Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.
– Warren G. Bennis, American author
America, born in the bowels of rebellion, was conceived from an unborrowed vision that thrust life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as the principal apparatus of and for governance. It was a tall order that got taller since 1789.
The concept that a creator thinks and the parasite copies gripped America after World War 1 when it began poking its nose in the affairs of other nations copied wholesale from England, the home of political thinkers and tinkerers who believed in the Anglo-Saxon ‘manifest destiny’ of discovery, conquest and occupation.
‘Discovering America was like a four-year old discovering the family refrigerator in the kitchen,’ quipped a Native American chief observing widespread purloining of his orang asli land.
The concept of unborrowed vision beginning with Socrates found lasting refuge in the marketplace of governments with options ranging from an absolute monarchy to totalitarianism with shades of democracy, ergatocracy, timocracy, and even a hint of patriocracy.
Borrowed visions have wrought unspeakable chaos and mayhem caused by weak links and weaklings found in deceitful and dysfunctional leaders who get elected time and again!
Did Malaysia envisage an original plan for governance, or did it borrow someone’s vision? You certainly cannot see yourself clearly if you are wearing someone else’s spectacles. Leaders don’t see this.
The Malaysian spectacles are delightfully different. Natives of Malaya, Borneo Territories, Malays, Chinese, Indians, and others weave beautiful patterns in a social fabric that is significant, distinct and unique, not only due to its refreshing diversity, but its eclectic way of life that is the envy of homogeneous societies.
But the borrowed vision of ethnocracy has poisoned the waters of Malaysian society. We actually pay legislators and other public officials to stoke and foment ill-will, disaffection and hatred based on personal vicissitudes. Laws are tweaked and twisted to satisfy strange policies.
Malaysia’s tapestry of diversity is a great boon that has not dug deep enough roots. Its shoots are unimpressive. Those elected and appointed holding the public trust have no clue how to handle this fabric of society. There is a difference between a fragile piece of fabric and a preciously delicate one.
Borrowed vision has produced a well-planned highly biased education system that is contaminating the talent pool. “The supreme end of education is expert discernment in all things – to tell the good from the bad, and to prefer the good and the genuine from the bad and the counterfeit,” said Samuel Johnson. Malaysian leaders must grasp this truism.
Many mindful civic-conscious Malaysians, blessed with unborrowed visions, shirk from expressing their views that can bring about great changes to the way we should not conduct local, state and federal affairs. But, unjust laws await to waste them unjustly.
Malaya started with a kerajaan – the state of having a Raja in which people paid homage to their Rulers (Sultans). The British came swiftly after smelling profits from rubber, tin and other precious commodities. They had the borrowed vision of greed. The Rajas (Rulers) had the unborrowed vision of need.
Imagine an unborrowed vision when and if the seafaring people of South East Asia, usually dubbed pirates by the Europeans, planned the invasion and occupation of Europe. But we are not of that ilk.
Eastminster – thou art, therefore I am – is poles apart from Westminster – I am, therefore thou art. Eastminster has a different ‘manifest destiny’. Today Uncle Sam picks on China because it has made leaps and bounds in economic superiority. Jealousy and envy is everywhere, not confined to some Malaysian social clubs.
Nations are preparing for war and genocide because each calls the Almighty Omnipotent, Omniscient, Creator by different names. Land for peace is anathema. Fighting for peace through war is sheer lunacy. This unborrowed vision is shunned because war has a natural appeal, affection and attraction for wealth creation.
Some Malaysian leaders have been sentenced to imprisonment terms. Nelson Mandela said that “prison itself is a tremendous education in the need for patience and perseverance. It is above all a test of one’s commitment.” Have incarcerated Malaysian leaders learned anything?
Another African leader sent this powerful message: “Show me the heroes that the youth of your country look up to, and I will tell you the future of your country.” Malaysian youths must look up to a superior education system that will teach them the secrets of unleashing and utilising their hidden potential for excellence.
The unborrowed vision tells future leaders that critics are loud, but success is louder. Malaysians must start creating an original unborrowed vision. No adversity or adversary – within or without – should be allowed to cloud or distract our vision.
Vision, mission and provision will yield results provided there is no division. Government creates division. Ergo, no mission and no provision. Society decays. Nations fade away and cease to exist until a genuine visionary arrives on the scene.
‘Visionaries will always meet opposition from weak minds but the seeds they plant always save the world,’ observed Bangambiki Habyarimana. Leaders with weak minds unwittingly and unknowingly create opportunities for the planting of a strong, sturdy, stable and solid future by the thinking class.
The best is yet to come for Malaysia once the noggin is regularly cleansed, set and made to sit right.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
