Hope for Malaysia: a new breed of young politicians

Cheng posted this in Facebook:

Just as I was getting tired of Malaysian politics, there is some hope that this is only a passing phase of our maturing democracy. Our bright young leaders (with our firm support) will see to that... =.)
My comment:
You are one of the missing links!

Just a father's wish that his daughter gets to experience politics when he is still around. To me, it is a sort of national service, not the usual ambition for position and wealth. As I have stated in one of my earlier posts, it is not a bed of roses for sincere politicians with the nation at heart (Jeff Ooi's experience that he is worse off financially is a case in mind). When it gets too much, perhaps it is time for others with similar mission to take over. This is unlike those where power means a chance to accumulate immense wealth and there is the usual reluctance to relinquish it.

And it has to do with the joint statement by Nurul Izzah and Nik Nazmi: Working for Malaysia's future

which has encouraged Anas Zubedy to write this letter to Malaysiakini:

Lead the Hypo charge, Nurul and Nik
Anas Zubedy | Apr 27, 09 4:31pm
I find PKR's Nurul Izzah and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad refreshing. Do read their article Working for Malaysia's future.

What I find most pertinent in this co-written article is its ending. Usually it is the ending of a letter or note that conveys the innermost message. They said, I quote, ‘PKR will continue to fight for change. The first battle is to fight to change ourselves for the better.'

While I may not agree with how they wrapped up certain issues within their article, but the fact that the two of them finished it with ‘changing from within' I see hope. They will still need to learn to unlearn the need to judge others using the ideal.

If they take this route, they will remain as an opposition, where the world is always wrong, they are always right. Putting the blame of their inadequacy and inaction to external factors ie, lack of resources or being blocked by an ‘evil enemy'.

But, as I said, I sense hope and potential. In the business world we call young talents like these Hypos - ie. High Potentials.

For Malaysia to grow and succeed, we need good people both in government and the opposition. It is not enough to have good people on either side. I think these two young MPs represent the future of their party, and if they mature further, may even lead the country.

I like the idea that the younger generation in Pakatan Rakyat from the various component parties actually find joy in working together. The spirit of fellowship is of utmost importance in making things happen. Something BN Hypos should seriously work on, too.

I deal and assist my clients with their Hypos usually within the context of implementing the organisation's mentor-mentee programme. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to meet really good and potential young minds. I see hope and keenness in their eyes.

They need polishing - and definitely guidance - in areas that require a ‘big picture conceptual worldview' and the need to be even-keeled. But most of them have the capacity to reach their potential.

CEOs and top management - some knowingly while others by intuition - basically pick and build young talents via four criteria. We have made it easier by coining the acronym ‘Capi' (also featured in our Xmas 2007 advert.

So what to look for in ‘Top Talents'?

Capacity
A person's capacity is the basic foundation of his or her ability to deliver. No amount of training or exposure can bring out what is expected from a talent if he or she lacks the capacity. Like a car engine, capacity determines the ability to perform under different circumstances. The larger the capacity, the greater the propensity to deliver.

Performance
True performance is about results, not efforts. Top talents do not play the blame game. Instead, top talents focus their energies on where the results are; they make things happen, they deliver. They are career-oriented, not job-oriented, delivering over and above what is required.

People Skills
Top talents deliver through working with and through people. They harness and focus the energy of others toward common goals. They are team leaders. Talents who prefer working alone are specialists, they are great support for top talents. Those who get results by stepping on the others lack the fourth criteria and must not be considered.

Integrity
Leadership must come with integrity - there is no compromise. Without integrity, talent is a liability. No matter how brilliant, knowledgeable or successful, a lack of integrity disqualifies any and all talent for any managerial position.

I have strong convictions that if we use these four criteria to choose our MPs and state assemby persons as well as leaders, this country will reach greater heights. I hope Nurul and Nik will use Capi to judge both their own people in Pakatan and their BN counterparts. Purge all those who fail in any of the above criteria. Check your own people, and ask them to leave.

Both BN and Pakatan, for example, must choose integrity and vote against party-hopping. In that way, the country will remain stable for five years even if either party wins a general election with just a simple majority (as opposed to a two-third majority).

If the Hypos in Pakatan (and BN) have the capacity to see the big picture conceptual framework, they will be able to see the wisdom in this idea. So even if for example Pakatan wins the next general election with a majority of just five seats, they will have the stability to prove themselves for five years - and Malaysia is stable and would have graduated to a two-party system - my goal.

As I see myself as neither BN nor Pakatan, I see myself belonging to a Middle Malaysia - a third voice if you must. Nurul and Nik correctly stated in their article, ‘Malaysia's leaders need to always listen and learn from the people, and this is something that we, the young leaders of Keadilan and Pakatan pledge to do'.

And do remember,
‘Reshape yourself through the power of your will.' - Bhagavad-Gita (6:5)
‘To conquer others needs strength; To conquer oneself is harder.' - Tao Te Ching - Chapter 33
‘Though one should conquer a million men in battlefields, yet he, indeed, is the noblest victor who has conquered himself.' - The Buddha (Dhammapada 103)
‘Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.' -Matthew 7:5
‘Verily, never will God change the fate (condition) of a people until they change it themselves.' The Quran 13 : 11
And Guru Nanak said, ‘To conquer the world, we must first conquer our own mind'.

All the best, young Malaysians potentials - in politics, government and businesses.

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