It’s been more than a month since Dr Mahathir Muhammad made this blazing comment that drew strong responses from the Malay community here. But I’ve ignored it because it wasn’t worth commenting until now. You see, Tun may no longer be Prime Minister, and he’s not even an MP, but he’s still an UMNO member, and in his own words “I’m a politician, through and through”. So what he said was simply for political mileage and to drive home the point to vote UMNO.

Why was it picked up by the media and regurgitated across the causeway? Because his comments critiqued Singapore.

Anyone who criticizes a country that he is not a citizen of, especially if he’s a politician will definitely raise furore. Take for example MM Lee’s blazing generalised comment over Taiwanese and Hong Kongers. I’m certain the Chinese over there would take offense at being called such things.

But what I’d like to comment on is Singapore’s Berita Harian’s editor, Guntor Sadali’s speech at the Anugerah Jauhari BH 2010 (Malay Achiever of the Year Award) (PDF file) and perhaps some corrections to point out to Dr M (hey, I’ve got to be fair no?).

It was well written. It gave me a feel good aftertaste. It was rhetorical. And that’s just it.

This award, what it means, what it represents, is rhetorical. It’s to tell our Malays in Singapore that it’s ok that we don’t need to secure political power to safeguard our interests. We just need knowledge, here and there, and that would mean we’re powerful, and here’s someone who did just that.

I don’t disagree with Mr Guntor on many of his points. But I don’t think being a minority has anything to do with being different in our mindsets and outlook. Take for example the 2 Koreas or China/Taiwan. They are of the same race, but their mindset and outlook is clearly quite different. So our difference in attitudes has nothing to do with the numbers within our population.

Singaporean Malays are different out of culture. We have always been that way since pre-separation times. Many of our former residents travelled down here to make a living because Singapore was the most vibrant out of all the 14 Malaysian states. We were, in the words of the first Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the New York of Malaysia and KL was its Washington DC. And clearly, New Yorkers are very different from their DC cousins. As it stands today, Johor Malays are in fact very different from Kelantan Malays and you can make the same observations as you travel state-by-state. Malays are not the same, whether in Singapore, Johor, KL or Sabah.

But what exactly is this Singaporean Malay attitude? Are we independent? Are we competitive? Are we self-reliant? Are we meritocratic?

To suggest any of these things does not define the entire Malay population in Singapore. In fact, these traits are common in every ethnicity you can find here. It doesn’t make us Malays in Singapore more competitive than the average Malay-Malaysian simply because Singapore has a kiasu culture. Neither does it make Chinese-Singaporeans more self-reliant simply because the government does its majority race no favours.

We are who we are because we were forced out of a Federation of Malaysia, and became a sovereign nation without the consent of its people. We had to survive. Tunku probably thought that it would make Lee Kuan Yew so unpopular that it would cause the PAP’s downfall because how can Singapore, the pride of Malaysia, with its vibrancy, the Movie capital of South-East Asia, the trading centre of the Peninsula, the beacon of non-censorship at the time (Malay intellectuals flocked to Singapore because we did not practise censorship as with the other UMNO-ruled states), and a pride of the University of Malaya with its outstanding Medical College be separate from its motherland? To Singapore Malaysians, now Singaporeans, it must have been unthinkable. It probably still was for some time. But we got used to sovereignty as Singapore nation, rather than a Malaysian one, and eventually, not only did we survive, we prospered, and so did our Malaysian brethren. So to suggest Malaysia wasn’t competitive would be a fallacy. We’re bitter rivals.

The premise of Dr Mahathir’s comments was one based on political influence. We were formerly part of Malaysia, and Malays here in Singapore (like anywhere else in Malaysia) had significant political advantage simply for being Malay. His whole point on warning Malaysian Malays that PAS and PKR is causing the Malay electorate to lose its political advantage as an ethnic ruling elite, would throw the Malays in Malaysia into a state of zero power, just like Singapore Malays.

If he left it at that, well, isn’t it true? Malays in Singapore have no political advantage. Meritocracy did not give us enough influence not just to safeguard our communal interests, but also to maintain and prosper them.

But the honourable Tun had to say “kowtow to the Chinese”. I can understand how Singapore Malays are angry at this. In fact, we are upset at only this part of his statement, because it’s a sweeping generalisation. Just like how MM Lee’s generalisation on Taiwanese and Hong Kongers drew much flak.

But what’s wrong with this statement, and what is right with it?

Firstly, Malay Singaporeans are equal citizens to Chinese Singaporeans. We’re equal in terms of citizenship, and therefore, this equality makes us Malays inherit equal rights to Chinese Singaporeans. Malays and Chinese here have the same rights. So no, we don’t kowtow to the Chinese at all simply for being citizens of our cili padi nation.

Secondly, meritocracy gave us Malays a chance to compete for the best education, the best jobs, the best everything. So if we have Malays who excel, they excelled because they truly deserved it. Not because my government gave me preferential treatment. That’s not an achievement worth bragging.

So what’s right with Dr M’s statement?

We’re a minority. In a democracy, especially one without representative parliament like ours, we don’t carry equal influence to protect, preserve and further our communal interests. Malays are by definition of our own constitution, the rightful indigenous people of Singapore. Article 152(2) and (3) specifically bestows the Government of Singapore, the responsibility to protect, preserve and further the Malay people’s language, culture and religion and to ensure the well-being and education of its people.

However, this is what I’d call political baggage. Our constitution was derived from the Constitution of Malaysia. In fact, if you compare the 2 country’s constitution, you would find that they are almost similar to each other. If our ethos are about merit without regards to race, language or religion, then why keep this clause? It is, perhaps an appeasement tactic to pacify the Malays that the Government will not ignore the interests of the Malays despite no longer being of political influence. And Lee Kuan Yew himself ensured that with the creation of Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura through the Administration of Muslim Law Act, to take care of the religious affairs of the Malays, the only religion in Singapore to have this privilege to have a government vehicle.

But you must understand, in exchange for these privileges, what must the Malays of Singapore give in return to the PAP? Obviously, like everyone else who votes for the incumbent, it’s silent compliance, and therefore, kowtow. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out where Singapore Malays, in terms of language, in terms of the extent of its freedom to practise their religion, and in terms of how much the state is willing to further the progress its traditional culture is hampered.

Is this definitive of Singapore Malays? Dr Mahathir, with all respect (I do really respect you sir), you are mistaken. It is definitive of all Singaporeans who decides to reap the benefits of PAP rule. I am sure that if a Malay Malaysian votes for you, they will kowtow to you too. Just because you fight for Malay rights, does not mean you are not the Masters of the Malays themselves. In fact, UMNO, the party of royalists, have shown to preserve titah tuanku more than it preserves the interests of Malays themselves. Of course, only you sir, being the first commoner PM, have had the audacity to try to reduce the political influence of the royalty during your term in office. But how else can you explain this trend of Malay Malaysians choosing to vote the opposition?

But I agree. We should not be like Singapore Malays. We have problems like a below-average pass rate at every level of examinations (heck, we can’t even be average!), broken and low-income families, Malays in prison, Malays in financial desperation, Malays without homes, and so many other social problems that seem to creep up every year under this often, uncaring, meritocratic rule. And who comes to save the day? Sir, we do. Just like you, Malays help themselves. Unlike you, we don’t have the resources. When Singapore Malays do have success, are we the best? Hardly. That’s why awards like Anugerah Jauhari is a feel good award. It’s to help us be less angry. It’s a corrective policy the same way NEP is a corrective policy, so the irony in Guntor’s speech is how the premise of this award seems very much the intent of creating the illusion of a successful Malay community. But not to take away the shine and glimmer of this year’s winner, Mr Shafie Samsudin definitely deserved this award in my book. For Mr Shafie, he deserves every bit of this award. For the Malay community as a whole however, just because we share in his success, doesn’t mean we had anything to do with it.

The Malays here may have equal rights. But we as a people (as with you over there), never started on an equal platform in the first place after centuries and centuries of regressive colonial rule. So I can understand the intent of your corrective economic policies. What I don’t understand is why are you obsessed about the quantity of wealth afforded to the Malays, when you should be more focused on the quality of Malays regardless of their income. I’m certain, a poor Malay is not a lesser Malay than a wealthier one.

What’s the point of a wealthy Malay? For what? To prevent Malays from being unhappy that another race gets wealthier at the expense of Malay land? Sir, the Chinese in Singapore don’t own a lot of land either. It is not Chinese land to begin with. It’s indigenous Malay land. But they get rich anyway. If wealth or the lack of it makes a Malay unhappy, it is not the Chinese we should be angry at. It’s us for not taking advantage of being given such preferential treatment. Despite the Chinese Malaysians having limited access to government contracts, they’re still richer than Malay Malaysians. So who are we, Singapore Malays angry at? Definitely not the Chinese.

Bongkok atau Bebas?
Radikal atau Alim?
Riau atau Baku?
Mundur atau Maju?

Yang aku tahu, Melayu bukan satu.

Kau Melayu. Aku Melayu. Tapi samakah kita?

Kau pukul satu. Aku pukul dua.
Tak bertemu-temu. Kerana janji Melayu.

Aku Melayu sini. Kau Melayu sana.
Kau belajar di Singapura, tapi tetap jiwa Alor Setar.

Kau Melayu miskin. Aku Melayu fakir.
Melayu kaya? Oh. Dia anak pemerintah saja.

Aku Melayu terdidik. Kau Melayu terlanjur.
Kalaulah sama, Melayu apakah kita?

Melayu ini atau Melayu itu?

Melayu. What are you doing?

On the 18th June 2010, a small community of WordPress lovers met up for the first time under the banner of the Official Singapore WordPress User Group (SWUG). It was the beginning of a routine each WordPress user and developer would do every 3 months: meetup, talk about WordPress, makan, make new friends, do something interesting.

As the co-founder of this community, the progress of finally having a proper meetup was one of much satisfaction. The tribulations of the past year disappeared and now we’ve achieved a new goal of organising a WordCamp in Singapore in the year 2011.

This WordCamp will be special. Not only will it be the first WordCamp in Singapore, if discussions with our Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts progress, it would also be the world’s first WordCamp Asia. As many of our neighbours have already done WordCamps, in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, it would be more sensible to pool resources and have a regional conference with a different host country each year, instead of having 4 different WordCamps every year.

I’ve already set up a Facebook page for an Asian network under the shortname http://facebook.com/wordpress.asia. This is a Facebook page specifically for the Asian network of WordPress User Groups and I invite all Asian WUGS to join this facebook page and network with us.

But first, more on SWUG itself.

9 people (4 more than the people who RSVP), attended our 1st meetup. It was held at Qotion’s SmartSpace at the 2nd floor of 262 Waterloo Centre on Waterloo Street. This will be the default venue for the meetups and our de facto home, unless kind sponsors *hints* would like to sponsor their venue. SmartSpace is a lovely office, run by Mike Zhan, an NUS law grad, and I would like to thank Mike for offering his office to hold our quarterly event. The office is conveniently located less than 100m from the Bras Basah MRT. The next nearest MRT would be Bugis MRT and is about 600m away. If you drive, there is ample parking space at the Waterloo Centre basement carpark but you must enter through Queen Street as it is a 1-way road.

Here are the 3 presentations I gave. Click on the links for the Google Docs of the presentation.

Introduction to SWUG

• Who can join?
  • Anyone who uses WordPress whether for publishing/ blogging or for development and anyone who isn’t but interested to.
• What we do?
  • Share the WordPress spirit
  • Advocate using WordPress
    • For Blogging
    • For Website Content Management
    • For cool, niche website development
• Activities
  • Meetups 4x a year. February/March, June, August, October/November
  • WordCamp Singapore
  • WordCamp Asia
  • WordConf (proposed)
• Where
  • Meetups
    • Qotion SmartSpace at Waterloo St
    • OR Venue Sponsor
  • WordCamp/WordConf
    • University Halls/LTs
    • Hotel Event Halls
    • You decide
• $$
  • Meetups are Free
  • WordCamps/Confs are not
• Who runs SWUG
  • Interim Team
    • Hazrul Azhar Jamari
    • Lester Chan
    • Mike Zhan
    • Ridzuan Ashim
• Governance
  • Not yet discussed. Will ask community’s interest in implementing bi-annual elections
  • Drawing up of SWUG constitution
  • Get involved! Email hazrul@verbeter.com

Rules of Governance for Meetups

• Rules
  • Choose the path of least resistance. Everyone is welcome.
  • Minimum of 2 presentations. Max 15 mins per presentation. 1 Publisher Oriented. 1 Developer Oriented.
  • Please RSVP always.
• Approved Topics
  • Publishers
    • Setting up MU blogs
    • How to use BuddyPress for social network
    • Increasing your PageRank
    • etc…
  • Developers
    • Plugin development done right
    • Write your first Theme framework
    • Why is Web Standards important?
    • etc…
• GPL/Non-GPL?
  • WordPress is strictly GPL.
  • Discourage discussion of non-GPL WordPress themes/plugins.
  • Can bring non-GPL discussion outside.
• Open floor discussion
  • Done after presentations
  • 20 to 30 minutes maximum
  • Questions related to presentation
• Be nice
  • Greet guests just like you. Make everyone feel welcome.
  • Excuse yourself if need to leave.
  • Silent your phone during presentations.
  • Bring your own internet just in case.
  • Thank the sponsor. No meetup possible without them.

Call to Action

• WORDCAMP SINGAPORE 2011
  • Register at http://bit.ly/volunteerwcsg2011
  • At least 6 months commitment
• CALL FOR SPONSORS
  • Open for Venue, Goodie Bag and F&B
  • Sponsors Please email to hazrul@verbeter.com
• CALL FOR SPEAKERS
  • Publisher or Developer Oriented
  • Please email to hazrul@verbeter.com

In future, all WordPress meetups will be documented at http://wordpress.sg. The next meetup is proposed to be on the 1st Wednesday of August. We’re proposing to call it WordPress Wednesdays so every meetup will be held on a first Wednesday. Makes it easier to remember when’s the meetup. I hope to see more people this August! 2 great speakers will be lined up and more details will be released soon.

As a businessman, I’ve been astute and some might say, ruthless, in my pursuit to be the best in my industry. Every business person with the aspirations of being successful know that the point of business is to be better than your competition. So from day 1, I weeded out my competition with much ease, in fact, monopolising the avast antivirus reseller market in Singapore and possibly ASEAN.

The problem with monopoly is that you forget sometimes that you’re successful not because the product is good (which it is btw), but because of your business acumen to control who does what.

As I divest from internet security into my first love, web development, and an area where there is much competition, I realise that competition is not something to be feared, but required, in order for a company to inspect its capacity to deliver the goods or services to its clients. So while there are plenty of smaller businesses popping up in the past few months with services that go for unsustainable, ridiculously low prices, I’ve not moved to quash competition, but instead, leave them be. A good business is one that focuses on itself and its customers. Not its competitors. The more you focus on your competitors, the less you focus on your own business and products.

So, if there are going to be 20 more businesses in a limited market that is going to pop up over the next few months, then good for them. I hope they have a brilliant experience running a business as I’ve had and I wish my competition well.

The market dictates who survives. And the ones with unsustainable low prices, usually don’t. The ones that do however are those that focus first on product/service experience, and qualify that with a sensible pricing schedule. Anyway, big business don’t come to small players. And while I’m a small business, I’m an expanding an growing one.

The next week or so, I’ll be announcing my company’s expansion into web development-proper. Some of my friends in the industry already know I do web development, so that will be no surprise. But Verbeter Group doesn’t actively advertise we provide such a service and perhaps it’s now time to reveal the secret I’ve been hiding for very long.

Meet the company with the world’s best WordPress talent, under one roof – Verbeter Group. We’ll expand our current headcount from 3, to cater to another 10 people, based in Indonesia, all of them specialised in WordPress theme development.

We’re highly focused on WordPress, and we probably will not do anything other than that. But there’s more, and I’ll only go public when I issue a press release next week or so.

What else is on my mind these few days? Well, worrying about the future I guess. Expansion comes with a different set of concerns and I’ve been doing business for quite long already. There are things I want to do, and things I’ve not yet finished. So, it’s probably time for me to be more disciplined and get my act in order to make sure I have time for all the things I want to commit to.

Then it dawned on me. The only competition that I should have focused on 5 years back, was myself. I guess I’ve been limiting my abilities and my capacity with things I shouldn’t bother with. So now, let’s break that glass ceiling and be all that I can be. And I hope, you do the same too.

See larger image No Contest: The Case Against Competition (Paperback) By (author) Alfie Kohn List Price: $15.95 USD New From: $3.71 In Stock Used from: $0.52 In Stock