Fortunately, media hasn't found this blog yet. *chuckles*
Dear Alvin and Vivian,
I’ve read
about you, and I’ve read about the coverage from the media and how that made
you a famous pair. Call me conservative, call me naïve, call me a fool
manipulated by the media--anything. And my deepest regrets for using words too
simple here.
We all know
who you are---Law undergraduate students, at the prestigious NUS school, with
the ASEAN scholarships in hands. I did not deny the fact that those are
impressive achievements, and those titles may signify you as a person who is capable
and independent enough to form your own opinions on your life.
Yes, I wish
not deny your rights in having the freedom of doing what you are right now. In fact,
you and I both know the notion of being right or wrong is subjective.
However, I would
like you to know this terrible truth about freedom—it is only to a certain
extent.
While you can view yourself as any ordinary individual on the streets doing
what he likes, I would like to, kindly, remind you that you are a foreigner in
an open country with a scholarship. That means you have a lot at stake—apart
from your scholarship and the future (like you don’t know, and like you will
care), I would want you to know that you are representing Malaysia in
Singapore.
Not quite a
choice you are in control of, not quite a burden you find pleasant, but the moment
you received the offer from ASEAN and NUS, you are already labeled as such.
While you
can use your eloquence and skills in talking yourself out, that you bear no
responsibility over anyone, I would like to remind you that this is not true. You
do have a responsibility. A responsibility too small that it is not a surprise
that intelligent future lawyers like you would have missed it.
You bear an identity beside your name. Removing
all the titles as a scholar and a law undergrad student, beneath that all, you
are a Malaysian. And while you are comfortably sitting there with a chance to
pursue your studies, and with your studies sponsored, I would like to gently
remind you that there are a thousand kids in Malaysia who yearn to do so.
How is that
got to do with me? you asked. Well, I said, because of what you’ve did, the
media found you. And unfortunately, the public do trust the media to a certain
extent. What you did may be as trivial as a peanut to you—after all, we shouldn’t
be minding your business, no?
You can
never imagine your impact on the other Malaysians. Imagine this, how would
scholarship committees, school principals ready to admit prospective students think
of Malaysians now? How about the employers? The black mark that you’ve left (unfortunately,
that black mark left in their heads in out of your control, and out of mine too—well
unless you want to change the color black to orange) may costs some talented
students and people from Malaysia being barred from entering this country.
And you and
I know how many Malaysians would love to come here just to escape the unjust
system at home. While it may be arguable that this is not entirely true, it is
not false to say that this country may offer more than what our government can
do at home.
Therefore,
before you speak every word of defiance, remember those at home trying so hard
to earn a path here. I’d hate to see their chances deprived, I’d hate to hear
rumors of fewer scholarships offered to Malaysian students, and I’d hate to
know those disappointments and crushed hopes.
And be
reminded you bear that responsibility, and there is no way of running from it.
Call it a
restricted life. But it isn’t.
Greek philosophers
said that each human being bears a responsibility to the society. Yours is to
the Malaysian society. And of course, the Singaporean society who has paid for
your education, silly.