Hi Everybody,
As our country gears itself to face a serious financial crisis caused by a number of factors our society will inevitably suffer from its ramnifications. Our membership may suffer a drop if the economy does not improve soon and our activities are not actively promoted. We may then have to take cost-cutting measures ourselves. Well-wishers and friends of the MNS will be called upon to help overcome our difficulties. On the other hand we may experience an increase as more people realize that MNS offers affordable, healthy and educational activities and fun company.
Most of the economic problems arise from inadequate planning and not making adequate provisions for the consequences of its effects. In our quest to become an industrialised nation by the year 2020 our nation's planners decided to make quantum leaps and sometimes cutting corners (and trees and forests, etc) to achieve it. We are sometimes told the planners know everything and have taken everything into account. But have they? We were told that the schemes were privatised ones and do not cost the Government (and the taxpayer) a single cent. But it cost us a lot in other ways. These companies financed the schemes by cutting and selling the trees in the areas allotted. Such sales yielded millions of ringgit before the completion of the projects. We are afraid that when the going gets tough the companies may simply abandon the projects without suffering any losses. God knows how much is lost in whole ecosystems and bio-diversity. Some endemic flora and fauna may have become extinct. The opportunity cost is enormous and may have contributed to our present economic predicament. These are the lessons we have learnt (or are beginning to learn) and should never forget lest such lean times befall us again.
The MNS itself is not spared the effects of the current financial crisis. Imported inflation has raised the cost of practically everything. At the branch level our expenses are kept low and every effort is made to reduce cost - thanks to voluntarism and committee members refraining from making claims for minor expenses. Moreover we do not have an office or building yet. Other expenses will increase in the future if the inflationary trend is not arrested soon but we shall try our level best to seek funds from well-wishers and other sources to improve our financial position and services to our members.
In managing an organisation, all these discouraging developments are to be expected and should be not viewed too negatively. We should not be too disheartened to the point we give up our noble cause to appreciate and conserve our natural heritage. The Chinese depict a crisis with two characters, Wei Zi, meaning danger and opportunity. Hence in such troubled times (some may even view it as "dangerous") we have to think positively in seeking solutions to our problems. No stones should be left unturned to explore ways and means to achieve our noble aims. Last year, while attending a course in Canada a small poster on my instructor's wall caught my eye. It stated that
The Positive Thinker
Sees the Invisible
Feels the Intangible
And Achieves the Impossible
This has been a guiding light in my personal life and a constant reminder in seeking solutions to satisfy our needs and achieve our aims ever since. I hope everyone will share the same insight and spirit in all our future undertakings.
Cheaw Hon Ming
1 May 1998
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Created on 29th Dec 1998. Last modified on