Making 2010 Count

Thursday, 7 January 2010

Making 2010 Count

It’s New Year and I am up drinking Chinese tea and eating English scones. I realised that my excitement for New Year celebration has changed over the years, from staying up all night long to just wanting to stay at home and rest. Maybe this is what aging is all about.
My New Year celebration was also marred by the sudden passing of my friend, Rajan Rishyakaran. Rajan was only 23, the younger brother of MPSJ Councillor (Zone 3) Rajiv Rishyakaran. My condolences to the family for this sudden demise and may God’s comfort help you through each day without Rajan.
I have attended so many funerals this year and it is always heartbreaking when young people leave us so suddenly. It is equally shattering to hear of an elderly passing, especially so when you find out that they have passed away ALONE, without anyone noticing. We have had at least 2 of such cases in Subang Jaya in the last few weeks. When the authorities were notified, the bodies were already in a decomposed state.
As a community, we can change this. As a community, we can prevent this.
Together with a few resident groups, we are hoping to kick start a community project for the senior citizens who live by themselves in the neighbourhood. I encourage families to participate in this. We need to look out for one another despite our busy schedule.
Exchange phone numbers with your neighbours. Observe their lifestyle or daily routines. Alert the police if you suspect something amiss. It is better to be safe and nosy than to be late and sorry. Look out for more details in SJ Echo.
I also wish to take this opportunity to remind Subang Jaya residents to fight corruption and to fight it more aggressively. Last weekend, I had an encounter with some residents and one remark especially irked me when one of them said, “we accepted this as part of the Malaysian culture”. Corruption is not the Malaysian culture. I become very angry each time I hear a comment from a fellow Malaysian tolerating corruption. I cannot say this enough: Stop the feeding hands. Stop tolerating and accepting the status quo.
We also need to be consistent in our stand. We need to speak up against injustice. We need to protect the rights of the elite and also the rights of the maids. I will speak up for the rich and also the poor. Based on my observation in the last 21 months as the state assemblyman of Subang Jaya, most residents will only care if the injustice concerns them or their backyard. Most will choose to be silent or conveniently ‘apolitical’ and misuse the term as a front for their indifference.
If you demand for competency, accountability and transparency from the authorities, be sure to apply the same standards to your own community, and your own residents’ organisation. Indifference is the most damaging attitude in the building of a strong and caring community.
In this article, I have spoken of death. Let me now share with you about life. My office celebrated the birth of baby Ezra. Debbie Phang, my private secretary and her husband Kenny welcomed their little bundle of joy just before Christmas. Congratulations to both of them!
Seeing babies reminds me that every life is a gift from God. Sometimes the stress of work can take away the simple joy of having our loved ones around. We come home and instead of giving our best to our family, we give them what’s left behind of us. We need to take every measure to safeguard our marriage and relationship with parents or children. The family institution is so important in drawing out the best in us. When that is achieved, we can then go out and give our best to the society.
For 2010, I pray that the Subang Jaya community will continue to mature and shine as a refined and caring society. May each resident be blessed with good health so that every good and perfect gift in our lives can be enjoyed to the fullest! May God bless our 2010 and have a Happy New Year everyone!