Opinions and Criticisms

In the Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (ISM) when members have opinions on government policy, a subcommittee was formed to draft and forward to the government letters or memorandums either through our own institution, or together with our allied professions i.e. architect, engineer, planner, etc, or through whatever means that would be effective. You don’t just talk and have a “pity party” to voice your opinions to whoever on what is wrong in the industry or country.

But it saddened me that when it comes to as a layperson each of us felt that it is absolutely appropriate to criticize with strong opinions through emails and feedbacks – and felt good about it. Then we have sweeping statements like “NEP is a failure because there is still hardcore poverty” – as if that is the only indicator and they themselves are not the outcome of the NEP, “FELDA is a failure” – discrediting all the good done especially to all children of Felda settlers who graduated with University degrees and having good life contributing to the economy, “Why only now Orang Asli were being assisted” – as if nothing had been done before, “PERKASA is a shame”, “Malays are eating the Malays” all categorizing – with absolute gloat because they’ve been there, done it and seen it all. These sometimes outrageous sweeping statements are actually akin to the old days of  semangat “kedai kopi”. It is very easy and satisfying – say as you see it – but not being responsible. We the silent majority, made to think that statements by government are always doctored and sugared turn to where else but all these blogs and emails (whose opinions may be fully baked or half baked). And at the end we were left frightened by the situations.

And so I say to all these highly educated bloggers and emailers who criticize through bouncing off emails and  blogs - come down from your high horse. At the very least PERKASA is doing something even if their opinions are difficult to chew, and Mahathir voiced his opinions through the newspapers to be heard – given no any other channel. Some bloggers have the audacity to ask Mahathir to shut up while they themselves were loud with their opinions within their own safe wall.

Go on get together, articulate your thoughts, opinions and criticisms objectively on what's wrong and why, never mind if you don't necessarily have answers but forward your two sens worth of options and solutions through memorandum, action group, pressure group, politician, letter to the editor or whatever means to be heard and be reckoned with. Don’t just criticize and provoke and leave it in the confine of anonymosity – there are a lot of bystanders who are young, naïve and impressionable who will believe whatever was written lock stock and barrel. Differentiate yourselves and your intellectual gang from those fly-by-night opinionated self-righteous touch n go bloggers, and form a pressure group for the betterment of the Muslim, Malays, Malaysians etc. Make a difference – its hard work but must be done since you have the intellect and your heart is at the right place.