5/12/12 IN THE MIND OF THE RURAL MALAYS.....

Most politicians had been sounding great, eloquently toying the idea that the rural demography had changed. In fact changing drastically. That is a fact. That is a reality. But not much had really did a thorough analysis what exactly those changes are? Worst, nobody really had debated either in the Parliament, Senate, or State Legislative Council (DUN) what exactly it is and what are the significant effects of it. Probably because we are the typical Malays, we take thing for granted, and we live with it. When are we going to have an investigative and rationalizing mind?

(2) I was having some talks with the Tambirat people about a week ago. Again last night I met with a group of key people from Moyan Ulu, Serpan, and Moyan Laut. My idea was to explore on how to manage and utilize the small left over, harta sekangkang kera of the rural Malays land asset into a real long term and growing economic gains among them. My present concern is long term and ever growing economic gains. The two development parameters must be strongly blended. It must have long term and ever growing gainful effects. In the 1980s and 1990s, such term is always being referred as sustainable development. It can't be of just having long term effect but the significant effect must never plateau in the near future.

(3)But in today lives and development, such great philosophy never or least materialized. A very good example of this is the drainage system within not only Asajaya, Sebangan-Sebuyau, Stumbin-Bijat, Kabong-Nyabor, Matu-Daro, but there are numerous all over the State. The drains were provided to the best standard design, but to the least maintainance practices. Worst, in the formulation of the Project, the planners came with the best objectives, yet if those objectives or KPIs are now measured, we will see the Project is nothing more but a mere gainful contractual works for few. The target groups, just got the drains, but not the totality real objectives of the Projects. Thus, the issue of poverty, land optimization, improvement of quality of life, etc are still a faraway dreams. In fact the real weaknesses of the Project were indeed a poor KPIs setting. The Project Monitoring and Evaluation was done not to gauge the objectivity of the Project but more toward ensuring contractual accomplishment. This is what in those day being said as lain cakap, lain bikin!. This in fact remain to this day in most public expenditure.Our Budget is expenditure based, not on real productive growth intention.

(4) In the meeting, though I was dealing with a small group of people at their own free will attendance, I could feel the diversity of knowledge, experience and most interestingly their thinking process. Age structure definitely diverse. Gender attitude very much differs. Discussion participation to certain extend could be very mind challenging. But one thing that was very glaring, their views of economic development had changed drastically. All not because they are eager to participate or rejected the idea, but most due to the nature of their sekangkang kera asset owning. They can't see the significant gain of whatever proposed economic Project for them. Say how much could an acre or a hectare of oil palm earning if their share in the venture is only 30-40% of the whole Plantation development? Say at today price of RM400.00/Mt FFB, the most Net Profit of an acre venture would be around RM3,000.00/acre/year. Thus a 30-40% equity would only give the owner RM1,000.00-1,200.00/yr. In deed now aday, there is not much rural Malays whom having more than two hectares or five acres of land per family basis. Most would be in the range of 1-3 acres. All those large farmland had been fragmented among the siblings. Thus demographic and asset owning structural changes among the rural Malays had cause mind bogging to social development planners. To the end nothing serious could be done. The Malays then accept the fact that it is much worth to sell the land to the capitalist rather wasting their time thinking the fruit on other efforts of such land. With some education and skill, there then migrated to town, initially cramped into slum places and later house into bird nesting residential areas

(5) What would be the best solution? As I had many times said, Democracy and Capitalism are not the answer to all these problems, be they in nrural or urban areas. Socialism and Communism had shown advanced failure. So what next? Religious approach? Which religion? Christianity and Judaism? Islam? How? If we had opened up our mind to the concept of "We are mere guardian, trustee to Allah creations and awards" then the solution would be very clear. But, unfortunately, the economy of the Muslim States be it in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and even the Arabs, are all not in the good hand of the Muslim. Thus, how could the Muslim take control of those? The Muslim was once the guardian to all these, but their ignorance made all slipped to Capitalism ie the Judaism-Christianity instrument to convert the whole world into their greedy culture. Are we too late? I believe not. Then what should we do?

(6) First thing first. The Muslim leaders must be clean, dedicated and brilliant. As a point for discussion, I would love to present two Malaysian prominent leaders. Nik Aziz Nik Mat is clean, but he lack the governing dedication and knowledge. He failed to prosper the Umah. Kelantan indeed is superficially harmony. To me, Najib is half brilliant, but I doubt he is dedicated and clean. He does look dedicated and clean, but inwardly does he? Thus he also failed to bring prosperity and harmony among the Umah. In deed we will never have someone who is whole-in-one great. He will never ever be coming again. He had died. His period is finished. Allah had made it clear: "The knowledge owns by one, is just a drop of water of an ocean". This verse could mean so wide. But let me narrowed to certain application ie one had limited capacity, but two heads always do better than one. Thus the solution is to closely adhere to what the wisdom of the old Malays had said: "Bulat air kerana pembentung, bulat kata kerana maupakat". Couldn't the cleanliness of Nik Aziz, with the half brilliant of Najib be combined with the other strength of the circling Umah to provide the full cleanliness, dedication and brilliant work force in this nation building. Najib and Nik Aziz should not be too greedy of this worldly recognition, they should work hard to be as close to sufaat Muhammad SAW in hereafter.

(7) In today lives, one will never bother what governing philosophy are we applying. To all, the most important is that their fundamental rights must be protected and they will never worst off. Our present National and State asset management had to be relook. Collectivity in the Islmaic true sense must be explored. The Umah must gain great benefit from all those assets. We must take note, Heaven was not created solely for Adam-Eve. It is the house for all good Umah. Thus, our sense should jive with such principle. Our Socio-economic development and management should work along such principle. Umar Al Khataanb had pave the way, and it is our collectivity to fine tune where he has left.

(8) For ther rural Malays (and the other disadvantage), I do hope the government is pushing hard to strengthen or empowering their economic asset and development management. Time has come, for the Large Corporation to work closely with the government to restyructure our business entities. I believe, Taib Mahmud and Tun Razak for that matter had made some headway, but further enhancement is of immediate needs. Najib should push his 1Malaysia slogan into a real forceful Nation Building Strategies. May Allah bless them and us with all the wisdoms to do the best for all.

Kuching, Sarawak
11 Dec., 2012