Minidragons; Malaysia - Final Pbs Master; 201
- Transcript
So many dragons to Malaysia. Twenty twenty vision shown over to a one channel one love stereo audio channel. Channel 2 right stereo audio channel. Channel 3 time code. I see. Once upon a time a country of 45 decided to industrialise. Twenty years later they are the world's leading exporter of computer chips. This is her story the story of the country one nation.
Malaysia. Thailand. Indonesia people the history and tradition of. A Buddhist history. And then. Transforming themselves. To become the new minidress. Thank. You. The hottest economies on Earth. But what has been. Man put these people.
In their way it's. Like every Sunday morning in Malaysia. It's a live broadcast of a world breaks from the country's capital Kuala Lumpur. Today it's a special broadcast. The prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is launching a new model of the national car. The success of this car is a story of Malaysia's success success against the US. Do you believe they could lead them to even fewer thought Malaysia would exist today. This is a country that too many races too many religions and too much
unconnected territory. The messy result of a calamity. Nuclear Warfare soon broke and. Desperate to unite Malaysia the government took a dare and step restructuring society on a scale never before trial. Today Malaysia has one of the fastest growing economies on Earth. One for the land of paddy fields and brain farts. Malaysia is now the world's leading exporter of computer chips. They accomplished all this in just 20 years. And they want to go even faster. The prime minister has a bold new plan. He calls it a vision vision 2020. He's decreed that by the year 2020 Malaysia will be fully industrialized. Many say it's a vision driven by fear of the
alternative. By how easily the country's divisions could once again tear it apart by how much they need to succeed. But what will they sacrifice for that success. This. Is their story. One small laser with a colony of the British and rubber its prized possession the British made a fortune from it. They bounced their biggest British manager would drive through the plantation the workers would stop and salute him. Now I'm the manager but they don't salute me.
When Omar Tempe was born the British owned his country. But when Omar was eight Malaysia won its independence. Now it's Omar among Lay who runs this rubber plantation. So we were afraid of the British authorities like children who were trying to weigh when they drove by going to be they were bigger than us and their skin was white. But now we are on equal footing with the British and the rest of the world. I think we can be proud to be Malaysian. Omar grew up not far from this plantation in Malacca. This is a town which in colonial history. And its legacy of three races divided. Equally. The Chinese brought to work the ten mines quickly to become the wealthy urban class.
Indians from the south of India brought to tap rubber a job they still do. And the Malays and natives of this country stayed in their villages and lived by farms. Omar's family is malaria. The word in their language bumiputra or song of the summer. Most are masters. Only prove a very important word in Malaysia. It has come to mean the race awarded special privileges and opportunities government scholarships and Omar and his wife seem to college. With this generation the Malays left the paddy fields behind to compete in today's business world. A new destiny for the Malays. The Malays who are one star as lazy like I think it was because of our religion. World what's important is when we die when we face a God decides such for those soil. We didn't need to work hard on what
the government's changing our thinking. Laypeople must be competitive. Now we have fish and 20 20. Omar believes in the vision but he's starting to see that it has a price. This plantation is losing its workforce. They're all leaving for new jobs in the city. KUALA LUMPUR The country's capital. One in 10 Malaysians live here. Once the city was mostly Chinese. They were the country's prosperous business elite. The Chinese are so successful because of the hardships there is in China and stay a bad one. And any conditions to succeed. Paulo runs one of Malaysia's top companies. He knows only too well
how much the Malays have envied the Chinese success. The Chinese are considered. Rather self-centered selfish and do not wish to share. Business opportunities. Malaysia is Chinese only 30 percent of the population ones own most of the country's wealth. This is. The Chinese are preparing to bring in the New Year the year of the monkey. Every year it's traditional for Chinese people to return home to their birthplace for the Chinese here. Home is Malaysia. Most have never even been to China. They're. Going to.
Want. To celebrate Chinese New Year Paul Lo and his family will return to the town where Paul was born. It's a journey into Falwell's past. And his memories of Malaysia's troubled history. But. When Paul was still in grade school the British handed over control of the government to the Malays but the Chinese still run the economy. The Malays felt cheated. Just after Paul left for college. Maleh anger. Erupted. When there's no chaos he misstates up but I don't want self I don't have that that wasn't right. I was in Australia as a student he thinks. So I saw you on TV.
It's almost unbelievable that such a thing could happen. It was a shock to us. Especially my generation. We don't have any inclination to bring back to China. If you space become hostile to Chinese and I don't think maybe Campbell. The specter of the 1969 riots still haunts Malaysia. It is the key to understanding the urgency almost desperation behind their fast development. And behind the Chinese fear of losing everything. If it happens again. Like many Chinese. Pylos father ran a shop in town. He
worked hard at building his children's future. When I was I want to ask my father what do you do with all the savings. You're working so high. And he always he said well my savings and my children. And restaurants are my job. And when shown the successful that's enough and you. Never know. For. All those proud of the culture and traditions passed on for centuries. But he also knows Chinese survival gear depends on other ring that heritage in a way that doesn't threaten the Malays. So only Malaysia does the Chinese New Year now include a multi-ball a good
dinner. When Chinese families invite Malaya an Indian neighbors for a little good will. That's. One of the most important things in life is to want to grow in a good way. The developmental mission especially. I would like to bring more uniquely I'm wondering if. You might have a shared destiny. I. Guess that's OK. Our nation didn't make it but what do you think people.
Racial diversity is not the only obstacle to unity. There's also geographic diversity. Another colonial legacy Malaysia has two halves separated by over 600 miles of ocean one half is developed modern and looking to the year 2020. The other just emerging from a tribal past. In the tropical rain forest. I've never heard of 2020. But can't remember when these people were head hunters. Their skill with blowpipes is legendary. That was when this land was called Borneo and was covered in dense rain forest. But now it's one of Malaysia's thirteen states and life
is changing rapidly. The. Village doesn't yet have electricity or running water. But they do have a battery operated. Set us on that. But that's not my brother not for me and my leg was different then. Easiest. Look in the forest was still here so it was easy to meet you on this you build a house to farm. But the roots can never go back. That lifestyle depended on the wind. Now its trees are a main source of income for this developing country Malaysia is a top exporter of timber. I mean you know I mean you know I don't really feel any conflict working for the logging
companies to enter our land and just took it. This is the only way we can get something back from them. Not far from the village subin son works at the mill. He doesn't remember a time before logging. Didn't want his son to have a farm of this Him some day and a house in the village. But that may no longer be possible. Don't go grocery leave. There is no more timber in this area. But the state government of Sabah has a plan to start a plantation of oil palms here. Now the Marut still hunt and harvest their own food. The government would take most of this land for the new plantation leaving them roots to depend on wages earned as plantation workers. But Zyban and the other villagers aren't sure they're ready for that with or without permission. The village people would benefit.
But we have now the government wants to bring in this plantation. I don't want them here. If it's going to be the same again. But if that promise is true it will give our children a chance to earn a living. But we need our own living not rely on the government. And with this plantation we will have bosses and managers once about a strike and we will be a doll. But it's a revealing she is a very isolated location. This is the best chance our children have four daughters and that I don't agree even if I'm a woman I have a right going to say what I don't like I mean I really have had empty promises before. You must land ourselves and do nothing.
WTC 1 I think we lost our way of life. We lost so you had a I don't want to lose any more brain. When you go when are you going to go forward or do you want to go back with us. Sure the newspaper plays a role. Roizen is a newspaper reporter in a country where the media's job is to spread the government's message we want just constrict to be developed we want to be respected in the world like most of the countries media grow high sides a newspaper is indirectly owned by the government and the prime minister you know. You own. The open next three decades the nations and you will be concentrated on trying to reanalyze Vision
2020. Dr Mahathir Mohamed is the man behind Malaysia's vision. He's been prime minister for 10 years. The government is run on the British parliamentary model. But in running the country my heart here follows nobody's model but his own in the past we have had our share of ethnic and religious conflicts. Once we came close to catastrophe. You can't help it. We do not want these messages again. And so with limits on certain activities even as humans of human rights particularly farm watches we apologize. But if democracy. Is really subjective there is no standard democracy in the world. You have your own brand of democracy we have a brand of democracy in Malaysia.
It is against the law to stir up ethnic and religious conflict in 1987. The government invoked emergency powers to suppress rising racial anger using the Internal Security Act the government arrested over a hundred people banned public meetings and closed down several newspapers betting that time the newspaper was testing very poor thing to prove. But it can create a problem. Paper the Star was closed down for on the street in a functioning local newspaper here used to provide information to the people not to create unrest and to create any disunity. So censorship is day everywhere. It's just normal. Let's just say that we're more discreet in how we write. And this point I think we cannot afford we cannot afford to have the ways
we can forget what anything that there is going to happen but eventually to have. A booming economy U.S. government's answer to everything. But in trying to solve the problem. Malaysia has created another point where supply and give much ration is in favor of the workers. And employers of FOSS better benefits and to take care of work. For all of its diversity. Malaysia has a very small population. Only 17 million. The demand for labor has grown beyond the supply. In Malaysia. I mean. Only one third of. The government has spent millions of dollars of taxpayers money. In educating training and itself to keep the. Pension. That's how you see all of the production operate this
fall and that's up to Wesley. National Semiconductor in the future. The companies of the world came to Malaysia 20 years ago looking for cheap labor. But now with the labor pool drying up companies factory workers from the National Semiconductor American company make computers. This is our new three million dollar materia. We have three rooms for prayer you can pray during your breaks. These are some of our workers enjoying the new sports complex and we have a lucky drop for those who work overtime prizes including motorcycles and television. Our grand prize for the most time winner is a trip to Mecca for a non-Muslim with
a grand prize a trip to Iran. To reach for this new and wonderful life. Over misdoing we sign on the dotted line for. This mass exodus from compound village to factory town grows each year. Young Malay women seeking a new long. Big multinational companies seeking a submissive nimble workforce. But if. The US. And I ever. Get. The. Eyes. Of.
Most of these girls have never been away from home. Their journey today will transport them from their traditional past into a modern urban future. Why are.
You on. Drugs. And your. Dad's. In the world. That's right. And good leave it. What the two. The the two. It is the work of these women that has made Malaysia the world's top exporter
of computer chips. I got you that the question really is do you want to be a factory worker for the rest of your life. Rowhani has a mission in life to improve the lives of women workers Rowhani yourself was just 17 when she went to work in the factories. They're very young and innocent right from the company. The acid used to come here to loop when you live a modern life western life. But what kind of life is really a hit with him and be. So lucky. Yeah. That's what. We've done and that is. That if you look at this.
All these girls left their homes to work in factories and live in company dormitories Rowhani knows that their real dream to marry and raise a family probably won't come true. Factory towns just have too many women and not enough men. Instead their future tedious factory jobs six to seven days a week. They come by the hundreds by the thousands. And they cannot find their way out. The girls experience a kind of culture shock. They lose a sense of who they are. Already. The result is something the women call spirit possession. But what professionals describe is mass hysteria. It happens in the factories. Girls become. Hysterical. A symptom of fast paced development. A process
Rowhani wants to slow down. It's not that we are against Vision 2020. Definitely everybody wants to be good ones. But we don't want the development to destroy our values. We need guidelines to help us to live. I pray forgot to give me guidance. To give me strength. My struggle is very difficult but I know that it's what he wants me to do because my struggle is with the people that he created. It's Dano Mars rubber plantation the beginning of the workday.
For 100 years. Rubber has been tapped by. The British imported workers from India. But today it's not so easy to find a cheap workforce. And no one's been able to find a cost effective way to mechanize the job. Omar is left with few options. Going to do fun and I enjoyed the plantation. It's peaceful and quiet. And the air is clean. It's been my way of life for over 20 years. But Foundation life is changing. The labor shortage has made Omar desperate for workers and its given workers the power to make more and more demands more calling me a bugger if you can say whatever you want I can say what I want in the labor market. Omar competes for workers like everyone else.
He uses housing as a bonus we have worked here a long time. I think if we already have the estimates we'll be building houses this year and probably 20 next year. By 1995 you all have new houses. By then we might move away. Yeah you see you guys asked for everything. We are working on it. But you all run away. It's not that we don't want to build these houses. We just want to make sure you'll be here. The difficulty I mean by not. Many of our workers are they are migrating to the cities to work in factories and businesses. But there isn't anything for them on the plantation anymore. The cities are more exciting. They can work in air conditioning and wear nice clothes. What can my plantation over them.
OK go ahead. Yes. I should in the block I do of course. Maybe I would repeat the same thing but at least once a week Omar meets with other plantation managers for a game of golf. He looks like a good many people. And here we are we are providing them. A committee should be here in United Nations under the year before that. Depends what he is like the British before them. These managers see no other way but to import labor. They've been pressing the government to let in more foreign workers mostly Indonesians who make more money here as plantation workers than they can at professional jobs in their own country. Oh I don't know Maher has hired William a contractor to hunt for workers. So how many workers have you or just turned 15 so far. I'm working on another five and we have to do this quickly. The government's only giving them six months to
get work permits and one more thing to keep a better eye on them that they are picking a lot of fruit before it's ripe. We are losing a lot of money. I know I've been fired one the other day for doing it but they all banded together and demanded I keep them on. My BQ. I worry about who will care for the plantation in the future. Who described the rubber trees. Even if you don't do something about this labor shortage in the South I don't know how this plantation of us survive trying. To govern. Has to balance a need for workers against the danger of allowing new foreigners who could upset the country's delicate racial mix. Indians make up 10 percent of the population but they have little power. The real struggle is between the Malays or Bumiputra is and the Chinese. As it has been since the 1969 race
riots. When holder returned to Malaysia after the riots. He found a new Malaysia a Malaysia of affirmative action of racial quotas a Malaysia where being Chinese was a barrier to getting a job. He continued to have strong affirmative actions even to drive a wedge between the brown truck company. And. The. Chinese. This is no good for the nation. Today. Paulo is head of a company manufacturing class. His company is successful because he brought among Legg a bumiputra into the family business. To qualify for government licensed a business must have at least 30 percent bumiputra ownership. It's today's rule of doing business in Malaysia. A rule that has boosted mobile a well a thousand percent in just 20 years. But at the expense of the Chinese.
Yes. Many Chinese resent affirmative action so they followed fast the rules by making them a leg only a paper part. The Chinese give them a lady no say in running their business but a percentage of the profits. A good partnership with the auction has shown to be not walking very well. She cannot be farm by just government asking a Chinese businessman perform. Live on a ship involves a certain amount of trust. But the Chinese and my leg have no history of trust only bitter memories of conflict. Twenty four years later Paulo can't forget. As a successful
businessman he wants to do his part. A business school half Malaysian half Chinese to teach true partnership it's never been tried. Mr fate is. That someone must meet. The challenge. A. The most important thing is the struggle. If you want to do something and you put your strength and everything into it definitely you can achieve it. Rowhani struggle is for the kind of life she wants for her children for the country's future. I believe in development. But there are different definitions of development. I believe in development that retains our values our culture
and Company way of life. In Rouhani Spike to save these values she prepares women to take the lead. I ne. I mean is that. Right. Yeah. And I believe it is you know are you ok. Do you. Know what happened here in China. Given Malaysia's labor shortage. Women are guaranteed factory jobs but without an education it's a dead end. And what happens when the multinationals go somewhere else for even cheaper labor. Rowhani started the center to give women a way out a future.
Before I came here I just used to little can sleep can I sleep. But now I have friends and I'm taking classes. While nice goal is to make the women self-reliant to give them the power to change their lives to stand up for their rights. Yeah. Right what I am going to. Be. Yeah my. Son go. Yeah. Just realize. I'm. A big fellow. And I like you and I like you. While most industries in Malaysia have a national union it is illegal for electronics workers to form one.
Many say it's because the American multinationals would pull out if we did it for me. If they think that because of the Union. From the beginning Malaysia's industrialisation has been driven by foreign investment. By multinational companies hunting for a bargain. Even that symbol of
success the national car would not be possible without the Japanese. The Japanese provided the technology and the management team as a reporter. It has a front row seat to the country's economic performance relatively young compared to any other going from. Bad to colony. Growth rate is pretty fantastic I would say. Global Economy credit now shifting. Shifting from west to east. The government like Rojas takes pride in the country's development. They look East for their role models to Japan to continue to ensure a conducive environment for investment. The government has a grand new plan to formal grouping of countries to consult on economic policy. They've invited only countries from the east. America is against the plan and has used pressure to stop countries from joining and strengthening the financial
and chemical. Initiators America what to do. I don't think the American government like it. This is our country just so about it so telling us what to do. John and. The developed nations of the world seem to know nothing about Malaysia. A few years ago when I was in France I was detained by French immigration officers. They asked me where I was from and I said Malaysia. They never heard of it. Then they took out a paper listing all the world's countries and search in the AM section for Malaysia. I mean there was Mali and even Malawi but no Malaysia. I was so angry that I had to argue with them that my country existed. And I. Omar's country has been working hard to make a name for
itself. To let the world know it exists. Malaysia's standard of living is one of the highest in Southeast Asia middle class families like Omar's are doing well but it has not been without a certain cost me money. The government is encouraging Malays to go into business. Omar's wife Seema has decided to open a cake shop. But Omar is worried. You are. Coming off against festivities. That's what I mean 7:00. It's not like. You know I was you know. I mean they. Don't like me I don't like that you do this yet you haven't. Seen my is busy getting ready for the shop's grand opening.
For the robot. In my mind was a chain and wife's And one of the most I wasn't so sure. But then again I agree to give my wife money to start the bakery shop. But I worried about the effect on the children again when they come home from school their mother isn't home anymore. The first thing in the morning Paul though was trying to rally support for his business school his vision of teaching my leg and China used to work together a partnership for change. The whole process actually will last about three weeks for each subject you intend to invite existing want to for years to come
and either lecture or shared experience. Actually as you can see you know it is going to be a very. Tough project and very true. I'm trying to get the support of. Entrepreneurs locally. To. Help out. I WANT TO YOUR think. Your confidence. It probably will be quite difficult to try to identify what that show. Will be put into print. There's good reason to doubt Paulo was trying to bridge racial divisions that haven't yet here. But like Paul Malaysia has an ambitious schedule and no time to wait. Yet. Yes. Of course you can take the attitude that if you are a successful businessman you can be selfish. You can continue to make more money for
yourself. I feel the need to be in a socially responsible and right if you can make things better. Why not. Oh you go about selecting people inviting people to come for this. Only those people we specify. I need to be like a sales man. So it is necessary for me to spend a lot of fine torching each of the Swans as one my one you know so really in a way and when I find a little bit of difficulty find it and get it actually having to teach entrepreneurship. You know we we cannot teach entrepreneurship but we can let them share the experience of success to entrepreneurs for example like yourself. I don't think I should feel. But if I do then I will try again until I succeed. Is it functioning police. Oh. Yeah.
Borneo is still jungle when the British missionaries arrived. It was the first bridge in the East Wing to their troubled past. The loggers came next and things started changing quickly. Now Saban and his family face a future without the rain forest to support them. They must decide whether to accept a new way of life a life that depends on wages in the West when the government first came to us with this plan for oil. We didn't want to. Know them well. But now some of them have changed their mind. I'm still not sure. Dolling Sivan's village is busy preparing for the government's arrival. It's a special occasion when the district representative pays a visit.
Four hours away is Kota Kinabalu capital for the state of Sabha. It's the most developed city in the state. Sivan has never seen it. Joseph group represents Ivins district which includes over 100 different villages some already converted to plantations. You're. Right. The. World. Karoubi has come here to bring development to self Zyban and this village on the government's plan. I won't let go saying that just for being here today.
That's a very busy schedule. So we are lucky he has time for us. He is a very caring person and he cares for everyone. Governments are not telling us the end of leaving. I mean it's just a mere found our area are not. So a profitable anymore. As such there wouldn't be any economy. And if there is no economy there finally you will suffer so much and we are lucky. So I don't insist has shown that oil and development. Yes ladies and gentlemen I
hold this dialogue you know have you see the government's good intentions. We are not here and we saw your land. We will have our dialogue. What then may you have any questions please ask them. Now. I've seen it happen in another village when they were old and couldn't work anymore. They were told to leave. So what happened when we were all. Where will we be buried. There. It was obvious that the problem that arose there has nothing to do. It's not very late for you obviously this plantation would tie subin and his people to the world export market. As long as palm
oil stays profitable they will do well. But if the price falls the more roots will have nothing. This ends our dialogue for today buying for food and entertainment. Now. Been in this village must make the decision to close it but I don't like the idea but I don't think you have a choice anymore. When they lost control of the forest they lost control of their lives. Now they will have to depend on money for their food and shelter like the rest of the world. Rowhani has come to Kuala Lumpur to continue her fight.
To morrow Rowhani goes to court testifying on behalf of workers. I believe in vision because I have my own vision as a woman and as a leader for the work is for the government which I'm not very sure of. I do not know whether the vision is almost a. Disease my vision my hope for this younger generation that will be different that they will be strong in that their lives will be better. Now. It's the grand opening of Siemens cake shop and the bumiputra community
is here to celebrate. Omar is proud of his wife but still worried about the effect on the Stanley Cup will be to make when we spend all our time trying to earn more and more money. We neglect our children. I'm afraid this is what happens when a nation develops. In the. World down. The line. When we put Ross have to learn as much as we can about business about being compared to. I congratulate Summa on realizing the importance of opening a book business in pursuit of our vision 2020. This is the only way we can win in a race against the Chinese. May Allah bless this business made grow and prosper. Paulo has done it. He's managed to start a trial class for millennia and
Chinese businessman. The government even agreed to give it an official launch. So much potential for you so that it reflects all of you but. What motivates an entrepreneur. Of course for example what motivates you to be here. My vision for 2020 creation of English and race. Maybe we are all Malaysians but we must contribute to the well-being and success. Yeah. National Semiconductor is celebrating 20 years in Malaysia. It's an anniversary of this country's first industrialization of their giant leap into the modern world.
They are in fact the guy from the world. And whether they are never right. And. There's good reason to be proud but also worried. In their race to the year 2020 Malaysia is developing faster than any country in history. But are they going so fast. They don't see what they're leaving behind. And what happens if they slow down. Will their history of racial conflict catch up with them. Malaysia is a country with a vision. A country that needs a vision. Only you can let the Asian see far enough. The.
Eh. Eh eh. Eh eh. Eh eh. Thing. Her eh. It was. To order a video cassette of many dragons to call 1 800 3 4 5 2 6 9 0. The entire series is seventy nine ninety five individual episodes are twenty nine ninety five. Credit cards are accepted. See it's PBS.
- Series
- Minidragons
- Episode
- Malaysia - Final Pbs Master
- Title
- 201
- Producing Organization
- Maryland Public Television
- Contributing Organization
- Maryland Public Television (Owings Mills, Maryland)
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip/394-773txnvb
If you have more information about this item than what is given here, or if you have concerns about this record, we want to know! Contact us, indicating the AAPB ID (cpb-aacip/394-773txnvb).
- Description
- Description
- No description available
- Created Date
- 1993-02-24
- Asset type
- Program
- Genres
- Documentary
- Topics
- Global Affairs
- Business
- Subjects
- World cultures
- Media type
- Moving Image
- Duration
- 00:57:24
- Credits
-
-
Producing Organization: Maryland Public Television
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
-
Maryland Public Television
Identifier: MPT40232 (Maryland Public Television)
Format: U-matic
Generation: Master
Duration: 01:00:00?
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- Citations
- Chicago: “Minidragons; Malaysia - Final Pbs Master; 201,” 1993-02-24, Maryland Public Television, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed January 15, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-394-773txnvb.
- MLA: “Minidragons; Malaysia - Final Pbs Master; 201.” 1993-02-24. Maryland Public Television, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. January 15, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-394-773txnvb>.
- APA: Minidragons; Malaysia - Final Pbs Master; 201. Boston, MA: Maryland Public Television, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-394-773txnvb