Lite - Opinion - Jonson Chong

Jonson Chong is the former Communications Director of Parti Keadilan Rakyat. He believes that true reform (and revolutions) must begin from within.

Why politics is not the answer

May 02, 2013

MAY 2 — If you think changes in the political arena will bring about changes in our lives, you’re right and wrong. There will certainly be changes but not the real changes that matter.I’m talking about the things that make our lives meaningful and worth living, not about things becoming more affordable or us having higher incomes. Of course, the latter … Read More

Malaysia, a victim of economic hit men?

October 18, 2010

OCT 18 — Ever since the prime minister announced the 2011 Budget last week, we have heard all sorts of objections about the various mega projects to be rolled out next year. Everyone’s part of the chorus line: opposition politicians, political analysts, economists, bloggers, tweeters and even kopitiam political pundits.My first reaction to the 100-storey … Read More

Malaysia needs change management

September 14, 2010

SEPT 14 — I don’t know if you have felt it but I certainly feel that various parties have been deliberately ratcheting up the racial/political rhetoric in our country.There’s no doubt in my mind that the people involved are motivated by self-interest instead of the future of Malaysia as a whole.However, instead of just complaining or being negative about … Read More

Merdeka Day resolution

August 31, 2010

AUG 31 — A friend asked me some probing questions about “the realities of celebrating Merdeka Day.” As you can tell from the following questions, she’s a funny girl:“Does patriotism mean you have to hang flags everywhere? How is your Merdeka like? Will you be arguing with your spouse?”Well, to be completely honest, I don’t think Merdeka has ever meant more … Read More

Easier is not necessarily better

August 24, 2010

AUG 24 — Something struck me as I sat in the cab on the way home from KLIA after arriving from Bangkok last night. Although the recurring thought that many politicians the world over lack wisdom has been haunting me in recent weeks, it hadn’t really dawned on me how these politicians think.My experience over the last week in Thailand and the KLIA taxi ride … Read More

Be like Mike (and Earl, too)

August 10, 2010

AUG 10 — During the reign of Michael Jordan, pretty much every kid on the block wanted to be like him. He was a great basketball player with moves that had never been seen on a basketball court before. Of course every kid wanted to be like him.But he once asked the kids who said they wanted to be like him whether they were prepared to do what it takes to be … Read More

Merit, manipulation and the media

July 27, 2010

JULY 27 — Yesterday, the front page headline, “Only on merit” was printed in bold letters on the widest circulated English daily newspaper of Malaysia. That certainly caught my eye.I am sure that particular headline got many people’s attention, but I am not sure how many actually bothered to pay RM1.50 for a copy of the newspaper. Well, I must confess that … Read More

Turning things on their heads

July 13, 2010

JULY 13 — He who cannot draw on 3,000 years is living from hand to mouth. ~ Johann Wolfgang von GoetheWe’ve all heard the cliché, “Think out of the box.” Well, this clever suggestion is most often used when we are trying to overcome a very difficult obstacle or find a solution to a set of very difficult problems. Then, some smart alec will come along and … Read More

What makes a person a great leader?

June 29, 2010

JUNE 29 — Virtually everything our modern culture believes about the type of leadership required to transform our institutions is wrong. It is also dangerous. There is perhaps no more corrosive trend to the health of our organisations than the rise of the celebrity CEO, the rock-star leader whose deepest ambition is first and foremost self-centric. — Jim … Read More