When I was at my daughter’s school the other day, I was inspired by the many “Words of Wisdom” that adorned the walls of its corridors and classrooms.
One that caught my eye was: “ALWAYS AIM FOR THE SKY, AT LEAST WHEN YOU FALL, YOU CAN REACH THE CLOUDS”
And so it was a coincident that I met Air Asia’s ‘big boss’ Tony Fernandes for the first time at the PM’s 100 Days in Office gathering at KLCC yesterday. Several students – boys and girls were obviously excited to pose pictures with him. For the man, who helped made possible for anyone to fly, Tony has literally piloted the airlines to great heights not just across the country and region but across continents.
As he posed with the students for their cameras, I thought he had sent another strong message – no matter how high you have gone in life, never forget the humble ground.
I suppose this is partly what the PM’s “walkabout” philosophy stands for. Since assuming the “No 1” post on April 3, Najib has gone to the ground numerous times to hear the people’s grouses and to “feel the pulse of the people”.
He told the gathering that he has yet to find a Malay term for “walkabout”.
The closest I can think of is “turun padang”, a phrase normally used to describe the occasion when leaders go and meet the people under their care.
Three university students I met after the event were appreciative of what the government has done for the people.
“I cried when I was about to go for my PLKN stint but after three months there, I shed my tears when it was time to go home…it was just so sad to leave,” says 19 year-old bespectacled Shikin, who is taking Physics at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
Her university-mate Noraida who could easily be mistaken for a secondary student because of her small-built said it was worth the trip from their campus in Bangi to see the Prime Minister in person.
When she told me she was studying Maths, I remarked how proud her parents in Tok Uban in Kelantan are of her academic pursuit.
Another student Fairuz, who is doing Physics, was equally happy to be there.
“I met Dr Mahathir,” he said and gleefully took out his handphone to show me the photo of him with the former prime minister.
Talking to them was so refreshing as they carry the hopes for the future. Moreover, I was about their age when I joined Bernama in 1980.
I told them that during my schooldays, the scope was not that wide for students to dream of what they wanted to be when they grew up.
But now the sky is the limit – literally -- as Malaysia can be proud to have our own “Angkasawan”.
This could be summarized in Najib’s own words which were highlighted in an exhibition held in conjunction with the gathering:
“For the next 50 years, we will open up the minds of the settlers’ children to see whatever possibilities that we have never dream of, but with opportunities given, we will be able to achieve those we have never thought of,” he said after launching the national-level Settlers Day 2009 celebration at Felda Maokil, in Labis, Johor on July 7.
