Empowering the Youth | Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mendung
The call for youth empowerment in Malaysia is as deafening as ever!
A reason why I started the ‘The Malaysian Outsider’ is for aspiring Malaysian youth to express more freely in a formidable force, proving stereotypes wrong in this blissful country of multi-ethinicity. Our generation could not afford to lose this privilege of borderless world in voicing out their concerns. In fact now is the time for all concerning citizens to work together in wisely differentiating the rights and wrongs of society.
I’m equally saddened by how biased the media is in our country; be it for pro-government or opposition. In the name of democracy, media plays a pivotal role to convey the truth be how bitter it can be rather than overshadowing the mindsets of majority with propagandas of any. Politics are too dominant that youth nowadays are losing interest to care about critical issues affecting our country as a whole. Throughout my experience back in high school, students aren’t allowed to discuss on certain aspects of concerns but to focus solely on academics while critical thinking is only left to answering essay questions. I have on rare occasions been advised not to be too ‘vocal’ for the fear of ISA detainment, how sad can anything else be when a high school student is refrained from voicing out opinions by educators themselves?
My personal conscience is shared by few others whose interest is not mainstreamed as accordingly by this fine infiltration, hence I decided to gather as many of them and join forces to empower more youth out there on a variety of life’s circumstances that are in need of a second thought. Even then, I’ll have to admit it’s not an easy task encouraging the already cocooned mindset to actually have a say on anything concerning our multi-racial community. Somebody has got to be there championing the needs of a better future as there are a lot more to be addressed, particularly from the perspective of youth themselves.
I’m lauding Prime Minister Najib’s concocted effort of 1Malaysia to promote racial unity – putting aside his extensive media coverage on the essence of his intentions, racial unity is deteriorating if not at worst of recent times. If we may narrow our scope of discussion to racial integrity in education, flaws can obviously be seen right from its every beginning where children are already divided into race and religion; unabling some (if not many) to comprehend the gist of unity. I believe Malaysia is among the few (if not the only one) to favor one race over another for university placement which is another stumbling block to Malaysia’s youth empowerment for the lack of understanding and oblivion of ‘Malaysia for all’.
Young generation need to embrace the gist of unity since young | Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ntlam
Why is there a need to stress on racial survival when it’s already made clear that we’re all Malaysians for a good half-century?
Why are people still in fear of losing Malaysia to the ‘non-deservings’ even if the system itself is flawed in many ways?
Why can’t we unite and consider ourselves as Malaysians rather than restricting ourselves to superiority of one?
It’s inevitable for more to break free and realise the importance of youth empowerment in bringing changes, but how soon can that be achieved remains unanswerable. We’re in a difficult phase of upstaging the conventional method of educating to inculcate a sense of love and awareness for our country. In fact, even History textbooks of Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka are politically-inclined in some aspects of elaborations. Unless one is a prominent public figure to insinuate positive energy to our much ignorant younger generation, the future looks bleak without activists constantly voicing out loud be it with any means.
Fahmi Reza has been phenomenal with his "10 Tahun Sebelum Merdeka" & "Student Power" | Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/supaztyler/
One fine example is Fahmi Reza who tirelessly gave out lectures in public and private institutions on how students too can make a difference with proper planning and outline of ideas in every possible way there is; as how my fellow LoyarBurokkers are doing by jotting down anything necessary for the public to be informed of.
Despite all the effort, the need for youth empowerment can’t still be manifested in the majority of younger generation. There are the few who think Malaysia is a haven for non-Bumis thus implying the need of ‘being grateful for what they have’. Racial tension is still not a problem of the past when racist slurs and insults are still hurled at without shame to the spirit of togetherness. If educated leading figures can afford to utter such statements degrading another in public’s eyes, what more our youth who’s gullible with sentiments especially after being spoon-fed with political propagandas since the early days of school?
I’ve always thought it’d be a dream come true if more concerned youth can join the bandwagon and together we strive for a better future; by making our voices be heard as one despite the young age! Nothing is too late or too early as long as our intentions are for the good of all! One Malay proverb “kecil kecil cili api” is ‘spicy’ enough for anyone to get a bite on regardless of who you may be.
Hafidzi Razali is a rookie first-timer on Loyarburok.com! He probably suits best as the baby monkey of Loyarburok; being a 19-year old first-year Law student (like, who else can beat that!). He set up ‘The Malaysian Outsider’ for youth empowerment & to increase awareness among Malaysian youth.
He probably suits best as the baby monkey of Loyarburok; being a 19-year old first-year Law student (like, who else can beat that!). He set up ‘The Malaysian Outsider’ (myrumbles.wordpress.com) for youth empowerment & to increase awareness among Malaysian youth. His daily concerns are shared on Twitter @hafidzirazali
Posted on 12 March 2011. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
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