MALAYSIA AS I SEE IT AFTER 54 YEARS - JAMES GONZALES (MALAYSIAN INSIDER)

Like everyone else, I grow older every year. I take it in my stride as advancing in age is an optionless game for all of us. It is not my age that gives me a sense of trepidation, but what is happening in our country as we celebrate 54 years of independence.

Why should I be concerned at my age? I am, after all, a senior citizen, and someone who has a reasonably comfortable life. The reason I worry is for the future of our children and grandchildren. As I ruminate over the events of the past one year, I see the country I live in as being ambiguous, reticent and bogged down in a self-made crisis, which should never have ever cropped-up in the first place.

The Malaya or Malaysia I grew-up in the 50s and 60s is today beyond recognition. When I was growing up, we, as children of all races — Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians — used to go to school, play games and celebrate with merriment all festivals. I am proud to belong to such a generation.

Today, I see a very polarised society, where our children only mix and associate with their own kind; definitely a disturbing trend in our country. We allow racial polarisation to permeate to all levels in society. It seems to be a gradient moving with no one trying to halt its rise. The minority seems to be trampling over the majority with their myopic and chauvinist views under the guise of nationalistic, racial and religious agendas.

Tolerance, understanding and mutual respect for one and other seems to have gone out of fashion. It is Malaysia’s multiracial population who are responsible for the fruits of our country’s success, peace, progress and prosperity. Malaysians of all races and foreign soldiers fought side-by-side against a common enemy during the emergency from 1948-60.

Many made the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives for their beloved country.
It was the unity and sacrifices of all our people which enabled us to defeat the enemy, and for us to live in peace and harmony today. We stood together again when faced with the confrontation with Indonesia in the 60s. It was a trying time then, especially when Soekarno was elucidating his rhetoric with his infamous slogan, “ganyang Malaysia”. Thankfully, we had our friends, the British, Australians, New Zealanders and Gurkhas, with us during our hour of need. And a friend in need is definitely a friend indeed.

Malaysia draws its strength as a nation from its multiracial mosaic. Diversity in any country, including Malaysia, is an invaluable asset, which should be capitalised upon. Our forefathers built this country on the premise that there are and will always be tangible solutions in our quest to solve the problems arising.They knew how to drive hard bargains and compromise on issues, without wounding their fellow Malaysians. Definitely the hallmark of mature and esteemed leaders. Compromising, after all, is a sign of strength in one’s character, not weakness.

Where is the Malaysia whose foundations were laid by noble men like Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Dr Ismail, Tun Tan Siew Sin, Tun VT Sambanthan and Tan Sri Khir Johari? Definitely not even a shadow of what they envisioned it to be.

Today, no thanks to some of our “so-called” educators, a print media, political protagonists and “has-beens” and NGOs, the doctrine of fear and spiteful diatribes are continuously being churned out by these senseless characters. Not in the least bit concerned about hurting the feelings of their fellow Malaysians, even our schoolchildren. And they do it so blatantly!

What is baffling is that the silent majority of civilised and decent Malaysians seem to be turning a deaf ear to these propagators of disharmony. Even our democratic values such as the right to vote according to our conscience are being questioned, with castigation on a section of our citizenry just because they voted for a certain party. Is it not the constitutional right of every Malaysian to vote for any party as he or she wishes?

We seem to be more interested in the sexual escapades of politicians rather than focusing our attention and channelling our resources to more productive purposes.

Can we not have employment in the private and public sectors and student intakes in all educational institutions reflecting the racial composition of Peninsular and East Malaysia? The World Bank Report on the brain drain problem is indeed very disturbing, citing the one million Malaysians now working overseas. Isn’t it sad that our finest citizens are serving other countries, some making international waves, when they should be assets to the country? Why is this happening and what concrete measures are we doing to arrest this trend? Why have we allowed the present situation to deteriorate to such a level? Where are the good and gracious Malaysians who make-up the majority of our population? Why have they not voiced their concerns about the deterioration in race relations?

Former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah recently said that Petronas made a whopping pre-tax profit of RM90 billion last year, and yet the poorest states in Malaysia are the petroleum producing states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak.

Our poor rankings by Transparency International continue to worry me. We were ranked in a dismal 56th position last year. Is enough being done to eradicate or at least drastically reduce corruption? Escalating prices continue to be a cause of concern to the rakyat, hitting the middle class and lower income groups adversely. According to the Economic Intelligence Unit, prices in Kuala Lumpur have increased by 25 per cent over the last two years.

However, being an eternal optimist, I can also still see light at the end of the tunnel, and would I like to believe that better days are still ahead of us. Malaysia continues to offers its citizens a good quality of life. And the Asian Development Bank recently reported that Malaysia can be an economic powerhouse by 2050. We continue to be a nation blessed by the Almighty, having been spared from catastrophes like Japan and New Zealand. Even our neighbours have not been so fortunate.

We take pride in promoting tourism with the tagline, “Malaysia, Truly Asia”, showcasing our multiracial montage and cultures and our diverse cuisine, which is something we all can be proud of. And we also offer tourists some of the most affordable hotel rates in the world with a variety of scenic tourists’ spots all over the country, which can enchant any tourist.

Tell me, how many countries in the world have restaurants opened 24-hours a day? Very few! As a nation, besides our warmth and hospitality, we are noted for our friendliness. We were recently ranked by HSBC as the ninth friendliest nation in the world. Isn’t it a remarkable achievement and a tribute to our people? Then, why do we give space for a minority to tarnish our image internationally through their misdeeds.

Seldom do we realize it, that even the weather has been kind to us. And this is despite the high humidity and the heavy downpours which at times results in flash floods. A fact that is always highlighted to me by my friends who work in Europe, when they inform me how they have to endure the harsh winters there, where temperatures can fall to as low as -25C! My friends always draws parallels between Malaysia and many countries in Europe, and highlight to me the positive attributes of our country, particularly in many areas in the services sector, where some government agencies are opened seven days a week.

And to our credit, and for all our grumblings, no one is ever turned away for free medical treatment at any of our public hospitals or health centres throughout the country. We now even have 1 Malaysia clinics for our people, another virtue of our country. The prime minister’s call for acceptance rather than tolerance of 1 Malaysia is indeed timely, and will be welcomed by all decent, peace loving and harmonious Malaysians. But to realise this vision, we have to ensure that we go down hard on those trying to divide our society and create a chasm among our people.
As we march on towards the status of a developed and high income nation by 2020, let us begin a renewal to make our country akin to that of the 50s and 60s, in which I have had so many fond memories.

Let us with one voice say there is no place in our country for extremism, bigotry and intolerance. We can do it if there is a concerted will among our people and if we can cross the ethnic and religious divide. We must always appreciate the fact that we are fortunate enough to celebrate our differences while simultaneously valuing our oneness.

Just the other day, I looked out of my window and saw a big bird and a little bird eating.
Then, the big bird went towards the little bird and started feeding it. Initially, I wondered why, but later I realised it was not because the little bird could not eat, but because the big bird cared for the little bird.

Do we care enough for each other as Malaysians irrespective of our race and religion or are we only concerned with our own kind? God bless Malaysia and its people.

A MALAYSIAN NIGHTMARE IN LONDON

When BBC showed the guy who was robbed while he was injured, I was in disbelief. They pretended to help him and then proceeded to rob him while he wriggled in pain and in confusion. I was more angry when I found out he was my countryman, a fellow Malaysian.

What is happening to the world? What was going on in these youngsters' (I should called some of them criminals) minds?

These are the reasons I came up with...

1. The absence of family values where either the young ones became independent too soon or they are coming from a dysfunctional family.

2. The absence of good churches for these young people to belong to. When they stay outside of the family circles, who is teaching them good morals? The media (mostly entertainment) and peers? The amusement (literally, amuse means without thinking) taught them laziness and peers taught them competition. I want to have what you have, if not I rob.

3. The absence of healthy youth centers or clubs for them except football and bars.

There is no justification for the crime that was done on my beloved Malaysian youth. Don't blame society or government or whatever. What is wrong is wrong and remains wrong no matter how you see or say it.

Let us pray that Christians in London and greater England will come back to the roots of John Wesley's faith. Apart from Christ centered life, everything will eventually fall apart!

I PRAYED FOR LADY GAGA YESTERDAY

Although Amy Winehouse is not my kind of a singer but I felt for her when I heard the news that she passed away. Yesterday, something tugged in my heart that begged this question, "Did I pray for Amy Winehouse when she was in trouble?" That question troubled my soul. Immediately, I prayed for Lady Gaga that she would turn to God and become a great influence for young people everywhere to do what is in the will of God.

Sometimes, Christians (that includes me) can become armchair critics and condemned people like they are beyond God. I remembered my pastor said one time fifteen years ago in a camp of praying for Stevie Wonder as God impressed upon him. It was like out of the blue. Last year, I heard Stevie was very much involved in church and ministry. Perhaps he has been doing all these already I don't know. And I am not saying that prayer did something to him but maybe, just maybe!

So, I will continue to pray for Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, and Bruno Mars, not forgetting my 'beloved' Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.

WHAT IS SUCCESS IN THE EYES OF GOD?

Looking back at all the things I have done (both good and bad) since I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, it dawned on me that I have not done much. Compare to what? Compare to who? Then I had a great discussion with God in my mind.

What is success to God? When we think of success, first thing that comes to mind would be "NUMBERS"! For me, Rick Warren is successful! From nothing to about 20,000 members in 15 years or more, correct me if I am wrong. Is it 'numbers'? Or does God view as success someone who who started off as a clerk and went on to become a CEO

I am at a disadvantage to argue against all these because I am writing as one 'not successful' to most people. So, what is success to God? Can Rick Warren or David Cho (former pastor of the world's largest church) consider success? I believe these mega church pastors or even Billy Graham who had preached to millions all over the world should hold on to the word, "success" loosely. What do I mean?

Take for instance, Rick Warren. Is he the only one that caused the church to grow exponentially? The answer is obviously 'no'! Yes, he worked hard and tried hard but it was thousands of Christians as a Body that made it "successful"! The same goes to David Cho of South Korea. It was the thousands of believers who prayed and toiled to see tremendous growth in his church. Billy Graham's crusade saw hundreds of volunteers worked their heart out to organise evangelistic events for him. Not forgetting thousands of them invited their friends to the crusade, worked with them and followed up on them when Billy Graham went back to his hotel room to rest. But we would say of these famous men oh how successful they are. But what about the thousands of unsung 'heroes' who toiled at the background out of the glare of publicity.

What about the person who led Billy Graham to Christ? What about the ones that led Rick Warren, David Livingstone, John Wesley, Hudson Taylor to Christ? Are they not 'succeesful'? I seriously think everyone should hold on to the word, 'success' loosely as all of us are being gracefully used by the Holy Spirit to glorify Jesus Christ. People flock to hear famous men and women out because they are 'successful' and that's a fact we all have to accept. The same reason young people watch American Idol rather than TV3's Akademi Fantasia. They prefer Lady Gaga over Norah Jones

The main reason I am writing this piece is that all of us can be 'successful' for God as long as we are still breathing! We do not have to sulk just because we missed some things in life. Or feels like failure just because we do not have the numbers!

What then is success to God? He who...

1. Obeys God's Word on a daily basis.

2. Enters into doors of opportunities when God opens up for him.

3. Helps those in need when we meet them

4. Everyday, has a worship of God mind set.

Say this to yourself two or three times in succession, "I can be successful to God

OSAMA IS DEAD! LET'S NOT CELEBRATE!

When President Obama announced that Osama had been killed, some people were confused. One young chap came back from school and told his aunt that Obama died. His aunt was shocked and asked who told him. He replied his teacher watched CNN and told him that. One Chinese newspaper had written the same mistake. Obama was killed!

There were some celebrations in the US when Osama died. Some people condemned those who celebrate as it was not appropriate as a human being died. Some people who lost their loved ones in Osama's terror activities felt justice had been served. And not surprisingly, some people mourned for Osama and condemned Obama for ordering to kill him.

Your perspective in life will determine how you react. Some feel that Osama did the right thing because he stood out to USA and Israel in bulllying Muslims people. In case you didn't know that the late terror kingpin killed more Muslims than any other groups of religious people. Is violence a right thing to do to right a wrong? Does doing another wrong justify the wrong being done? In fact, everyone would argue that he is right and others are wrong. No one knows what right or wrong anymore. We are super confused.

What a Christian should do here?

1. We do not celebrate when someone died as Osama is also a soul who is lost without Christ. When I think of Osama, I remember the terror-laden Saul in the New Testament. Thank God he repented and turned the Christ and became the greatest evangelist Paul.

(Prov 24:17-18) Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.

2. We learn that justice will come when we do wrong. Either from men or from God. Osama or Obama, everyone has to come before the great judge, God Himself.

3. We cannot do wrong to right a wrong. Instead, revenge belongs to God. We are forgiven by God so gracefully and we should also forgiving those who sinned against us. It's hard but it's necessary! It's easy to say but hard to do but it's Christlike thing to do.

4. Let us turn to God and pray for everyone that God's will be done, in heaven and on earth!

MY HEART MATTER

There was this song I used to sing along, "Do you know where you're going to?" by Diana Ross. What is happening to the world today and what am I really doing right now? Do the young fellas today still have a bright future? Can the highest technology save this world from crumbling apart? This past year or so, I am doing some soul searching myself!

I was scratching my head recently and asking that question, how come scientists had cracked every secret of human being and yet to find a cure for cancer after trying for decades? I even screamed, "Where are all your miracles of old, LORD?" and the echo came back almost instantly albeit differently, "Where are all your hearts?"

That's it, folks! The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart! Do we still have the heart of the disciples of old, both Old and New Testaments saints? Do we really have faith to believe that God still does miracles? Do we really want miracles to happen? Do we really believe that even though the world is falling apart that God is still in control?

So, I zoomed in on the heart matter. Have I lost the first love that I used to have with God? I remembered somewhere in August 1986, I looked up to the sky in repentance and Jesus came into my being, freed me from all shame and guilt! It was a touch I would never ever forget! I was so excited and thrilled. I was on top of the world and relationship with God was super close. However today, as I grew mature, I felt somehow lost that loving feeling. The Holy Spirit again lately prompted me to recover that first touch that would reignite the fire again. There is this voice (almost nagging me) that says, "Your later years would be the best years of your life!"

Today, God is shaking the world as He prepares Jesus to come again. We don't need a prophet to tell you today that the earth is reeling like a drunkard!

(Isa 24:20) The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls--never to rise again.

As the world is getting from bad to worse, I would want to build my house upon the ROCK! God is looking around for strong vessels in these last days to use for one last push of world evangelisation! Thousands upon thousands who call on the Name of the JESUS will be saved! Is your heart ready? Are you prepared for God's powerful move before Jesus comes again?

NOTE: The Bible also says that there will be a great fall away of many believers in Jesus! These are those who build their houses (lives) upon the sand and when the storm comes, "Banggg..." they fall!

WE WANT YOU OUT! NOW!

Lately, the world is engulfed with the uprisings and revolutions against dictatorships and iron-fisted rulers who fine dined while the people are sidelined and suffered lack of dime to dine. These rulers had conveniently forgotten the masses where they supposed to serve. Governments are set up mainly for two things - 1. To implement good things and 2. To weed out the bad. And all these are done for the betterment of its citizens and the rights of human being created in the image of God.

Why now? Some say, it was because the young people today consider themselves global citizens thanks to the Internet and they want to be treated as equals and as participants. You ignore them, they fight you to the face!

As a pastor, I believe everything happens today especially big events is somehow tied in with the prophecies of the Bible. The uprisings today will not end with the Middle East and North Africa nations but it will happen all over the world. This will be the beginning of a ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT, a global system interconnected with all the nations of the world - where human rights and justice are common issues. The United Nations will assume full powers to persecute rogue leaders wherever they may be, any part of the globe.

Few years ago, Sudanese President was indicted for crime against humanity in Darfur, Sudan and still has not been persecuted yet. Therefore I believe soon, the ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT will devise a special force to deal with these perpetrators by capturing them for trial or imprisonment.

Today we have the Hague International Court of Justice where the head has warned Gaddhafi from Libya to watch out. This sends a signal to all leaders who are thinking of murdering oppositions who demonstrated against them.

In years to come, there will be people asking for this ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT to be set up so that it could monitor all lives that no one should be marginalised or killed by the leaders.

And after that the Anti-Christ will rise up to take control and desires to be worshipped as God. He would be given absolute power and absolute power corrupts absolutely! He would wage war against all those who hold on to Jesus and His gospel! Why? These people would not worshipped him.

The Bible says...

(2 Th 2:8-11) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.

(Rev 13:5-9) The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. He who has an ear, let him hear.

Another event may happen too. After the uprisings are over, Israel would be hated even more for its stand on security and its Palestinian policy. And Ezekiel predicted that nations around them would one day gather together to try to destroy Israel. This would result in Armageddon where nuclear weapons would be used.

Then, Jesus Christ Himself would come again, this time not to save but to judge! To fight those who destroy what God stands for! And ultimately, to rule the earth He had created. To restore everything the Anti Christ had broken down.

The world will not be a better place until the King of kings rule! The young people today may ask for change but it may never satisfy them. Only Jesus Christ can fill all of mankind innate desires for well being! Nothing else can ever replace!