Malaysiana: Stories of Spectacular Malaysians

It is not only about what we know, but who we know that determines our outcomes. 

Influence of background and how it shapes our socioeconomic outcomes. Importance of the right platform should not be undermined in tackling social gaps and provides a pathway to a better future.    

Power of inclusivity in building social capital. Cross-class friendships have the ability to build knowledge and social capital. Expansion of networks lead to better access of opportunities and acts as a platform for personal growth.  

“The only ingredient we are short of is integrity”. Fairness should be exercised when rewarding talent to ensure an equitable outcome. A system that is more inclusive, is also one that has a more resilient and excellent form of success. 

Empowerment is at the core of each social movement. 

It is important to create opportunities for the beneficiaries and empower them to make choices themselves. Closing the Gap acts as a platform to provide multiple options for beneficiaries while providing a secure space for decision-making process.  

A successful movement is not only one that self-empowers their beneficiaries, but also allow for them to empower others. Recipients of the What a Waste (WAW) programme also contributes back to the movement by being employed by WAW as their professional cooks or ambassadors. 

Representation in popular fiction can serve as tools of empowerment by encouraging us to dream the impossible. Thus, it is important to encourage diverse characters in fiction and to create representations within our capabilities. 

Innovation and development are essential in addressing the gaps identified in society. 

It is crucial to identify and acknowledge systemic short-comings, and execute the changes needed. The revamp of the YTAR scholarship selection process which prioritise equity over merits allows opportunities to disadvantaged students. Similarly, migrant workers should be given fair treatment as they continue to play an important role in nation building.  

The inclusion and development of technology within social change movements can improve accessibility to goods and services. The invention of See-and-Treat point-of-care pathways for cervical screenings in rural settings improved the outreach of cervical cancer treatment among rural women. Additionally, the What a Waste movement and app which linked food providers to recipients gave way to the redistribution of food to lower-income communities. 

Finding your “Ikigai” in the work that you do can inspire innovation in your field. While passion, mission, profession, and vocation are important motivators in your career, it is also important to find the overlap of doing what you love, what the world needs, what you are good at, and what you get paid for.