Ten ways to make a difference
By OON YEOH
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
I often hear people, young and old alike, who say that there’s nothing they can do to make a difference. And thus, they have given themselves the license to be apathetic.
That’s the typical Malaysian tidak apa attitude. And it’s something that will affect our collective future if nothing is done about it. So, what can YOU do?
Start with yourself. Below are 10 ideas that you can take up so you can be the change you wish to see. Most of them will appear painfully obvious but if you can do just five of them, you’d be well on your way towards making a real difference.
1. Read more
It’s often said that Malaysians don’t read enough, and it’s quite true. In this day and age, where the Internet is quite easily accessible, especially for those who live in urban areas – and certainly for those who read theCICAK – there’s no excuse not to devour information. The Web is a vast resource of knowledge. Find online resources relating to whatever you’re interested in and sink your teeth into the subject.
2. Think
It’s not just enough to read, you have to think too. Not just in passing. Contemplate. Whenever you read something that interests you, ask yourself what your opinion is on the matter. You should be clear about your stance on all the key issues that are important to you. But be aware of the opposing argument as well.
3. Write letters to the editor
Newspapers love to receive highly-opinionated comments from their readers. Many letters to the editor are written by older people, so if you’re someone young and you write in with some well-considered comments, chances of your letter getting published are high. So, read the papers and voice your views.
4. Do some blogging or podcasting
Go to http://blogger.com or http://mypodcast.com respectively to get started in these activities. Blog or podcast your views on whatever buzz topics tickle your fancy. But make them meaningful. Put some thought into what you write or record so you can contribute meaningfully to the discussion on the hot key issues of the day.
5. Start a discussion group
People don’t talk enough to each other. This is true at work and outside of work. We are so busy doing our own things that we can easily get holed up in our virtual ivory towers without realizing it. Gather a few friends with common interests (though not necessarily common viewpoints) and have a discussion about topics of common interest. If physical meet ups are hard, do them through e-groups.
6. Attend public seminars
There are many seminars, forums and talks being held all the time around the city. Some of them are political events but there are also those that focus on career, the environment, ICT and so on. Go to those events relevant to your area of interest to learn new things and to network with others.
7. Join an NGO
There are plenty of non-governmental agencies focusing on different social, political and economic matters. Find the one whose cause you also feel strongly about and volunteer to help out. It’s a great way to get to know like-minded people and to be in the thick of things.
8. Register to vote
If you’re 21 or older, you should register to vote. People always say one vote doesn’t make a difference but there have been key election results decided on the basis of a few hundred votes. If a few hundred potential voters bothered to have registered and voted, a big difference could have been made. Voting is your right. It’s also your duty.
9. Engage your MP
Find out who your Member of Parliament is and the next time he or she is in your area, make a point to show up and introduce yourself to that person. As a constituent, you have a right to the MP’s time. Talk to your MP and highlight the issues that are important to you. Get used to talking to politicians. It’s a good way to become politically active without being overly so.
10. Lead by example
Let’s face it, most people are apathetic. There’s no better way to motivate people than to lead by example. Do some of the things that are highlighted in this article. Let your friends know that these things are important to you and that you welcome their participation too. In time, they will naturally become curious. This kind of thing can be infectious, in a good way.
–
OON YEOH is a guest contributor for theCICAK.
Oon Yeoh is a former deputy news editor at The Sun (Malaysia) and ex-associate editor of The Edge (Singapore). He is currently doing research on mobile and Internet services for a Norwegian telco. Visit his site.
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Comment of the week
I defend my right as a Malaysian to talk about anything that concerns Malaysia.
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Make it a point to spend your weekend in non-monetary ways, like instead of thinking of lining up for meatballs in IKEA or *stealing* their pencils, maybe it would be interesting to write a simple letter through Amnesty International.
This might be redundant, but, it seems to be the mother of all the other issues. Make it a point to take people’s views as OPINIONS, agree to disagree, and if it really is important to you get your ass moving on finding out all sides of that story and making your OWN conclusions(basically research la)
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I have shunned myself from politics due to my lack of control in voicing my own thoughts and also the bad impression I’m getting from Malaysia’s political race. Although, I do agree on your steps of becoming a better citizen not just in Malaysia but other countries as well.
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Think you’ve listed the perfectly connected Malaysian. Does anyone know someone who does all this?
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I don’t know anybody who does all 10 things. I do know quite a few people who do none at all. And that’s just a pity. The key is not to try to do all at once but to start with some. Every journey begins with a few first steps.
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Wow. I thought I’d never see it. An article by a Malaysian that doesn’t suck. I could never have thought up of a better list myself.
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in that top 10 list and comments so far, there has been no mention of “joining the public service” to make a difference.
is that a worthwhile pursuit to make a difference, or have we all given up already?
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there are malaysians out there who do care, maybe not many but there are. We should have more faith in our own people!
Great article hope more young malaysians will take up those methods to make a differance.
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Oh dear heavens, my comment’s a minus 2! lol!
Adriene, could you please clarify what you meant by public service?
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aput, sorry, what i meant was civil service, as in a govt servant.
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-3 for my comment? Talk about being polarizing. (Where is the other pole?)
Really, I wonder how many people here grasp the genius of the list. It reflects brutally sharp observation. Every point is perfectly doable without requiring abnormally high energy levels (unlike starting this forum here and babying it to the energy it has now). And the action points will move bloody mountains if enough people do it (you’ll just have to take my word on this). It is also about something that truly, truly matters. (Unlike the post about whether to cane or not to cane convicts). Malaysians must learn to boo newspaper editors out of their offices. BOO! Who do you think we are, stupid? BOOOOO!
The same cannot be said for the comments here (except mine). In fact, many of the comments here reflect the level of intellectual sophistication of the Malaysian population at large. (Right at the bottom of the barrel. No, no, you have to scrape harder. Harder, I said!).
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Adriene, I fail to see how being a civil servant has any pull on the subject at hand.
If anything, being a civil servant in our country is basically a stamp that says you have to support the government.
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Thank you for sharing. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” is one of my favourite quotes, and am living it with my practise.
Adriene, glad to see you here. Hope all is well for you over there in Japan.
Regards,
Florence Lim
12 May 2007
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I was just wondering, about the 10 steps, are they arranged in such a way that they are supposed to be fulfilled one after another, in that manner? I am guessing that it isn’t, but I have the impression that it should be gradual. e.g. you can’t very well write comments to editors or discuss issues if you don’t feel like you are well-read. Because that’s usually my case! (^_^!)
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Wonderful list. The ‘view’ we want to see is created by us ourselves!
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to me as a student, a vast majority seem blissfully unaware of the issues our own country faces (what more to say the world), myself included at times.
I would kill to have these issues discussed in class, instead of redundant topics that our local newspaper brings up at times like cock-fighting. (forgive me, animal activists out there). What of 3rd world countries getting expired drugs? what of genocides that still go on? education is supposed to be about information as well. but truth is, the Malaysian one at times doesn’t seem so.
ignorance is bliss? I beg to differ.
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This article does suggest realistic ways to make a difference and it does of course apply to Malaysians. I agree with the writer about the Malaysians having the “tidak apa” attitude, as long as it does not concern you, who cares? that attitude is just wrong and gets you no where. I have to say that teenagers these days are hardly aware of much that is happening in the country and don’t even discuss it, how are we supposed to lead this nation if we don’t know what’s happening? So I’m going to take up the challenge and start a discussion group
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