Just to Ponder (2)

I was surprised that my article, "Brains - A Must for Committing Crimes" was mentioned in the Onlinecitizen and the highlight of my article was on "No need for heads to roll - to err is human". I would like to add, "To err is human; to believe in God divine".

Many of us in this little dot have taken the government to be an almost perfect government, forgetting it is human beings - not gods that are looking after the welfare of the nation. As such, mistakes and carelessness can be expected! It is interesting to watch the reaction of the public towards Mas Selamat's escape from detention. While some look at it in a positive way that it is a lesson in complacency, others immediately demand for heads to roll; for the minister and various heads of department to resign to show their remorse, etc. Yet, how many have thought of the many years of good works and performances of these very people in their service? This is the perversity of men! Someone can do nine good things, but the moment he fails, people can forget the nine good things and just remember and take to heart that one failure!

Two days ago, I met Hari, the amiable and shortest Malay man in my block. "Choo, when is the world coming to an end?" he asked me in a sad and serious note. "Why, Hari? What has happened? Has some disaster or earthquake taken place again? " I asked, wondering how could I have missed such a major event.

"Choo.....people are terrible. No point being helpful and kind. In the end you end up in trouble and get all the blame," Hari said with a loud sigh.

"Hari.....just do your best. As long as God sees your heart, it is enough. Man's opinions don't matter. I always tell people that man's praises don't send me to heaven; man's condemnation doesn't send me to hell either. It is God's blessings I covet. His rewards are all that I want. Failure or success ......I give them all back to God. No sweat. No stress. Hari, now you understand why I am always cheerful."

Yes, Mas Selamat has escaped! Yes, Malaysia and other countries in the world may be laughing at our so-called top-notch efficiency. Yes, a limping criminal has brought embarrassment to our little nation. But let us look at the bright side. As MM Lee had said, it is certainly a good lesson in complacency for us. Sometimes when things go smoothly, we begin to rest on our laurels and it takes a limping but clever detainee to shake us out of our comfort zones. Compared to Septemebr 11, Mas Selamat's escape from detention is a little setback. Have we thanked the Authorities that his plot to bomb Changi Airport had been foiled? As MM Lee had said, so long as he is still in Singapore, we can still try to nab him. It would be more worrying if he had escaped to Indonesia! However, if Mas Selamat has escaped to Indonesia, the upside is that the Authorities throughout the world will be even more vigilant against terrorism.!

Everyone has a role to play by being vigilant while taking the bus and mrt. Even when we are at the airport or train station, we can be on the lookout of suspicious characters. Indeed the peace and prosperity of this little nation is dependant on everyone of us. Most of all, in our daily lives, let us always have that heart of gratitude towards God and people. And when someone fails us, let us remember all the good things he has done for us so that it is easier for us to forgive and love that person. By doing so, we become happier people, bearing in mind that, as human beings, we, oursleves, sometimes also fail others.

Gan Chau