On nation-building

This is Raja Nazrin's keynote address at some young Malaysians' round table discussion at the Bar Council :

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/4/nation/20070404211402&sec=nation

It's actually sad to see that our royalty are merely just royalty and do not have a say in running the country. Because I do believe that our royalty receive excellent education in how to really run a country ... compared to our elected representatives who are mostly just people like you and me, not actually born and bred to run a country.

My favourite extracts from his speech :

• If the young are to be good leaders and citizens, they must be exposed to more than just abstract concepts ... I believe that good and upright leadership must be demonstrated. It has to be both taught and observed at work. Then, those who are found to be able must be mentored by those who are capable. In this way, success can be learned and replicated. Finally, the young must be given responsibilities they can handle. They should be allowed to make mistakes along the way as part of their overall learning process.
• History has shown us time and again, that it is much easier to break down, rather than build up, nations.
• ... if nation building is to be successful, enforced solutions must be avoided. Nation building is effectively rendered null and void by coercion or the threat of violence. 'Might' cannot and must not be shown to be 'right'. If solutions cannot be found within the political and social structures, there will be a strong temptation to resort to illegitimate ways and means.
• ... but it is a fact that many countries are as likely to punish good behaviour as to reward it. After all, if there are benefits for corruption, then there is a real cost to being honest. The incentives for building up a nation must be greater and more compelling than breaking it down. The price of racial and cultural intolerance must be made prohibitively high.
• It is said that it takes a village to raise a child.
• If you look closely enough at any country, even ones that are regarded today as highly successful such as Japan, you will find there have been episodes in its past where events were very tenuous. I hope we will do our best to guard against cynicism and hopelessness. And I hope we will all stay the course. Failure, may I remind you all, is a costly option.

It's inspiring to read the full text of the speech, heartwarming to know that there is a prince (no less than the beautiful Zara's Prince Charming) who cares for the people and the country. Cynics may say it is all talk. It probably is, seeing that he has no say in how our Cabinet runs the country. I say it must be torturous to be him, being in a position in which he should actually be able to help, but being helpless to do so.