KUALA LUMPUR – In light of the Kerala government in India honouring the late Tan Sri B.C. Sekhar, the National Patriots’ Association (Patriot) president blames both Putrajaya and Malaysian citizens for their disinterest in valuing local talent.
“The government does not seem serious about recognising local talent, and they don’t seem to care,” Brigadier General (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji told The Vibes.
Because of this, he said, many Malaysians end up excelling overseas, despite their ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with heroes across the globe, from home.
“They excel overseas because they are given many opportunities due to a lack of political interference.
“Dr Amalina Che Bakri is an example of a Malaysian who has excelled overseas. Similarly, I recall a local singer who made it big in China, but not here in Malaysia.”
He urged Malaysians to pay tribute to and appreciate home-grown heroes instead of being jealous of their success.
“The government is not entirely to blame for these problems. We Malaysians ourselves get jealous when another person is successful, and that must change, too.”
DAP lawmaker Charles Santiago believes the government might have commemorated Sekhar sooner had he been Malay.
The Klang MP pointed to the government’s lack of will to recognise citizens who have empowered the country regardless of race and religion.
“As a tech pioneer, Sekhar contributed vastly to rubber technology, which not only contributed to Malaysia, but has since gone worldwide.
“As it is a pioneering tech, his applications would have been easily adapted towards other technologies as well.”
He questioned whether today’s generation has any idea of the pioneer that Sekhar was.
“Perhaps, the generation in the 1960s and 1970s would have an idea of who he was, but not the current generation, simply because there is not enough material in our syllabus highlighting him,” he said, adding that this seems to apply to many unsung heroes who are non-Malay.
The least that Putrajaya should commit to is opening a tech centre under Sekhar’s name, he said.
“The tech centre can not only showcase Sekhar’s achievements, but also those of other Malaysians, irrespective of race and religion, who have excelled and made a mark on technology over the years.
“The centre can be a point of inspiration for Malaysians, especially school students, to achieve greater heights and contribute to our country.”
Fellow DAP MP Ramkarpal Singh said Sekhar’s recognition by the Kerala government is an achievement in itself, but the nation should start recognising more Malaysians who have contributed to the country, to prevent talent from leaving.
“I didn’t know him personally, but it is very good that the Kerala government recognised him for his contributions. I don’t think he was given the same recognition in Malaysia, although he deserved it.”
He said the government’s failure to recognise local heroes is one reason for the nation’s brain drain.
“We must do more to curtail this. If the government does its part and awards (heroes) with the recognition they deserve, it would reduce the issue of talent going abroad.”
Sekhar, who was born in the Ulu Bulu estate in Selangor on November 17, 1929, became the first Malaysian and Asian to lead the Rubber Research Institute.
He received multiple awards during his career, filed dozens of patents under his name, and published more than 130 research papers before passing away on September 6, 2006 at the age of 77. – The Vibes, January 17, 2021
