Lessons from a pushcart stall

I was doing my shopping at Mid Valley Megamall. As I was walking about, somebody caught my attention. It was a young sales girl at a pushcart stall who was promoting her merchandise. She was holding a small tea cup filled with Japanese tea and offering it to shoppers for tasting. I was not interested but did not ignore her. Something about her pretty face and lovely smile persuaded me to stop briefly, just to decline her offer politely.

Later, I saw her again. This time, something made me stop to talk to her. I enquired about the green tea products. She was articulate – explaining clearly and systematically the different products and their benefits. She was skilful – pouring tea from the different pots as she spoke while maintaining eye contact with me. Finally, she won me over. I bought one of the products. Her selling skills transformed me from an uninterested shopper into a willing customer.

After the purchase, I thought I also bought the licence to be a busybody. I asked her about her background and working experience. I was surprised to know that she is a college student. She started her part-time work at the pushcart stall four years ago when she was still in school. Today, she is in college and still works part-time for the same company. I admire her attitude! She is only a student but she does her sales like a professional.

She speaks English fluently so I assumed that she was educated in English, or that her parents speak English. But, no, I was wrong. She came from a Chinese-speaking family and was educated in a Chinese school. I salute her spirit! She does not allow any limitations to handicap her, and uses her 'boleh' (can do) attitude to rise to the challenge.

It is an uplifting experience. This young lady makes me believe that investing our time in our youths can be a rewarding effort. We should find time to participate in youth programmes that help to nurture their skills, overcome their limitations and build their resilience. They are the ones who carry the hope of building a better country and a better world.

If youths have an opportunity to learn to do unglamorous work and to take pride in doing it well, I am sure they will develop a strong character that will help them survive in the future.

My experience makes me view the humble pushcart very differently. I see it as a great potential in character-building.

By the way, if you are in Mid Valley and see a pushcart stall with the sign 'NISHIO', I hope you will support the sales girl with the pretty face and lovely smile.

China's First Emperor

Some of my Chinese friends enthuse over the latest documentary from The History Channel: China’s First Emperor (Astro Channel 555). The archaeological discovery of the Terracotta Army in China revealed incredible facts about the industrial ingenuity of the Chinese over 2,000 years ago.

The excavated weaponry told us a story never known before. Swords that did rot or rust after 2,000 years revealed that the Chinese had advanced skills in metallurgy - an expertise that was 1,000 years ahead of the Europeans. Arrowheads of standard size and weight revealed that the Chinese had mass-produced them - an expertise that the Americans developed (the assembly line) 2,000 years later.

Unlike my friends, I was left emotionally battered after watching the programme. The brutality and savagery of the unification war made me cringe. Nevertheless, I learnt a couple of things:

How to get the army to win wars
China’s first emperor organized his army in platoons. For every soldier killed by the enemy, the platoon had to chop off the head of an enemy and take it back to base, failing which the entire platoon would be exterminated. (I wonder if we can use a modified version to promote teamwork in today’s business corporations).

Soldiers were rewarded by the number of heads they cut off from the enemies. This motivated the soldiers to be fearlessly single-minded. The motivation was so powerful that an injured soldier would not feel his own pain but continued to charge forward and swing his sword at the enemy’s head. (I wonder if this can be modified to motivate the modern day sales team.)

How to punish the enemy
China’s first emperor was judge, jury and executor in cases of betrayal and treason. He ordered his soldiers to drag his enemies out of their houses and had them executed before his eyes. No need to waste court time.

The emperor ordered the toughest death sentence on his most hated enemies. Merely beheading the enemy was considered a message not strong enough for other enemies. So, a gruesome death sentence called “Five horses rip body” was introduced. The enemy who was still alive and kicking had his head, hands and legs tied to five different horses. The horses galloped off at high speed and rip the poor soul in five mutilated parts. (I wonder if something like this can be used to eliminate modern day crime and corruption.)

How to stay in power
China’s first emperor killed his enemies mercilessly. He killed to take revenge, teach his enemies a lesson, and terrorize his citizens into submission. (In today’s modern civilizations, this methodology is still practised in certain parts of this planet.)

You can kill your enemies, but you can never kill them all
China’s first emperor won the unification war and established a unified China. He rounded up all his enemies and executed them. Yet, no matter how many enemies he killed, assassins continued to target his life during his reign as a living god. Eventually, he degenerated into paranoia. After his death, enemies of the empire attacked and brought the first emperor's dynasty to an end.

To me, this is the most important lesson I learnt from the 2,000 year old Chinese history – that people can commit genocide or ethnic cleansing, but they can never wipe out a race or a group of people.

Malaysian Malaysia - Preach or Practise?

I have been bombarded by the preaching of Malaysian Malaysia, Bangsa Malaysia, Malaysian Race, Think Malaysian Not Race. I wish to say my piece.

We can coin smart slogans and create power phrases, but they remain what they really are – mere words and sounds only – if we do not practise what we preach.

Preaching an identity such as Malaysian Malaysia or Bangsa Malaysia does not automatically turn Malaysians into a united people. If Malaysians do not practise what they preach – naturally and spontaneously – they will never evolve into an integrated entity.

I learn the basics of good race relations from my family. My father and his mother came from China and settled down here as immigrants. My mother’s parents were also immigrants from China. Both my parents were traditional Chinese to the hilt, but they never talked about going back to “tongsan” (China, land of our ancestors). In fact, my parents said this country was a land of promise and we should just stay put and prosper. It was ridiculous to even think that we should save up our money, then pack up and build a house in China and settle down there happily ever after.

Throughout my life, I did not have this race consciousness playing havoc with my life. I was never taught that I should preserve my Chinese identity or to defend it zealously. What I was taught is to learn and preserve good Chinese values and virtues so that I can uphold the good name and honour of the family.

When I was a student in an urban school, my classmates were mainly Chinese and Indian. In one particular school year, out of my class of 30 students, only 2 were Malay.

When I started my career as a teacher, I was posted to a rural school where the Malay student population was almost 90%. It was a culture shock to me. Gradually, I made an effort to blend into the community so that I did not stick out like a sore thumb. I visited the homes of my Malay students and familiarized myself with Malay culture and traditions.

Later, I returned to the urban centres to start a new career. Spontaneously, I added more Malay friends to my circle. There was a time when I drove a Malay friend around. She was an Ustazah (Islamic teacher) who “baca doa” (recite verses from the Holy Qur’an) at small celebrations held at private homes. She could not drive so I offered to be her driver. Upon arrival at the house where the celebration was held, I readily sat down on the floor together with the other guests. After the “baca doa”, dinner was served. Like all the other guests, I ate with my hands while sitting on the floor. Sometimes, I shared food with the other guests by eating from the same plate.

Today, the Malays form about 65% of the population and the Chinese about 26%. So, how many of the 65% and the 26% learn together, work together or play together? Or, pray together?

Sometimes, when I mention a certain religion or a place of worship, I sense silent disdain. Why do some people perceive other people’s religions negatively? Why do they allow their perception of a religion to be influenced by the misguided or overzealous followers of that religion?

I found the violent protests in Tibet in March 2008 very disturbing. It shattered my perception that Buddhists are not capable of violence and destruction. But, I did not allow it to destroy my respect for Buddhism.

Once, I was invited to a church. After the visit, I had persistent calls from members of that church preaching to me on the phone, and advising me on the right path to heaven. I was so fed up I never wanted to meet those people again. But, I did not allow that to destroy my respect for Christianity.

Malaysians belonging to the different ethnic groups of 65%, 26% and 9% should not be merely preaching slogans. They should get down to the task of practising what they believe in by connecting with each other across ethnic lines in a comfortabe and respectful manner. This will probably help us to evolve into a Malaysian Malaysia or Bangsa Malaysia.

Sincere Cops

I wish to thank and salute these two exemplary members of the Royal Malaysia Police who went out of the way to help me:

• Lance Corporal 114116 RAHATAN BIN TAHRIN
• Constable 142296 ASRI BIN DARI

One night, I drove home past midnight. When I reached the house, I pressed the auto-gate remote control. The gate refused to open. I pressed the control again and again. Nothing happened. I sat quietly in my car and gathered my thoughts.

My brain went into problem-solving mode. All of a sudden I thought of the police.

Why shouldn't I run to them for help?
Why shouldn't I trust them with my problem?

I drove over to the police station. I told the police officer on duty of my predicament. He was very helpful. He made a call and soon two policemen turned up at the station - one was a lance corporal and the other a constable.

Both policemen followed my car on a motorbike. When we arrived at the house, it was past 1am. They told me their plan. One of them would climb over the gate, go up to the house, opened the main door with the door keys, go inside and locate the auto-gate manual switch.

As the policeman was clambering up the gate, he chuckled, “This looks like housebreaking.” The other policeman was amused. I had my moment of anxiety.

Oh dear, are the neighbours watching this “housebreaking”? Would they call the police?

Finally, the drama was over – the gate opened and I could get into the house. I was so grateful to the two policemen. I offered them some money as a token of my appreciation. Both declined without hesitation. I was taken aback. If I had to hire a skilled person to do the job, I might have to pay a handsome price.

The two policemen were adamant despite my persuasion. They touched their chests with their hands and said, “Kami ikhlas.” (We are sincere)

I will always remember them as admirable members of the Royal Malaysia Police who serve our country with integrity.

The Royal Malaysia Police is a mystery

The Royal Malaysia Police continue to baffle me.

Why do they continue to create bad publicity for themselves?
When will they embark on a branding exercise for the force?
Who can convince them that water-cannoning, tear-gassing and bashing up people are disastrous PR manoeuvres?

The recent case of the stand-off between Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents and Grand Saga highway concessionaire is a case in point. I feel sick reading the news and seeing the pictures. If this ugly incident can adversely affect people like me, I wonder how it affects people who are already unfriendly to the police. I won’t blame them if they declare the police as their enemies.

It could have been a great opportunity for the police to use the case as a branding initiative – using their collective brain power to mediate the conflict between the opposing sides, and rebuild the image of the Royal Malaysia Police.

Alas, the chance is lost.

In the business world, survival depends on vital skills such as negotiation, public relations and crisis management. Don't the police need these skills too for their own survival?

I heard that the executive director of Grand Saga is a former police chief. I reckon this gentleman is the right person who is at the right place and at the right time to answer the above question and help solve this mystery surrounding the Royal Malaysia Police.