A free nation cannot be led by distracted minds — Murad Zaidi
AUG 31 — Malaysia is free. That part is history. But personal freedom is a different matter.If a notificatio...
Malaysia is a free country, but personal freedom requires more than just a clear mind. On Merdeka Day, the Prime Minister spoke about the importance of a "free spirit" with a "trained mind." This is crucial for high performance, as it involves cognitive control, which includes functions like working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility.
In other words, can you keep your goals in mind, resist impulsive decisions, and adapt when facts change? That's leadership. Having the title, money, and physique doesn't guarantee success if you react poorly to setbacks, get reckless under criticism, or refuse new evidence. A leader who allows emotions to dictate their response has handed leadership over to those emotions.
The author acknowledges personal struggles with health and performance, and the realization that changing one's physical condition requires a change in thinking. They emphasize the importance of proper assessment, seeking qualified help, following a plan, and consistent training. They also highlight the fact that even though the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 shows that 54.4% of Malaysian adults are overweight or obese, 29.2% have hypertension, 33.3% have high cholesterol, and 15.6% have diabetes, these numbers are prevalent in workplaces and homes. Ischaemic heart disease is now the leading cause of death in Malaysia.
To address these issues, the author suggests that the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports, MSN, ISN, universities, employers, and corporate boards must all be involved in promoting cognitive fitness from school to the workplace. This includes attention control, emotional regulation, critical thinking, sleep and recovery, and physical training.
The author also stresses the need to demonstrate discipline in a world dominated by entertainment and screens, and to teach the younger generation how to question information, verify evidence, and think independently. Only then can we claim to have a free mind.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
