Noordin Sopiee - A Man & his Ideas...

I promised to write something about Noordin Sopiee, the late Tan Sri. here it is. Sometime last year, I was invited by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) to attend their  'Dialogue on Diversity, Diplomacy and Peace' at Putrajaya Marriott. Quite a large gathering of scholars, academics, senior high ranking Foreign Service officials past and present and some from our other ASEAN neighbours notably from Thailand and Indonesia. I was given Tan Sri's book 'A Man and his Ideas -selected writings and speeches'. A vey thick book indeed 708 pages inclusive of bibliography, abbreviations and index..hehe

His writings and speeches covers Malaysia nation building, economy, politics and diplomacy, South East Asia, East Asia, East Asia Cooperation, China, Asia in general, regional and international community- Asia Pacific Community, Commonwealth, WTO, Globalisation and others...

I particularly like the first page of his writing 'Quantum Leap' that was reprinted from 'Malaysiana : News Straits Times Annual, Kuala Lumpur: Berita Publishing, 1992 pp 172-175. Here goes:

"there are nations which are stuck in the past, with little to look forward to and whose accomplishments are long gone. There are nations that are grappling with so much of the present that they have little time for the future. Malaysia fortunately, is a country which can look back with reasonable satisfaction, which can live in the present with reasonable relish, and which can look forward to the future with substantial anticipation. Of course Malaysians must always guard against letting things go to their heads. Humility is always necessary. Arrogance is never ever justified. God punishes pride pride by guaranteeing a fall. 

It has often been said that a pessimist is merely a well-informed optimist. This is unfortunately true in the case of many parts of the world. In the case of Malaysia, it would seem that the optimist is merely a well-informed pessimist."

if only the late YBhg Tan Sri Noordin Sopiee is still alive today and notice that our neighbours have overtaken us in many respects like even Vietnam is in 17th rating in a recent education poll...I wonder what Tan Sri's rantings would be like... hehehe. I rest my case. If you get a chance to read about the thinking behind this illustrious son of the soil, you would agree with me that Malaysia is not short of smart intelligent and global Malays...we don't seem to reproduce many people like him anymore. even if there are, they seem to be under-ulitised or marginalized.. (a well informed pessimist remark hehehe)...