Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Am I a Disloyal Malaysian?
I came across the comment below pertaining to my “Our Honorable Perdana Menteri” write-up on the Malaysia Today’s website recently.
kingmaker65 wrote:
staying in Hong Kong and got the "Cheek" to call people hypocrite? a (deleted)like you shoudn't talk or give ideas. be a hongkey is better then talking abour Sabah la, sarawak la or even IPOH in that matter. Pay your taxes in Hong Kong & got the cheek to talk about Malaysia.. banyak cantik lu punya muka Malaysia Abroad. i thing you are the MOST HYPOCRITE person I ever know writing such rubbish.
I’m pasting it not because I’m all riled up over the comment but because I sincerely think that it makes interesting debate. I guess for us Malaysians abroad the issues about our loyalty and hence, our right to speak about Malaysian matters will always be subjected to question by some people back home. It is indeed a price that we have to pay. In fact, I have come across similar comments addressed at M. Bakri Musa. And this is a man who has written books and offered his critical inputs about the country. To me, he is more loyal than many other Malaysians simply because he cares enough to write. After all, how many Malaysians are willing to sacrifice their spare time to do the required research and then, writing a book, which is no easy task? I’m sure not many.
Anyway, perhaps I can share the reasons of why I am in Hong Kong in my later postings if readers are interested to know but for now, let us debate in a civilized manner about the two issues mentioned. I will throw some questions which hopefully, readers may be able to answer.
Let us first look at the question of loyalty. What does loyalty mean in today’s world? Lets say I’m paying foreign taxes and contributing to a foreign economy but have never ever robbed or stolen from fellow Malaysians or involved myself in corruption unlike so many of our present politicians. Does that make them more loyal Malaysians than me just because they reside at home and I do not? Similarly, if a Malaysian company employs an American expert to work in KL, does that make him a disloyal American once he stepped onto our shores? Also, there are thousands of Indonesians earning a living as a maid in Hong Kong. Can I say that they are all disloyal Indonesians? I don’t know, because as the world shrinks, the adventure to seek a better or different life away from home is a norm, not an exception. There are now millions of people of all nationalities working far away from their own countries for a variety of reasons and I can’t say that they are all disloyal citizens, can I?
I’m also of the opinion that as the world becomes borderless, the importance of loyalty has also diminished greatly. Today, if you have the qualification, talent or experience, any country will welcome you with open arms. They are certainly not looking for your loyalty but your worth as a human capital and the positive contributions that you can make to their countries. Similarly, one of Malaysia’s big tasks today is to woo and retain talent, not loyalty for talent will naturally go to wherever that have better prospects regardless of whether loyalty exists or not.
Now, we turn to the issue of our right to speak. If I see wrong-doings and injustices happening in my own country and I remain silent because I’m abroad, would that make me a better Malaysian? Does it mean that I need to keep my eyes, ears and mouth shut about issues in Malaysia just because I pay taxes to the Hong Kong government? If that is indeed the case, does it also mean that the American mentioned above has forfeited his right to comment about George W. Bush and the war in Iraq when he made KL his place of residence? And lastly, does it really matter whether I’m posting from KL or Hong Kong when the issues are the same at wherever I may be?
Anyway, I can perfectly understand the sentiments of some people back home regarding overseas Malaysians like me because we do not seemed to be doing our part for Malaysia’s development and economy. So, I may be a disloyal citizen or a hypocrite to some. That is something that I can accept in good faith. But I certainly do not agree that I do not have the right to speak for I still believe in the notion of freedom of expression. The freedom to speak at wherever we may be at whatever issues confronting us as citizens of the world. After all, it is through speech and writings that we are able to learn, share, understand and exchange our views and ideas and without them, we might as well be mute, deaf and dumb.
kingmaker65 wrote:
staying in Hong Kong and got the "Cheek" to call people hypocrite? a (deleted)
I’m pasting it not because I’m all riled up over the comment but because I sincerely think that it makes interesting debate. I guess for us Malaysians abroad the issues about our loyalty and hence, our right to speak about Malaysian matters will always be subjected to question by some people back home. It is indeed a price that we have to pay. In fact, I have come across similar comments addressed at M. Bakri Musa. And this is a man who has written books and offered his critical inputs about the country. To me, he is more loyal than many other Malaysians simply because he cares enough to write. After all, how many Malaysians are willing to sacrifice their spare time to do the required research and then, writing a book, which is no easy task? I’m sure not many.
Anyway, perhaps I can share the reasons of why I am in Hong Kong in my later postings if readers are interested to know but for now, let us debate in a civilized manner about the two issues mentioned. I will throw some questions which hopefully, readers may be able to answer.
Let us first look at the question of loyalty. What does loyalty mean in today’s world? Lets say I’m paying foreign taxes and contributing to a foreign economy but have never ever robbed or stolen from fellow Malaysians or involved myself in corruption unlike so many of our present politicians. Does that make them more loyal Malaysians than me just because they reside at home and I do not? Similarly, if a Malaysian company employs an American expert to work in KL, does that make him a disloyal American once he stepped onto our shores? Also, there are thousands of Indonesians earning a living as a maid in Hong Kong. Can I say that they are all disloyal Indonesians? I don’t know, because as the world shrinks, the adventure to seek a better or different life away from home is a norm, not an exception. There are now millions of people of all nationalities working far away from their own countries for a variety of reasons and I can’t say that they are all disloyal citizens, can I?
I’m also of the opinion that as the world becomes borderless, the importance of loyalty has also diminished greatly. Today, if you have the qualification, talent or experience, any country will welcome you with open arms. They are certainly not looking for your loyalty but your worth as a human capital and the positive contributions that you can make to their countries. Similarly, one of Malaysia’s big tasks today is to woo and retain talent, not loyalty for talent will naturally go to wherever that have better prospects regardless of whether loyalty exists or not.
Now, we turn to the issue of our right to speak. If I see wrong-doings and injustices happening in my own country and I remain silent because I’m abroad, would that make me a better Malaysian? Does it mean that I need to keep my eyes, ears and mouth shut about issues in Malaysia just because I pay taxes to the Hong Kong government? If that is indeed the case, does it also mean that the American mentioned above has forfeited his right to comment about George W. Bush and the war in Iraq when he made KL his place of residence? And lastly, does it really matter whether I’m posting from KL or Hong Kong when the issues are the same at wherever I may be?
Anyway, I can perfectly understand the sentiments of some people back home regarding overseas Malaysians like me because we do not seemed to be doing our part for Malaysia’s development and economy. So, I may be a disloyal citizen or a hypocrite to some. That is something that I can accept in good faith. But I certainly do not agree that I do not have the right to speak for I still believe in the notion of freedom of expression. The freedom to speak at wherever we may be at whatever issues confronting us as citizens of the world. After all, it is through speech and writings that we are able to learn, share, understand and exchange our views and ideas and without them, we might as well be mute, deaf and dumb.
Labels: Debate
# posted by Malaysian Abroad @ 9/18/2007 
Comments:
<< Home
I would have laughed if not for the tragedy that there are many kingmaker65's back home who believe that if one works and pays taxes abroad, then he/she is unpatriotic. They forget that even the Malaysian government, through Khazanah, invests overseas and horrors, also pay taxes overseas! They obviously don't realize they also pay taxes overseas albeit indirectly when they buy anything imported.
There's only one explanation for this low-IQ comprehension of the global economy. He's a cybertrooper. Probably studied up to form 5 only and was a despatch clerk who happens to know some English. So don't take it seriously.
Speaking of loyalty and patriotism my definition of an unpatriot is someone who works actively to undermine a country's constitution. Last I checked, Malaysians are guaranteed the right to be heard. By telling a citizen he/she have no right to speak, they are not respecting the constitution. Now that's being disloyal. LOL!
There's only one explanation for this low-IQ comprehension of the global economy. He's a cybertrooper. Probably studied up to form 5 only and was a despatch clerk who happens to know some English. So don't take it seriously.
Speaking of loyalty and patriotism my definition of an unpatriot is someone who works actively to undermine a country's constitution. Last I checked, Malaysians are guaranteed the right to be heard. By telling a citizen he/she have no right to speak, they are not respecting the constitution. Now that's being disloyal. LOL!
# posted by 
: September 18, 2007 at 8:21 PM
: September 18, 2007 at 8:21 PM
Honest views for reasonable people,though it might not reach those who nick themselves "kingmaker". Keep going!
# posted by : September 18, 2007 at 9:24 PM
: September 18, 2007 at 9:24 PM
NOW I feel more confident to write wherever I may be......
# posted by : September 19, 2007 at 6:26 AM
: September 19, 2007 at 6:26 AM
Don't worry, I'm not taking the comment seriously. And this post is not meant as a reply to his comment because in cyberspace certain comments are best ignored. I guess the purpose I posted this is to make Malaysians think and debate about the issues involved.
no, you are not a disloyal malaysian. You are rational, free-thinking malaysian. Here-ah, there is no real democracy, no freedom of speech, corruption, brain-washing medias and rising crime rate. Malaysia Boleh! But not the BN-controlled government!
Post a Comment
# posted by : September 21, 2007 at 11:52 PM
: September 21, 2007 at 11:52 PM Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]