#MPPCFLASHBACKS – “Eyes at the MPPC”

Politikus. Indonesian for young, aspiring politician – with special emphasis on the ratty business.

We may not plan to venture into politics, but that was the name of my team – comprising three awesome guys headed to the UK to read law, and a girl based in Singapore who, umm, wants to read unicorns – that recently went for the Malaysia Public Policy Competition.

They say we youths are apathetic, selfish and too caught up in our own bubble lives. And as much as they also say you have to hope and believe, I used to more than agree with that. Being in the lion’s den perhaps made it worse – the elitist hierarchical system that promotes such segregation made my faith in this generation shrink even more. Most young people around me simply don’t care about issues that aren’t as tangible or interesting as when their next assignment is due, or whether Kristen Stewart has finally found the ability to employ the use of facial muscles to demonstrate expressions.

But the past three days at the MPPC have proven me wrong. The event gathered this bunch of intelligent, opinionated and passionate young people to propose policies to tackle the issue of our very messed up education system.

And with most people throwing around backgrounds like Cambridge, Oxford, LSE, UCL and you know, all those elite schools for smart people you’re not supposed to meet in real life, I definitely felt out of place. Being probably the youngest participant with no background in such things, many a time, I caught myself wondering what the heck I was doing there as I got lost in the academic lingo and the sheer braininess of everyone.

But despite all the reservations I had, what an experience it was. To meet this huge group of people who care about what’s going to happen to the country, want to do something about it, and with their capabilities and drive, will be able to make a difference – was nothing short of inspirational (as cheesy as it sounds). To see these youths who’ve already stirred so much change in their own communities, the country and on the international level made me realise, the ceiling is only as high as you dare to reach.

And hey, it was highly refreshing to be referred to as “young”, when I usually feel ancient among my peers. Let’s hear it one more time – “You’re such a kid!”

We were given the chance to highlight a problem within our education system, and propose a public policy as a solution. Starting work after dinner, PowerPoint slides and 25-minute presentations magically appeared overnight as we used creativity and feasibility to suggest ways to fill gaps in the system.

We navigated unchartered waters, highlighting the issue of education for the Orang Asli, an issue that hasn’t been given much attention over the years yet is of no less importance, and presented fresh ideas to tackle the problem of the culture divide between what is being provided by education and what is actually needed.

I came into the competition with little expectations, and often forgetting that it was a competition after all – whenever people wished me good luck for the “quiz in Malaysia”, it took me a good 10 seconds to figure out what they were referring to. And as the oldest (ahem) teammate confessed afterwards, what are the chances of a bunch of mostly pre-uni students doing well, against fresh graduates from Cambridge and the like?

Well, three days, lots of tapao-ed coffee and keropok, three presentations and eight hours of sleep later, guess who emerged as the runner up team out of the 24?

 

So maybe it’s not entirely off to say that many youths are apathetic, selfish, and stuck in our respective bubbles. But somewhere out there, there exists a small group of passionate individuals who demonstrate much “retardedness” and the occasional brilliance, who still care about this place that, despite all the madness and injustice and overly sweet tea, we call home, in its truest sense.

 

I stopped believing in this system long ago, but maybe there is a way to achieve balance between hopeful idealism and practical realism. Maybe there is hope for this system that hears so many complaints but sees even more indifference. Maybe the right group of people can really do something to truly make a difference. Maybe it starts with you and me.
Examine the problems. Consider the reality. Get your voice heard. Take practical means of action. But don’t you ever stop hoping and believing.