THE IRON IN THE SOUL OF A NATION

[1] Like the United States of America in 1776, France in 1789, Singapore was forged and birthed in 1965 in the iron inherent in its leaders’ soul to shape the things to come – come hell or high water. That decision put an end to the ruckus and rage of race, region, and religion. Without a hinterland blessed with natural resources, it sped ahead with an iron determination of its leaders to create a system of government and governance that enhanced the worth, value and quality of human capital. It looked inward. It knew That “the only way out is in,” as Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev of the Isha Foundation, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, teaches and coaches not as a religion but as a transformational ethos (“Inner Engineering”).

[2] Consider the potential of the East. India, China, Mesopotamia and Egypt set the pace, the tone, tenor, quality, worth and value of excellence while the Eurasian barbarians were busy conquering, fighting, killing. foraging, and indulging in unspeakable atrocities as blood thirsty untamed beasts. Nothing has changed in 2026. It has gotten worse. It will continue to get worse through psychological bloodshed too. Western thought traditions do not sit well with Eastern ethos despite the bovine excrement called globalization that shuns, shrugs and avoids a syncretic ethos.

[3] Had Pedro Scotto (Hollywood: Christoper Columbus) consulted then existing East Asian navigation charts, his iron in the soul of global navigation would have taken him in a westerly route to ancient India. Instead, he landed and founded the “New World” with the speed, greed and need of exploitation, plunder, and genocide in the name of the Vatican’s papal bulls. As an afterthought, they “converted’ the “pagan and primitive” people into Christianity as a political need and necessity while squandering their gold, silver and other precious metals. In the bargain came total enslavement of indigenous communities in the name of the Church of Rome.

[4] Malaysia is truly blessed with a syncretic culture, excellent climate for soil fertility, seafront properties, hill stations, a haven for multicultural cuisines, educational and healthcare hubs. There is nothing we miss out on in Malaysia. The iron in the soul of Malaysia starts and stops when viewed as an ideal retirement and tourist haven.

[5] Politically, there is straw and decaying weeds in the soul of Malaysia. Corruption seems unstoppable despite slogans and election promises and assurances. It could be because the decision makers are north of 70 years of age beguiled, bewitched and besieged by the ghosts of past political mistakes. How the devil do we prevent and eradicate corruption when Section 203A of the Penal Code forbids and prohibits whistleblowing from and by government officers when exposing their co-workers and superiors. One million ringgit and/or imprisonment awaits the honorable “offender.”

[6] Corruption will evaporate overnight in Malaysia when and if public hangings are instituted for those charged and found guilty of corruption. After all, we do have courtroom trials open to the public. The death penalty is mandatory in China, Indonesia where some acts of corruption are deemed damaging to the national economy or finances, Morocco and Thailand (bribery). Laos and Vietnam are also in this list making that four ASEAN neighbours. The Centre to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4) Malayia has done an excellent job chronicling this malaise without enforcement power and authority. It could, however, be a great ally of investigative efforts.

[7] The iron on the soul of nation is a collective effort by both the governed and the government. Singapore is a perfect example. If our neighbours can do it, what is stopping us in Malaysia? Our public education system, since we began as an independent nation, has been dedicated to the art and science of inculcating memorization abilities to our students for passing examinations. Whether they understand what they are taught seems irrelevant.

[8] Our future leaders will be ripe and ready for positions of ability, responsibility, and accountability when and if Malaysian schoolchildren are disciplined in the art of inquiry and curiosity in any given subject. Basic concepts of morals, economics and political science must start at secondary Form Three with progressive and increasing emphasis as they complete their STPM examinations. This is the foundation of the iron in the soul of a future Malaysia. Our future leaders are left to their own devices.

[9] Malaysia has tremendous potential to acquire iron in its soul. The past is venomous and vengeful when it is allowed to control the present and threaten the future. Our leaders are unwilling to learn and apply disciplined normalcy in our public institutions. They seem to think they are experimenting with unknown principles of ethics and morals, truth and integrity, honesty and decency when scratching their heads about reform and change.

[10] The iron in Malaysia’s soul can be accomplished when the NEP represents a National Economic Programme where every Malaysian benefits, and not just the dormant majority. The iron in Malaysia’s soul can be attained when and if affirmative action is abolished and every Malaysian treated as equal stakeholders. It’s not a pie in the sky pipedream. It’s a genuine journey towards national unity. Equality and equity can create excellence which will incorporate the iron in Malaysia’s soul. The introductions of Citizens Panel is a great start fro the government and governed to meet, greet and share views for the betterment of society.

[11] The iron in Malaysia’s soul is within reach and application if it politically, socially and economically applies Immanuel Kant’s edict that “freedom is the ability to obey the law you have given yourself.” There is so much to glean from this advice. Problem is our leaders are distracted and disturbed with petty bromides. Laws, rules and regulations seem bothersome until selective prosecution becomes a willing ally. Community Forums in every constituency will bring greater awareness to both the government and the government.

[12] One of the greatest drawbacks to progress in any nation is idleness of the mind that is synonymous with rust to iron. Iron must sharpen iron like a scholar challenging another scholar to attain excellence. Malaysia has immense potential in human capital. Alas, it’s seldom hammered and forged on the anvil of peace, partnership and prosperity amongst, by, and for all Malaysians. Politicians recycle obsolete and dilapidated ideas to stymie and stop genuine national unity. Thankfully, Section 3 of the Sedition Act 1948 is a refreshing guarantee that an act to point out government mistakes with the aim of correction and improvement is not deemed sedition.

[13] The iron in the soul of Malaya began with the socioeconomically justified political killing of the Britist Resident J.W.W. Birch, followed by the will of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) to rid Malaya of colonialism, and the resistance to the Malayan Union after the defeated British returned following the dropping of two American atomic bombs in Japan. UMNO was formed as a symbol of the iron will of a colony wanting, wishing, waiting and willing for self-determination and self-government subsequently shouted from the rooftops of political awakening as “Merdeka” borrowed from the Sanskrit “Maharddikha” which translates to “rich, prosperous and powerful.”

[14] 13 May 1969 was never and not the manifestation of the iron will of the nation but the decadence and the death of national unity and ethos when cancerous politics vainly tried to find and administer a treatment and a cure. Tun Dr. Ismail and Tun Abdul Razak found the invitation of a grave threat to be an oxymoron in the ultimate analysis. Tunku Abdul Rahman meanwhile resorted to his “As I see it” columns in a newspaper I usually purchase every once in a week to clean my glass windows after I complete the sudoku quiz.

[15] The Monroe Doctrine imposed, implemented and enforced by President James Monroe in 1823 as a U.S. foreign policy, declared that the United States of America had complete control of the business and affairs of the western hemisphere, and that any infringement would result in overt action (read: war). ASEAN should do the same thing to protect the eastern hemisphere to prove the iron in its soul instead of meeting, treating, greeting and taking pictures of smiling ASEAN leaders holding hands like a bunch of schoolchildren happy that written examinations are over.

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