NILAI, May 13, 2018 – Now more than ever, our success as a leader isn’t just about being a great academe, scholar, student, professional, manager, leader or businessperson. We’ve got to be a sejahtera person, performing well in all domains of our life- work, home, community, and self. The good news is that, contrary to conventional wisdom about “balance,”we don’t have to assume that these domains complete in a zero-sum game. Sejahtera Leadership is a game-changing blueprint for how to perform as a leader, not by trading off one domain for another, but by finding mutual value and virtues among all four.

Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Founding Convener of Sejahtera Leadership Initiative (SLI) who is the Chairperson of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) chaired SLI Team Operations Review Meeting (STORM) at the Chancellory on a bright Sunday morning. Members present were Dr. Haji Zulkifly Baharom, Professor Raymond Ooi, Professor Nadarajah Manickam, Mr. Yazdi Jehangir Bankwala, Associate Prof. Cordelia Mason, Assocate Prof. Aida Idris, Dr. Zoraida Mustafa, Mr. Johan Dzulkifli, Mr. Mohamad Adilah Mohamad Haini and Mr. Nazmul Islam. This STORM has reaffirmed, reiterated and re-emphasised that the charter of SLI is a citizens’ initiative which requires the support of everyone in bringing to live for the greater good of humanity.

It was resolved at STORM that ‘SLI support the rakyat for electing a change in government in bringing a new Malaysia that will be aligned with the notion and concept of Sejahtera irrespective who is on the lead as long as we can have the most trust to build a stable and sejahtera nation based on mutual respect and peace co-existence. SLI unanimously concurred with this Malaysian mandate to create an inclusive, humility, mutual respect and harmonious Malaysia. In this context, SLI has agreed to further clearly workout definition and interpretation on the concept and meaning of sejahtera which has been rendered into various inconsistent articulations as has been popularly used by various parties and various authorities. SLI has to achieve ‘global benchmark’ status for Sejahtera.”

Professor Tan Sri Dzul specifically said, “SLI will emphasise on the education framework in deepening the term ‘Kesejahteraan Diri’ as clearly enshrined in our National Education Philosophy (Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan) for the past 30 years. The aim is to create an excellence level of implementation to this noble intentions are firmly entrenched, if not further enhanced in meeting current challenges and future demands. It is even more important to prevent the aim of education from being eroded both in letter and spirit. There can be no compromise towards this end so as to secure the future of our nation and humanity.

“This dynamic vision is fully captured the UN Sustainable Development Goals 4: ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’ and its corresponding targets. It is transformative and universal, … and addresses global and national education challenges. It is insipired by a humanistic vision of education and development based on human rights and dignity; social justice; inclusion; proctection; cultural; linguistic and ethnic diversity; and shared responsibility and accountability. It is essential for peace, tolerance, human fulfilment and sustainable development. We recognise education as key to achieving full livelihood and poverty eradication. We will focus our effort on sejahtera outcomes within a lifelong learning approach.”

STORM has adopted the research findings and analysis presented by Professor Raymond Ooi on the key issues and big challenges threatening Sejahtera growth. His conceptual framework based on the 5 fundamental forces for ‘Harmonious, Prosperous and Sustainable Country’ leadung to Sejahtera as a way of life. SLI also accepted the 6 missing higher level needs necessary to create the environment that wuld be conducive for cultivating the Sejahtera mentality.

SLI endorsed the research framework presented by Associate Prof Aida Idris to embark on Sejahtera Leadership Scale/ Sejahtera Values Scale (SLS/SVS) postgraduate level that could link with motivation/ psychology of human bahavior intervention. It was envisaged the timefame of 9-month covering the period for literature review right-up to the completion of report writing and submission. Professor Tan Sri Dzul has confirmed the grant of RM10K from one eminent sponsor for Dr. Aida to embark on this research project to initially focus on various segments of our ethnic diversity in Penisula Malaysia, Sabah & Sarawak.

Prepared by :
Dr. Zulkifly Baharom
CEO Sejahtera Leadership Initiative