What is basically wrong with S.E. Asian countries?

Fortunately I have travelled rather extensively in the S.E.Asian countries, either having lived and worked at various countries or visited these countries. It is decades since I first began on these journeys and now that I have retired from regular employ, I reminisce on some of my travels and personal experiences in Asia.

What comes to mind is the sad fact that no matter whatever S.E.Asian countries have achieved by comparison to the Western hemisphere, Asian countries continue to be quagmired in poverty and political mayhem despite all the amount of financial and other economic support that these countries have been receiving then and now.

Just sit back for a moment and evaluate how fares the populace of S.E.Asian countries today?

I have often remarked to friends that the fundemental cause is that Asian countries lack leaders that have a clear understanding of what public administration means in practical terms. Graft is openly and shamelessly practiced, public coffers are plundered for personal pecuniary motives and whatever is left it would not even keep a beggar alive for a year.

Is it not peculiar that in S.E.Asia, people are driven into politics for personal avarice? Unlike their Western counterparts, S.E.Asian leaders at all levels who are into politics originate mostly from less fortunate personal circumstance. Eventually they become legalised bandits of the democratic process. In contrast, in Western countries, the wealthy find that the political platform is the means and the wheretofore towards inculcating social ideals and benefit for the populace.

So it is my claim that over in S.E.Asia, people enter into politics to become rich and richer. While over in Western countries, people who are rich enter into politics to lead the people.

Take a count and it will not fill the four fingers and sole thumb of one hand of names of Asian leaders, departed or alive, that merit the standing of competent and able Stateman and who have made a positive impact on the progress of States they ruled.

With the exception of the iconoclast S.E.Asian leader, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, there is no other S.E.Asian leader who has had neither the integrity nor vision nor Statemanship to bring prosperity to his own State.

Despite the fact that S.E.Asian countries are not yet by any measure considered endangered States however, the fact that they are richly endowed with natural resources, yet these States have brought upon themselves increasing economic hardship and detriment chiefly through political mismanagement and unbridled personal greed.

Our mind believes only in what it chooses to believe in.
Twits being an exception. (WindMill)

“But if you try a little kindness then you’ll overlook the
blindness of the narrow minded people on the narrow minded street.”

The people have spoken

Malaysia is about to conclude their Nationwide Elections. At this juncture, it is apparent that the ruling political party, the Barisan Nasional is being assailed on their greater than two third majority that they have enjoyed ever since the country gained Independence from the British.

I am not surprised by this turn of events. The Barisan Nasional shot themselves at their own feet with their kind of pro Malay and racially inflamatory stance in a country that is of a multi race composition. This is a wake-up call for the Barisan Nasional leaders at all levels.

One cannot expect much from the Opposition candidates who have succeeded at this round of National Elections. Many of the successful Opposition candidates are aged and these Opposition parties do not have the machinery to take on such a gargantuan task in administrating the populace where they won.

How this augurs for the electorate that supported the Opposition over the next five years is going to become the more definitive issue than the fleeting moments of joyous celebration over their victory.

It is going to be interesting to see how the political climate is going to unfold in Malaysia during the next five years.

“But if you try a little kindness then you’ll overlook the
blindness of the narrow minded people on the narrow minded street.”