RECENTLY, I got into a conversation with a friend. I got a shock of my life and simply could not believe what I heard. I asked him what he thought of the Government’s current emphasis on values-based management in both the public and private sectors.
He responded: “Values are nothing!” Did he really mean his words or did I hear him wrong?
From his expression, I was sure that he knew and was sure of what he said. Don’t tell me that this guy can no longer differentiate between right from wrong and good from bad. Or he simply couldn’t be bothered to see the differences?
I just wonder as to what percentage of the Malaysian population actually share his opinion of values.
I personally believe this guy represents a good percentage of the Malaysian population. What is the basis for my judgment?
My argument is very simple. Just look around us. Most of the social problems that we are facing today mainly have something to do with our slackened approach to values.
We no longer enforce strict values on our children. Values are values and there is no such things as less wrong or
more wrong. In the quest to achieve economic advancement we tend to see values as hindering factors.
We always asked ourselves: “How am I to progress if I cannot do this and not allowed to do that?” The valueless greed results in physical developments marred with the degradation of the environment.
Economic advancements also open doors to corruption. This will not only increase the cost of development but may also put public safety in jeopardy.
We have to appreciate that values are the guiding lights in whatever we do. Values help us to distinguish between rights and wrong, good and bad. Values help to establish one’s moral standard so one could make judgments on the above dichotomies.
For example, why do most Asian cultures not allow shoes into the house? Logically, it may be intended to keep all the dirt outside. It has become a well-accepted value among us and it is wrong and unacceptable to bring shoes into the house.
It is fair to say that this value is peculiar to Asians but of no importance to other races. However, there are also values, which are common and acceptable to all regardless of races and religious background.
An example is corruption. Even though bribery is legal and acceptable in some cultures and countries, we all agree that it is unacceptable in most parts of the world. Corruption is morally, legally and religiously wrong.
However, corruption is only a small part of the values-related problems that we encounter today.
Values are all about bringing goodness to life, full of effectiveness and efficiency. For example, if one embraces the value of accountability, one’s decision will not be influenced by money. He will also perform his duty to the best of his ability.
Values must be inculcated at the very tender age. For example, children must be taught that littering and open burning are bad for the environment.
However, wisdom must play its part in inseminating these good values. Drumming the issues to their ears and punishment alone will not be effective.
We are living in a different world today as compared to our forefathers. Therefore, we may need to re-evaluate
the approaches taken to educate our children.
I personally believe that reasoning is possibly the best approach to instil good values. For example, as the results of uncontrolled open burning in Sumatra, we have this serious problem of fog in neighbouring countries.
Another example, sitting on the pillows is taboo among the Malays. However, to tell the children that they will have blisters in the butts for sitting on the pillows may well be ineffective today. I also believe that good values
must be religious-driven. If Islam demands effectiveness and efficiency from its followers, the same attributes of excellence are also demanded by other religions.
If corruption and bribery are prohibited in Islam, the same values of honesty and trustworthy are also taught by other religions. One particular problem that most of us face today is how to translate those good values into action. This is the main concern of the current administration. We know that taking or giving bribe is wrong. We are aware that being ineffective and inefficient are counter productive to the organisations that we represent.
But how to refrain yourself from giving or taking bribe? How to enhance your effectiveness and efficiency at the workplace? As you are reading this article, Ikim is co-organising a colloquium, “Integrity Enhancement” in Kuantan, in collaboration with the Government Committee on Management Integrity, the newly-formed Institute
of Integrity Malaysia and the state Government of Pahang.
To further promote the role of values in enhancing organisational performance, Ikim will organise an international seminar on “Value-Based Total Performance” on July 1-2. Finally, I would like to make a suggestion to the friend I mentioned earlier and to the people of similar mind to reconsider their value standing.