www.success.con

If you flip through "The Star" Newspapers, no doubt you will find advertisements like:

Are you fearful of the recession?

Do you have a second source of income?

"Get Rich with FOREX"

- Dr. XYZ, BA(Hons), MBA, PhD is an expert in the whole field of Foreign Exchange. For the past 20 years, he has help thousands of people achieve success in their lives, etc etc. Let him teach you the skills that you NEED to SUCCEED in LIFE!

Testimonial by Mr. Chan Ah Beng

This course has made me earn RM15,000 a month by just spending 20 minutes a day!

Testimonial by Ms. Chin Ah Lian

This course has given me financial success, now I can quit my job and stay at home! 

or maybe...

Do you know that Success in Education means Success in Life?

Your son/daughter has no motivation in life?

Your children finding no interest in their academics?

Join Mr. Beng's Memory course! Our children can memorize 20 digit numbers at ease, and score for your exams! Let Mr. Beng teach you the principles that your child needs to SUCCEED IN LIFE!

Testimonial by Lee Ah Kau, 12 years old

"I used to score 1 A, now I am scoring 19 As in UPSR!"

Testimonial by Lim Ah Miao, 17 years old

"I used to hate studying, but now I am the top student in school!"

I have went to some of these. But before I give my testimonials to them, please bear with me for a while - consider my experience and credential.

2 Business/Life Concept courses

1 Self-Esteem/Motivation course

1 Options/FOREX course

1 Creativity/Memory course

These courses would sum up to about RM20,000. These course have led me to talk business with 1 CEO and 1 Director of different companies. Both are multimillion dollar companies. Well, my proposals didn't get through, but it was a good try. To give them their credit, my academics are pretty good - and I can memorize quite well.

This is not to boast - and there isn't much point in doing so, because anybody who knows me knows that I am nowhere near "SUCCESSFUL" as far as the advertisements define. It seems that every other course has promised you SUCCESS in LIFE! In my better moments, I really feel that these things have somehow given me a successful life... 

However, in my more sober moments, I know that these things mean very little

For the advertisers...

It seems as though an increase in self-esteem will lead to success. 

Or increase in memory will result in success. 

Having lots of money will give you success. 

Really?

I don't doubt that many people out there think that these things will give them lasting happiness somehow - though perhaps many of us doubt that secretly inside our hearts.

When I was in high school, Success meant marrying the hottest girl in school and having lots of money to spend, with a lot of people envying and respecting me. I catch myself thinking like that often - even these days. I know some braver friends who admits it, and I know tons of friends who are more shy who would not admit it.

What is success in life?

Success is like the IN-word, the BUZZ-word for all time. Everybody wants to be successful in life, well... maybe. But I don't know anyone who wants to be a failure in life. In aiming to be successful in life, many have tried all sorts of "successes".

Money.

Girls.

Sports.

Climb to the top of the corporate ladder.

Top the university.

Get famous.

In the end, what? Tell me, what? Many of us have grown "wiser" to realize that there ain't to many spots for a "future Bill Gates". Easier alternatives are cheap beer and free internet porn. They seem to be more convenient time-killers. But as the years go by, many have become indifferent to the question 

"What is this success in life that I yearn so much for?"

But that is okay. The business people aren't really interested in answering your question anyway. After figuring out that they are also confused with the issue...

"Hey, why not make money in the process?"

Hence - success courses. Let me be frank with you, of the people I have known or asked, none of them gives a clear answer. Forget about a good one. See, there are these "spiritual" and "philosophical" people who also got confused with the issue...

"Hey, why not make the question more complicated?"

I hate to say this. But since the media is pushing so much sex, the major shareholder of the future - the youths are "enlightened" by MTV...

" F*** success... wait... to get to F*** is SUCCESS "

I was in form 3 when I first heard from a girl telling me how she got "scored" by another guy. That guy must be pretty successful in the eyes of many high schoolers. I can testify to that. Talk about peer pressure at 14.

Then again, as time goes by - we learn how fleeting these moments are. Fleeting, like the mist in the morning that appears for a little while, then gone. 

I have heard the "happy family" theory too. They tell me fun friends and a close family is the "genuine" success. This is a little more tricky. The more innocent it sound, the trickier it is. I want to ask the people who told me these things whether it is consistent with the their experience in life - is it such a good definition that can apply to all humanity at all times... being all sufficient. I've learnt that the people who always look most innocent and blur, and probably worse off than those who reveal it on the outside. 

Like Chinese you know?

Let me start off with this. I work with Malay colleagues. They are decently hardworking people. I have hung around Chinese long enough to know that most Chinese think Malays are the laziest people on earth. Ah, but don't forget, I have also hung around Chinese long enough to know that they are so sly that it is hard to catch them slacking off. We are the best actors. Chinese Drama remember? It all started from Hong Kong - Chinese. 

Hollywood doesn't know acting for nuts - They know visual effects and the like. But real acting belong to the Chinese, on screen and off screen... Boss around, Boss not around. If Boss cannot catch you slacking off - SUCCESS! 

Come on - you and I, and perhaps every other person that you know seem to strive so hard for success in life. Couldn't it bother you to spend a little more time figuring out what success in life is - if it is indeed so important. 

Maybe, for a start - to know where you are heading? Why are you heading there? and where are you supposed to head anyway?

Do you?

ANYWAY........

On a happier note, 

Something my older sister said made me realize something. It went something like...

"Our language is not broken ( broken english, broken malay, etc), it is unified"

Now, it might sound terribly lame. Lets admit it, we speak broken-whatever.

But for the past 2 days working in Astro (my office being 70% Malays), I have made friends with 3 Malay colleagues. 

I used to call friends "fren"..

when I went Australia, I learnt that they call friends as "mates"

now I have a little more Malay friends... the word of the day is "member"

It is amazing, how Malay-English-Cantonese mixed up in one sentence is understood by all 3 major races in Malaysia. Mr. Mamak also knows them.

I hear of some Chinese with political ambitions wanting to unify Malaysia in one way or the other. Most of those I am heard goes something like: 

" I will be a top politician... then I will make laws that..."

" I will be a famous (insert-your-white-collar-profession-here)... then I will... "

Self centeredness World Champion... Chinese la...

Well, based on my 2 days experience only... with no political training in any way... the best thing that we Chinese can really do isn't becoming a politician or being famous or whatever to actually create change...

We should just...

Try making some Malay friends. 

.

.

.

.

.

.

They are nice people.

US Elections and Exams Must be Clouding My Mind

I went shopping.I saw a section for stationery.

And guess what they sold?




UNSW Past Year Exam Papers that comes with SOLUTIONS!
I saw the '04, '05, and '06 papers! ( In the real world, we students don't get access to ALL of the past year papers )

How AMAZING. Now I can be more prepared for my final examinations.

Then I entered into a high school, SMKSJ. Many of the students joined the LEO club.

LEO club was actually not the normal LEO club that we know, but it was actually a REPUBLICAN Political party.

Lee Kuan Yew was actually from the LEO Club in that school and the Principal of the school was a member of the Parliament. Many of the students that attended the school are actually students with political ambitions - probably to take over the country, studying was just a cover up.

Then... I woke up.

ANYWAY, the main point of this post is a pretty good article in Facebook from my High School friend

Cheng Leong

It is about the US Elections

Here goes:

For many including myself, Barack Hussein Obama's victory in his campaign for the 44th US Presidency represents the simple triumph of rational and liberal thought over racial bigotry. It is a rare gust of fresh air onto the rotten stage of politics, especially within our local arena where the real criterion of leadership has become truly questionable.

Indeed, the long-range effects of Obama's worldshakers have been felt right here at home. Already many of my fellow acquaintances are wondering aloud if Malaysia would ever have a non-Bumiputra at its helm.

But let us not get too ahead of ourselves. Here, we must take care to not overstate the significance of Mr.Obama's African heritage. It is equally important to remember that we are not celebrating the defeat of a previously dominant race, nor the triumph of any particular minority (though the afro-americans could hardly be called a minority).

Instead, what is worth applauding here is a nation that has progressed enough in its ideals of equal opportunity that it can appoint a man that it thinks has the necessary qualities to become its leader, DESPITE the color of his skin.

White Obama Black McCain. Credit to Tor Myhren.

The poster beseeches us to let the issues be the issues. It is a pretty well-made point: look underneath the surface and understand what each candidate (or party in our case) is actually advocating. Let us also realise that race is ultimately just a human concept, and it can be readily cast aside if only we allow ourselves to look beyond it.

It is my hope that one day, our nation would grow up enough to be able to do the same. To those who have been hoping for a Chinese or Indian PM, let race not be an issue here. If a man is best positioned to govern our country, then by all means put him there, whatever the color of his skin. In fact, I believe the best thing to happen to Malaysia right now would arrive in the form of a Bumiputra reformist, simply because it would be far easier for him to restore the faith and rebuild trust amongst the races.

Do recall that in late 19th century, it took a white man, Abraham Lincoln, and one of the bloodiest wars in American history in order to end Black Slavery. The US did not elect a non-white president on a whim. The path leading to this long awaited election was paved by great revolutionaries and ordinary people alike, who believed in fighting for what they felt in their hearts was right. It was not until today, more than 200 years since its formation, that the United States finally proved once and for all that it was capable of overcoming any racial barrier, even one as firmly lodged as the door to the Oval Office.

Indeed, Malaysia is hungry for the emergence of one such revolution, though admittedly it will be a great many years before she will become ready to let a non-Bumiputra represent her interests. But I truly believe that day will come.

Please CLICK HERE for comments on the post (link to Facebook Note)

Lord of Politics

In the sad state of politics in Malaysia today - If we run away, what about the others who are left behind?

Little updates of my life:

I just have this growing sense of God's destiny in my life - something greater than I can think or imagine.

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To my fellow peer Christians who are in Malaysia,

Permission letters to build churches end up in Syariah courts.
The judiciary is corrupted.
Lina Joy is not vindicated.
Malay Bibles are restricted.
Words in Malay Bibles are banned.
Pastors are being charged for preaching.

This is the response of our brothers,

Statistics show that the Christian population in Malaysia is about 10%++

Statistics show that of all the people who emigrate Australia, Christians comprise of about 50%

God - He is the Lord of Politics. He plants one ruler and uproots another. He is sovereign. Long before the Romans ruled, or the Great Persian Empire - God has revealed by Daniel the Prime Minister that Daniel will stand before Empires. God has shown him who shall rule after another. God holds the future, He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us a hope and a future.

Please stay, Malaysia would not turn better when people flee.

God will bring deliverance, but let us not let God find us going to Tarshish when we ought to go to Nineveh. When God brings us on to fight all manner of injustice, oppression, and corruption in the country, let us not be those who stay at home. Let us be those who count our lives as nothing, but march forward for His honour.

He has bought us - and He has assured us a good end.

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance ... will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come ... for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

Let us not give up, but intercede for the country, and stand up when God calls. God is the Lord of Politics.

If we run away, what about the others?

With Top Leaders in the country declaring that Malaysia is no longer a "secular state", our religious freedom is oppressed - of course, today is not the first day that such things happen. For Jesus' sake, for the sake of the peace of Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs. For the sake of the peace of our children -

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

William Wilberforce
Politician and Slave Liberator

William Wilberforce (August 24, 1759–July 29, 1833) was a British politician and philanthropist. A native of Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780 and became Member of Parliament for Yorkshire (1784–1812), and independent supporter of the Tory party. A close friend of Prime Minister William Pitt, in 1785 he underwent a conversion experience and became an evangelical Christian. In 1787 he came into contact with Thomas Clarkson and a group of anti-slave trade activists, including Granville Sharp, Beilby Porteus, Hannah More, and Lord Middleton.

At their suggestion, Wilberforce was persuaded to take on the cause. He became one of the leading English abolitionists, heading the parliamentary campaign against the British slave trade, which he saw through to the eventual passage of the Slave Trade Act in 1807.

Wilberforce also championed many other causes and campaigns, including the Society for Suppression of Vice, Charity schools, the introduction of Christianity to India, the foundation of the Church Mission Society, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

In later years, he supported the campaign for complete abolition, which eventually led to the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833.^[1] This Act paved the way for the complete abolition of slavery in the British Empire.^[2][3][4] A tireless campaigner for the abolition of slavery, Wilberforce died just three days after hearing of the passage of the Act through Parliament. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, close to his friend William Pitt.

Martin Luther King Jr.
Minister and Champion of the African Americans

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968), was one of the pivotal leaders of the American civil rights movement. King was a Baptist minister, one of the few leadership roles available to black men at the time. He became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956) and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1957), serving as its first president. His efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. Here he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history. In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.

King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Martin Luther King Day was established as a national holiday in the United States in 1986. In 2004, King was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.