Corporate, musical and national notes
The government should nurture a shared understanding of our constitution and harmonise the best efforts of corporates and musicians alike.
THE end of November sees a rush to get things done, lest objectives (and resolutions) be rolled over to next year.
For me, this has been accompanied by long-scheduled obligations such as the final quarter board meetings for public-listed companies where I’m an independent director, and the fulfilment of my promises to play piano with two different but equally brilliant groups.
In both these corporate and musical endeavours, although much preparatory work and absolute focus is necessary – both to uphold fiduciary responsibilities and not letting the team down – the results are mostly uplifting.
In the boardroom we see how goods and services are being provided to the people of Malaysia, how employment is enabling livelihoods for thousands, and how skills are being learnt to spur innovation.
Among the downsides are seeing the effects of things that are outside our control, such as unfavourable currency exchange rates, the impact of the trade war between the US and China, or other protectionist measures being pursued by governments (including our own).
The whole purpose of musical performances is to trigger the emotions of audiences, but the two I played in had particularly optimistic overtures.
The first was to accompany the UiTM Chamber Choir in the closing concert of their 9th Composers Concert Series held over the course of a week at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC). This choir won prestigious awards at the Musica Eterna Roma International Choir Festival & Competition in Rome back in July (and performed at Istana Besar Seri Menanti in January).
Indeed, UiTM has the oldest music faculty in the country and the quality of the performances usually leaves first-time audiences stunned, perhaps because to most people, UiTM evokes a particular image that does not include a choir capable of singing repertoire from all corners of the world.
After thoroughly enjoying listening to the compositions submitted for the Tunku Zain competition, it was my turn to play Anyaman, a weaving of three Malay folksongs ( Wau Bulan, Lenggang Kangkung and Gelang Sipaku Gelang) by YewBoon Chong.
A couple of evenings later, the choir of IDEAS Academy – comprising children from Myanmar, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Kenya, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Iraq and Ethiopia – closed a fundraising concert organised by Julliad Music at the Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) with the song A Million Dreams that was featured in the movie The Greatest Showman.
Its chorus climaxes with the lyrics “I think of what the world could be ... A million dreams for the world we’re gonna make”.
Sung by children who have experienced unbelievably difficult childhoods and now seeking a better life in Malaysia, one realisable dream might be for our government to finally sign the 1951 International Convention on Refugees so that they have a legal status and can be given proper assistance.
The majority of these refugees are Muslim, but whether this has any bearing on support from Malaysian Muslims for signing the convention is uncertain, given local hostility to another convention that has been signed by the majority of the Muslim world.
After an earlier commitment to sign the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the government did a U-turn, and an earlier proposed rally to oppose the ratification has now morphed into a proposed celebratory gathering.
I am glad that the government is allowing this public expression of views. I am also glad that the government reiterated its commitment to the Federal Constitution.
Every country has a primary duty to its own founding charter and the citizens, whose rights rest upon it. But like any law, our constitution is subject to explicit amendments, the interpretations of judges and the understanding of citizens. (The role of the judiciary in this regard has taken centre stage among legal circles with the recent 32nd Sultan Azlan Shah Law Lecture, 7th Constitutional Law Lecture at Universiti Malaya and upcoming 3rd Chancellor Tuanku Muhriz Lecture all exploring the topic.)
This process of education and securing buy-in can take time. But it is better to take the time to achieve long-lasting reform.
For example, not every country abolished slavery or enabled women to vote at the same time: but now it’s practically unthinkable for any country to reverse these achievements.
Alas, a toxic atmosphere is being deliberately created by some: particularly political actors trying to pit some Malaysians against other Malaysians in order to secure support from of one of those groups, instead of building greater mutual understanding.
In such an environment, the government has an ever urgent duty to nurture a shared understanding of our constitution and our place in the world, and harmonise the best efforts of corporates and musicians alike.