Cleaning Out My Closet

Natalie Shobana Ambrose (18 December, 2008- theSun)

My room’s a mess! It’s the end of the year and I’m trying to get rid of unwanted stuff. Whenever I buy clothing, I feel I need to throw an old piece out. If I’ve not worn something for a year, it’s supposed to go into the bin. So here I am trying everything on and hoarding the lot!

It's also the time of the year when I reflect on my past year and make personal changes. I look back …smile at the good times, laugh at the unexpected, sigh at the bad, cry for the loss and perhaps dig into the chocolate stash for an endorphin boost for the failed resolutions.

It’s nice to think about what the future holds, but I also need to take responsibility for my mistakes and implement the lessons of 2008 as I plan for 2009. It's about practicing good stewardship of my time, resources and abilities. I will still fall short but at least I would have gained from taking responsibility rather than blaming others.

I did a lot of reflecting on a tour bus in India last year. And as I reflected Mahatma Gandhi’s words became my theme for 2008 "Be the change you want to see in the world". I started simple - took my vitamins diligently, thought about what I wanted in the different areas of my life - spiritual, family, friends, work, study, play (etc) and thought about how I intended to achieve them.

As I look at the year we’ve had and reflect on what I hope to achieve in 2009 I think I need to add another category to the list- how I can be a better citizen. Will I be complacent? Will I be active? Will I speak up? Will I grumble in my corner? Will I build up or will I tear down? Will I choose to work with others? Will I walk away? I truly believe that even as insignificant as we may think we are, we can be that change for we are not only responsible for what we do but what we are silent to.

I look back at how 2008 has turned out. It differs from what I thought it would be and I can learn so much from it. 2008 has been one of those years that I’ll remember - a year of change.

It’s been a crazy year for Malaysia and an upside down year for most of the world. This year has definitely made many people think as it has impacted us all. Natural disasters in China, war in Georgia, terrorism in India, political instability in Thailand, stock markets crashing around the world, bank bailouts in the United States, petrol prices, recession, landslides, floods, royal commissions, ISA arrests, helicopter deals, fatwas, hijacked oil ships, debates and March 8th. It has been quite a year!

But have we learnt?

I often think that even with Vision 2020, we fall short in our planning. The initial petrol hike of 70 cents a liter this year is one example. But instead of accepting the blame, we tend to pat ourselves on the back for every 10 cent reduction as the months go on. However, the mee goreng stall that increased its prices a few months back still charges the increased rate. It’s just a few cents to most Malaysians but to the poor it means not enjoying a plate of mee goreng. And no one’s doing anything about it.

Last year there was a landslip on Jalan Duta which took months to clear up. This year, a landslide occurred approximately 100 meters away. A few days yet another landslide destroyed homes and lives. But instead of taking responsibility, each department is blaming someone else. One can delegate authority but one can’t delegate responsibility. Maybe a resolution worth considering.


So how will 2009 turn out? We’ve got a few big changes we know of and many surprises ahead I’m sure. As I reflect and clean out my closet, I wonder what our leaders are thinking of throwing out and taking responsibility for.



Natalie hopes her plans for 2009 aren’t vetoed and thinks she might need a bigger closet.

Comment: letters@thesundaily.com

Maturity and Politics

Natalie Shobana Ambrose (4 December, 2008 - theSun)

I used to be a football fan- well at least I used to know who plays in what team and what game is on… but those days are long gone now. I’ve wondered for a while though how for years these players look out for self- which team will want to buy them and where they will go. They get transfered, move countries and continents to play, representing themselves, their own interests and play against other skilled players who may even be from their same hometown.

However, once every four years during the World Cup, they all head back and join their home squad not to represent themselves but to represent their country. There’s a sense of pride that they want to work together and do their best for their country and they do.

The goal then is to win for their country. So even if their teammate is a rival the rest of the time, when it’s World Cup time, they are going to stick together, work together, do their best and play well. If they don’t, they are only sabotaging themselves - disappointing their own people and those rooting for them.

American politics of late has made me feel like it’s World Cup time, while Malaysian politics (sigh) continues like the World Cup doesn’t even exist.

On the American campaign trail McCain defended his rival Obama when a McCain supporter spoke ill of the President elect. He didn’t just brush it off, he stood there and corrected his own supporter and said he’s not a terrorist

“No, he’s a good man and he’s a family man”.

Five days after McCain lost the elections, he was interviewed on Jay Leno. Now these American television hosts can be pretty tactless and ask tough questions. When asked, Senator McCain said of his rival, “I admire and respect the winner- Senator, President- elect Barack Obama” … And later went on to say that his rival is a good and decent person. He continued by saying “now it’s time for America to join together and support the man who was just elected President.”

McCain blew me away with maturity and without saying it, I knew he loved his country so much that he wanted the best for it and would do his best.

Can Malaysian politics emulate this example? Instead in Malaysia every opposing view is a threat, every ruling view is a warning and anyone with a view should shut up, or gets put away or is issued a show-cause letter. Maturity is a foreign concept in Malaysian politics with name calling, kindergarten behavior, dirty tactics and the lack of solidarity.

During the campaign trail Obama, and Hillary were at each other’s necks, but earlier this week Obama picked the best for his dream team. Putting differences aside he said of Clinton ‘an American of tremendous stature who will have my complete confidence’.

He’s also not discarding the old and keeping the current Defence Secretary. Natural human pride would have disposed of everything opposing but these choices show that he is committed to a better future for America. He feels the peoples cry.

I wish of Malaysian politicians to be as mature. Can we take the good, discard the bad and work together to be an example of Asian values even in the political sphere?

When our leaders behave badly, can we expect any better of the people?

If anything, as Asians we are known for our sense of community and caring for one another. Today that is not true. We are fighting over everything because we take everything personally.

Are our politicians crying for the nation like we are? Only when they are, will we see change.

In any race, we fight for a prize but if getting that prize means putting someone down and tripping another then what did you win? The same goes for wars. Who wins in a war?

As Asians, we are so concerned about saving face and so we stop telecasts of parliament sessions, to avoid embarrassment and we cover up sensitive issues. Why don’t we stop saving our own faces, and start saving our country’s face – and start being more mature and fight for Malaysia instead of ourselves.

Natalie believes that political maturity is about working together for the good of the country.

Comment: letters@thesundaily.com