Experience and Struggles: Advancing in Land, Economy, and Education

Introduction

Every individual has a unique life journey, filled with twists, turns, and challenges. For me, over four decades of experience in land, construction, and agriculture have shaped my understanding of these fields. My journey encompasses urban and rural land, city lots, village plots, and forest land, providing me with a comprehensive view of land management and development.

Extensive Experience in Land Management

My experience in land management is vast, covering various types of land:

1. Urban Land in Kuala Lumpur: Navigating the complexities of urban development, dealing with regulations, and optimizing land use in a bustling city.
2. City Edge Land: Balancing the transition between urban and rural settings, ensuring sustainable development while maintaining harmony with the environment.
3. City Lots and Village Land: Understanding the unique challenges of smaller plots and village settings, focusing on community needs and local development.
4. Forest Conservation: Managing extensive tracts of forest land, preserving biodiversity, and considering sustainable logging practices.

This diverse experience has given me a deep understanding of how land can be utilized effectively and sustainably across different environments.

Corporate, Investment, and Finance Experience

In addition to my expertise in land management, I have over 40 years of experience in corporate, investment, and finance sectors. When combined, my practical and teaching experiences in these subjects amount to approximately 200 years. This extensive background has equipped me with invaluable knowledge and skills that go beyond textbooks and university lectures.

The Struggle for Knowledge Beyond Books

My commitment to land, economy, and education is driven by the understanding that true knowledge often lies beyond formal education. The practical insights and real-world experiences that I have gained are not found in textbooks or taught in universities. This is why I continue to strive in these fields, sharing my knowledge and experiences with others.

Building Together for Success

I firmly believe that by working together, we Malays can achieve great success. However, the reality is that Malays often struggle in this regard due to deeply ingrained feudalistic mindsets, the pursuit of rank and position, and a tendency to follow colonial influences. The political culture among Malays tends to foster internal conflicts and group divisions, which the colonial powers exploited through their “divide and rule” strategy. Without conflict, there is no politicking, and without politicking, there are no vested interests for leaders.

Learning from Other Cultures

Throughout my career, I have interacted with people from various ethnicities and nationalities, including Koreans, Japanese, Americans, and Europeans. The mindset and attitudes of these groups are distinctly different from each other. For instance, Chinese Malaysians differ from their counterparts in Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. Similarly, Indian Malaysians are not the same as Indians from the subcontinent. Even within the Arab world, there are significant differences. Among Malays, there are notable differences between those from the west coast and east coast, Sabah and Sarawak, and Indonesia.

Ethnic groups that excel in the economy and business tend to share common mindsets, attitudes, and cultures. However, Malays often remain closed-minded, dislike criticism, and exhibit traits like prejudice and racial bias. They tend to view Chinese and Indians as monolithic groups, failing to recognize the diversity within these communities. This is due to a lack of interaction, knowledge, and experience with other ethnic groups.

Overcoming Prejudices

Before accusing others, we must ask ourselves how many Chinese or Indian friends we have. In reality, Chinese and Indians are more willing to befriend Malays because they seek business networks. However, Malays often lack common political, economic, and cultural interests with these groups, leading to a reluctance to build networks. This situation is exacerbated if political minds are influenced by racism.

Fighting for Knowledge and Ability

My struggle is based on my knowledge, abilities, experiences, and successes, not politics. Politics is rife with accusations, assumptions, envy, deceit, lies, slander, and conflicts, which are often used as weapons. Many people speak of things they cannot do or fail to accomplish, blaming others for their shortcomings. Excessive politicking fosters negative mindsets and attitudes, leading to failure among Malays.

Basically

My extensive experience in land management, corporate, investment, and finance sectors has provided me with a wealth of knowledge and practical insights. These experiences have shaped my understanding of the importance of working together, learning from other cultures, and overcoming prejudices. My commitment to land, economy, and education is driven by the belief that true knowledge lies beyond formal education and that we can achieve great success by sharing and building together.