'Sejahtera' must be internalised, it is the fountainhead of good values
Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
Opinion - New Straits Times
May 30, 2022
MALAYSIANS have reportedly expressed an "eroding sense of confidence in both the government and media", according to the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer, a survey on trust and credibility.
It found that Malaysians have "deepening concern that fake news and false information are being used as a weapon against them".
The survey also found that local journalists and reporters have lost credibility, with "74 per cent of respondents saying they were worried that media practitioners are spreading disinformation or grossly exaggerating the contents of their reports". Both the government and media are viewed as fuelling a cycle of distrust, according to the finding.
Malaysia occupies sixth position in the Global Trust Index involving 28 countries. Six in 10 Malaysians have the tendency to distrust as a default, "until they have solid proof that it is trustworthy", to quote a statement.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are said to fare better than their governmental counterparts, and even chief executive officers in the private sector. NGOs are perceived to be non-profit-oriented and care more for social and ecological wellbeing.
This is where authenticity, or authentic leadership, comes into play; it is rooted in the values of trust between those involved.
In other words, one must be able to demonstrate the traits of being truthful and trustworthy in the public domain for all to value and experience.
This often encompasses virtues like transparency and integrity: the ability and willingness to be honest and humble even in admitting one's vulnerabilities.
It often becomes second nature to those who are more in contact with the self in terms of awareness, reflection and control.
Specifically, those who understand their state of being through thoughts, feelings and actions based on regular reflection. They deeply understand the values of sympathy, empathy and compassion.
Each helps in building meaningful and long-lasting relationships across humanity that go back to ancient values in traditional and indigenous societies worldwide.
Simply put, it is part of the natural human state of being, otherwise known as "primordial intelligence" (in contrast to artificial intelligence) that nurtures the microcosmic world.
Sejahtera is one such indigenous concept that is rooted in the Malay archipelago or nusantara. It is widely used culturally as a form of greeting to convey the message of peace and harmony in establishing positive and societal relationships and cohesiveness.
It is richly nuanced and finely balanced in harmonious ways, interconnecting the bio-physical, socio-emotional, and intellectual-spiritual needs.
In other words, it is about the authentic state of the "self" with regard to his/her wellbeing, the environment as well as fellow beings, and the Creator. It is in a state of ultimate trust and trustworthiness.
In a nutshell, the element of sejahtera must be fully understood, internalised and practised because it is the fountainhead of good values/virtues that are innately human (and divine too), leading to a righteous and balanced way of life.
The urgent question, however, is whether this is fully and holistically being translated into a way of life that embraces authentic values. Are these given due attention and taught to children from pre-school to higher education before imparting (marketable) knowledge?
At the same time, is it being realigned across the heritage of indigenous values throughout humanity that hold the promise of harnessing the real power of humanising education?
At the World Higher Education Conference in Barcelona, Spain, from May 18 to 20, participants were presented with the most ambitious choices in reimagining the future of education to disrupt the very deficit of trust (and failures) in the field, which has led to the chaotic world experienced by most leaders.
The solutions seem to rest closer to themselves if they choose to be more human to begin with!
The writer, an NST columnist for more than 20 years, is International Islamic University Malaysia rector