Rilek1Corner

Category: Singapuraku

  • MediaCorp’s Countdown a Social Disaster

    22marinabaynye-482x298

    I was an employee of yours a few years ago and whilst I had big visions of changing the entertainment industry back then (and now), as a small fry, there was absolutely no way I could have done it.

    I’m not sure who decided on the concept of Countdown 2013 but it certainly didn’t impress me, neither did it impress a lot of people. As THE national broadcaster and THE biggest media company in Singapore, the countdown was a social disaster.

    In fact, it showed a lack of cultural sensitivity of the leadership of whoever was in charge and whoever was involved in the planning and conceptualization of the countdown itself. Perhaps, this was the intended direction of the leadership – to move Singapore towards a more China-based or Chinese-speaking audience. Yes? No?

    As someone of mixed heritage who is heavily involved in the education sector, local community and the global world, I find your lack of sensitivity towards the diverse culture that live and work in Singapore to be extremely disappointing and your possible ignorance to the trends of the conflicts that has been happening in Singapore, shameful.

    The leadership involved in the planning and conceptualization may have had the best idea on how to entertain, but they certainly didn’t know who they were trying to entertain.

    I would highly suggest that you send your leadership and staff for diversity training, so they have a better understanding of the different cultures that live in Singapore. So that your Channel 5 programmes will see better diversity and is a reflection of the cultures that live and work in Singapore, not the culture that you wish to create.

    If you don’t have an idea on how to do it, let me know. I spent time in the US to researching on these issues and developed a programme for it. You could really use the programme.

    And OH! In case you forget, “To engage, entertain and enrich audiences by harnessing the power of creativity.”

    That’s your mission statement. FAIL.

    Cheers.

    Your Ex-Employee, Abdillah Zamzuri

    Source: http://abdillahzamzuri.wordpress.com/2014/01/02/mediacorps-countdown-a-social-disaster/

  • 6 Things Malays in Singapore and Wherever Can Learn from Successful Minorities in America

    NationalDayParade-Esplanade-20070809 Image credit: Wikipedia

    I have been observing and reading about minorities in America. There are of course minorities that are still going through a lot of hardship despite many attempts to reform their situation. But there are also other minorities that are doing well in this country. Those that are succeeding in many fields across the country are the Jews, Japanese, Indians, Koreans and Vietnamese who were once refugees. Why are these minorities doing well? Here are 6 reasons:

    1. Help their own kind first to overcome barriers in the System and in Society

    The minorities that do well have a strong group feeling. They stick together and help one another. They minimize conflict between each other and give their own kind any opportunities they could find.

    2. Minorities that do well invest a lot on Education

    In fact, they try as much as possible to over-achieve in their studies to make it difficult for anyone to deny their importance in specific areas and professions.

    3. Networks

    Successful minorities work with as many people as possible within the country and beyond. They establish ties and relationships with majorities and build trust and confidence in order to gain entry in areas that were previously made impossible for them.

    4. Walk the Talk and Talk only when Necessary

    The minorities that generally do well would usually do their work quietly. They would shun from causing too many controversies in public and work their way up by showing how things ought to be done through their deeds. Hence, when they do talk and raise concerns, people listen.

    5. Sharing

    They share contacts and their paths to success with their own kind. They encourage the young to emulate what their predecessors had done and disseminate strategies of how success could be achieved within the shortest time possible. Little wonder that the most of the reputable self-help gurus are of minority backgrounds. When they share, their communities get inspired and motivated.

    6.  Niche areas to propel Themselves Forward

    Because they know that their numbers are small, these minorities focus on fields such as IT, medicine, finance and the academe and seek to develop Respect and Wield Influence through becoming the Best in these fields. That’s why when people think of Wall Street, the Jews will come to mind and when they talk about Silicon Valley, the Indians would be the celebrities.

    These are some lessons we Malays and Muslims in general can learn from minorities in the USA. I hope we too can become just as successful if not better than our brothers and sisters in here. Let the world know that what we do Matter!

    Original source: http://www.deenrevival.com/6-things-malays-in-singapore-can-learn-from-successful-minorities-in-america/