For my son, when he grows up, this site will be my legacy for him. The decisions his mother and I made for him, to understand them, to learn from them and to lead a life without prejudice and to succeed in it on his own merit.

Monday, October 6, 2008

A new age leader emerging?

My urges to express myself here after witnessing so much going on in Malaysia politics for the last couple of years.

My early years version of a leader, leading a nation and representing it’s people in all matters whether international or national levels used to be one who would already well past their retirement age and having the many years of experiences dealing with political figures and implementing policies. Likewise in businesses, we expected our bosses to be much more in seniority in terms of age and exposures to impart to employees their wisdom and expertise for the company to continuously grow and prosper.

That mentality was a result of branding, sub-consciously injected by society and the general perception of any given studies and courses found in institutions.

A new age of leaders are emerging in the world, full of energy, unspoiled by the hardcore of politics, dynamic in their thinking, sway not by the obstacles of traditions, creative approach and speak in the tone of an everyday commoner. No longer do we hear rhetorically speeches we have been accustomed to for the last generation or so. Yes, they sounded very pleasing to the people all these while, high intellectual use of words, bombastic phrases, clever statements, motivational slogans and all the likes. But do the people really understand what they mean?

These individuals were never breed to be statesman but ordinary citizen with a passion to make and to change the political landscape. Coming from backgrounds which don’t seems to denote their aspiration of ever becoming a prominent figure for the general public. They are fresh, energized, forthright, and unpretentious and most of all carry themselves youthfulness on par with the demands of an ever changing world into the future.

Why BN succeeded and victorious in 2004 and failed so miserably in 2008. The “old guards” in any given part of the world for that matter, were still overcoming issues in the conventional method from the 20th century. Seeking to resolves matters either by resolutions, tabulation of new policies, introducing new laws and even lawful aggressions to acquire compliances.

Sentiments of the population, with the advance of the infamous “WWW”, played in no small part to the defeat of our ruling party to secure the desired support in our last general election. A strong (almost fatal) undercurrent that was arrogantly ignored, have now become a tool and a weapon as the mainstream solution.

However, outdated policies and traditional approach were still being used to discourage and persecute in the name of unity. The current generation no longer comply to this regulation neither do they collaborate with it. These free flow and exchanges shared many sentiments and raw empathies which itself a unity among those who embrace it. And among those spread beyond our shores to our cousins, brothers, sisters and fellow sympathizers.

These new age of leaders are risk takers. Not to the point of sacrificing the nation and its people but dare take bold and unorthodox moves with their own set of principles and belief. Still meticulous in planning and implementation and rides the wave with their crew mates. Closer to home, we have been subjected to so many instances of filtered information and word plays, we simply seek out the only channel possible where information is abundant to get first hand account and views. And such leaders were accustomed to this mode of intelligence enabling them an accurate understanding of the true feelings of the people. And they take on issues head on with no “side-line shows” to deviate or distract the public to justify submission and into compliance.

No one can denied, that the WWW proved to be an avenue and an alternative from the mainstream media. It bonded among all loyalists in one source and became the voice of one ideology waiting to explode at the right moment. Different “perceptionist” found their belongings after some surfing and searching.

I am offering an insight of these trend and it seem to have a bearing on the course of political direction which by now, after hard learned lessons, our ex-premier, Tun Dr Mahathir (www.chedet.com), and the latest, Prime Minister in waiting, Datuk Seri Najib (www.1malaysia.com), came to a realization that Rakyat sentiments cannot be ignored and over laid with grandeur thru a filtered system and vetted justifications.
But can UMNO, or Barisan Nasional leaders, steep with traditional thinking and approaches, take on the onslaught of such awareness uprising and re-invent themselves to take Malaysia to a whole new future?

Does Anwar Ibrahim fit that category after a ten years of re-imaging himself with his calls for “Reformasi”.

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