(Kuching, Jan 3) Leaders should lead the team forward with sincerity and by example.
Chong Chieng Jen, Member of Parliament for the Satok constituency and State Assemblyman for the Padungan constituency, as well as former president of the Rotary Club of Kuching South, expressed this during an online interview with Fu Jin Long, the overall coordinator of the Castle Peak Rotary Club's magazine 'Hua Yang', when asked which leadership style is most effective.
“Just like in the Democratic Action Party, most of the time it's the leaders who take risks and walk at the frontline. We cannot let subordinates take risks while we stand by idly; we need to earn the team's trust and support through our own actions. However, leaders also need to adapt to the times. Sometimes the leader needs to be at the front, but at other times, taking calculated risks is necessary. There is no universal solution, the most important thing is to lead by example with practical actions and sincerity.”
When asked about the role of youth in social change and what advice he has for the young generation to succeed in the future, Zhang Jian Ren called on the older generation to give young people more opportunities to try and participate.
He acknowledged that young people are the driving force and core strength for social change and progress. They use their enthusiasm and ideals to shape the future of society.
However, today's young people face a unique challenge: information overload. In the past, it was hard for young people to access information; now, there is an overflow of information, making it difficult to distinguish between the true and false. Therefore, young people must learn to discern the authenticity of information, which is an important skill.
Chong Chieng Jen also believes that the older generation should let go and give young people chances to try and participate, helping them build a “sense of ownership”, letting them truly dictate their careers and life directions. The previous authoritarian guidance approach, where children acted according to their parents' instructions, may not work, and thus, young people should be given more freedom to express themselves.
When asked how to promote peace and understanding through individual and collective efforts, Chong Chieng Jen stated that the Rotary Club has several excellent traditions, such as the rotating presidency and regular weekly meetings that provide a platform for members to exchange and advocate for integrity. These traditions offer cohesion to members, enabling more effective promotion of activities and projects while strengthening mutual connections.
He continued, stating that from participating in the Rotary Club, he learned that the key to advancing matters lies in cohesion. Only by uniting can a strong driving force be formed, and based on integrity, the spirit of service in the Rotary Club can be practiced in the community, promoting the development and progress of the community.
When asked about his vision for the future, Chong Chieng Jen hopes that the country can progress in a more positive direction concerning politics, economy, culture, and education, and that people's lives will improve.
Regarding how to continue conveying and practicing the spirit of Rotary in different fields, Chong Chieng Jen hopes Rotary can bring more help and welfare to disadvantaged groups, fully fulfilling its social responsibility and promoting community welfare development.
Meanwhile, Chong Chieng Jen also wishes 'Hua Yang' magazine continuous improvement, hoping that more people will get to know 'Hua Yang' magazine, bringing the spirit of the Rotary Club to all corners of the globe through this monthly publication.