Tee's 'New' Heart and Malaysian's Perceptions Towards Organ Donors

Hui Yee is currently survived by the heart of a 15-year-old Malaysian Malay boy from Ipoh, Perak who'd met with a road accident and was subsequently pronounced clinical death. His lungs and kidneys were also harvested for other transplants done concurrently at IJN.

Today, a local Chinese daily published in the front page in big bold letters a Malay heart saves Hui Yee. The donor and his much-angered parents were finally interviewed by the mush awaited press. The father, though saddened by the demised of his beloved son, felt as though he was bestowed with a 'new' daughter very much at 'heart' instead!

"My son would have consented I know; for these organs were the gifts of Almighty and rightfully should be presented to carry on lives of those needy instead of having them buried!" how courageous of this Malay-Muslim father; as to date Malay-Muslims have only accounted for approx. 12% of Malaysian pledged donors.

The aforesaid gestures; in particular the donor's parents, were to be considered a very noble and positive move towards a truly Malaysian way of livelihood, that transcends beyond color, ethnic, and religion.

Deputy International Trade Minister YB Mah Siew Kiong, who is also the current Gerakan Youth Chief, commented on the need to establish an above-ethnic and non-religion approach by various Malaysian political parties; as reported in the same Chinese daily. Two days ago, Melaka young MP, YB Wong Nai Chee was also quoted as saying the implementation of Islamic Administration policies into the public sectors would only further dilute the multi-cultural society of Malaysia.

Todate, only the Gerakan, PPP, both initially were opposition parties who have since join the ruling Barisan Nasional; DAP & Keadilan, the opposition parties in Peninsular Malaysia resorted to multi-racial ideologist approaches. Whereas PAS, although predominantly Islam-Muslim party, is some how multi-racial in her approaches. However, on the other hand, the 3 major backbone of Malaysia's independence namely, UMNO, MCA, and MIC were still very much race-centered parties; with each trying to outwit the other when confronting race-religious matters! How sad!

Should we go for election in 2009 and subsequently 2014, eligible voters of 18 yrs old citizens would have been those born in 1991 and 1996 respectively; whom were youths of the millennium. Many of such youths were highly exposed to the internet and globalizations that they have evolved into a new creed. They advocate freedom of speech and choice hence the 'racism' and 'religion-centered' approaches by UMNO, MCA & MIC would have been alien to their vocabulary.

I feared UMNO, MCA & MIC etc. with Barisan Nasional would run out of favour soon; which is no surprise because most Malaysian youths today have come to realize that by championing for a particular race or religion or both; we were heading no where but dooms day ahead. The fact of the matter is that no single race & religion or both could survive by protectiveness of their rights at the expense of the others; more so in a multi-cultural, multi-religious society like Malaysia.

Grassroots citizens like the Ipoh boy's parents have taken a giant step by donating organs of their demised son to others; without preset conditions of colour, ethnic and religion which previously seemed unthinkable and a social turmoil seem eminent. On the other hand the recipients also welcome the 'heart', 'lungs' and 'kidneys' with open arms; which ethnically speaking, resulted in particular Tee's case a Malaysian Chinese with a Malaysian Malay's heart.

This is many a signal that the time is near for our policy makers to propose, instill and execute change - reform for the better failing of which you could be voted out of office soon.

However, theoretically speaking, change normally occurs in one of the following conditions:-

1. When desperate - when we have no more choice!
2. When challenged - to proof our sincerity and abilities!
3. When having objectives & directions - systematic planning towards a well defined objectives and directions!

Henceforth, neither should we hesitate until our social structures are at the brink of collapse before we seek desperate changes nor should we wait until others have totally lost faith in us that we attempt to change.

We should instead welcome, accept and hence manage change because take it or leave it; change in itself is a never changing phenomenon!