Institutional lack of self-pride

Has it come to this. A total lack of self-pride? A groveling, pleading… nay begging, letter for a large US firm to come here? Institutions representing national interests should have some common decency not to agree to everything thrown our way by others, foreigners, locals, bosses, employees, stakeholders doesn’t matter. There is a need for self-pride in what we are, what we do. Others with interests should make it a point to come here on their own free will, and because we are smart enough to provide “pull” policies that encourage them to come here. By the way, I’m not referring to my organization here.

The murky and immoral world of global finance

1.       Following on from the US downgrade by S&P on Friday, which incidentally is the right call as the US can’t be having a 4,000 bn debt and keep on adding to it by another 1,000 bn every year, the markets yesterday and today are crying like lost children pinched by savages. (sorry for such a bad metaphor.. it’s been a long day already)

2.       Looks like the US is going to be battered, at least in the financial markets for the next couple of days. The outstanding factor will be what Bernanke does.

3.       Amazing what a bunch of investors with ‘herd-like’ behaviors will do to the global financial system. It rally begs the question of what a regulator does, just sit by and see people losing their shirts, pants, and in the aftermath, losing their lives in a suicide perhaps?

4.       The key issue is still regulation. If the large banks are just too babyish about it, too bad. You shouldn’t be making obscene money by being an intermediary or a middle-man for anything, not even for money. That’s the only realistic, right thing to do. It’s what Islamic finance does.

5.       Perhaps it needs to be said, just like what Tun M said re: the obvious and for which he was branded as anti-semitic. Bernanke, Greenspan et al. The jews are getting their hands on the money and the others will just have to grin and bear it.

Leadership needs - Tun M, Green Education, Durian runtuh

Leadership and Tun M

1.       I’m reading up Tun M’s memoirs. I have my deepest respect for what he is and what he has done. It’s clear how decisive he can be, how clear he is about getting things done. And the cycle goes on after displaying clearly what a fantastic decision maker he is under the worst possibly circumstances. But it also displays his thorny, spiky, ..spiteful?... personality. It just goes to show that you don’t want to mess with him. At the same time, his limitation maybe his lack of scruples to do what perceives to be the right thing to do. This will be a subject of a later blog. All in all – always well-intentioned, but perhaps not quite the best in personal, values and morality development department.

2.       I do agree with his assessment of Malay virtues, loyalty and fealty, and weaknesses, gullible and meek. Exploit this information well, and you can really lead the community to achieve pretty extraordinary things. I do need to ascertain whether this is still true of the Gen Y though. On a personal level, I’d think there is already this shift going on. So, a leader’s work is now even more complex than before.

 

Green Education

3.       This could be my break. It seems Allah had pre-ordained many things in the past few months to facilitate this decision – Alhamdulillah.. the return of Maysaroh, and as yet still unfilled position of helper at home, the frequent reminders from conversations on the need to leave our rizq to Allah, the focus on green AND education! (masyaAllah!), and so many others…

4.       Yet it comes with risk, and which my wife has alluded to time and time again. There is this lack of confidence in my ability, resilience, strength to fulfill my role as a breadwinner and thereby subjecting her to unnecessary pressure. There is a need for me to really execute the plans, but above all change my ways and place my faith in Allah in the truest sense of the word.

5.       Acting as a leader. Learning to think and act as a leader. To be able to understand sensitivities of others and responding accordingly. These are some of the things that I’m not natural at, but it can be learned. To be ruthless and firm in the most important and red-lined items. To show good character and akhlak.

6.       Bumping into Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam’s biography has given me the perfect model to look at.

 

Durian Runtuh

7.       There are some priorities in life that takes precedence above all others. Family is one.

8.       I would say I hadn’t spent wisely on the last payout. I intend to do so this time round.

9.       Items on the list include: 1. Medical insurance, 2. Education fund for all 4 kids, 3. Money for mak to spend.