't wait to                                                                                           
get to the corridor to do so. Remember, we have many borders                                                                                          
to cross and the world to conquer. We can only do so by                                                                                               
standing tall and confident.