Growing up in KL as a young boy, there were lots of good memories to share. As a young KLites, I have lots of friends, regardless of race and religion..Well I shouldn't even have mentioned those 2 R words, but well as I grew older, the society played it into me (not that I care anyway).
When I was a young kid, I attended a SJK primary school and as all kids does, I mingled and played around with the kids in my class and my batch. We do not distinguished each other as Malay, Chinese, Indian and etc or you are Muslim, I am Buddhist and he is Hindu...
We hang around, playing konda kondi, galah panjang, 'police & thieves catch', chopping and a whole lot more..I still remember when 1 of our classmates got bullied, we all went bongkerz and fight with the kids frm the class next door...but after that, it was all cool (well, which kid never had fight before right)...
There was also once where I threw a rock and it accidentally hit a Malay boy, and he needed like stiching on it...My mom took him to the clinic and then sent him home. My mom kept on apologizing while I was standing beside her. And to my surprise, the mom was actually cool bout it and said "tak ape,budak budak memang macam tu la"..not to mention the mom is a policewomen...we became good friends after that...
In high school too, I hang out a lot with all type of friends. Be it the A-graders to E-graders, sportmen type, rich boy with chauffer or just the ordinary kid...We did lots of crazy stuff together, ponteng, state and national level competition,fundraising & not to mention going after girls...My Malay friends will always make sure they invited me for the buka puasa session, despite I am the only Chinese..so does my Indian friends who never fail to bring us muruku...I in return, will always invite them to my house during CNY for angpows..
Fast forward 10 years later, today what we hear about it always about race and religion. Chinese is taking over the country, attacks on church cause of the use of the word Allah, grey area between the power of civil court and Syariah court etc etc etc...
I mean I have totally no clue bout it even when I was in Uni. It was only when I am out to the society that I noticed that the race and religion issues had been played up so much..I mean what is the fuss all about?? When I was in UK and went to the All-Englands in Birmingham, I too waved the Malaysian flag, PROUDLY!! Whenever I'm overseas, I would reply that I am a Malaysian when people asked me what's your nationality. I don't say I am a Chinese...
We might have different religion and from different race, but the fact that we are the people of this land, born on this land, doesn't differentiate ourselves of our identity...if we cut ourselves, the blood that flows out is red right...so why then should we all be divided at all...We can have our own views on matters (which individual doesn't), so let it be and have a healthy debate.. Don't tell me that we are all the same and we all think alike. Hey we are individuals so each person is different....respect that and move forward..
Till this day, the socio environment of Malaysia is divided through race and religion. I don't know if this is played up by politicians and policies of the country, but at the rate we are going, things will have to change!! Much is always been reported on mainstream media that the Chinese is this la, the Malays are that la, the Hindu demand that la...
Well I think it is time that we grow up and move forward as MALAYSIANS!! Let's not because of some extremist whose plan is to separate the society split the very good people of this land!! I love this country and I like to believe that there is hope to this country. So people, let's not identify ourselves through race and religion. Let us be known as bangsa Malaysia for I am one...
Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia!!!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Noble doctors in Malaysia no more???
This blog is way overdue I know. But nevertheless I think it is necessary to talk about it.
On Feb 7 2010, our Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow has said in public tt the government is now considering to reduce the number of years of compulsory service, which is currently 5yrs-3yrs housemanship and 2yrs compulsory service to possibly 4years - 2years each for both housemanship and compulsory service. Correct me if I'm wrong but Malaysia is seriously lacking doctors,as at 2008 to patient ratio stands at 1:1105 (as per MOH Health Fact 2008). I wonder whether such a move,just by reducing the numbers of years of compulsory service is going to increase the amount of doctors willing to serve in Malaysia.
In fact, a lot of medicine students overseas do not want to return to Malaysia not only because of the years of compulsory service, but due to other reasons, amongst others, lack of research & development, lack of recognition, lack of challenges, lack of opportunity to grow, lack of reward, lack of funding etc. These are some of the reasons why some of Malaysians top surgeons and specialist remain overseas. What is the MOH doing to address this? What is being done by MOH to encourage these professionals to remain and serve the people?? Even worse now, the Health Minister is now too busy with politics and power struggle and couldn't care less of the society.
Having mentioned the above aside, personally, I think the society also has to take part of the blame. Remember when we are young, our school teacher will always has an essay session for 'What is your ambition?'. Without doubt, there will always some who will come up with an essay where its ambition is to be a doctor. We, as kids, were always being told that being a doctor is a noble profession, where one can help others.
Come 20 years later, we hear a different story. Parents nowadays want their children to become doctors not because of the main noble act of helping people, but because they can earn more money. There was once I was at a friend's dinner, and when aunty come to hear that one of her friend's child is now a doctor, the first thing that she said was "Wahhhh, doctor wor...can earn a lot of money"...
I mean where has the noble thought of curing and helping people??? I know that parents spend hundreds of thousands to groom their son to become a doctor, but for a doctor, ain't it that the noble act of helping people comes first??? I mean I am not saying that doctor can't be rich but I always believe where doctors are able to help people through you specialisation and expertise, then that is a reward which they should get...But the first thought should be helping people first, ain't it correct??
I am sure you have heard countless times of stories where hospitals ask you to make the payment 1st before they proceed to save anyones lives...For god sake, is that even correct?? This is completely a different story in some other countries, at least the one I know of. I have personnally experienced it while I was sick in Hong Kong and was admitted to a government hospital.
Coming from a society here in Malaysia where we need to register everything 1st, I asked the nurse if I need to register...which she told me "its ok, you can do that later, our duty is to see what is wrong with you and cure you 1st, the rest can wait"...To the doctors and nurses there, the moment they received me at the emergency ward, their duty is to try help me..That should be the way,not just in some developed nations, but everywhere!!!
Much been said, I still think being a doctor is a noble profession, and I like to believe it is still is..Doctors should always stick with the principle of helping and curing people first and not focus on how to make more money. The rewards comes as a recognition and reward of your professionalism! Remember that! Otherwise, if you want to make more money, then don't become a doctor, go become a businessman!!! So get your bearings right!!!
On Feb 7 2010, our Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow has said in public tt the government is now considering to reduce the number of years of compulsory service, which is currently 5yrs-3yrs housemanship and 2yrs compulsory service to possibly 4years - 2years each for both housemanship and compulsory service. Correct me if I'm wrong but Malaysia is seriously lacking doctors,as at 2008 to patient ratio stands at 1:1105 (as per MOH Health Fact 2008). I wonder whether such a move,just by reducing the numbers of years of compulsory service is going to increase the amount of doctors willing to serve in Malaysia.
In fact, a lot of medicine students overseas do not want to return to Malaysia not only because of the years of compulsory service, but due to other reasons, amongst others, lack of research & development, lack of recognition, lack of challenges, lack of opportunity to grow, lack of reward, lack of funding etc. These are some of the reasons why some of Malaysians top surgeons and specialist remain overseas. What is the MOH doing to address this? What is being done by MOH to encourage these professionals to remain and serve the people?? Even worse now, the Health Minister is now too busy with politics and power struggle and couldn't care less of the society.
Having mentioned the above aside, personally, I think the society also has to take part of the blame. Remember when we are young, our school teacher will always has an essay session for 'What is your ambition?'. Without doubt, there will always some who will come up with an essay where its ambition is to be a doctor. We, as kids, were always being told that being a doctor is a noble profession, where one can help others.
Come 20 years later, we hear a different story. Parents nowadays want their children to become doctors not because of the main noble act of helping people, but because they can earn more money. There was once I was at a friend's dinner, and when aunty come to hear that one of her friend's child is now a doctor, the first thing that she said was "Wahhhh, doctor wor...can earn a lot of money"...
I mean where has the noble thought of curing and helping people??? I know that parents spend hundreds of thousands to groom their son to become a doctor, but for a doctor, ain't it that the noble act of helping people comes first??? I mean I am not saying that doctor can't be rich but I always believe where doctors are able to help people through you specialisation and expertise, then that is a reward which they should get...But the first thought should be helping people first, ain't it correct??
I am sure you have heard countless times of stories where hospitals ask you to make the payment 1st before they proceed to save anyones lives...For god sake, is that even correct?? This is completely a different story in some other countries, at least the one I know of. I have personnally experienced it while I was sick in Hong Kong and was admitted to a government hospital.
Coming from a society here in Malaysia where we need to register everything 1st, I asked the nurse if I need to register...which she told me "its ok, you can do that later, our duty is to see what is wrong with you and cure you 1st, the rest can wait"...To the doctors and nurses there, the moment they received me at the emergency ward, their duty is to try help me..That should be the way,not just in some developed nations, but everywhere!!!
Much been said, I still think being a doctor is a noble profession, and I like to believe it is still is..Doctors should always stick with the principle of helping and curing people first and not focus on how to make more money. The rewards comes as a recognition and reward of your professionalism! Remember that! Otherwise, if you want to make more money, then don't become a doctor, go become a businessman!!! So get your bearings right!!!
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