A Nation’s Progress

Kenny Sia posted this article recently, which makes me think of the topic ‘a nation’s progress’.

How do we measure a nation’s progress? GDP growth rate? Poverty rate? National debt? Literacy rate? Or something else?

I shall use Malaysia to examine the case (since I intended to write about Malaysia…).

It would be a moron to complain about a ‘low’ GDP growth rate. It seems a bit lagging for Malaysia at 5.3% for 2005, but that’s an increase of US$15 billion (around RM55 billion) over 2004. That corresponds to roughly RM2200 per person. Taking the complaint of slow growth rate into account, we know something: human needs is impossible to be satisfied. (Maybe they should complain about my financial status instead.)

Poverty rate? The rate has fallen from 5.1% of all the Malaysian households in 2002 to 4.3% in 2004 (.pdf file; check it out). Poverty is always not something good, at least materially, so it should be eradicated. But to fully eradicate it is not as easy as to greatly eradicate it.

National debt? Malaysia’s national debt has fallen at an impressive rate, from RM220 billion in 2004 to RM195 billion in 2005. That’s a good news to me (maybe not for those short-sighted). Now it is left with around RM8,000 of debt per citizen. Never mind for those short-sighted, just keep on complaining about the reduction of government subsidy in gasoline and LNG, and let our debts keep on increasing.

Literacy rate? There is a small improvement, from 95.0% in 2003 to 95.1% in 2004. Should be further improved.

So far it’s all about statistical measures. What about the progress in the mindset of our citizens? Our outlook? Our culture? Probably these would not be viewed as seriously as economical progress. But the two are equal in importance. What’s do you call a body without a soul? (For those who don’t know the answer, it is called a corpse.)

Shall illustrate this with photo other time, as now I still have some things to be taken care of. Take care.

A Personal Reflection on the 9-11 Incident

A moment of silence observed, dedicated to those who left us, a tribute to the heroes, and their families.

 

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Five years has passed since the terrible incident happened. In 2001, perhaps I was too immature to realise and appreciate the significance, explicit or otherwise, of this tragedy. Yesterday I took a few hours time to make up the losses: glanced through the videos and live reports of the day, and took note of the comments made by various parties, and, not forget to mention, to contemplate on this incident and to grieve the loss of so many fine people. I ended up with just one hour of nap for the day, yet I did not feel exhausted…

I lived many years under the thought that the U.S. Presidents and Americans were the cause of the tragedy. However, what can be said about the endless cycles of assault and retribution, human nature being what it is? On the other hand, was isolationism the best way of solving problems? The questions are not only relevant to America but to the terrorists too. I think I shall stop saying this before it becomes a 2000-word essay…

I face a conflict everytime I have to mention this incident. Will this arouse the feelings of those who lost their loved ones? Have they all walked out of the emotional mourning and converted their sadness into strength? I do not know what I am going to do upon such tragic event. The last group whom I dedicated has won my profound admiration.

Well, I do not know how to write this any further. Some things have meaning that words cannot convey. Let us work for a better tomorrow.