COMMENT: ‘Keluar Sekejap’: Lessons learned from Abang Jo on Sarawak Day

IN celebration of Sarawak Day on July 22, 2024, the popular weekly podcast ‘Keluar Sekejap’ (KS) hosted by former Malaysian politicians Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) and Shahril Hamdan, featured the Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg as the special guest.

KS, which launched its first episode on YouTube and Spotify on March 7, 2023, primarily focuses on Malaysian politics and current affairs, featuring interviews with various influential guests.

This special Sarawak Day episode stands out for its meaningful insights. Through an in-depth conversation with the Premier, the hosts aimed to uncover his political philosophy and journey, offering valuable lessons for both citizens and the business community.

KJ and Shahril sought the Premier’s personal views on maintaining relevance and composure as a politician, especially following the 2014 stepping down of the late Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as Chief Minister of Sarawak. The Premier’s responses were elegantly simple and succinct, highlighting several key learning points:

Trust (Two-ways)

Trust between leaders and followers is fundamental to organisational success. Leaders must demonstrate integrity, transparency, and consistency to earn their followers’ trust, fostering a culture of reliability and mutual respect.

Conversely, followers must be dependable, honest, and open in their communications, reinforcing the leader’s confidence in their abilities and commitment. This reciprocal trust encourages collaboration, innovation, and resilience within the organisation. When trust is compromised, it can lead to disengagement, reduced morale, and inefficiency. Therefore, cultivating and maintaining trust requires continuous effort and genuine engagement from both parties, ensuring alignment in values, goals, and expectations for sustained organisational growth.

Patience (Long-term goal)

Patience is a crucial determinant of success, as it enables individuals to navigate challenges and setbacks with resilience and composure. In the pursuit of long-term goals, patience allows for strategic planning, thoughtful decision-making, and sustained effort. It fosters persistence, helping individuals to endure difficulties and maintain focus without becoming discouraged.

Additionally, patience encourages continuous learning and adaptation, as it provides the time needed to develop skills, gather insights, and refine approaches. Without patience, impulsive actions and hasty decisions can undermine progress, leading to dissatisfaction and failure. Thus, cultivating patience is essential for achieving meaningful, enduring success.

Purpose (Holistic view)

A purpose that extends beyond oneself and encompasses the welfare of people and the party fosters a sense of shared mission and collective responsibility. This altruistic orientation encourages leaders and members to prioritize the common good, promoting unity and collaboration. By focusing on a broader purpose, individuals are motivated to contribute selflessly, enhancing organisational cohesion and morale.

However, it is crucial to balance this collective purpose with personal values and integrity to avoid blind allegiance or exploitation. A well-defined, inclusive purpose that aligns with ethical principles can drive sustainable progress, inspire loyalty, and build a resilient and effective organisation.

Faith (Believe in God’s Plan)

Believing in God’s plan, or having faith, can provide individuals with a profound sense of purpose, comfort, and resilience. This belief can help people navigate uncertainties and adversities, offering solace in the idea that challenges are part of a greater design. It fosters patience and persistence, encouraging individuals to trust the process and remain hopeful.

However, it is essential to balance faith with proactive efforts and practical actions. Over-reliance on divine intervention without personal initiative may lead to passivity. Therefore, integrating faith with personal responsibility ensures a holistic approach to achieving goals and overcoming obstacles. A great faith brings great strategies forward.

Oneness (Team Spirit)

Oneness, embodying team spirit, is essential for organizational success. A ‘team’ mindset encourages collaboration, mutual support, and shared responsibility, fostering a cohesive work environment. Strong trust among team members is foundational, as it promotes open communication, reliability, and a sense of belonging. This trust enables individuals to leverage each other’s strengths, address weaknesses collectively, and innovate effectively.

However, achieving oneness requires continuous effort in building and maintaining relationships, resolving conflicts, and aligning individual goals with the team’s objectives. Without genuine commitment to the team mindset, efforts can become fragmented, and potentially leading to inefficiency and reduced morale.

With all the pointers learned, the Premier’s ultimate message – that no one can achieve anything effectively on their own – emphasises the importance of collaboration and collective effort.

It highlights that while individual endeavors are valuable, it is often insufficient without the support, insights, and skills of others. This perspective encourages leveraging diverse talents and professionalisms, fostering a cooperative environment.
However, it also implies that strong leadership, clear communication, and a shared vision are crucial to orchestrate these collaborative efforts successfully. Overemphasis on teamwork without recognising individual contributions can sometimes dilute personal accountability and innovation. Thus, a balanced approach, valuing both individual initiative and collective synergy, is essential for true success in any endeavors.

July 22, 1963 was a pivotal moment in Sarawak’s history, signifying its achievement of self-governance from British colonial rule. This crucial event set the stage for Sarawak to join the formation of Malaysia on Sept 16 of the same year.

The special podcast episode with the Premier is a timely reminder of the profound responsibilities and implications of independence. It underscores that Sarawak Day is not merely a commemoration but a day to reflect on the true meaning of independence for the people of Sarawak, highlighting the values of trust, patience, purpose, faith, and oneness, bringing up the essential thought of responsibilities that come with autonomy.

Prof Brian Wong
Faculty of Business, Design and Arts
Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus