GOOD LIVING

What is your idea of good living?
What advice do you have for living a fulfilling life?
Do money, health and love play a role in your conception of good living?

Being able to spend time with family and friends and also having the ability to get what I want are good living. For me, my family is the most crucial element which makes my life more precious. Spending time with my family by picnicking at the beach definitely works to release tension. During this leisure time we can also discuss our problems such as mundane assignments, crazy charity projects, etc. My family can definitely soothe my mind and boost up my motivation again. Furthermore, hanging out with friends at the mall allows us to share or exchange our views about something that we like: football! Other than that, through our chatting I can learn something about them that I don’t already know.
Having the ability to get what I want is good living for me but it doesn’t mean getting everything that comes across my mind. What I mean is having the ability to get something but I need to put effort into it. As I believe that if in our lives we can get whatever we want our lives must be quite dull. On the other hand, by putting some effort we will appreciate the stuff more and it will have a sentimental value for us (LOL).



Afandi bin Suhaimi




Good living is everyone’s dream. It is everyone’s ambition. Good living is when you have enough or excessive money to spend, when you are in the pink of health, and you have your loved ones by your side. However, a dream will only stay a dream if you don’t work your fingers to the bone. No pain, no gain. Here, I would love to share a quote from a successful entrepreneur, who is also the founder of one of my favourite labels of all time, Calvin Klein.
When I started the business, I hardly went home. I became very driven about work and about my career.
~ Calvin Klein

His saying shows how he burnt the midnight oil to become who he is now. Yes, he is surely living a really comfortable life now. But, come to think of it again, how did he achieve his good living? “I hardly went home.” This sentence tells us something. He actually sacrificed his ‘good living’ before achieving a higher level of ‘good living’. So this concludes that, if you want a good living in the future, you better start to work all the hours that God sends.

PS: I take this opportunity to wish GOOD LUCK! to the IB seniors, as well as the IB juniors who are striving to excel in their studies.

Azlan bin Latif


What defines good living? It is something subjective. Each person will have their own opinions about good living. There are some standards that people commonly use to set a good living. The standards could be in terms of level income, education, peace, gender equality, job opportunities, or illiteracy rate. It is very difficult to measure these standards. Usually, people refer to accredited organizations like the United Nations to obtain this data. However, the data cannot be trusted 100% as it may be biased or hold calculation errors. Good living varies from country to country. A good living in Nigeria could not be a good living in America. It seems to be a lot of problems in defining a good living. Yet, these obstacles cannot be the hindrance for us to achieve our own good living.
In my opinion, a good living is made from one word: gratitude. Gratitude is the feeling of fullness. You yourself feel enough of what you have. It does not matter whether you have lots or little. The most important thing is to realize that you have something and try to appreciate that thing. Try not to look up but look down. Consider yourself lucky as you have something compared to the others that do not have. You may be fat but you are still healthy. You are poor but you have a happy family. You are ugly but you are physically perfect.
This way of thinking promotes positive thinking. You can excel with your abilities rather than fail with your flaws. In life, people need to keep moving. Only by feeling enough can you move forward. Make full use of what you have and everything will be alright. At the very least, you will satisfy yourself as you have given your best shot. Gratitude is a symbol of supremacy. You do not need other people to help you feel gratitude. It is already built in yourself. You just need to ‘harvest’ it. In the end, it could be you who do not need other people as you can stand alone by yourself.
This is the good living for me. I want to live in the world with fullness, satisfaction and completion. One could be the happiest man on earth by feeling gratitude.

Firdaus b Roslan



When I hear the term “Good Living”, what immediately comes into my mind is to live outside the IB world. (haha!) I really miss the old days when I did not have to work like a machine. It is just so hectic living in this “IB world”. There is always something - never-ending IAs, homework, EE, etc. Okay, I better stop now. x)
After a year of living in this IB world, I would definitely say that I am already married to IB. Everything is all about IB. Even during our lunch breaks or outings, no matter how much we try not to talk about anything related to IB, we will still end up talking about IB. However, I am thankful to IB because it has made me ask myself: Who am I? I never asked myself who I was or what I wanted in my life before this. Thanks to IB, it opens up my mind and really makes me think about myself.
My vision of a good life is to live a Iife not filled with ambitious plans but live a life that is worth something. I believe that IB will definitely mould me into a better person rather than a robot because money is not everything.  Money is only a means to an end in pursuing the important goals in life. And for now, the good life is about living my life each day engaged in activities, assignments, and new learning that bring personal satisfaction and fulfilment. 

Fazlin Fuad


You need the following things to lead a good life: Health, Passion, Love.
Health is the absolute essential because without a “cooperative” body you would be quite lost in the woods. Keeping healthy is always on everybody's lips, but it is not something as simple as flicking a switch. This is because healthy food is hard to come by in Malaysia. For a country that prides itself on delicacies, there is preciously little here that will help you sustain a balanced diet. The rich, oily local dishes aside, what is to blame is also the onslaught of American chain-restaurants (Chili's, TGIF, Bubba Gump) serving junk food that could ruin your health with just one serving. So if you are reading this, stay away from American restaurants!
What will help you keep fit and lean are FISH, FISH and FISH. I don't mean fish done “The Manhattan Fish Market” way; I mean fish done the sashimi way. The rawer, the better. If you can taste the sea, you are doing something right. Raw fish, especially the oily ones, are high in Omega-3 fatty acids and will keep your cholesterol level in check. On top of that, they will give you a shiny skin and a youthful appearance. Granted, fish are an acquired taste. But if I had to choose between slimy marine and excess poundage, just give me a slab of the rawest salmon any day....

I also swear by berries – the whole range of them. Not only do they taste wonderful, but they also do wonders for your skin and your overall well-being. And consume lots of greens!

Drink at least three cups of green tea a day. No, not Lipton, but the authentic imported Japanese miracle that contains an antioxidant (catechin) that can blast abdominal fat. Avoid soft drinks (Coke, Diet or otherwise, Mountain Dew, Sprite) at all costs. Do it now or you will have much to regret when youth is no longer on your side.
Passion can take many forms. For me it is definitely the capital A: the Arts. Literature, music, cinema – the sources of my inspiration and the very means that allow me to dream and create. I take these art forms very seriously (reading a book is not a pastime for me), to the extent where I get completely absorbed and can think of nothing else. There are some authors (Paul Auster, Virginia Woolf) whose works I love so much that it feels like their ideas and personalities are an inseparable part of who I am. Without them I would still be searching for a lot of answers. Music and cinema work the same way for me. I have no appreciation for classical music, so laymen's pop/jazz will have to do the trick for me. The hairs on my arms stand up every time I hear Carly Simon or Diana Krall. As for cinema, give me the visionaries of the industry (David Lynch, Woody Allen, Pedro Almodovar) and I will walk with them...
I remember writing about Love in a previous issue. I don't remember whether the views I presented back then were cynical, but it is undeniable that Love, in all shapes and degrees, plays a vital role in making life worth living. Whether it is love from a friend, a colleague, a lover or a parent, it is a force that arms you against the ugliness of the world, and your life has meaning and purpose simply because it tells you you are precious to somebody.

Edward Ong


Money is Central to Happiness
 Money is not everything but without money, everything means nothing. I know that people may say I am a narrow-minded person but this is the reality. People cannot live in this world without money. In order for us to get better health, we must have money to buy medicine, supplements and health care. Even to get someone that we love we also need money. Money is the centre of everything.
From the day we were born until now, thousands and millions have been spent by our parents on us. When we were kids, we asked a lot of things from our parents. They used some of their money to get the things that we wanted so that we could be happy. After we have grown up a bit, we need to go to school. To buy books and other school equipment, we need money. After we have finished our days in school, we then need to enter university. Now, the same things happen. We study for one purpose: to have a better future. But what is behind this purpose? To get a better paid job. Are we willing to work without being paid? Ask yourself!
 Not only that, after we have worked, when we want to get married and after we have our own family, we need money to support our lives. It is just a matter of fact that people cannot live without money, and with money, it can lead us to the “good living” that we are searching for.

Mohd Izzuddin Bin Nor Azminuddin

I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.

~ Agatha Christie

This statement cannot be argued anymore. We cannot find any human beings who do not suffer from any hardships in life. We can only see people who are trying to be happy instead of being sad all the time. The sadness and sufferings will however teach us to be more independent and strong to face all the challenges in life.
For me, living with 7 of my family members is one of the most precious things in my life. I have a sporting, convincing yet strict father, loving mother and the naughtiest siblings! Who says I have never fought with my brothers and sister? If we are all home (my brothers are now studying at Muadzam and Serting), the house will not be in the silent mode. Everybody will tease each other until one of us cries, especially my cute youngest brother. In the meantime, we all have different types of challenges to face in life, such as my father’s and mother’s workload as a Director and Executive respectively, big exams for my siblings and the most crucial problem in my life: the IB. So, we appreciate good living by spending time together, especially every holiday when we MUST go somewhere either in Malaysia or overseas, by having dinner every night and watching cartoons such as Ultraman, Nexus, Hagemaru, Fukuchan, Tom and Jerry and others every weekend :D

In my opinion, it depends on us whether to show appreciation in life as everyone has their own commitment. Although we think that we are the unluckiest person, there are actually huge numbers of people who are leading unpleasant lives, especially those who live in countries that are facing wars. Sometimes, we are just thinking too much and being too emotional about each problem that we have to face. So, what do we have to do now? Live life to the fullest! Go and enjoy ourselves because we only live once!

Fatin Shazea Jamaludin

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April's Discussion Topic: What Defines Morality?

~ APRIL’S DISCUSSION TOPIC ~

WHAT DEFINES MORALITY?

The million-dollar question that every philosopher has attempted to answer, and now it is your turn. Share your thoughts with us, in 100-200 words, on the nature of morality and why it is an exclusively human phenomenon.

Moral rules are humanity’s attempt at self-preservation. The classic “Thou shalt not kill” is a good example. Our innate (or is it?) sense of good and bad may tell us killing another fellow human being is against our nature, but there is nothing stopping us from committing the act until it has been turned into a moral standard and sanctioned by (religious) authority. The laws dictating our behaviour are a direct reflection of the moral beasts that we are.

Though it would be unwise to dispense with moral rules altogether, it is necessary for us as thinking beings to be aware of the artificiality of moral rules. They are artificial because they are man-made (as opposed to divinity-inspired) and thus subject to change and manipulation. Cultures across the world may share certain moral rules (I can’t think of a culture which deems adultery morally acceptable), but it must be said that for every commonly shared moral rule, there are at least ten others which are culturally specific. Polygamy is not always the reprehensible practice that some cultures portray it to be. Homosexuality/bisexuality is generally accepted (or at least tolerated) in cultures which acknowledge the complexity of human sexuality. Aborting a foetus is not always the fire-and-brimstone sin that less tolerant societies say it is.

Morality becomes a problem when it trickles down from the top to the lowly individual and begins to dictate how that individual should act, think and live. This will deprive the individual of the right to be himself and to decide for himself what is right or wrong. In some Asian cultures, for example, it is considered “morally desirable” for a son or daughter to marry and produce a procession of children for the sake of the family’s bloodline. Anyone who does not comply is deemed “disrespectful” and “unfilial”. This, I feel, is a moral code that encroaches upon the rights of the individual.

Morality also tends to be (mis)used as a tool for judging others. Having moral codes suggests that everyone in that particular community must adhere to the way the game is played. As soon as someone fails to do so, he can easily be apprehended for non-compliance. The individual is duly judged and marginalised, without being given a chance to explain his stance. Morality is only concerned with black and white, not grey. In the eyes of a moralist, everything must either be right or wrong. There is not such a thing as “possibly right”. This is the crux of morality’s problem, as we know that life is nothing but grey areas.

Morality becomes an even greater problem when it is approached from a religious point of view. When God is brought into the question, all nuances go out the window. All religious leaders have to say is: God says it is wrong, so who are you to say it is right? No discourses are possible when the will of God is the final word. Some may argue that morality is God’s creation. There is a flaw in this reasoning, for it should not surprise anyone that even an atheist may think stealing another man’s wife is morally unacceptable.

Edward Ong

Basically, morality means good acts or deeds. However, after asking my close friends, I have realised that there are nuances to it. The differences are in the sense of adopting the values of morality in our routines. This does not show that we don’t really know what morality is all about or we don’t practise it because there are several factors which influence our method in adopting the values.

Firstly, our lives’ routines can never be separated from our culture. Every place has a unique culture which people practise, and the culture influences their minds and thoughts. Zorro, which is a famous film, depicts the culture in western countries which accept the act of stealing or robbery if one wants to assist hapless people. However, in Malaysia, for example, all citizens do not accept this idea and decline it as a norm. In Malaysian culture, properties belong to their owners, and no one should rob anyone for benevolence. Hence, the culture that people practise determines whether the action is moral or immoral.

Human civilisation is a fundamental of thoughts. Over the years, it is proven that civilisation has evolved, and as a result, humans’ attitudes towards certain subjects have also changed. Indirectly, this revolution alters our understanding of moral values. For example, in the past few decades, the concept of homosexuality has been considered uncivilised. People condemned this idea and boycotted people who embraced the thought. Nevertheless, civilisation has spun our thoughts on it, and today people can accept it as a moral act from the aspect of human rights.

In conclusion, morality is very subjective as several factors tend to affect our understanding of it.

Afandi Bin Suhaimi

Morality is an ambiguous term. It might be the good and the evil one. Good and evil are subjective. It is possible that we humans just created them. However, bad or good actions are situational. Rationalism is the definitive moral guide for me. Rationalism is “any view appealing to reason as source of knowledge or justification”.

For example, regular people may argue that abortion is a bad action because it is a murder whereas rationalists may argue that it is a rational action. Teenage pregnancy is a big problem now. A teenager may choose whether she should go on with the pregnancy, be a young mother or have an abortion and move on with the normal life. Sometimes if the teen is diagnosed pregnant, she may panic and think that she cannot deal with the child. Abortion is a good path to take since the teen is still in high school studying. The teen might need to drop out of high school when her pregnancy starts to show. Raising a child is not an easy thing. Child abuse may occur if good parenting skills are neglected. Therefore, abortion would be the best option to take to not to deal with the problem at all.

Fazlin Fuad Mohamad Faiz

If someone asks me to define morality, I am sure I will take a long time to answer this controversial question. Religions are the responsible force that determines the level of morality. They claim that society’s normal, rational morality is some absolute handed down from God. Things have eventually changed. Now there are many atheists as well in this world. This leads to a different understanding of morality as it is now thought that some immoral acts are actually logical, depending on the situation.

In my opinion, I would say that morality depends on our common sense. Yes, it might be true that religions also play a big role in determining morality, but then we cannot simply follow the rules given without any rational explanation. Morality is a specific, personal, individual issue, and impossible in the universal sense, when interpreted by various people and cultures. I will give an example that shows we are the ones that define morality, not others. In love, for example, women are prone to cheating compared to men. Why do women cheat and is it wrong for us to cheat? (considering myself to be one of the women). The reason for us to do so is that we like the thrill of the forbidden escape that we get from mundane relationships, not that we want to betray men. Unfortunately, for some people, they assume this kind of act as immoral. They think, as women, we should behave and be loyal to our partner. What makes it worse is when the woman is in a community that practises gender inequality; they assume that men are far better than women are. If a woman cheats on her partner, definitely people will assume that she is a slut, which is unfair to the woman as people around her do not know the real reason why she has done so.

In conclusion, I can say that it depends on us to define morality. No one can say that what we do is wrong or right. As for me, any moral decision I make is based on my own morals, and I know that my morals may not always necessarily tie in with general morality. Life is great, enjoy it. Do not care about what others think 

Sheril Emy Idayu Abdul Latiff

Morality can be found when a person behaves according to logic rather than his emotion. Morality can be seen clearly when a person is dealing with a difficult situation, whether he will use his head or his heart. In my humble opinion, when a person with high morality deals with a difficult situation, he would be true to himself as well as to other people. Morality prevents you from lying, even to save your own skin. A person with high morality will be trusted and respected.

As actions speak louder than words, action will determine the morality of a person. Let’s take into consideration a person who asks another person to throw out rubbish for him, and a person who actually throws his own rubbish into the dustbin himself. I will personally say that the second person is more “moral” than the first person.

Some examples of immoral behaviour are lying, throwing rubbish on the street, spitting on the pavement near someone’s feet and so on. It is good if you advise other people to throw rubbish into the bin, and to knock on the door before entering. But it is highly immoral if you only advise other people without you, yourself, listening to your own advice.

Zuraida Bt. Din

Morality has existed since the beginning of time but no one can find a conclusive definition for it. The depth and breadth of morality has been defined differently by different people based on their cultural, religious customs and perceptions. Based on Wikipedia’s definition, morality refers to personal or cultural values, codes of conduct or social mores that distinguish between right and wrong in society. Eventually, there are no right or wrong answers in defining morality. This is because when someone defines a subject as moral, other people may not necessarily define it as such. Culture and religion also influence people in interpreting the definition of morality.

For example, the introduction of weaponry at the very basic level has no moral issue if it is meant to be used by the arm forces to protect the country. However, weaponry is misused by certain people as a medium to attack human beings without any reasons. Similarly, the production of drugs is vital to everyone’s daily life as it helps to cure illnesses. Even one Panadol is enough to heal one’s fever in a short time period. Unfortunately, the misuse of drugs has led to several issues, including death, when one uses drugs for different reasons. Though most people know that the misuse of drugs will actually lead to death, they could not do anything as they are already addicted to them.

Another immoral activity is when people misunderstand the meaning of fashion. They see fashion as an essential issue living in the 21st century. As we all know, fashion designers are allowed to use fur to make clothes more fashionable. Regrettably, they tend to go overboard by increasing the use of fur in fashion as it will cause extinction to the animals. If this happens, will our next generations have the opportunity to see all the unique creations and learn to appreciate them? This again begs the question as to what is defined as moral or otherwise.

Fatin Shazea

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FEBRUARY‟S DISCUSSION TOPIC ~ UTOPIA

FEBRUARY‟S DISCUSSION TOPIC ~

U T O P I A

What would it take to make the perfect world?

My utopia would be a city where you could shop till you drop without having to pay a single cent. Due to the fact that it is impossible and yet so not pertinent, let‟s just let my weird realm be.

Thus, I want to take this opportunity to talk about someone else‟s utopia. In MY opinion, Mr. Masukor‟s Utopia would be a place where it is not just serene but also very civilised. A place where all the people play a very vital role in conserving nature and lowering carbon emissions with alacrity.

A utopia should be an earthly place of solace, equipped with the most salient technologies, buildings and an extremely effective sewage system. To generate such a perfect world, there should be a throng of people with abundant knowledge and strong etiquettes. Wise men and women before us always said: “It wasn‟t the place that built the people, but it was the people who built the place.”

As for whether there is a perfect world for everyone, the answer is obviously a big NO. With different tastes and ambitions, it is almost impossible to even imagine ONE Utopia. But if ONE Utopia is everyone‟s desire, then it definitely won‟t be just a dream anymore. As they always say “Together we will excel.”

Zuraida binti Din (June 09)

What is a utopia? What does it mean to you? What would my utopia be like? Well, by the dictionary definition, a utopia is defined as an imaginary state with perfect political and social conditions or constitution. However, it is just an ideally perfect fantasy world. Are utopias possible? Mostly, everyone is trying to achieve their own personal utopia in some way. The utopia in my mind would be a world where all people, pretty or ugly, small or big, all shapes and colours, are treated equally.

For example, people often differentiate between healthy people and those who are living with HIV and AIDS. People react to HIV and AIDS in a strong way just because it is a life-threatening virus. Besides, some people see HIV/AIDS as a form of punishment for the people as a result of their bad moral behaviors, prostitution or drug use. The negative attitudes and maltreatment of the people who are living with HIV/AIDS can result in poor treatment in health care and the success of testing, treatment and care of the virus. The level of AIDS knowledge, age and sexuality can also affect how somebody feels about the disease. My utopia would be a world without stigma and discrimination.

Fazlin Fuad Mohamad Faiz (June 09)

Everyone in this world would like to live in his or her own utopia. There are many different thoughts about utopias. It depends on the person and how they imagine what a utopia would be like. Some of them would picture a utopia as a remote cabin on the beach, Nirvana, paradise, or heaven. Religions like Islam and Christian do admit the existence of a utopia as they believe in Heaven and the Garden of Eden. Scientists, however, believe a utopia will exist one day if they manage to find the cure to all illnesses. One example of a utopia that has been portrayed by scientists is in Star Trek, where there is a presence of human society and advanced technology that is used to enhance the quality of human life.

In my opinion, a utopia is not possible and only exists in fairytale. There is no place in the world that can make us live forever, never get old, and feel happy all the time. Despite that, it is not deniable that there are countries like Malaysia and Singapore where we can live peacefully without any war and starvation. Unfortunately, we have to accept the fact that it is a human norm: we will die, get sick, and face problems in our lives. By trying to create a utopia, it will somehow raise other problems that will affect the human community.

Everyone has different ideas about utopias. It is not possible to satisfy all human demands, thus making utopias impossible to create. Many famous leaders had tried to create their own utopia but in the end, it led to failure. The reason they failed is that they did not accept the fact that everything fades in time.

As for me, I think that we cannot get the perfect utopian community, but somehow we can try our best to live life aimed towards a utopia. We have already started to eliminate illnesses. Other than that, we are already smart enough to eliminate poverty from our country as non- government organizations have made efforts to help the poor. Next, we are always improving our knowledge and day by day, we can see many new intellectuals graduating from university, which in turn will create a massive development. Can it happen? For me, the answer is no, but who knows I might still see it in my lifetime.

Sheril Emy Idayu Binti Abdul Latiff (June 09)

Utopia. A word that makes people high. People crack their heads trying to make that vision come true. Year after year, effort has been put into ensuring that desired life. Millions of dollars have been used to launch programmes that will enable humans to live happily ever after. Yet, they end in disappointment. We are still far from our utopia, the world dreamt by every person.

We do not have to go far to find evidence that our utopia is still virtual. Look at our streets. They are filled with rubbish, plastic bags, and old newspaper. Is this supposed to be our utopia? Car, buses, and motorcycles produce noise that is irritating and can even cause emotional instability. To compound the problems, the fumes released could cause 1001 health problem to humans.

Enough with those tiny facts. Let‟s view things from a macro perspective. In the 21st century, the physique no longer plays an important role. Life is now backed by knowledge and skills. “Let the best player win.” Advanced countries will be in front of the others. With their technology, knowledge and economy, the world is theirs. However, these tools that should bring utopian dreams to everyone are being misused. Look at the difference between developed countries (America, Britain, France) and undeveloped countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Sudan). It looks like they are on different planets. How could a person in America become obese while another person in Ethiopia is starving to death? We are still the same human species!

A utopia is achievable. However, to get to this stage, everybody must play their part. Utopia is not far, it is here, in our own land. For the rich, please be reasonable. Spread up your wealth so that the world could be a better place. You the poor, do not think you are useless. Work out and make yourselves beneficial to society. Yes, it is vague but the struggle to create a utopia will never end.

Muhammad Firdaus bin Roslan (June ‟09)

Heal the world…make it a better place…for you and for me and the entire human race…

But then how? With all this war, campaigns and political selfishness, how do you create a better world? At some point I feel that this “perfect world” is just some myth or fantasy of the human mind because in reality we still see all these wars, campaigns and political selfishness, despite whatever “justification” they give for their action. And when we look back at all the “attempts” at making this world a better place, we always see someone getting killed, or dying.

So actually, what is the problem? I figure it is the people‟s definition of “the perfect world”. We never really can agree on one definition of “the perfect world” as our definitions are always differing, and often contradicting. Our definition of a perfect world will always be something that suits us best, and we often think that it will also suit other people as best as it suits us. As a result, we tend not to think about the possibility of our perfect world harming other people. And even if we do realise it can harm others, we still stick to it no matter what. So can it really bring about a “perfect world”?

Then what causes this mismatch in the definition of “the perfect world”? I figure it‟s human selfishness. It is in our nature to be selfish in a way, whether we realise it or not.

We always think more about ourselves and less about others. I can‟t blame us for such a nature, because it‟s instinct, really. To survive in this world, the priority is yourself, and then others.

So can we build a perfect world? Yes, by putting aside our selfishness and agreeing on one definition of “the perfect world”. But can we really do that? I say no, because throwing away our selfish nature is like throwing away one of the things that makes us humans. And we can never really throw away the things that make us humans, because we are humans.

So, in my opinion, we cannot build a perfect world…because we are IMPERFECT.

Ariffin B. Mohd. Amir (June 08)

Humans‟ boundless and changing desires have frequently caused them to imagine something that is unattainable – a utopia: an idea or perfect place where everything that comes across their minds can be acquired here. Personally, I don‟t think there will ever exist a place that is a perfect world. There would be no need for advancement, and, definitely, society would become stagnant, not expand and eventually would collapse.

To acquire such a place, human desires have to be conquered, which are always changing. Anything that we have or know today, due to our desires, will change in the future. For example, today A wants to have an N-90 mobile phone (priced at more than RM2000) but after feeling bored with it, he will start imagining and wishing for a more sophisticated one.

Actually, for me, as a believer of God, a utopia will never exist in this world but in the Hereafter – paradise. Here is the only place where everything that flashes in our mind will appear in front of our eyes. So, to be in paradise, make sure you are on track. I mean, following your religion.

Ahmad Afandi B Suhaimi (June 09)

To understand this topic that we discuss this month we must go back to the origins of the word (I apologise for my adamant belief in the importance of etymology). Coined by Sir Thomas More and used in his book Utopia (shortened title), it is derived from Greek words meaning „no place‟, and is the name of the fictional island described in his book where a perfected society, in terms of its religious, social and political customs, exists. Today the word „utopia‟ means an ideally perfect place or state, and is often synonymous with „Eden‟, „heaven‟, „Shangri-la‟, and „paradise‟.

Usually I would say that my utopia is a place without sin or suffering, no worries or strife; a place where humans dwell eternally with God (the question of His existence put aside, who is more perfect than Him?)... But that would place my dream world squarely in the afterlife. Hence, my version of the perfect world, for the purpose of this month‟s discussion, is this:

Imagine yourself on a planet filled with the tranquillity of a clear blue sky and pristine azure seas, the mystery of unexplored continents and uncharted islands, and the wonder of picturesque landscapes and exotic fauna. You have just landed yourself on dry land,surrounded by trees and foliage of a forest neither dense nor sparse. All you can hear is the hushed voices of the plants as they are stirred by the calm wind. Not a creature is stirring ... And then you wonder, is there even a single creature before you arrive in this world?

Makes you wonder, does it not? A world devoid of sentient species, indeed of the entire animal kingdom! In this world the ecosystem has somehow adapted to survive without the existence of insects and beasts of the sky, land and sea. There is no intelligent life on the planet, not a single human with all their greed, pride and hatred; no animals with all their instinctive rivalry and sense of superiority; not even insects, with all their societies and poisons! The largest multi-celled organisms are the biggest trees you can set your eyes on; the only living things that move freely are so small you can hardly contemplate their size. It almost seems as though God has stopped His six–day creation of the world at the end of the fourth day.

Why this kind of world? Look at Earth, the perfect example of a world gone mad. Wars and pestilences, economic turmoil and global warming, poverty and starvation... Even natural disasters today can eventually lead to inconsiderate human activities and overpopulation! I would even be so bold to say that Hell would be better than this but for the duration of the chaos and suffering there. Even if you take Homo sapiens out of the equation it would not be enough. If Darwin is correct, some other poor animal will replace the apes on the evolutionary road, resulting in a similar species that will wreak havoc again! A world filled with trees and plants as far as the eye can see is exactly what Earth is hypothesised to have been before man, before dinosaurs, before newly-evolved amphibians... even before fish and planktons!

Coming back to reality (and what a sad reality we live in), we have to admit that utopia is exactly what its Greek syllables say it is – “no place”, a place that does not exist. However primitive, however futuristic, however perfect-in-every-way the world is in our heads, it exists only there. Our only hope lies in the seed of goodness God has chosen to leave in our hearts of darkness, and in a faith that would help it take root and bloom into flowers of compassion and commitment, of empathy and action, which would bring this world to its knees and, to put it simply, make it a better place for all to live in.

Chin Keat Meng (June 09)

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