GUEST ARTICLE
Battling
Apathy and
Ignorance for a
Prosperous Malaysia
By Anas Alam Faizli
Slightly over 200 years ago, Napoleon Bonaparte said,“ I fear four hostile newspapers than a thousand bayonets.” Napoleon Bonaparte was an emperor and a military genius of his time. He faced impossible odds during his military conquests. He had fought 25,000 Ottomans with 6,000 French troops in Egypt and had also confronted the combined armies of Austria and Russia in Austerlitz. His empire stretched from Spain, Northern Africa to the borders of Russia. Yet, despite all that, he feared editors.
Why? Because editors can control and influence ideas, words and debates. He feared domestic dissent. He wanted full control. He even said that,“ I want to create an educational body that will steer the way the French people think!” Napoleon went on to establish public schools in an effort to further craft and dictate how the French would think and act. What Napoleon did through public schools was effective but he undermined and put a stop to human creativity and intellectualism. The same concept was later adopted by the French, as far west as the Americans, and eventually by the whole world.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION TOWARDS CRITICAL THINKING Are Malaysians being dictated and controlled on how to think and act, too? Do we, as a moderate and progressive nation, understand the meaning of freedom, justice and democracy? I believe we need to think, question and engage first, in order to understand the purpose of certain jurisdictions, rulings or systems. Safe platforms that encourage intellectual discourse and allow Malaysians to think out of the box, beyond definitions from schools, societal norms and the government, should be put in place.
On the surface, this may seem like encouragement to partake in unnecessary rebellious activities threatening public safety. But consider the reverse psychology and unintended moral hazard that prevails; it is often when oppressed that people side with the opposite, even when the opposing side may not be the most ideal.
The younger generation especially,
26 PERDANA MAGAZINE 2016