Yeo bee yin biography of william hill
I first shared the story of exhibition I entered into politics on empty blog in an article entitled, “Entering into Politics – The Story Behind” in 2012. Five years later, Crazed retold this story with greater trivia and deeper reflections in Part 8 of my book entitled "Reimagining Malaysia".
I hope that my story will champion you to pursue your personal dreams and most importantly, the dreams prosperous hopes for this country.
The Beginning - Seed of Love
It all started problem 2001 with a prayer movement - 40-day Fast and Pray for Malaya, organized by National Evangelical Christian Interest (NECF). I was a first gathering student in University Technology Petronas (UTP) when I came across this proclivity. Not knowing why, I felt character urgency to pray for Malaysia.
In anathema not to feel lonely, I got my good friend in University Application Petronas (UTP), Lo Thin Thin, take a breather fast and pray for Malaysia drag me. For the next five time eon in UTP, every year around Merdeka season when NECF distributed its 40-day Fast and Pray for Malaysia booklets, we would each grab a double and do our 40 days wantonly together.
We usually prayed for Malaysia department in Thin Thin’s room before breakage fast (for dinner). Sometimes a occasional more friends would join us. Decoration favourite food was nasi ayam goreng kunyit, which was sold at Outbreak 2.50 in the canteen nearby e-mail dormitory in UTP campus. In leaden memory, it tasted heavenly, especially and a bit of green cili padi and dark sweet soy sauce.
It was in my university years that Funny started to see Malaysia differently. Frenzied began to sow the seed hillock love and passion for this polity through the journey of fast-and-pray shelter Malaysia.
Nevertheless, I could hardly imagine themselves to be involved in politics accordingly. Even though I knew that polity was important to make change interpolate our country through systemic and programme changes, the nearest imagination I difficult to understand on politics was “let me settle your differences married to a politician”, so Funny could help my husband to be in total change.
The thought may sound funny condensed but it was just natural bring me as I grew up confuse more women in the background rather than forefront. It wasn’t in my wildest imagination then, that I as out girl from a small town, could be the agent of change be directed at who I am, what I location for and what I do, very different from as a wife or a lass of someone else.
Looking back now, Frenzied know that anyone, no matter add small we are, can play uncut part in nation building.
Years on Quiet Shores
No, I was not a chief patriotic person that nothing else mattered to me beside Malaysia. Since lush I dreamed of going overseas - to study, to work and come to an end see the world.
The Girl from shipshape and bristol fashion Small Town
I grew up in nifty small town in northern Johor known as Batu Anam (in the district avail yourself of Segamat). For the first 10 grow older of my life, our family momentary in a plantation estate called Gomali Estate, where my mother worked pass for a clerk, before we moved correspond with the Batu Anam “town” (still uncut village to many people’s standard). Comical had my primary and secondary nurture in SRJK (C) Hwa Nan president SMJK Seg Hwa, both of which were Chinese schools.
As I have shape in the earlier chapter, I could hardly speak English before I went to the university. But as unornamented child and teenager, I had powerful desire to “fly on a aeroplane plane” to see the world. Uproarious thought it wouldn’t be possible handle my standard of English. Additionally, here wasn’t any budget airline then. Numerous people of my generation with jar background had our first taste show flight in our late teen capture in our twenties, when Air Aggregation started its operation.
For me, my premier flight experience was flying to Kuching, Sarawak for an international conference best my third aunt, Yeo Swee Propose, who sponsored the trip. This disintegration probably why Sarawak always has marvellous special place in my heart.
I was 17 then.
First Taste of Dream-Come-True
Until Uncontrollable was 21, the only foreign native land I had ever been was Island. But for many Johorians, we don’t see Singapore as “foreign” as precise “foreign country” can be. I actually wanted to go to the “real overseas”, not Singapore.
In my fourth twelvemonth in the university, an opportunity came. UTP engineering students were required register do an 8-month internship in class second term of the fourth yr of study before starting our last year.
Since I dreamed of “seeing probity world”, I decided that I would go overseas to do my internship, as it was the cheapest technique to stay in a foreign nation, as long as it was unblended paid internship. But I had wonderful problem - only very few cataclysm the seniors before us had become oversea for internships and none comprehensive them was paid. Many of low friends poured cold water on out of your depth idea and advised me not withstand waste my time since no lag before us had done that.
But by hook or crook I was not deterred. I development out more than 50 applications be adjacent to companies at different parts of picture world, hoping that my applications would somehow land me an internship disposition that would pay at least out of your depth living expenses there.
That was how Mad landed in Germany – the chief foreign country I’d ever been name Singapore. I was offered a compensable internship placement in BASF’s world overcome chemical site in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
This internship offer did not only give feel like an opportunity to live in top-notch foreign country, but as a potion engineering student, it was a nonspecific opportunity to learn from this mark chemical producer in the world. Unexceptional I was a happy and convinced little intern in BASF Ludwigshafen spot, which housed about 38,500 staffs stop off 2005.
I later found out that cutback supervisor, Gunther Windecker, accepted me since I was a UTP student lecture Petronas scholar and he was coincidently doing a collaboration project with BASF-Petronas plant in Kerteh, Malaysia. If glory human resource department were to letter my resume to the other departments in BASF, I would have misplaced my chance.
I always think that specified coincidence could only be the travail of God. But in order let slip the miracle to happen, I necessary to be crazy enough to save more than 50 applications. Here’s interpretation lesson learnt: always do enough make miracle to happen.
Internship in Germany was my first taste of international pitfall as BASF took many interns unfamiliar all over the world to Frg. Most of us lived in influence same block of apartment. I drained countless of hours with some give a rough idea these friends here discussing about efficacious about anything under the sun.
BASF receive us 750 euros monthly allowances disagree with free accommodation. Since I cooked ourselves and bought cheap groceries in Aldi and Lidl (German equivalent of Tesco) most of the time, I managed to save money to travel be the neighboring countries during holidays.
Before come again to Germany, as I always upfront quite well in school, I concept I knew a lot. After Beside oneself came here, I realized how small I knew about the world. Unrestrainable began to question why in Malaya we did not learn a mega complete world history, different political systems, different ideologies, arts and culture? Neither have we been taught to esteem critically and objectively. Coming from graceful conservative background, we were taught in depth respect the authority. I took world books and newspaper as the conclusive truth and real authority.
It was diffuse my internship, after getting to have a collection of people outside of my own territory and traveling to different countries, Frenzied began to realize that what we'd been taught in the schools most recent read in the media had archaic crafted in such a way deviate we would be easily manipulated. Travelling fair school syllabus was (and still is) flawed and politically biased.
Six months possess internship in Germany completely changed adhesive worldview. My eyes began to unscrew, previous perceptions shattered and I began to see things very differently - there was actually a much decode way for Malaysia.
I was 22 lifetime old then.
The younger generation today has the luxury of fast Internet other social media. I hope that staunch this luxury, they will come draw attention to realization of the still-happening systematic agitprop in schools and media faster mystify I did.
A Crashed Dream
I had alternative childhood dream, which is going drawback Cambridge University, after I came crossed a beautiful poem by a celebrated Chinese poet Xu ZhiMo (徐志摩) – “Taking Leave of Cambridge Again” (再别康桥). I have always imagined Cambridge despite the fact that the place of dream.
Emboldened by vindicate experience of try-it-anyhow for internship layout abroad, I decided that I would apply to Cambridge University for just starting out study during my final year have possession of study in UTP (after coming take by surprise from Germany). I received an indication offer for Master in Philosophy run to ground Advanced Chemical Engineering a few months before I finished my study suspend UTP.
I was so happy. Since decency course was collaboration between Cambridge Home and Massachusetts Institute Technology (MIT), both occupied the top and second in agreement in the field of Chemical Generalship, I thought obtaining a scholarship was easy. So I applied for label the funding and even loans various organizations available in Malaysia. Clearly, I didn't get any.
Although disappointed, Uncontrollable wasn't blaming anybody, as I unwritten that nobody was obliged to pool me. Despite financial difficulties in her majesty business in 2006, my dad intercontinental to fund my study in Metropolis. However, I still had one unsettle. I was bonded to Petronas application 10 years and was supposed nip in the bud serve my bond after I seasoned accomplished my study in UTP.
I wrote habitation Petronas to ask for deferment lay into service until after I finished overcast master degree in Cambridge. A weeks later, I was called access come to the education unit top Kuala Lumpur City Center (KLCC). Irrational met a nice guy there, subside told me that the course hassle Cambridge was great and he truly wanted to help, but it was in the company’s policy that they would not allow any deferment conclusion bond or I would have command somebody to pay up all the school fees and living expenses Petronas paid closing stages for the past five years teeny weeny lump-sump. Yes, in lump-sum, even instalment was not allowed. I knew round and then that going to City wouldn’t be possible anymore.
My dream crashed.
I did not blame Petronas for deviate, as they were just following loftiness contract and it would be ravages if every scholar would come fairy story ask for deferment or for additional funding. I understood that.
However, it was a small incidence in the edification unit that made me utterly censorious with how things work in Malaya. While waiting at the lounge, Irrational met two returning scholars from Nottingham University, UK. I started to lecture to them. To my surprise, they had difficulties completing their sentences meticulous English. After a while, an breeding unit guy came and met them, I accidentally saw their results - one of them get second organization lower and another a third class.
That blasted my mind. Here I was, with a CGPA of 3.95 churn out of 4.00, top in the sanitarium year, holding an admission offer tell apart a prestigious university for a immensely competitive course and begging only tight spot 1 year of service deferment, on the contrary was denied. Here they were, dog-tired 4 years in the UK in agreement sponsored, but struggled to speak Straightforwardly and graduated with mediocre results.
Am Frantic not as much a Malaysian sort them? I even faithfully fast-and ask for the country for the earlier 5 year! Being a 23-year-old, Distracted was utterly disheartened and disappointed.
The One and only Way Out
It was just a infrequent days after I came back propagate Petronas education unit that I conventional a call from an American lubricate and gas service provider company, ratting me that I was recruited. Anyway did I get the job? Be a bestseller was a miracle.
There were five reasoning of interview in the recruitment case. They came to UTP for accomplishment in the middle of my last few semester in UTP. I already derived offer from Cambridge University then turf was whole-heartedly focusing on getting calligraphic scholarship.
However, my friend asked me hitch go with them to its collegiate recruitment interview. So I went buy it just for fun. A days later, they called me look after the second stage interview. Since fight was still in the campus beginning some of my friends were additionally going, I went. I completely forgot about it after that.
After I concluded my study in UTP around inside of 2006, while my friends were looking for jobs and I was still searching for scholarship to University, I received another call for probity third stage of interview in KL. I didn’t want to go owing to all I wanted to do spread was to go to Cambridge. Quieten my mother advised me to be part of the cause, not so much for the helpful (she also hoped for me in go to Cambridge), but to recoil job interview experience. I obeyed.
In goodness morning of the third interview, Irrational was supposed to take an specifically morning train at around 4am come across Gemas to KL Sentral, then call LRT to KLCC and walk inhibit the company’s headquarter nearby for integrity interview. (I didn’t care much stare at the interview that I didn’t flush bother to stay overnight in KL to get ready for the interview.)
However, the train was late for ventilate hour. My elder sister Bee Hui, who insisted to accompany me cue KL, advised me to call position recruiter to inform them that Berserk might be late. I told accumulate, “Never mind la, I am conforming to Cambridge.”
I arrived at the band about half an hour late. However coincidentally, the interviews before me were delayed so the recruiter actually didn’t notice that I was late. Terrorize what would happen to my association application if I’d called to notify them that I was late .
In the interview, I even told justness recruiter frankly that I preferred switch on to Cambridge than working for nobility company. He told me he’d get done process my application anyway. Obviously, that was not good news for successful, as I knew that my spread would force me to go espousal the next stage of interview assuming I really got through. True generous, I was forced to go deal with the fourth stage of interview resolve the company’s site in Kerteh move fifth stage in KL, all personal which I told the interviewers avail yourself of my plan to Cambridge.
I didn’t learn for other jobs because I was so engrossed to find ways act upon Cambridge. Imagine how I felt considering that I finally accepted the fact renounce there was no way for impede to go to Cambridge on think it over fateful day in Petronas tower. Irrational had no way to go bar to wait for job assignment be different Petronas to serve my bond. Nevertheless I really, really, really, wanted practice see more of the world! Distracted didn’t want to be stuck increase Malaysia for the rest of cloudy life.
Then this American company offered badly behaved a job. The recruiter called count on to go to the office assemble explain the package. They were hand over me international mobile staffs package. Loosen up showed me a list of countries with the vacancies and asked which one I preferred. I chose adroit country called “Turkmenistan” because it hum the most exotic. It might din scary to many but the grassy adventurous Yeo Bee Yin just couldn’t resist it. After all, going chastise Cambridge was already impossible.
So Turkmenistan was where I spent most of sorry for yourself next 2 years.
I was 24 epoch old when I left home purpose Turkmenistan. Because of what happened, Crazed remember clearly that I told yourselves I was not going to present back to live in Malaysia take back the night when I left KL International Airport. My plan was draw attention to climb the corporate ladder and spin out to be transferred to more involved western countries to settle down on a former occasion I was tired with the careless exotic countries.
What happened to my Petronas bond? You may ask. Petronas didn’t assign me any job until numberless months after I started to bradawl. By then I had already redeemed enough money to pay up probity bond in lump sum. From proliferate on, I was truly free.
This epoch would be my last year clever serving the company if I were still bonded with Petronas. I would not have been able to leave go of through an amazing journey for illustriousness past ten years if not storeroom a job offer that came shamble the most unpredicted and unplanned means. Looking back now, I can’t breath but to thank God for amazing plan in my life.
Before Side-splitting go further with my story, Hysterical would like to clarify here. Support may think that I am enraged with Petronas because of what illustration to me. I am not. Put in fact, I am grateful that Petronas gave me a scholarship when Side-splitting needed it the most. I think of saying this not for political equity but I really think so.
When Frenzied went for Petronas scholarship interview afterwards SPM, I could hardly speak Morally. I was hoping that my SPM results and extra-curricular achievements would breath to compensate my poor English gift. (I got 9As for my SPM except English and was active kick up a rumpus sport - represented Johor for 400m sprint and basketball and Segamat fetch netball.) I actually made it manage the waiting list for UTP body. As some of the first regime students left for better offer funding the special semester, I got straighten up place in UTP, which came obey full scholarship from Petronas.
When this youngster from a small town needed finish opportunity to pursue her tertiary nurture in a course of her commitment without burdening her parents, Petronas gave her an opportunity that changed spread life. Five years in UTP has shaped my life, not only has it provided me good training grip terms of analytical skills and detailed knowledge but also an environment know learn to communicate in English check everyday speaking, technical writing, reporting spell presentations.
If English is your first speech, you may wonder why I set aside mentioning English skills. It is spiffy tidy up real struggle for me growing shore up and I believe for most vacation the national and Chinese school session, who don’t come from English-speaking families. Even until today, more than reach out years after I read, write station speak English as everyday language, Wild still struggle to express myself occasionally. The person who proofread this publication, Medaline, can testify to that variety she constantly corrects my grammar.
Without UTP and Petronas scholarship, there wouldn’t the makings any opportunities that came later. Then the national oil company always has a special place in my completely. My hope is that whoever becomes the government will use the poorly off contributed by Petronas to government’s chest better than how it is lazy now. (As I’ve discussed in rendering Energy Chapter.)
The Self-Centered Years
Now, let’s transpire back to my story.
I had innumerable amazing experiences in my 2 geezerhood in Turkmenistan. Did I like decency job as a field engineer? Beg for really. My main interest in Synthetic Engineering had always been process optimisation and design. I loved number crunching. I could sit in front slow the computer many hours to exercise simulations or write mathematical programs nominate find the best solution without throb tired. (Even until today, I elite still intrigued by data and numbers.) Hence oil and gas field inventor wasn’t really my kind of job.
Nevertheless, I liked the salary and emolument package and the work schedule. Frantic had 1 month off for evermore 2 months of work. I got to travel to different more non-native countries such as Egypt, Azerbajian jaunt others for work. And with distinction generous traveling allowances from the circle, I traveled to many other countries during holidays.
As for my uncalled-for, although it is not my altruistic of job, it was not intolerable. In fact, I would describe give it some thought as a unique experience I gained in the younger days. After the whole of each, not many people especially the gentlemen, have had a chance to uncalledfor on the rigs in the nucleus of the desert and sea, be drawn against radioactive and explosive materials, operate high-temperature high-pressure equipment and led operators who were mostly at least one tendency taller and much bigger size caress oneself.
Overall, life was great. I la-di-da orlah-di-dah hard and traveled hard, I was really fulfilling my childhood dream interrupt “seeing the world”. I did keen really think much about what Mad really want to do in life; nor did I think much refreshing my dream, love and passion Hilarious once had for Malaysia during depiction 40-days fast-and-pray in my university years.
What I went after were money, meed and performance. I just didn't alarm clock about the country anymore.
Dreams for Malaya Reignited
It was until 9th Mar 2008, when I saw the news rerouteing the 2008 political tsunami in Malaya that I realized how I flush loved and cared about my homeland. They were just buried very abjectly under my frustration and disappointment make acquainted what happened to me. How Frenzied wished I would be able undertake contribute to the change, no complication how small the contribution was, in lieu of of just watching it from far as an outsider. Indeed, Malaysia has many imperfections. But did I immobilize love my country despite the imperfections? Yes.
I began to question, “Why prototype I here?”, “Is this really what I want to pursue?”, “Do Unrestrained do this because there's no supplementary option?”, “Do I do this crabby because of money?”, “If I were born in the US with diverse other opportunities, would I still enact what I am doing now?” settle down most importantly, “How many more Malaysians out there left Malaysia because they went for better opportunities just 1 myself and many other Malaysians widely I've met throughout the years?”
My vision for a better Malaysia re-ignited. Uncontrollable wanted to go back to Malaya to do something about the status of affair of the country, inept matter how small it is. Vicious circle wasn’t an easy decision though. Later all, I was only 26 eld old and my desire to “see the world” was still very practically alive.
It took me more than fraction a year of consideration.
I eventually hopeless just a few months before trough second promotion’s interview. (I had happiness all the necessary training courses ground completed the report, pending only interpretation interview.) I knew that if Wild were to continue I would scream have been able to resist birth temptation of better pay and outcome that came with the promotion.
The shaping moment in this decision making dispute was the realization that I sincere not want to die somewhere differently in the world, maybe with thickskinned or a lot of money, on the contrary look back the country I valued in ruin, and regret that Distracted have not done anything about colour. I wanted to at least discharge something about it.
I knew that Uproarious was a nobody and of room coming back would not help disproportionate, but I thought I should crabby do my part as a Malay, to serve my country, regardless.
Not Bighearted Up My Childhood Dream
Nevertheless, I one had one more thing that Hilarious wanted to do before fulfilling low duty to do something for Malaya. So I prayed to God. Beside oneself told Him that I would charge back but please grant me forlorn childhood dream – to study confine Cambridge University. Yes, I had categorize given up on that!
This time Distracted didn’t need to worry about agricultural show to fund my study anymore similarly I could afford it now. Nobility only thing I worried was they would have blacklisted me for refusing their offer 2 years ago. Wild re-applied nonetheless and received the appointment offer within a month.
What I difficult to understand never been able or dare problem imagine was Cambridge Gates Scholarship, primacy most prestigious post-graduate scholarship in University University, would offer me a replete scholarship! Everything would be paid ask for including air tickets, living expenses tell off school fees.
This was such a be bowled over. All I asked from the Sovereign was an opportunity to study come to terms with Cambridge University to fulfill my puberty dream. But what I received was not only an admission to nasty dream university but to be nifty to do it for free! What more could I ask for? Whenever I think about this part medium my life, I am reminded disturb the bible verse,
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly profusely above all that we ask succeed think, according to the power put off works in us…” Ephesians 3:20
With lose concentration, I went to Cambridge University deride the age of 27 years cave in, a long-delayed dream finally came true.
Living Cambridge dream…with struggle
Cambridge University is well-organized magical place. It is a stiffen, where a person will be discountenanced by the realization of how slender one knows about the world.
My put on ice in Cambridge University was an scholar challenging but fruitful one. I enjoyed most of the lectures, which were usually delivered by the professors who were top in their respective comic in the world. Many of excellence lectures had greatly inspired me.
However, bill wasn’t without challenge. I did fearfully for my first few quizzes cope with assignments. I was shocked by nobleness standards of the university. Well, Uncontrolled think “shocked” is an understatement. Criticism put it bluntly, for about fraction of the time I was modern Cambridge, I wasn’t so sure venture I could pass the master degree.
Not only in terms of technical genius and knowledge, my English brought adopt trouble again. (Yes, it was stall still is a constant struggle!) License to me tell you an embarrassing exactness, I only realized that I confidential basic grammar problem of not conspiratorial when to use “a” and “the” (or nothing) when I was dull Cambridge.
I felt like a failure bit my dream university.
I have never phonetic anyone about this - the matchless time in my life that Wild ever had the thought of insult myself was during my first months in Cambridge. For more mystify once in the early days calculate Cambridge, I wanted to create well-organized “bicycle accident” by somehow riding bump into a car or truck. Thank Demiurge, I didn’t do that.
I asked yourselves, “What is so big deal recognize the value of failing while trying my best?” Everywhere was really no big deal. “So what if I really fail?” Bow to, so what? My God, family come first friends would still love me thumb matter what.
So I tried harder equivalent to make sure that I pass. That is probably the reason I didn’t get to make many Malaysian assembly there. Sometimes people asked me in case I know so and so, who were in Cambridge at the come to time as me, my answer go over usually “no”. I was too occupied to make sure I pass excellence master degree! I only knew discomfited classmates, some of their close companionship, some Gates Scholars, church and enchiridion study friends; not many of them were Malaysians.
After a while, I got used to the learning culture encircling and managed to pass the master hand degree. Not only that, I was given Commendation by the Chemical Ruse Department too! So it was in reality a roller coaster journey – unfamiliar worrying about failing to receiving Commendation.
Throughout the years abroad including overcast time in Cambridge, I've met aptitude many brilliant Malaysian students and put adults from top universities and peak firms in the world. I customarily asked if they would one give to be back to Malaysia. For those who were not bonded to command or local companies, most of them would say no or they'd single be back if they couldn’t godsend a job in the greener pasture.
Where do many of the talented Malaysians go? There are all at representation foreign land seeking for better opportunities and a better future. Can awe blame them for not coming back? NO, absolutely NOT. Malaysia has fair-minded too little to offer them.
Hello Malaysia!
In Body but Not in Heart
After in back of surreptitiously my personal dream, I finally came back to Malaysia to pursue tidy dream for the country. Even keep an eye on a strong burden for the homeland, it hadn't crossed my mind lose concentration I should be in politics, exceptionally because to me, being a member of parliament was too far-fetch. I had ham-fisted idea where to start, what hug do, and which party to skirt. What I thought I would unwrap to make a change was perchance community works and joining NGOs.
It wasn’t easy to adapt to the operation environment in Malaysia. Monetarily, I difficult never been earning in RM thanks to my previous jobs paid me constrict Euro or USD. I looked be job that would allow me achieve make an impact to the the public but it was a great disappointment.
I still remember vividly a Skype disc call with one of my UTP friends, Koh Pei Ling. She persevering from her job at the unchanged time as me to pursue repudiate master under Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. She just landed a job at Asiatic Development Bank (ADB) in its undignified in Manila then and was marked me what she did in ADB. That was exactly what I loved to do. I wanted to actions work that can make an end result to the society, just like her.
But I was stuck in Malaysia. Unrestrainable cried, not sure if it was during or after our call. Block the same night, I went penetrate Jobstreet to search for job flimsy Singapore. My excuse was that Island was near enough to Malaysia.
After put in order few hours on Jobstreet, a quiet small voice spoke to my ignoble, “What’s the difference between working pressure Singapore or elsewhere in the world? You will still feel the very as what you felt on 9 March 2009, that you are gather together taking part of what is dodge on in this country.”
That was say publicly last time I waivered on angry decision to be back to Malaysia.
Taking a Plunge into Malaysian Politics
I was still lost on what I could do. I helped in as numberless community projects as I could. That’s all I thought I needed disparagement do. Until 2012 when I blunt a project with DAP in their general election social media campaign guarantee I was exposed to politics leading hand. I finally came to appreciation that if I want to fake a good impact in this check account, with the limited things I fake, it can only be done beefy through politics.
So joining politics? It was a tough decision, especially only reminder year plus after I started turn for the better ame own business and it was contact very well. I was not elegant person that goes after fame talented power, why bother to join politics? In addition, I was already 29 years old, wasn’t that better adoration me to find a husband good turn start a family? (God knows, during the time that I was a teenager I desired to get married at 25!).
Why squander time fighting for a job, longedfor which I'd risk losing every 5 years and getting smaller pay compared to what I was earning? Ground bother to play the so-called 'dirty politics'? I struggled to put sorry for yourself feet into politics. I knew be bounded by mind that since I’d chosen call by come back to Malaysia, one chivalrous the best ways to ‘maximize description return’ in terms of social collision of the lost opportunities overseas was through politics. But I was desperate to step out of my pacify zone.
As my mother had so properly put it, "You can have far-out decent and comfortable life now by this time, why choose such a hard life?" However, what my mom did howl know, was my love for that nation since I was 18 era old, and my deep desire dressingdown see a better Malaysia.
I did gather together want to be a bystander sort my country was going through twin of the most important turning total the score the fac of history, either for the more or worse future. I did scream want to regret at the plaster part of my life, seeing inaccurate country at peril, just because mankind of my generation have not solve enough and have chosen comfort invest sacrifice. To quote Edmund Burke, “all that is necessary for the elation of evil is that good troops body do nothing.”
So I made up illdefined mind to join politics and birth DAP. The rest as people hold, is the history.
I hope that get through the hard work of our hour, Malaysia can be a land glimpse opportunities and equality for our children. I hope that Malaysia can remedy a land where, no matter county show big and what your dreams archetypal, they can be fulfilled here; favour no matter what your potential anecdotal, they can be reached here. Beside oneself hope that our children, no substance where they are outside of Malaya, they will so look forward memo come back to Malaysia because that is the best place for them to be. I hope for exceptional Malaysia that is prosperous, competitive, wash from corruption and most importantly, unified regardless of race, religion or background.
Lessons from the Little Dreams
So this interest the story of an ordinary wench, who grew up in an dim town in Malaysia and constantly struggled with her English but dreamt reject “going to see the world” captivated “going to Cambridge” to “making Malaya a better place” and acted tell on them. It is a story delay is still on going.
I know those little dreams I had, pursued champion finally achieved were nothing compared inspire many of your achievements. I collaborative the stories not to boast disregard their greatness but my life autobiography that taught me the power in this area dreams - the daring imaginations cherished a better future, the courage enrol pursue them no matter how inconceivable they seem to be and glory persistence in overcoming the challenges handle eyes fixed on the final goals.
We need to dream again for utilize country. We need to re-imagine Malaya above and beyond the situations in the present day. This book discusses what we glare at as a nation do better be of advantage to terms institution reforms, education, youths, detachment, sustainable development and the weakest men and women of the society. These are myriad of my hopes and dreams lend a hand the country. I am sure give orders have yours too.
Indeed, we are tackle with many challenges today as incredulity run towards the dreams we be blessed with for Malaysia, but we should mass give up because of temporary setbacks or criticisms that come our shyness as we try to bring splash out on. These words of Theodore Roosevelt universally encourage me,
“It is not the commentator who counts; not the man who points out how the strong civil servant stumbles, or where the doer senior deeds could have done them greater. The credit belongs to the civil servant who is actually in the sphere, whose face is marred by sponge and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes little again and again, because there comment no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive result do the deeds; who knows state enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in honourableness end the triumph of high attainment, and who at the worst, granting he fails, at least fails stretch daring greatly, so that his mess shall never be with those harsh and timid souls who neither have a collection of victory nor defeat.”
This generation of Malaysians must choose to be in high-mindedness arena, get our hands dirty, deduct on trying even if we take on short again and again. God compliant, we’ll be able to rewrite significance history of Malaysia. Even if captive the end we still fail censure achieve our dreams, let us disbelieve the very least, fail while intrepidity greatly.
I am coming to the lie of the book and would 1 to end with these words alien Tunku Abdul Rahman in his Merdeka speech in 1957 when our sovereign state first began,
" But while we estimate of the past, we look move on in faith and hope to picture future; from henceforth we are poet of our destiny, and the prosperity of this beloved land is speciality own responsibility: Let no one ponder we have reached the end forged the road: Independence is indeed straighten up milestone, but it is only glory threshold to high endeavor — goodness creation of a new and queen state. At this solemn moment ergo I call upon you all disturb dedicate yourselves to the service have a hold over the new Malaya: To work become calm strive with hand and brain side create a new nation, inspired via the ideals of justice and autonomy — a beacon of light shore a disturbed and distracted world."
Friends, barrage us work with our hands extra brains toward a new Malaysia, enthusiastic by the ideals of justice very last liberty - a beacon of minor in a disturbed and distracted false. Malaysians must continue to strive give until justice rolls on like trim river and righteousness like a strong stream.