10 Questions, The STAR today - Director's Cut :)

Do you vote? Which political party represents the principles that you stand for?

Amy Teh, Perlis

Yes I do, since I turned 21. I vote for the individual, not the party; I have voted both BN and non-BN candidates in the past. I think this approach is vital for the rakyat to ensure that our political parties; the government and opposition; become better and better. Always choose the better candidate, that way the parties will be forced to choose the best people they can offer to represent us.

Don't choose the party, choose the candidate! I will even choose an independent if the candidate is the best person for the job.

As for political parties, I believe that all our political parties are working to better Malaysia, and they are not enemies to each other, they just have opposing views on how best to manage the country. However, a political party that is not exclusive to a particular race or religion suits me best.

Do you think it is worth spending so much (despite the discount) on the media space for your messages? Do you think it's working, for wouldn't that be the whole idea?

Ronald J Mark, Klang

I believe it is worth every single sen! I believe in marketing, branding and advertising.

Ronald, one of the best ways to be happy in life is to make into a business something you would do for free. In that way you become a social entrepreneur, one who marries a social cause that is close to your heart with business objectives that provide funds and profits funds to further your goals while providing a comfortable lifestyle.

I consider myself lucky to have found a way to make it work for me.

Each time I advertise, I advance my social cause while increasing my organization's Brand value. Do I think it is working? When you have high ideals, you must see things from a long term perspective and realize that you are just a tool for the cause. My job is to help nudge the public slowly but surely towards unity.

As for Zubedy the business, we are growing.

Will you ever get involved in politics? Say, what do you think about setting up your own political party?

Zubaida Amin, Terengganu

Each time we talk about politics or when we vote we are already involved in politics. It is a matter of degree.

I have no intentions to set up a new political party. However, I will be happy to help, facilitate and promote Malaysian politics into a true two-party system; each party representing Malaysians not based on race, religion, territory or gender.

For example, I would encourage a Barisan or Pakatan direct membership where members bypass the need to belong to the sub-parties. While merging all the sub-parties will not be pragmatic at this point of time, I would like to persuade BN and PR leaders to start it at the youth level where members of the youth automatically belong to an umbrella party and elect their own leaders regardless of party, race, religion or gender. Yes, gender too. I see the separation of women into a sub-organization in political parties a little out of date. We should nurture organizational processes, structures, systems and cultures that allow the best to lead; regardless of gender too.

In that way we can prepare a next generation of leaders who are capable to lead Malaysia as Malaysians not Malay, Indian, Chinese, Kadazan, Iban etc, and not overly male-centric.

You don't seem like an ordinary guy with ordinary dreams. What would you say is your most unique trait?

Esther Von, PJ

My positivism springs from my absolute trust in God who is Gracious and Merciful.

I believe in 'turning the other cheek' and I am able to 'hate the sin and not the sinner'. So if anyone did something bad to me, I am able to forgive and forget - you learn to limit your attachment to your egoistic needs. I also am able to love all because how could you hate anything that is God-made? I trust that everything will lead to a good end and each problems faced are just a test for us to better ourselves.

A good and loving God will not test you more than you can handle and will not put you through anything that could be bad for you. So just deal with them with all your talent, heart, mind and soul and He will help you through. Once you have trust in God rooted in your heart, you will do and not just talk, you will take action and not complain, and you will practise and not just preach.

What about your upbringing, do you think, has made you who you are.
Were you an "activist" during your school days?

Seng Kee, KL

I am blessed to have had the opportunity to grow up in a loving environment and Penang's multicultural setting. I had great role models throughout my life. I am also lucky to be brought up in poverty and had the chance to grow rich on my own accord while at the same time understand and care for the poor. I am lucky like millions others to be born in a peaceful and special country called Malaysia. A country that provides opportunities to know so many cultures, people and traditions and the environment to prosper- we are blessed!

I was active in school (interact club & consumer society) and the university. I led teams of people in assignments that created new records for student level projects. I stayed away from student councils that wrestle over petty issues instead of producing.

I was not and am still not an 'activist' who fights for principles rather than substance. I believe in making things happen, bit by bit. My motto was (and still is) 'If you do not take real action today then it is a waste of time'.

How does it feel to be famous? What do you plan to do with your fame?

Rajan Muthu, Klang

I do not think I am famous. Today I am a little more known compared to a year ago, I plan to get more known in the future and use fame as a platform to further my plan to sell UNITY as the better option. I also hope to attract likeminded people to work together towards the goal - in arts, sports, business, politics, education etc.

Some say you are publicity hungry and your attempt to take up such huge space in the newspapers is just part of that. What do you have to say to them?

May Hong, Penang

Firstly, I do not see anything wrong when someone is publicity hungry.
The world will be a boring place if there is no one wanting to be a public figure, famous and known.

Secondly, on the contrary, I usually like to be the one behind the camera! But about one and half years ago I made a conscious effort to change and basically force myself to face the camera. It was difficult and I am still learning to do so today. This I do because I figure that if I get well known I can sell my idea of UNITY to a larger audience. I have strong conviction that the idea is working.


Are you rich? Does wealth drive you?

Payao Wilarot, Kelantan

Being rich or poor is relative.

Compared to the time I was growing up, I am super rich today; back then we sometimes ate rice with only soy sauce and Planta. Yet, even today in 2009 there are many of our brothers and sisters around the world who would consider themselves lucky if they get to eat rice with Planta and soy sauce on a daily basis. Compared to people in many areas in the world, most of us in Malaysia are rich.

I plan to make money, a lot of it and use it to further my cause. I still have shallow needs - I love my BMW and I do want a big house.
I am neither Buddha nor Prophet Muhammad. I dream of a day when I can detach myself from external trappings. Ask me the same question in 20 years time please.

Do you think Malaysians have a long way to go before they become more accepting of one another and less judgemental?

Sulaiman, Kuala Selangor

Yes, the quest for UNITY will always be a work in progress. We Malaysians are doing well but we can be better. To accept one another we need to know each other at a deeper level, more than kongsi raya and rumah terbuka. The problem arises when we judge without knowing - most of us know too little of each other's cultures, way of lives and motivations.

We need to spend more time growing up, playing, learning and working together. We are doing this separately. For example, in the peninsular, we are one country but grow up like three different people.

We can do more to change this. The next time you move house, choose a neighbour of a different race. The government could also introduce tax breaks to those who choose to have a neighbour from another ethnic group. We need one school system, etc.

You are a businessman. Is this what you had always wanted to do as you were growing up or what really were your aspirations?

Susan Lance, Ampang


I have always known that I will be a promoter of UNITY.

Growing up in a poor family, I have always wanted to be rich. It is difficult to be rich working for the government or joining politics; unless you are already from a rich family or you get married to one who is wealthy, haha!

Based on my strength and capability, it was either I become a corporate leader, an innovator or businessman. I started off as a corporate man.

Today I am a businessman and I have written many innovative and original programs and products.

I truly enjoy being a businessman. You make things happen and produce quantifiable results. It's cool being a businessman. When my generation was young, we pretended and dreamt of being a rock star or an entertainer. Today young people pretend to be CEOs of business start-ups and they have dreams of owning their own business. Almost 50% of people I meet have intentions to be in business someday.

Being able to be in business and promote UNITY is a dream career for me. I invite YOU to work towards UNITY in whatever capacity you are in, too.