March | 2007 | Dr. Hsu's forum

Qing Ming Festival – 清明节

31 Mar 2007 Leave a comment

by Dr Hsu in culture, Living, relations, social economic

In Chinese or East Asian Calendar, one year is divided into 24 solar terms ( 节气). On the 104th day after winter solstice (冬至) is a solar term called Qing Ming (清明). It usually falls on the 5th day of April.

In ancient China, the emperors would use this day to pray to their ancestors and clean the ancestors’ mausoleum. This practice was followed by ordinary citizens and has since been passed down through generations as the day of honouring and paying respect to one’s ancestors and tending to their graves. This is also in line with the Confucian practice of ancestors’ worship, as part of Confucian rule of filial piety.

a Chinese painting depicting Qing Ming activities in a river

This is a cultural practice initially and was not meant to be a religious practice. However, since most Chinese are Taoists/Buddhists, they have adopted religious elements in praying to their ancestors, resulting in burning of hell papers, hell money etc.

Year in and year out, whenever I go to Nilai Memorial to pay respect to my own parents, I have seen a few Chinese families going to nearby graves with European daughter-in-laws or son-in-laws together to pay honour to the ancestors, without lighting joss sticks, but instead paying respect with flowers and of course tending and cleaning the grave. So this is a cultural tradition, and all Chinese, Korean , Vietnamese do pay respect to their departed ancestors on this day. This is also a day to remind us that without our ancestors, we would not be around.

In China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, this is a national holiday because in these societies, filial piety is considered the foremost important virtue of a person.

It also serves to remind us to treat our living parents with respect and love. All of us owe what we are today to our parents, and it is “important to remember the source of water when we drink it”, a Chinese proverb literally asking us not to forget our roots.

You will do more for your children by doing less for them

30 Mar 2007 1 Comment

by Dr Hsu in competitiveness, Living, relations, social economic

Nowadays, you can learn A to Z by enrolling in a college or an university. You can learn how to cook, how to make the bed, how to dance, how to communicate, how to sing, how to play musical instruments, how to do wood work, plumbing, electrical wiring etc by studying in various courses offered by the various universities and colleges.

However, there is one thing they don’t teach you. The one thing that you cannot learn from all these institution is parenting or how to be good parents.

In ancient China, there were actually a lot of confucian scriptures teaching you how to be a father, a mother, a son or a wife. Confucius called this “Li” 礼 meaning manners. Under “Li”, there were strict behaviour rules in various relationship, eg. there were rules of behaviour between a ruler and his subjects, between a father and his children, between a teacher and his pupils, between a husband and a wife. A father could scold and punish a son but the son could not retaliate. A wife, after marrying, had ” 3 rules to follow and 4 morals to keep” – the so-called “San Zhong Xi De”. Many of these rules are not practical now such as when a father dies, a son has to look after the grave for 3 years and do nothing else. That is a waste of manpower..

However, the basic rules about relationship, in my opinion, are still valid. A son has to be filial to a father, a subject has to show respect to his ruler (this is called protocol now), a wife has to discuss major decision of the family with the husband. A student has to show respect to his teacher. These rules are still good for our society.

Sad to say, even in our society, with all its eastern values, many of these values are lost. Being a person brought up with these values, with both my parents being graduates from China universities , I treasure these values and hope to pass on these values to whoever willing to listen to my preaching.

I see that our society is fast losing its value system. The values that are passed on get diluted each successive generation. We have lost our values of honesty, being clean and non corrupt, being hardworking, being humble. All we want now is a fast tract to get rich. To get rich is glorious, even Deng Xiao Peng would tell you.

What prompted me to write this is that this morning, while I was driving, someone mentioned over the radio that ” to do less for your children is actually doing more for them”. I think this make a lot of sense.

People tend not to value things that they can get easily. If you do everything for your child, in the name of love, you are actually spoiling him. You are depriving him of a chance to try to do things on his own. By doing things on his own, he will gain an experience that he won’t forget and which you could never have taught him..

A young baby walks after many tries, through trial and error. If you constantly carry him without letting him down to the floor, he will never get a chance to learn to use his muscles and develop them for walking.

You can teach a person how to drive, but to become a good driver, he must hone his skills on the roads and learn the finer points of driving himself. No one can teach Schumacher how to drive; he develops his skills on the tract.

You can teach a person how to play badminton, but he needs to play against actual opponents to lift his game and improve his skills.

There are no 2 ways about it.

Similarly, in society, we need to let people compete in order to make them more competitive. We cannot always be the protective parents. We cannot and should not spoil our people.

To do less for your child is actually doing more for him.

“Air on the G String” – JS Bach

30 Mar 2007 3 Comments

by Dr Hsu in music, music & leisure

There is one piece of music that even those who don’t quite like classical music would love. This piece has been played in movies, concert halls by famous philharmonic orchestra . I refer to the ” Air on the G String” by the musician J.S. Bach, who was one of the greats in the Baroque era.

The piece was original known as “Air”

The title “Air on the G String” comes from violinist August Wilhelmj‘s late 19th century arrangement of the piece. By transposing the key of the piece from its original D major to C major, Wilhelmj was able to play the piece on only one string of his violin, the G string.

It is said to be a very diificult piece to play since it is only played on one string of the violin, the G string. I come across this video (strictly speaking not really a video just a recording of music) on youtube and would like to share it with all of you.

Those who don’t like classical music, I bet you will like this peice of music too.

Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 – by Zimerman

28 Mar 2007 2 Comments

by Dr Hsu in music, music & leisure

Those of you who have seen the show “The pianist” will remember the scene that the poor pianist after many years of hideaway, was confronted by a German Officer in a deserted bungalow and the German officer asked him to play the piano after knowing that he was formerly a pianist by profession. The scene was one of the most captivating moments; the movie was of course one of the most moving shows that I have seen.

The piece that he played was Chopin’s Ballade No.1, one of my favourite Chopin pieces. My eldest daughter who is now in New Zealand studying used to play it often and she plays it very well too.

The videos that I have posted here are all from nice famous pieces played by great pianist. This is played by Krystian Zimerman, a contemporary polish pianist said to be one of the best in his interpretation of music of romantic era.

He also won the Federick Chopin Piano competition that Yundi Li won in 2000. But Zimerman won it way back in 1975 which makes him one of the best contemporary performers of Chopin’s composition. In the comments on youtube, many say he is better than Yundi Li, so you judge it for yourself. I reserve my comment!

Tun Musa Hitam on blogging-“Malaysia seems to have reach a certain level of maturity”

28 Mar 2007 2 Comments

by Dr Hsu in Malaysia, politics, social economic, technology

According to Rocky’s Bru, Tun Musa Hitam, when opening the launching of the book on the late Tun Dr Ismail in Johore Bahru recently , when asked about blogging, had this to say ” Thank God for digital democracy”.

In my view, blogging can be and is a very powerful tool. What a blogger has written is forever there, unless deleted by the blogger himself, and anyone in the whole world, through the use of a search engine may come to read his postings.

My readers are mainly Malaysian, of course, but they are so many who commented on my blog who are from Canada, New Zealand, Japan etc which makes my blog a multi national and trans-national writings. Most blogs have similar readership.

But bloggers, like journalists, must adhere to certain ethics, and should not go overboard , especially should not go for any personal attacks, and that’s my views. If we want the world to be a better place to live in, we bloggers must have the responsibilities to expound moderate statements and views.

Use the Dale Carnegie method to influence people. Please read my earlier writings on how to change and influence people.

Even the Ancient Chinese war strategist Sun Tzu said in his book of the ” Art of War”, the best way to win is to win the heart of your enemy without any physical fighting. But if you need to fight, then try to understand your enemy and if you can understand yourself and your enemy thoroughly, you will win every one of the one hundred battles that you fight with him.

To influence, talk sense and convince people. Not to belittle or scold. To criticise, do it subtly and back it with facts and figures.

I will quote Tun Musa Hitam’s speech here , thanks to reporting by Rocky’s Bru.

“Some of us may claim, in a very concerned way, that Malaysia currently is in crisis while some claim that we are on a sliding mode. Arguments in support are plenty and we don need to pay attention to them. At the same time though, in honour of our past leaders like Tun Dr Ismail and to mark the 50 years of our country independence, I would like to appeal for a much more optimistic interpretation of current trends toward our country’s future.
“Politically I am sure Tun (Dr) Ismail would approve of what is going on now. He would not brood any nonsense, of course. But after seemingly sliding for many many years, the Tun (Dr Ismail) would certainly approve of the relatively more tolerant, open and liberal way that the present leadership seems to be conducting government. What more with increased emphasis on accountability with action being taken on cases of alleged corruption apparently without fear or favour. More, certainly, need to be done. But what is happening has been unheard of for many many years earlier!
“In politics Malaysians seems have reached a reasonable level of maturity. What used to be taboo subjects are coming out more and more into the open. Even the mainstream media is jumping into the bandwagon, not to mention the digital media that has come out completely unrestrained. Through the internet, furious arguments, most of them again, unrestrained and frank with not a few being highly emotion and even irrational, are continuously going on!

More

Drawing investments the hard way – Business times.

27 Mar 2007 Leave a comment

by Dr Hsu in competitiveness, economy, Malaysia, politics, social economic

I will paraphrase 3 paragraphs of the Business Times of Singapore here. For the full article , please go to the link and read it.

From the Business times:

26th March 2007

………………..By giving long tax holidays, freedom to source funds and to employ foreign workers, plus allowing foreign investors full ownership of their company, Malaysia hopes to pull in a huge chunk of the estimated US$105 billion
needed to develop south Johor.

But the waiver of FIC rules only applies to six areas in the IDR – creative industries, educational services, health care, financial advisory and consulting, logistics, and tourism-related services. It stops far short of Musa Hitam’s suggestion that Johor be exempted from Malaysia’s affirmative action policy so that IDR could succeed.

The former deputy prime minister was being practical when he made the controversial proposal in an interview with Bloomberg. Mr Musa sits on a five-strong advisory panel to IRDA, which is the super regulator for the
region, and his fellow panelists include other eminent Johoreans such as Malaysia’s wealthiest son, Robert Kuok.

It was a coup to get Mr Kuok on the panel but he is unlikely to have agreed if he had not been assured that the powers-that-be would heed his advice. That advice would have been in line with Mr Musa’s suggestions. Truth be told, his thoughts would likely to have been to scrap the New Economic Policy (NEP) in its entirety, and Malaysia would instantly be more competitive and attractive to foreign investors. But after more than three decades of the NEP, any dismantling will have to be incremental and gradual.

Mr Musa’s suggestion was likely to have been floated with the tacit approval of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is under pressure to enhance the country’s competitiveness. Despite Malaysia’s enormous economic progress under the leadership of former premier Mahathir Mohamad, he could not put an end to the NEP or empower the Malays to compete on an equal footing, erasing their so-called special privileges in the 22 years he was in office.

Royal Malaysian Police should be given a raise

25 Mar 2007 Leave a comment

by Dr Hsu in government, Malaysia, politics, social economic

PDRM celebrates 200 years of service in KL this morning.

I have always thought that policemen’s salary is too low in this country. A starting pay of RM690 is hardly sufficient to survive in urban areas. SO i support the call by the IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan that policemen should be given a 20% increase in salary.

If you pay “kacang” you get ‘kacang”. This is one of the golden rules of life. Our neighbour, whose ministers are already getting a pay of S$2 million each a year, is considering paying their ministers even higher salary as they think that is the only way to attract the best person into government service.

Similarly, if we want our police force to become more professional and more efficient, we must raise the salary to attract quality brains into the force. Also in order to make the force more multiraqcial, the pay has to go up. At the moment, very few chinese would want to join the force partly because of the poor pay.

A higher salary of course means that the public would expect a much better and more efficient and less corrupt force. SO as a trade off, the police must agree and fully cooperate with the setting up of an IPCMC, or even better an ICAC. TO set up an Independent Commission on Corrupt Practice (ICAC) would means that police would not be the only group that is targeted, which will make it unfair to the police.. This independent body should cover all public and private sectors; it could investigate any corrupt practices and misconduct not only of police but also of other goivernment agencies, or even private firms.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. In order to get the raise, the police must be ready to let an independent body to police it. That way, I am sure we can bring back the past glory of our police force, and that way, we can even consider giving them higher pay rise, for, without doubt, it is one of the most important institutions of our country.

Richard Clayderman plays Nostalgy

23 Mar 2007 Leave a comment

by Dr Hsu in Living, music, music & leisure

I have posted a video showing myself playing this song a few months back. Now i will post a video showing the master playing the same song. His is so superb no wonder he is one of the most popular pianists, for pop music at least, in the world now. This is a short recording so just take 2 minutes off to listen and sooth your nerve.

Time to give up the NEP – Tun Musa Hitam

23 Mar 2007 2 Comments

by Dr Hsu in competitiveness, Malaysia, politics, social economic

One of the most important piece of news of late is the comment by former UMNO deputy President and former Deputy Prime Minister Tun Musa Hitam that NEP should be given up for the success of Iskandar Development Region (IDR).

Tun Musa will explain to UMNO members why NEP should be given up for the success of IDR.

As one of the most senior Malay politicians, his comment carries a lot of weight and his views are widely heard and respected.

It will be good that NEP can be reviewed and abolished for the whole country. But if we are politically not ready for that, then perhaps for a start we can start at IDR and maybe certain other designated areas such as MSC or the Island of Penang.

It is an undeniable fact that competition helps to strengthen the competitiveness of a people, and by doing away the NEP, we are actually encouraging our own people to become resilient, innovative, adaptive. Look at the story that I have posted of a success Malay entrepreneur in New York, and the success of a Bumi CEO.

By totally opening up IDR, it reminds me of Shenzhen of China. It was formerly a small fishing village bordering Hong Kong. In the 80’s , the great Chinese statesman DengXiao Ping chose it to experiment the so-called “capitalism within the socialist framework”. The region was totally opened up and adopted rules and business laws akin to Hong Kong.

It has since become one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Those who go to Hong Kong, I would advise you just to pop over Shenzhen(1 hour train journey from Tsimsachui) and see for yourself what a vibrant city it is.

If IDR can do well without NEP, then perhaps, we can extrapolate that the whole country can do well without the NEP. So it is an important start for Malaysia that IDR will adopt very open policies in attracting investments , both local and foreign. If within the next few years, this region can do very well, then it will probably be time to adopt same type of open policy for the whole nation.

One word of caution. To really do well, we must make doing business very easy. Please look at the posting i did on improving the ease of doing business. Do away with red tapes, cut down procedures, have minimal regulations, and have everything spelt out clearly, both in printed media and internet.

I am always for an open economy like Hong Kong, because that will make all of us competitive, efficient, combative. It will make all of us a people of excellence. Imagine, if we have 24 millions of competitive and excellent people, we will easily overtake Singapore, SOuth Korea and Taiwan.

That is my hope and my vision. Malaysia can do it if we throw away the clutches……and start walking.

How to reform and improve the ease of doing business.

20 Mar 2007 Leave a comment

by Dr Hsu in competitiveness, economy, government, Malaysia, social economic

One reader, Du Jian Feng, presumably from China commented on my posting on World Bank rankings of ease of doing business 2007. He asked where is the position of China ? China is ranked 93. India is 134. Normally , we can generalise that the easier it is to do business in a country, the higher will be the growth rate of that country and the higher will be the Foreign Direct Investments. (FDI). China and India, both among the fastest growing economies, are the exceptions to this generalisation. This is due to their hugh domestic market which offers hugh potentials in these 2 countries and businessmen are willing to put up with red tapes and other obstacles in doing business in these 2 countries.

Malaysia is ranked 25th and is the highest ranked OIC country.

The World Bank’s ranking focuses on how governments address 10 key processes which factor into doing business from start to finish.

These are:

Starting a business

dealing with licenses

employing workers

registering property

getting credit

protecting investors

payin taxes

tradingacross borders

enforcing contracts

closing a business

To move up the rankings, The world bank recommended 4 steps of reform. If a government can adopt these 4 steps, then it will be much easier for its own people as well as foreigners to do business in the country.

These 4 steps are:

Start simple and consider administrative reforms that don’t need legislative changes.
Cut unnecessary procedures, reducing the number of bureaucrats entrepreneurs interact with.
Introduce standard application forms and publish as much regulatory information as possible.
And remember: many of the frustrations for businesses come from how regulations are administered. The internet alleviates these frustrations without changing the spirit of the regulation.

The ease of hiring and firing workers as well as the ease of foreclosing a business is considered important.

The higher in ranking, the better is the regulatory environment that a government has created that is conducive to doing business.

If Malaysia wants to move up the rankings, it has to simplify procedures.Do away with unnecessary regulations. It has to cut red tapes so that those little “napoleons” cannot try to delay approval. That way, corruption can also be reduced.

We are now first in the OIC , maybe it is time that we should aim to be among the top ten in the world?

Liszt’s La Campanella – Yundi Li

18 Mar 2007 3 Comments

by Dr Hsu in music, music & leisure

Chopin and Liszt, both virtuoso of the romantic era, are considered to be the among the best pianists as well as the best composers ever of piano pieces. They were friends as well as great rivals. Personally I like Chopin pieces more, especially his Ballades, etudes, preludes and nocturnes. But Liszt pieces are still among the technically most difficult for pianists. I like some of his pieces, among which are La Campanella and Liebestraume.

This is supposedly the only existing photo of Chopin.

Of late I have been posting quite a bit of music videos. But all these are beautiful pieces and among the best music ever written. Music is like poetry, it helps to sooth our minds, has a calming effects and helps us think better. Research has shown that students who listen to classical music and study do better and absorb better.

So to help all of us forget the worldly problems, here is the piece by Liszt played by the world class Chinese player Li Yundi .

Don’t turn this on in fair weather

18 Mar 2007 Leave a comment

by Dr Hsu in Living, social economic

Those who do a lot of night driving will tell you that one of the most irritating as well as most dangerous things driving at night is the glare from fog lights from menacing vehicles (sometimes even small cars as in the picture below) such as SUVs , 4 wheels drives or even small lorries. This glare often comes from oncoming vehicles, but sometimes when the vehicle in front of your car would like to register his displeasure with you, for some unknown reasons, the glare can also come from the hind fog lamp of that vehicle.

(even a small car with powerful lights can blind an oncoming driver. In UK where dense fogs are common occurrence, it does make sense to install such lights. But do we need them in Malaysia?)

Most of the time, we suffer in silence. Being good citizens and gentlemen, we would not like to come down to their levels by sounding our horns or flashing our headlamps. Besides, who knows, the one behind the wheels of such a vehicle may be a road bully (chances are high, psychologically speaking) with the build of a Sumi wrestler, ever ready to pump you into a “paste”.

A piece of news from our neighbour stated that The Road Transport Authority of Singapore has warned 440 drivers over the unnecessary use of such lamps in fair weather. Unnecessary use of fog lights in Singapore can land a person in jail.

I am sure we too have such a law. Maybe someone would like to enlighten us on this. However, our enforcement level may not be that strict and I have not heard of anyone going to jail by using fog lamps .

Whatever it is, I hope our road drivers can read this article, especially those who has fitted fog lights to their vehicles and who like to show off such lights , intentionally or unintentionally, blinding other drivers resulting in accidents and possible loss of human lives. I call upon the conscience of such drivers not to use these lights unnecessarily. Afterall, being considerate is part of our culture, am I not right?

The article is from The New Paper and is by Alvin Chiang:

Don’t turn this on in fair weather

IF you have a car with fog lamps, when can you switch them on?
Only when the visibility is poor, such as during a thunderstorm.

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“Air on the G String” – JS Bach

Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 – by Zimerman

Richard Clayderman plays Nostalgy

Liszt’s La Campanella – Yundi Li

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