KHILAFAH SEORANG PEMUDA

Dalam setiap kurun waktu, kelmarin, kini dan esok, pemuda sentiasa berdiri di garisan hadapan . Baik sebagai pembela kebenaran yang gigih mahupun pembela kebatilan yang canggih. Periodisasi sejarah Malaysia moden memiliki keunikan tersendiri dalam melukis peranan pemuda menjayakan semua gerakan pembentukan Negara dan bangsa. Ia diasaskan  oleh kecemerlangan peranan pemuda disepanjang  sejarah peradaban Melayu yang bermula dengan Zaman Empayar Melaka bahkan empayar dunia yang lain. Simbol kecermelangan, kegemilangan dan keperkasaan para pemuda waktu itu antaranya ialah Laksamana Lima Bersaudara;  Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kesturi, Hang Lekir, dan Hang Lekiu.

            Rentetan sejarah yang berlaku khususnya di Malaysia menunjukkan babak peranan anak muda itu sudah terserlah sejak dahulu lagi, bahkan sekiranya kita kembali kepada sirah para anbiya seperti kisah nabi Yusuf, Ibrahim  yang berjuang pada waktu mudanya dalam bersolidariti untuk kemaslahatan ummat serta obligasinya terhadap arahan tuhan yakni Allah azza wa jalla. Rentetan sejarah melihatkan peranannya diteruskan sehingga pada hari ini, namun tidak ketinggalan didalam mana-mana perjuangan akan ada sahaja onar dalam duri, dalam perjuangan seperti mana permulaan bicara ini iaitu “pemuda sentiasa berdiri di garisan hadapan, baik sebagai pembela kebenaran yang gigih mahupun pembela kebatilan yang canggih” ini adalah norma dalam perjuangan dan sayugianya para pejuang kebenaran bersiap sedia dalam rintangan yang akan mendatang.

             Tidak dinafikan bahawa golongan anak muda tanpa mengira bangsa dan agam bergiat aktif dalam berpartisipasi dalam hal-hal politik, ekonomi, pentadbiran, pendidikan, kesihatan dan sebagainya. Berani saya katakana bahawa sudah banyak persatuan-persatuan anak muda yang mulai bertapak dan menunjukkan belangnya dalam arena politik dan sebagainya.  Contohnya, SMM, GM13, GAMIS, UMANY, ASPIRASI, Aman Kampus, Kami Sayang PM dan lain-lain. Merupakan contoh partisipasi anak muda yang dikenali sebagai generasi Y yang bergiat aktif dalam isu-isu setempat dan samada dalam skop yang kecil mahupun skop yang luas. Kelantangan mereka dalam hal-hal tertentu mendapat perhatian pelbagai pihak mahupun kerajaan atau pembangkang, ini kerana isu yang dibawa adalah bersifat sejagat, kontemporari, futuristik yang mana akan memberi kesan kepada kemaslahatan khususnya rakyat. Isu berkenaan TPPA, GST, subsidi bahan api, pilihanraya umum , krisis Syria, Pengulingan Morsi, Palestin, rasuah dalam pentadbiran, AUKU dan lain-lain adalah antara isu-isu yang diketengahkan oleh mereka melalui lajnah dan kaedah mereka yang tersendiri. Maka wajar anak muda pada hari ini berpartisipasi dalam hal-hal yang lebih bermanfaat kepada Negara dan tidak pula menafikan hal-hal manfaat yang lain yang dilakukan oleh mana-mana badan yang lain.

            Dalam pilihanraya yang lalu saya lihat partisipasi anak muda sangat tinggi. Mereka bukan sekadar menjadi pengundi malah terlibat juga dalam kempen. Pada hemat saya, ini adalah satu perkara yang sangat positif dan perlu diberi pujian. Ini menunjukkan bahawa anak muda mahu dilibatkan bersama dalam perancangan dan pelaksanaan polisi negara. Apatah lagi banyak dasar-dasar yang diputuskan memberi kesan langsung dalam kehidupan mereka seperti ekonomi, pendidikan dan kesihatan.Memang tidak dinafikan ada sesetengah anak muda mungkin meluahkan rasa tidak puas hati mereka dengan cara tidak betul. Malah ada yang terlalu radikal sehingga membawa kepada penangkapan. Namun apa yang perlu difokuskan disini ialah kesinambungan anak muda itu mampu diteruskan dengan berasaskan ilmu pengetahuan yang mantap dan kesedarannya untuk dimanfaatkan pada manusia sejagat.

            Pada peringkat anak mudak ramai dikalangan mereka gemar mengikut emosi, tinggal lagi pihak yang lebih berpengalaman perlu memberi ruang kepada mereka untuk menyalurkan tenaga atau cakra anak muda ini ke jalan yang betul. Di sinilah peranan NGO-NGO belia untuk membimbing dan memastikan perjuangan anak muda sentiasa mengikut lunas undang-undang dan memberi manfaat kepada masyarakat. Kuasa anak muda yang tidak terkawal hanya menyebabkan kekacauan yang berpanjangan. Pihak berkuasa juga telah mengumumkan satu perdamaian kebangsaan. Tindakan ini saya fikir akan membawa kepada pengukuhan Bangsa Malaysia. Di sinilah pihak berkuasa perlu memberi anak muda lebih banyak peranan untuk memastikan kejayaan dasar ini. Tidak tepat sekiranya perbincangan tentang Bangsa Malaysia hanya berkisar di antara generasi lama walhal generasi muda yang akan menentukan bentuk mana yang sesuai untuk dilaksanakan pada masa hadapan. Pemimpin sekarang baik dari parti pemerintah atau pembangkang perlu memberi kerangka manakala pelaksanaan pula biarlah anak muda yang menentukan. Dengan memberi peranan yang lebih besar, maka rasa tidak puas hati anak muda kini dapat disalurkan pada perjuangan yang lebih membina.

            Pendek kata, para pemuda adalah calon utama untuk merehabilitasi masadepan sekali gus membawa agama dan tanahair berada dalam zaman yang penuh dengan keajaiban inovasi dan sistem kehidupan baru dengan dengan akhlak dan aqidah yang kukuh. Para pemuda tidak sepatutnya menjadi sekam yang menyalakan kebakaran kerana terlalu taksub pada sesuatu ideology terutama kancah kepolitikan sehingga sanggup menentang kebajikan, keilmuan dan kebersamaan dan lebih malang sekiranya sanggup pula berseteru dengan keimanan dan ketaqwaan. Sedangkan masadepan yang diharapkan dari para pemuda-pemudi ialah untuk bersekutu buat perubahan dalam menjayakan kehidupan yang lebih berjaya dari kegagalan yang berlaku dalam generasi sebelumnya.

Charismatic Leader?

We often heard Mahathir Mohamd, Anwar Ibrahim, Bill Clinton, Erdogan, etc as such very charismatic leader in the world of politic arena, but the big question mark here, how it is look like to be?, Thus we will clarify together here. Charisma is not the objective assessment by followers of the leader's ability to meet followers' specific needs. It is a means by which people abdicate responsibility for any consistent, tough-minded evaluation of the outcome of specific policies.

Citizens put their trust in their leader, who will somehow take care of things. Charisma requires some psychological distance between leader and follower. Charismatic leaders are sufficiently distant from ordinary folks. A simplified and magical image is possible. Adherents and opponents react emotionally to charismatic personalities. The leader's portrait is global and not discriminating. Specific weaknesses are overlooked in the great leader.

In the life and death of former President Ronald Reagan, large numbers of people became "charisma hungry." This pressing need occurs in historical conditions in which religion wanes. Fear, anxiety, and existential dread result in the emergence of charismatic leaders. War, globalization, unemployment, demise of family, church, and civility bring on feelings of fear and apprehension. Conditions of fear produce continuing symptoms of anxiety. Citizenry distresses result in existential dread. People experience circumstances in which the rituals of their human existence become significantly impaired.

            The charismatic leader, under such conditions, may offer meaning and provide followers with a greater sense of community. In offering salvation from fear, anxiety, and existential dread, the charismatic leader creates new forms of safety, identity, and rituals. Crisis is important to the emergence of charismatic leadership. The charismatic leader, by virtue of unusual personal qualities, promises hope of salvation.

German sociologist Max Weber is the original guru on charisma. Weber analyzed the functions and exercise of power. Laws and traditional taboos of the particular culture or society need to be bypassed, abolished, or otherwise overcome. Laws, rules, regulations, customs, mores, taboos, routines, and certain ascribed standards must be circumvented. These traits are considered rational--grounded in prescribed ways of acting and behaving.

2.                 Weber identified charisma, or individual leadership, as largely emotional. Referred to as the cult of personality, charisma is thought to be irrational. The charismatic personality goes against the grain of how issues confronting the organization, or country, should be handled, dealt with, brokered, and accepted.

3.       the people, citizens, employees, followers, believers, converts, and masses must carry out the new edicts, laws, and policies of the organization, or government. A new rationality is established on the recently established cult of personality. Followers want to be persuaded, not coerced, into implementing dictates of the new realities.

            Charisma is not merely the appearance of a dynamic, excited, motivated, committed, passion-filled person. Charismatic persons persuade followers to change their old ways of responding to the country's challenges and problems. Citizens, as followers, are to act in creative, determined, sustained, and new ways to accomplish tasks assigned to the "wars" of the charismatic leader.
            The great man or woman arrives on the scene or comes from the ranks of common people. The charismatic leader dominates decision making regardless of the logic of his or her positions. Followers abandon rational thinking and follow the new leader, perhaps a Pied Piper, into an unknown future. In democracies, however, followers are often educated --and not easily seduced.

                To put charisma into operation .Karz delineates three types of interpersonal relations between charismatic’s personalities and followers.One type of charismatic leader may symbolize the followers ‘wishful solutions to internal conflicts .Instead of searching for deeper meaning and motives ,followers seek release from their internal conflict .They project their fear ,aggression ,and aspiration upon social measures that facilitate symbolic solution .In his or her personality and program ,the charismatic leader offers symbolic solution .

            A second type of charismatics leader entail s an aggressor ,or father figure ,who possesses overwhelming power that the followers is unable to escape the exercise of such power.In this type of interpersonal relation between leader and follower, there is no new ideology but the followers identify with the aggressor ,or father  figure. A third type of charismatic leader maintains an interpersonal relationship void of internal conflict with followers .In assuming that their charismatic leader may advance their interests magnify the power of their leader.

            A charismatics leader fail to fully develop the abilities of subordinates ,as they becomes overly dependent upon the leader .When the leader is absent ,the organization or nation will tend to flounders ,and when he or she departs for good ,it may fall to pieces. Charismatics  leader may  also inhibit communication. Subordinates become reluctant to give the leader unpleasant information or advise against policies that may be unwise .Often they lose the ability to discriminate between wise and unwise policies ,for they have surrendered much of their capacity for independent  judgment.

           History provides numerous examples of charismatic leaders who vigorously led their nations down the road to ruin. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini are two examples, but we do not have to turn to such extreme examples to see how charismatic leadership malfunction .While charisma is positive in many ways ,its main danger in public administration is the possibilities that a charismatics leader’s personally negate important advise and challenges from subordinate and citizen. In Malaysian context you should verify who is the charismatic leader based on this reading and hopefully you will know who is charismatic.


     -George Berkley John Rouse, John Rouse, The Craft of Public Administration, Ninth edition
     

EDUCATED MAN IS NOT FROM INSTITUTION

Eduction is the key, tapi pentafsirannya itu tidaklah seharusnya rigid kepada satu pemikiran sahaja, hayatilah...

MALAYSIA : THE WAY FORWARD TO HIGH INCOME NATION

Higher Income Nation, where refers to the Vision of 2020 of our master plan to become developed nation by the year 2020 and it was introduced by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohamad in the Sixth Malaysia Plan, 1991.  The vision calls for the nation to achieve self-sufficient industrialized nation by the year 2020, encompasses all aspects of life, from economic prosperity, social well-being, educational world class, political stability, as well as psychological balance. But, what it is exactly a high income nation? Why should it be a matter? Does it mean you will have higher income? Does it mean the cost of good will arise? Does it mean we all can retire in 2020 with the good lives? Yeah the appearance of this vision pretty good actually. Anyway, “do you know what high income nation is”?

First, let us get theoretical stuff far away. Currently the World Bank defined high income nation as the one with the per capita of Gross National Income (GNI) of USD 12,476.00 or higher and by 2020 this figure is projected to be USD 15,000.00 in the year 2020. That is the target of our government is set when dealing on this. Wait a minute! What is GNI? Well in case you missed it, why don’t you continue your reading with mini explanations on GNI and GDP concept of national income in order to further understanding in this reading. The Gross national income (GNI) consists of: the personal consumption expenditure, the gross private investment, the government consumption expenditures, the net income from assets abroad (net income receipts), and the gross exports of goods and services, after deducting two components: the gross imports of goods and services, and the indirect business taxes. The formula for GNP is:

Consumption + Government Expenditures + Investments + Exports + Foreign Production by U.S. Companies – Domestic Production by Foreign Companies = Gross National Product

While for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the market value of all officially recognized final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living; GDP per capita is not a measure of personal income.

In the 60^th, 70th and 80^th we were extensive developing economy, our labour cost were low and attracted foreign company to set up operation here (Malaysia). As industries always to minimize their cost, by placing their operating company in Malaysia may generate higher profit. But Malaysia should not depend on providing cheap labour. In fact, Malaysians nowadays are more desire a better life and we are no longer want to take on the lowest cost job, just look on any Mamak stall or café, you hardly find Malaysians working in there. On the other side it can be positive, where we inspiring towards a better paying job. But, how do we ensure the inclusiveness, that all of us can take part in high income economy? Well we have to look at ways in moving up the value chains to increase profitability.

We moved up the value chain by increasing the quality of our product and services, by being able to attract high wages, which in turns lead to higher GNI. The company like Intel, Western Digital and Strand Aerospace are no longer looking at Malaysia mainly to set up cost    effective’s assembly. They hiring Malaysians for their research and development (R&D) and engineering operation, it is example of successfully moving up the value chains by reaping the benefits that would contribute to citizen, would this Malaysians in turns, earning high salary and increasing local knowledge.

Another issue that we constantly hear is our purchasing power that is simply how much we can stretch out dollar or ringgit. Well maybe it is good to look on Big Mac index, it is simply an informal way of measuring purchasing-power parity between two currencies. It is based on the theory of purchasing-power parity (PPP), in the long run; exchange rates should adjust to equal the price of a basket of goods and services in different countries. This particular basket compare the price of Big Mac around the world and the basket consists of one McDonald’s Big Mac by compared it with the average price in America, $4.20. According to burgernomics, The Swiss franc is 62% overvalued: the exchange rate that would equalize the price of a Swiss Big Mac with an American one is only 0.96. The cheapest burger is found in India, where it cost jus  t $1.62 by taken the price of Maharaja Mac, made with Chicken instead of beef. According to The Economist, Malaysian Big Mac index’s was 40% undervalued against the dollar. On the other hand, we are overvalued country in the world after India, Ukraine, and Hong Kong. And that was supersizing us a lot.

But let’s come close to home, Singapore. It’s a developed nation now, moved from developing nation just like us. They manage to move up the manufactories and technology value chains head the many Southeast Asian country. There were also major leaders in financial services. But, Singapore is associated with the high cost of living. Thus, doesn't that mean we will have to deal with the higher cost in order to become high income nation? well ‘yes and no’. Certain thing will definitely cause more, if move up the values chain, but the certain basic necessities would still be subsidies by government to keep is affordable and we were always to desire cheaper cars and that is sure. But the main push towards high income nation is the ultimately to improve out quality of life, better health care, better education and even a better job.

What won’t changes though, is our need to continue to work hard, because the developed nations grower much slower pays dues to smaller margin of gains. But we could all be rich, that is gold worth working for. Thus, in achieving the Vision 2020 we all need to put our effort together by contributing to the nation in various aspects whether in politically, economically, technologically and so forth. So that, our desire for better lives in future will be guaranteed and our next generation will be in better lives.