Unity in diversity ; #AskAnas adds value to discourse in Twitterjaya by MICHELLE TAM
PRINCIPLE consultant and founder of zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd, Anas
Zubedy, joined us for an On The Spot session on September 15 - just one day
after his company’s Malaysia Day event - and the session stretched into the day
when the nation celebrates the establishment of the Malaysian Federation in
1963.
As befitting his diverse background, the marketing
consultant, trainer, and author received various questions on wide-ranging
themes such as unity and change, to business and politics.
One day before the session saw Anas tweeting “Yo Every1!
Tomorrow is #AskAnas - send your questions. 30 questions will be chosen for me
to answer. Have fun with your questions :)”. He would later both begin and end
his session with a greeting of peace.
Software developer Patrick Lum (@patricklsk), 34, stepped up
to the plate as moderator and selected the top questions for Anas to answer.
Here are the highlights from the live question and answer
session. Tweets are slightly edited for clarity, brevity and continuity.
As an advocate for unity in diversity, Anas received many
questions relevant to his cause and with regards to Malaysian society.
@smellykatemoss: #AskAnas how is your concept of “bangsa malaysia ” different from “malaysian malaysia ”?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas It is hard to comment about Malaysian
Malaysia as we do not have a document outlining what it really is. I have
written various times to DAP but have yet to receive any answers. While DAP’s
1st objective points to MM, no details are given. The buku Jingga does not have
a mention of the concept either. I can only base what I know from what others
commented about it. If MM is to equalise the Malay culture & indigenous
cultures of Sabah & Sarawak with the other cultures, it is against history
& the constitution. My idea of Bangsa M’sia dances with the constitution,
history & Rukun Negara. That is, the Malay & indigenous customs form
the core culture of our unique M’sian brand & chinese, indian & other
cultures are part & parcel & add value. It will be good if DAP or PR
can together produce a Malaysian Malaysia document perhaps as a comparison with
BN’s 1Malaysia so we the rakyat can compare and make our choice :)
@_charis: #AskAnas Is talking about unity / positivity
enough to get a united/positve m’sia? What must happen for us to BE united in
reality?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas Definitely not! We need to 1) Want, 2)
Believe, 3) Understand, 4) Practice & 5) Celebrate. We will not be United
in every way, but we must have some form of minimum standard requirement -
values that we all practice. The number 1 - 5 suggested earlier regardless of
our race, location, background & religion.
@aizatroslan: #AskAnas Question: where did you get the
inspiration for your unity cause? when did it start?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas Naturally. It is like a call from
within. Perhaps because I grew up in Penang as
a minority. It started early - primary school. My reading of the Quran, having
understood the universal essence of the Book, enhanced & shaped the
practice of Unity giving it much depth and vocation. Furthermore, Msia can’t
but build a universal child if only one allows his/her heart to flow with the
goodness of the rakyat. How not to see the beauty of Unity in diversity while
growing up in Penang ? Malaysia ? One
need to be blind at heart to have missed it ... for we are Many Colours, One
Race. By law, I am a Malay, but ancestry I am Malay-Arab mixed, by choice I am
Malaysian, but in the heart I belong to the human race. TQ, Peace :)
As a social entrepreneur, Anas also entertained questions
on business and economics.
@aafaizli: #AskAnas What is your take on the fuel subsidy
(approx RM15B this year) and the car excise duty collection (approx RM7B this
year)?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas I do not not agree with blanket
subsidy, subsidy for fuel included. Pls read here http://is.gd/yDK0f9.
I am ok with the current car excise duty. I pay a big tax for my luxury
car. But, tax the rich, help the poor. But that does not mean I agree with
allowing our local made cars to be of poor quality. It is a separate issue
altho connected. Quality depends more than just protection. It is a culture.
Many other industries are protected - why only focus on cars? The belief that
free market is the way to build an industry is a big lie. Anyone who reads
economic history will tell you otherwise. I have written a short article about
it here http://is.gd/4DGx3Y.
@nughol: What is your take on minimum wage policy? #AskAnas
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas It is very hard to implement without
taking consideration of locality, nationality & industry. We may want to
ask ... how much we should pay the foreign labourers, our own people, etc. We
must ensure that we pay our workers a decent salary without killing the
business. I find it hard to decide a quantum nationwide. Some businesses can
afford more, some can’t. It must also tie up with productivity & minimum
standard requirement. For example, do everyone spent bulat-bulat
(exactly) 8 hours doing their job or do they mengulat (Missing In Action)? So
what I do is, I stop asking others to pay a min wage, but practice it at zubedy
my own company. The Indonesian worker that work here is paid a local salary, we
provide tuition $ for her children & arrange her housing - because she is
very hard working. Business leaders perhaps want to do the same. No one policy
for all is my recommendation :)
@_charis: #AskAnas How can businesses practice social duty
while still keeping business goals (i.e. making best profit possible)?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas A business’s number one social duty is
to make a profit within ethical means. That is a business’s most important CSR.
Only when an organisation makes profit, they survive - provide jobs, product
& services that make the world a better place. The number one purpose of a
business org is to create customers. If they do that well, they are practicing
CSR. All other CSR measures must also create customers, build the company brand
& help the company makes profit. Any other reasons is going against the
purpose of business, and as such is doing a disservice to mankind.
Time waits for no man: others were eager for Anas to
spill the beans on what he thinks the future holds.
@CikSyuza: #AskAnas Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas At 50 ( thats 1 and 1/2 years from
now) I will decide my next career options. Currently I am thinking of various
options. 1) Make millions of ringgit - i.e. be focused on making $ & set
new $ making business, no. 2) jump into politics & sell the politics of
middle path & unity in diversity as I have been advocating, 3) focus on
writing especially on religion & management. I hope by then I should be
married too, people are beginning to wonder if i am straight even when I do not
wear V -Necks LOL!!! So, in 5 - 10 years time … it will depend on the above :)
@_charis: #AskAnas Where do you see our nation, as a
people, today and in the next 10, 15 years?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas in the next 10-15 years I would
assume Msians will no longer be excited to support #BodohPolitik
(#StupidPolitics). We would have grown up although new recruits & leaders
to #BodohPolitik will continue to irritate our landscape. But, I have hope that
we will be better & achieve Vision 2020. Our economy will be better, our
nation smarter, our sport people will win more international competition &
Tun Mahathir will still say his piece :)
As with any discussion in Malaysia
@Mirafirda: #AskAnas will we have more bipartisan Malaysian
or will Malaysia
become a polarised society?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas I am assuming you are asking if we are
going to be more polarised. Sadly, in the near future the answer is a Yes. This
is because our politics has become more partisan. Many are supporting
ideas/policies not based on what is right but who says it. But, I am positive
that within the next few GEs, M’sians will realise this mistake & grow more
mature & see that right is right, wrong is wrong, no matter who does it.
@kian_ong: #AskAnas How do we make people realise that we
CAN disagree politically AND still work together, be friends?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas Ong, this is difficult to do.
Precursor to that is maturity. So we will need to wait. We need to start them
young. To LA2D. LA2D is the acronym for Let’s Agree To Disagree. We produced a
teen talk show with the same title a few years ago, now still being aired by
RTM 2. Unfortunately, I cannot understand the logic of RTM2 airing the show at
6am in the morning LOL! When teens are still much asleep! We need to go back to
the family institution, school & activities to inculcate LA2D mentality.
@we2020: #AskAnas CROSSROAD - if unsure who to vote, is it
ok to not vote?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas Not going out to vote is also a
democratic right. But it would be rather a waste. So pls choose the lesser evil
if we must. But if your conscience tells you not to vote any, follow it :)
@Phatkor: #AskAnas So you think there is sincerity in both
the ruling & opposition parties in wanting to represent the people’s
interest?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas Yes. Both BN & PR have good people
with sincerity or else our nation will not be where we are today. Remember that
we are doing well but we want to be better. While there are shortcomings, we
have done well. The trick is to see the facts, be balanced. Take the NEP: you
can read my article here & see we have moved millions out of poverty. That
can only take place with sincerity http://is.gd/UtuTR4
Read about our Mr Opposition, the late Tan Sri David Tan & you will clearly
see sincerity: go here http://viweb.freehosting.net/TanCK.htm.
Although there are some of our politicians who we can consider not up to mark,
many are ok. The trick is to ensure we do not vote those who practice
#BodohPolitik (#StupidPolitics) in the next GE. Vote only sincere ones in, kick
the nonsensical ones out; regardless of political party :)
Many tweeters sought his thoughts on all things to do
with learning and education.
@aafaizli: #AskAnas Will 1School for all races that offer
all required subject (language, religion) for all can be realistically
implemented in Malaysia ?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas POSSIBLE, but without forcing the
closure of the current vernacular/agama (religion) schools & at the same
time making sure better quality 1School. Parents look for quality education
that ensures their kids have a good future - both here & the hereafter :)
If Tamil schools can offer that better than the Chinese ones, Chinese parents
will flock their children there. The way to get there is serious focus in
making 1SCHOOL the school of choice: Best People, Process & Structure for
schools. Pay the best people to teach in 1SCHOOL, be fair to all students,
active parent engagement, holistic approach etc. I dream to see this happen
in my lifetime :)
@nughol: What is the most important thing that can be
improved on our current education system? #AskAnas
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas If we need & can only choose one
and only one way to improve our education system, I suggest we focus on getting
the best TEACHERS! A really good teacher with heart, mind & soul in his/her
job will make do with whatever situation & give the best. Students cannot
but love learning, studying & being their best when they have the best of
teachers. We should focus here :)
@aafaizli: #AskAnas What is the best to promote and ingrain
reading and writing culture among Malaysians? Do you agree we need more
concerned citizens?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas I have written an article entitled
‘Instead of the keris, use a book’ it is worth reading here http://is.gd/9o0U51 Yes, we should be VERY
concerned about reading & writing. Here are some ideas (besides the ones in
the article earlier). Reading
should be part of all our KPI at work. All management staff must at least read
Peter Drucker’s idea, here are some samples. Sample 1, what makes an effective
executive - http://is.gd/kc1qtt. Sample 2
‘managing oneself’: http://is.gd/48XwAQ. We
must make a national culture and set 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm daily except Saturdays
as reading and studying time :) Muslim leaders must add READING as one of the pillars of Islam as it
is ironic that the 1st word delivered to the Prophet is to ‘Read’. Find ways to
make books cheaper by relooking into the publishing business in total. Build
comfy, cool & safe reading corners all over the country. Corp org must also
play an active role. So many more ... but will stop here :)
@cheongchew: #AskAnas Polarized society, whose fault? Is it
racial based political parties or vernacular school?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas We are polarised for many reasons,
not just those two. However, I do see the current race/religious based parties
while is pragmatic at this time, but a major contributor to d problem. Because
politics do define society. How we organise our politics will have direct
impact on the rakyat. Best we nudge slowly away from such politics. But the
rakyat must WANT it. As for vernacular/agama (religion) schools etc -
segregating our kids at such an early age does not help either. Many still
socialise in silo. But we must not make a mistake by saying such schools
promote polarization e.g. many do not know that a big portion of teachers in
Chinese vernacular schools are non-Chinese. The problem is socialization. We
need to get our kids to mix, play, quarrel etc and learn to deal with each
other as early as possible :)
In one answer, Anas also revealed himself to be a devoted
Trekkie or Star Trek fan!
@aafaizli: #AskAnas do you agree to promote Unity we should
have more common restaurants versus current Chinese, Malay, Mamak and Indian
ones?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas Anas, i like your name LOL! No bro. We
want Unity in diversity, not to wipe out ethnicity. In fact that is our unique
brand. It is important that while we move towards Bangsa Malaysia we
must remember that all the various races are part of the larger brand. We must
not even lose a culture from a small tribe in Sabah or Sarawak
in our quest for 1Malaysia. I recommend all to watch Star Trek. Captain Picard
will mati-mati (to the death) defend the rights of a culture even if he has to
lose his position - check out http://is.gd/8SiL0F.
Anas also revealed a little-known facet of himself in the
following exchange.
@dean_armora: I’d also like to #AskAnas his take on the
claim that Malaysia
is safe. Is the fear that it isn’t valid or just a perception?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas
Yes , Malaysia
The session was not short on fun questions as well.
@Aisehman: #AskAnasThat stick figure in your ads. Who drew
it?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas I drew it back in 1994. That is the
best I can do LOL! I am a writer but not an artist. But the zubedy stickman has
a story to it :) 1) It was based on my stickman drawing about Somalia -
people dying in drought & poverty. Many liked the drawings. so when I set
up a company, I just incorporate the style into a logo :)
@cheongchew: #AskAnas Among present living local
politicians, who can you trust with your life?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas CCC, do not trust anyone with your
life be they politicians or otherwise. Only trust yourself, those who love you
unconditionally, a very good doctor or lawyer when your life depends on them
and GOD :)
@nughol: What is a life of contentment to you? #AskAnas
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas I am one of those who is likely not to
retire till the day I die. There will be always something to do. Contentment is
a work in progress, one contentment will breed another. It is the feeling of
contentment that makes you move forward. When we do a good job and work hard,
we can relax with contentment. That is the ability to do nothing & not feel
guilty. That is a gift that I profusely thank to God :)
The subject of change was on quite a few minds.
@janet7gc: #AskAnas How extensive an organisation
transformation got to be to form a group of change agent?
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas any transformation program must be
holistic that covers People, Structure -administration, Empowerment-decision
making & Unity systems. It is not enough to have a group of change agents.
That is a misunderstanding. All key personnel must be in it eventually. As
time, plan to slowly but surely convert the entire group of stakeholders must
be organised & followed through. A popular approach is to use the law of
Diffusion of Innovation as a rough guide go here http://is.gd/EKP8u8.
A good place to hear an explanation can be found in this video http://is.gd/8jIjCh. A change initiative has
lots of things to do but must cover the following five. 1) change is
knowledge/skills, 2) change in attitude 3) change in behaviour, 4) change in
group behavior and 5) the awareness to all the above. A good book to read is by
Daryl R Conner go here http://is.gd/gYrB9J.
@ellifamira: What do you think is the wisest way to gain
faith from nowadays generation in our nation again? They don’t seem to care.
#AskAnas
@AnasZubedy: #AskAnas The younger generation is different
in a way that many are not confined to a nation state. They are larger in their
perspective. For most of them, the global world is their playground - may not
be physically, but via modern communications - like the internet. They have the
choice of throwing their interest in more places. That is ok. We are, at the
end of the day, children of the earth. However, if we want to get their
interest, we must listen to them & try to bridge the old & d new. To
make them care, we must care more.
“Thank you for the experience. I like the idea that The Star
is up to date with new media – blending the old and the new media in a cool
fashion. Hope more of such efforts will be forthcoming,” said Anas after the
four-hour tweet session.
As he had a very busy week, he found the most challenging
part of #AskAnas being the lack of time to prepare, and noted that it would be
good if he had time before it began to ponder upon the questions!
Thankfully, he still enjoyed himself, as he “got to respond to
important issues affecting the nation via new media and eat satay in between
questions”.
Anas finds the On The Spot sessions “a great initiative that
adds depth in Twitterjaya (TJ). It will be good to have more of such
initiatives”.
The 48-year-old also suggested increasing the connection
between The Star and Twitterjaya by encouraging readers - who are not yet part
of the local Twitter scene - to set up an account and participate, and
conducting more prominent communication within and outside Twitterjaya about
the sessions, as it would benefit both the nation and the paper.
With regards to the queries received, Anas said he would be
happier if there were more questions about business, religion, change,
management, marketing, and Gen Y issues, among others, as “most of the topics
need more discussion – a real forum perhaps”.
As most Malaysians know of Anas and his company through
their muhibbah advertisements, I asked him to share on the subject.
“Our most recent advert, on September 14 – our Hari Malaysia
advert - chats about leadership. At zubedy, we try hard to make our advertising
message current yet universal. So the topics we choose deal with current
affairs but offer solutions that are based on timeless core values,” he
said.
“We try to be the bridge builder between opposing segments
to find shared values that we all can agree with. Our #SaySomethingNice
campaign seeks to bring extreme politics to a more balanced approach. To cut
down the exaggerations and the noise and see things as they are.”
What goes into the creation of each advert?
“We have a team of people working on the adverts. We
identify the message, brainstorm, research, and write the final copy. One of
the key elements is to choose the right ‘hero’ from history that can represent
our message – someone who lived a life that embodies the message,” said
Anas.
“The next advert will be for Deepavali. We will be
continuing with the ‘Choose the Middle Path’ theme, where we will chat about
how to take Middle Path action,” he added.
As for the year ahead, many developments are afoot for Anas
and team, with interesting projects for 2013 already being outlined: among them
are books, campaigns, and GOYFU (Gathering of Youth for Unity), to name a few.
“Next year, we are planning to prepare a bigger action plan
for the #SaySomethingNice campaign. We hope to target and reach 50 bloggers,
two news daily each from old and new media, hundreds of other opinion makers,
and one million Malaysians,” said the passionate social entrepreneur.
The Hari Malaysia celebration hosted by zubedy on September
14 also acted as the culmination of their #SaySomethingNice campaign, which was
launched on August 31, 2012. The 12-year-old event, which first began in 2001,
featured a traditional kukur kelapa (coconut scraping) demonstration and
special performances. Also present was delicious rojak and cendol, in
accordance to the event’s theme, which served as a reminder of how even life’s
simplest things - like the food we love - can and has always brought us
together in unity.
As for future On The Spot sessions, Anas would like Dr G.
Bala of the Planet of The Monyet blog to take part and say his piece.
Anas also echoed his answer to a question by @suffianrk -
who enquired about the first thing he’d do if he was Prime Minister of Malaysia
- as his parting words.
His answer was: “Fervently and constantly ask God for
guidance to be able to lead with love, logic and wisdom.”
As to why: “May all of us guide ourselves with love, logic
and wisdom. Love, because love makes us fair with our hearts; Logic, because
logic makes us fair with our minds; and Wisdom, because wisdom leads us to
combine our love and logic in the way of God and for the benefit of Mankind.”
The next On The Spot session is #AskCIJ with Masjaliza
Hamzah, executive officer of the Centre for Independent Journalism, at 11am on
September 21.
Other upcoming personalities include RandomAlphabets’ Zain
HD, the Women’s Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah, and journalist
and social media enthusiast Niki Cheong.
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