LATELY, we read of natural calamities, insurgency, assassinations of political and public figures, chaotic national elections which threw certain countries into civil war, and political tension between nations.

As 2008 begins its reign, we are reminded of the many unfortunate natural disasters and loss of human lives.

Masses of people were uprooted from their place of birth and forced to seek refuge in other places. Many crossed borders for safety and to escape death, misery and hunger.

These events simply denote the fact that our planet is very fragile as an untoward event can throw a country or a region, seemingly secure and prosperous, into a chaotic and deadly place in a short time.

Countries like Pakistan, Kenya, Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other politically unstable and natural disaster-stricken countries are going through very trying, exasperating, and fatiguing time.

They are warnings to the rest of the world, including us, on what can happen if nations are not governed well.

Our KLCI is hitting record highs, our palm oil industry is experiencing excellent growth and is at its highest historic price ever, and the Government has given us a sense of “feeling good”.

These “goodies” come at a cost and should not be wasted or compromised. We should preserve our gains and minimise losses in order to enhance our steady economic growth.

We have to be resilient and ready to face the world at large in every sphere of our national endeavour and not be caught in a sense of complacency and ignorance of where we are heading, politically and economically.

We must continue to give due attention to political stability as it is paramount for the nation to move forward, without which all the gains, prosperity, and whatnots would be gone in a matter of time.

Every effort must be made to deter political deterioration, and to improve racial harmony, integration, and religious tolerance.

We have to be prepared for any eventualities, be resilient in the face of challenges, and be passionate in what we want to achieve.

DR TAN ENG BEE,

Kajang, Selangor.

Source: The Star – January 10, 2008