Raise the standard of living

IT is time to promote true patriotism and leave out the rhetoric. Healthy nationalistic feelings must be translated into action, otherwise they remain as superficial displays.
Students should study and play hard to become wholesome adults. While rote-learning is good to develop memory, it is more important to understand and practise what was learned.
There is no shortage of moral and religious studies in schools, and crowds throng places of worship, but courtesy is lacking in adults and children.
Adults should work hard and stay healthy to be productive. Those who declare truthfully and pay their income tax are the largest group of patriots.
Those who keep themselves healthy and do not make use of government health services can also be considered patriotic.
Those who contribute to charity and society are even more patriotic.
It is the duty of uniformed forces to defend the country and ensure law and order. But those who risked their lives in covert operations such as the Special Branch officers who infiltrated enemy lines to gather intelligence were our greatest patriots.
Sportsmen and sportswomen victorious in international competitions are our heroes, and deserve all the accolades.
For our country to progress, we need to introduce incremental steps. What is the point of aiming to be among the top 20 countries by 2050 when current issues are not addressed?
Can we enjoy the prosperity of the top 20 countries today in 33 years? Can we assume other countries will stagnate while we develop rapidly?
If we are near the top ranking countries, it makes sense to compete with them. What we have are middle-income earners, including the majority of government servants, who are unable to earn enough for a comfortable living, while the poor continue to suffer.
What we need are leaders who can introduce measures to raise the standard of living and they will be saluted by all Malaysians as great patriots.
YS Chan
Kuala Lumpur