Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
– George Carlin, American comedian
There are times when we, Sarawakians, have to learn to laugh at ourselves, at our naivety, stupidity even or when we do not know when to mind our own business.
In other words, when we are stupidly acting as “busybodies” getting involved uninvited in an issue as if we have nothing else better to do.
In Sarawak, we have our own term for stupidity or being stupid — paloi. The word was made popular some years ago by none other than Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
I have borrowed paloi and used it in several articles and now, it is an acceptable word in Malaysiakini, the nation’s oldest and most popular news portal. Paloi is now my preference and first choice instead of “stupid” or bodoh in my banters with friends on social media.
Indeed, we should concede and accept the times when we have erred, when we know we have been paloi. It’s really okay, and healthy too, to have a go at ourselves for our silliness. It’s paloi to think that we are always right and never wrong.
Take for example the media circus this past week among a cross section of Sarawakians who went overboard, in my opinion, over what was actually a non-existent issue — a datukship for our very own diving queen, Pandelela Rinong.
Allow me to dissect this issue from afar, as a non-interested party but just as a concerned Sarawakian.
First thing first.
Did Pandelela or her family ever request for any form of reward after Pandelela’s World Cup feat? No, they did not.
Does our diving queen deserve any reward from the Sarawak government for her latest achievement on the world stage? The answer is a definite “Yes”.
Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah was right — he has been misunderstood when he commented on Pandelela. Hence, the public backlash against him.
I have read the sports minister’s full statement and no way did he mention that Pandelela will not be rewarded by the Sarawak government.
Karim stated clearly that the government will think of a suitable reward for her. Unfortunately, the minister did not stop there but continued to imply that achievers should not be spoilt by rewards. That was his folly.
The minister said that “little bit more” than what he should have. It’s a trivial matter but allow Karim to learn a little lesson here. It pays to keep your speech to the bare minimum at times.
On the “No datukship” for Pandelela statement from the minister, I have to agree with him 101 percent.
This is why.
It is not a new issue for me. Thirteen years ago, in 2008, I commented on the datuk title being conferred on Nicole David and Lee Chong Wei by the Penang government. Both Nicole and Lee are Penangites.
Let me share excerpts of that article titled “Stop dishing out datukship to ‘kids’”, published by Malaysiakini on Aug 23 2008.
“But to award the datukship to Nicole and Lee is silly, awkward and un-chief minister-like (for then Penang CM Lim Guan Eng). I describe them as ‘kids’ because they are viewed as such when weighed against the title which is normally given to senior citizens.
“Guan Eng’s reason that “Chong Wei was being honoured because he had done not only Penang but also Malaysia proud with his achievement as the first Penangite to win a silver medal at the world’s biggest sports event” does not hold up for the datukship at all.
“Hey, Yap Kim Hock and Cheah Soon Kit also brought the silver medal home from the 1996 Atlanta Games. And what about Jalani and Razif Sidek. They won Malaysia’s first Olympic medal, albeit only a bronze, in Barcelona in 1992. They should all be made datuks too, if Guan Eng’s reasoning is to be taken as a yardstick.
“Then what about our other sporting greats like Rabuan Pit, formerly Asia’s fastest man, former Mr Universe Soloman Ismanto etc. Indeed, there is a long list of sportsmen and sportswomen who had also brought glory and honour to the nation too.”
My 2008 stand has not changed. Perhaps, it’s not that I agree with Karim but that our minister agrees with my stand on the issue 13 years ago.
Do I think Pandelela deserves a datukship? My answer is “Yes”. Is a datukship necessary as a reward for her? That answer is “No”.
I am not a politician out to score brownie points by riding on the popular Pandelela bandwagon. I speak my mind and I strongly feel that there are other ways to reward our diving queen, or even her parents, for their many years of sacrifices.
I have noticed that many of those taking potshots at Karim are politicians from the other end of the spectrum. That is understandable.
What is really laughable is that all those harping on this datukship thingy are people who have no authority whatsoever to decide whether or not Pandelela gets a “datuk” title.
And our diving queen has said it too. A datukship is not important to her, bringing honour and glory to the country is.
So, please don’t be paloi, folks. I’m not sure Pandelela and her good family are happy with paloi people being busybodies with their personal affairs.
I must concede I am one of them too. I am also paloi for partaking in this silly datukship debate. My apologies to Pandelela and her good family.
The views expressed are those of the columnist and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
