09/11: Fighting for the future of Vietnam and Malaysia
Category: Articles
Posted by: raja petra
GUEST COLUMNISTS
Imran Imtiaz Shah Yacob
Imran Imtiaz Shah Yacob is a lawyer and Malaysian commentator. He writes for numerous international newspapers/online journals as well as hosts Face to Face, an interview segment of Malaysian issues and personalities hosted on Malaysia Today. He also serves as foreign Correspondent for foreign news organizations.
Vietnam and Malaysia are two very different countries that exist on an unchanging timeline of progress. Few Malaysians have been to Vietnam before the inception of Doi Moi. We may have fought against colonialists in dissimilar ways but we share a common dream to be a developed and united nation which is truly independent of the yoke of colonialism. Vietnam craves the economic prosperity and progress that has eluded them. Malaysia on the other hand struggles to preserve its economic miracle. The hard lessons to be learnt are many and it goes both ways.
Tân Sõn Nhất International Airport reminds Malaysians of an exciting spell that was full of anticipation. We didn’t have modern facilities but we were hopeful for the future. In 1965 our old airport had the longest runaway in Southeast Asia. Malaysia had just begun to embrace the world whilst the United States Marines landed in Da Nang in that same year. Malaysians battled against an apologetic mindset while the first bloody battle (Operation Starlite) was fought in Vietnam.
What draws the world to Vietnam is its charm. What makes them stay is its potential. An emerging tiger that’s different in many ways. Vietnam distinguishes itself from Asia’s Four Little Dragons (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea) otherwise known as Yazhou Si Xiao Long in Chinese. Adopting the ‘Asian Way’ coupled with Vietnamese determination, strong community bonds and resilience, Vietnam is now seen as one of the Four New Asian Tigers. Differences in Vietnam’s ascent into the new world order is marked by Vietnam’s focus on not just export-driven trade strategies at the cost of import-demand thereby reducing over-dependence on targeted export countries. The 1997 Asian financial crisis silenced the roar of the Tigers but Vietnam’s entry into the WTO signals her re-birth. Membership is a leap forward but Vietnam must now strive to take its place as a full fledge member and earn the respect of the rest of the member nations.
On a recent visit, the loyalty and love of the Vietnamese people for their country was glaring. I saw an elderly Vietnamese lady leading a young tourist across Vietnam’s infamous traffic. Despite her diminished physical form she was adamant in wanting to give a good first impression of the Vietnamese people. The next day, a tourist guide recounts his struggle to survive as a teenager by means of smuggling TV sets from Cambodia. He said that “I was advised by my teachers who said that it was bad for the country and so I stopped doing that”.
The Vietnamese people’s deep sense of history and patriotism is their greatest asset. Vietnam must draw on their love for their country as the greatest war is about to be fought. Modernization and globalization will be a battle for the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people, particularly the younger generation who have been fortunate enough to be spared the horrors of the Vietnam war. The growing gap between the old ways and beliefs against the westernized young is changing the face of Vietnam in this new millennium. Conversely, the rapid modernization of Malaysia, has taken its toll on its people. Malaysian leaders frequently complain about first-class facilities with third-class mentality while Malaysians themselves lament on the rise of violent crime.
The Vietnamese people must now fight an enemy from within. Materialism, corruption and social ills are the evil minions of mad development. Vietnam may indeed suffer worse than what Malaysia is now facing as Vietnam’s huge potential may accelerate development as never seen before by the Asian Tigers.
In Malaysia, the United Malay National Organisation’s Annual General Assembly is currently underway. Malaysians furiously debate about the nation’s very fabric of society and ways to re-forge unity and loyalty. All eyes are on both countries. Malaysia aspires to be a developed nation and Vietnam a modern industrial nation by the year 2020. Observers think that Malaysia has already veered from the track of progress while Vietnam may attain industrialization even before the year 2020. So now, Malaysia fights for its lost innocence as Vietnam embraces the giddy prospects of a prosperous future. Malaysia and Vietnam are at a critical point. Without careful examination, we could figuratively speaking end-up like the Malayan Tiger and the Indochinese Tiger that have been poached and used for the benefit of others to near extinction.
Imran Imtiaz Shah Yacob
Imran Imtiaz Shah Yacob is a lawyer and Malaysian commentator. He writes for numerous international newspapers/online journals as well as hosts Face to Face, an interview segment of Malaysian issues and personalities hosted on Malaysia Today. He also serves as foreign Correspondent for foreign news organizations.
Vietnam and Malaysia are two very different countries that exist on an unchanging timeline of progress. Few Malaysians have been to Vietnam before the inception of Doi Moi. We may have fought against colonialists in dissimilar ways but we share a common dream to be a developed and united nation which is truly independent of the yoke of colonialism. Vietnam craves the economic prosperity and progress that has eluded them. Malaysia on the other hand struggles to preserve its economic miracle. The hard lessons to be learnt are many and it goes both ways.
Tân Sõn Nhất International Airport reminds Malaysians of an exciting spell that was full of anticipation. We didn’t have modern facilities but we were hopeful for the future. In 1965 our old airport had the longest runaway in Southeast Asia. Malaysia had just begun to embrace the world whilst the United States Marines landed in Da Nang in that same year. Malaysians battled against an apologetic mindset while the first bloody battle (Operation Starlite) was fought in Vietnam.
What draws the world to Vietnam is its charm. What makes them stay is its potential. An emerging tiger that’s different in many ways. Vietnam distinguishes itself from Asia’s Four Little Dragons (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea) otherwise known as Yazhou Si Xiao Long in Chinese. Adopting the ‘Asian Way’ coupled with Vietnamese determination, strong community bonds and resilience, Vietnam is now seen as one of the Four New Asian Tigers. Differences in Vietnam’s ascent into the new world order is marked by Vietnam’s focus on not just export-driven trade strategies at the cost of import-demand thereby reducing over-dependence on targeted export countries. The 1997 Asian financial crisis silenced the roar of the Tigers but Vietnam’s entry into the WTO signals her re-birth. Membership is a leap forward but Vietnam must now strive to take its place as a full fledge member and earn the respect of the rest of the member nations.
On a recent visit, the loyalty and love of the Vietnamese people for their country was glaring. I saw an elderly Vietnamese lady leading a young tourist across Vietnam’s infamous traffic. Despite her diminished physical form she was adamant in wanting to give a good first impression of the Vietnamese people. The next day, a tourist guide recounts his struggle to survive as a teenager by means of smuggling TV sets from Cambodia. He said that “I was advised by my teachers who said that it was bad for the country and so I stopped doing that”.
The Vietnamese people’s deep sense of history and patriotism is their greatest asset. Vietnam must draw on their love for their country as the greatest war is about to be fought. Modernization and globalization will be a battle for the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people, particularly the younger generation who have been fortunate enough to be spared the horrors of the Vietnam war. The growing gap between the old ways and beliefs against the westernized young is changing the face of Vietnam in this new millennium. Conversely, the rapid modernization of Malaysia, has taken its toll on its people. Malaysian leaders frequently complain about first-class facilities with third-class mentality while Malaysians themselves lament on the rise of violent crime.
The Vietnamese people must now fight an enemy from within. Materialism, corruption and social ills are the evil minions of mad development. Vietnam may indeed suffer worse than what Malaysia is now facing as Vietnam’s huge potential may accelerate development as never seen before by the Asian Tigers.
In Malaysia, the United Malay National Organisation’s Annual General Assembly is currently underway. Malaysians furiously debate about the nation’s very fabric of society and ways to re-forge unity and loyalty. All eyes are on both countries. Malaysia aspires to be a developed nation and Vietnam a modern industrial nation by the year 2020. Observers think that Malaysia has already veered from the track of progress while Vietnam may attain industrialization even before the year 2020. So now, Malaysia fights for its lost innocence as Vietnam embraces the giddy prospects of a prosperous future. Malaysia and Vietnam are at a critical point. Without careful examination, we could figuratively speaking end-up like the Malayan Tiger and the Indochinese Tiger that have been poached and used for the benefit of others to near extinction.
Anak Desa wrote:
Vietnam is not as rosy as every one think. There are areas in district 1 where 5 star hoteliers will tell you not to walk alone after dark for being robbed. Carry certain amount of money to avoid any unplesant things.THere is no loyalty of the vietnamese working for the company where they are employed.If the local vietnamese goes for factories inpsection, they can be bought with money or gold accessories and signs off the inspection certi****te in releasing the cargo for export with quality of products in question. You cannot sack any vietnamese without the offender signing on the letter. Without the signature,the FOSCO wont accept the letter and you must keep on paying the salaries,bonus and taxes even the vietnam worker committed a serious discplinary offence. If you have a small office or a rep office, there is tendency for cops to make surprise visit to your premises.The vIetnames dont view that foreigners are there to build the buisness and indirectly the e****mic ,but viewed foreigners are some one taking away jobs. I have many list to write out as I have been doing business for past 5 years and I know the heartache... it is not easy..babba!