Recently, a senior civil servant was embroiled in a public discussion for his comment that elected representatives of the people, comprising Members of Parliament and State Assemblymen in Bidayuh areas, who, each has served for three terms, must be prepared to step down for being too long in their services and old for their jobs.
Of course, he made specific references to the incumbents for the Parliamentary constituencies of Serian, Mambong and Mas Gading. The incumbent for Serian is serving his sixth term, while Mambong, four terms and Mas Gading, three terms.
His reason, as quoted by a local news paper, was that they had been representing the constituencies too long and should consider giving way to younger people to take over from them.
Admittedly, there are limited constituencies to accommodate a number of inspiring politicians among members of the Bidayuh community, which has the history of having every graduate wanting to become a leader, an elected representative of the people in particular, in it. Obviously, wisdom prevailed and none of the incumbents responded to the comment, which should not have come from a civil servant anyway. He should have kept the opinion to himself in view of his position as a civil servant, who must be bound by the rule and ethics of his service.
The episode was a good example, as the society moves forward to become a more modern and progressive one, young people tend to overlook the legacy, customs and traditions that have been held fast by the current and previous generations as a way of life; there are already signs that such values may disappear as the characteristic of a community.
The older generations value the cultural heritage as it helps to enhance the spirit of unity and co-operation among the people to face future challenges. However, the cultural heritage cannot be perpetuated without genuine efforts to safeguard it as the society moves forward to become more modern and progressive in future.
For example, the older generations have been making conscientious efforts to preserve the cultural heritage that entails goodwill and harmony to strengthen the unity and solidarity of the people comprising of various ethnic and religious groups. They take due care to infuse the feeling of love and care as an important element of the cultural heritage as their way of life.
The general policy of the government towards senior citizens, which vary from people of ages 60 upward or for a certain air line 65 upward, they should be encouraged to be involved in various social and cultural activities according to the conditions of their health, expertise, experience and capability.
In this connection, the Ministry of Welfare, Women and Pre-school Affairs give appropriate awards to senior citizens as recognition of their roles in community services and involvement in activities relating to culture and sports. Regrettably, some NGOs including the so-called national associations, those being led by civil servants in particular, only encourage junior friends and colleagues to join as members.
Obviously, they become big headed and ignore the fact that the spirit of volunteerism, which serves as the foundation of building a happier and more harmonious society, depends on the way how members look after the older people in future. Basically, efforts to build a more harmonious and progressive society depend on the roles of all segments comprising of young and old people, men and women whether in rural or urban areas of the community.
Generally, the people, regardless of their ethnic origins and religious beliefs, have pride in the common legacy, customs and traditions as a way of life. They value the need to preserve the legacy based on love that inculcates goodwill and harmony and shares hardship, poverty and other adversities among the people; such values serve as the binding force that brings the people together.
Besides, the people consider the cultural heritage as a precious legacy as it entails the feeling of care, which is based on interests to do good for the community, the people at the grass root level in particular. In other words, the feeling of care must become a way of life in order to promote greater happiness and more harmonious relationship among the people.
Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, in his recent speech during the launching of Hari Warga Emas (Senior Citizens Day) 2011 in Miri says conscientious efforts must be made to preserve the cultural heritage in order to enhance unity and strengthen the spirit sacrifices among the people to face future challenges. The cultural heritage cannot be perpetuated without genuine efforts to safeguard it as the society moves forward to become more progressive and modern in future. In other words, conscientious efforts must be made to infuse the feeling of love and care in order to uphold the legacy that has been inherited from the previous generations.
Understandably, young people may put more weight on the economic welfare rather than emotional welfare as changes must take place in a society towards the year 2020 and beyond. For example, there will be continuous changes that may become more distinct among the people, those who migrate from their original to new places in particular, in the processes of rural – urban migration and urbanisation. Obviously, such people must adapt to their new life of working in offices or factories in towns or cities.
Pehin Sri Abdul Taib says the people must endeavour to keep a balance between the struggle for better life in terms of comfort and emotion and upholding their cultural heritage. In this respect, new strategies and ways must be enforced to help the people to preserve the valuable legacy as a prerequisite to enjoy a better quality of life in the process of urbanisation. Understandably, the people must have an early realisation that they must adapt to changes as the process of urbanisation tends to submit them to drastic efforts that could exclude them in pursuit for progress and advancement.
He believes more than 50% of future generation may be involved in the process of urbanisation. Therefore, the government must think of a kind of movement that can be initiated in order to keep the balance of the emotional, economical and spiritual needs of the society. Besides, the process of urbanisation may also risk neglecting the people being left behind in rural areas with the focus on those in urban areas.
He assures that the policy on welfare will continue to concentrate on the fight against poverty and give guidance to young people on how to adjust to the new environment in their life. For example, avenues must be provided for them to promote relationship with other people in new housing estates. As every body become strangers to each other, the people must know and how to respond to their neighbours and eventually develop happy and trusting relationship among them.
Regrettably, the response towards Rukun Tetangga is not as good it should be. For example, young people once they come back home from work, will be kept busy by their children and have no interests in civic and social activities. Obviously, the government has to come back to the idea that the society must be look after by members. In other words, the people must have the roles to play in serving their community.
More importantly, the people must have interests to serve the community without thinking about politic too much. They must recognise the fact that they must be thrown to the lowest level of the government machinery where they can establish rapport with the people before they can do well at the higher levels in politics.
Admittedly, the society may have gone quite far way from the position of safety and security but it is still not too late to reverse it. The people must appreciate that safety and security cannot be dependent on the Police alone. The people must have the feeling of neighbourhood and the common concerned for safety and peace in their neighbourhood in the true spirit of their cultural heritage, which also manifests the desire to make sacrifices.
benuasains
*Photos Source:
Borneo Post Online
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