November 02, 2009 10:03 AM

Working Together! That's The Thing To Do

By Zulkiple Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- For buffs of cartoon and animation series, particularly the small children, there is a series being shown on a local private television channel (Bahasa Malaysia version) about three cute little pets that worked together to rescue other pet that were either in distress or danger.

Each of the episode of this 'Wonder Pets' series would end with the lead characters -- a hamster (Linny), tortoise (Tuck) and duck (Ming-Ming) singing "...when we work together. We've got the right stuff...".

(The English-language version of this series is also being shown on a channel on satellite television).

This animation series is not only popular among the small children but also getting the attention of the teenagers and adults as well.

According to a check by Bernama, the animation series was getting so popular that the singing (Bahasa Malaysia version) was turned into a ringtone and became a hot item among handphone users.

It was learnt that this could be due to the catchy words used in the Bahasa Malaysia version of the animation series.

SHARING THE WORK LOAD TOGETHER

But the significant aspect that can be taken from the cartoon series was the phrase 'work together'.

Then, what is 'work(ing) together'?

"Since at a tender age we were taught to work together in order to equally shoulder the burden. Hence heavy work becomes lighter, similar to the 'gotong-royong' concept. That is meant by working together or simply, collaboration,", according to civil servant Zaidah Zainal.

For the mother of three children, the concept of working together can be achieved anywhere and in any environment. Be it in the family, workplace of an organisation or in various other fields.

"For example, the daily administration and operations of a ward in a hospital, there should be cooperation from all parties including the specialists and doctors, nurses, support staff as well as the patients' families and the patients themselves.

"The situation is the same in both the rural and urban areas. If there are feasts for weddings and other functions, the residents will jointly hold the gotong-royong and this smoothens the staging of such functions and the tasks on those who organised the featss would be lighter," she said.

SOMETHING UNIVERSAL

For finance manager in the private sector, Dayang Aminah Abu Bakar, the concept of working together was something universal and covered various sectors including the economy, crime prevention and even in health like the effort to curtail a pandemic such as the recent H1N1 Influenza.

"It is like team work. It is difficult to perform a task without working together. We are in a huge community living in a prosperous and peaceful country where there is a need to work together for the interest of all," she said.

Working together means jointly working out a solution to an issue or problem and jointly benefitting from the outcome achieved, said medical officer Dr P. Ragesh.

"Would it be better if our leaders are to be able to sit down and work together to resolve the issues for the benefit of the people and country regardless of their political affiliation. If this happens, then our country would be able to scale greater heights in terms of progress and prosperity," he said.

Dr Ragesh said in order to inculcate the culture of working together in an effective manner for the daily working operations, then there should be a distribution of tasks.

"We (the superior officers) should also be giving a good example on how to work efficiently and effectively. Too much talk on working together without much action serves no purpose. It is better to show how working together can be achieved and bring benefit to all.

WORKING TOGETHER IN 1MALAYSIA

Working together is called for under the concept of 1Malaysia, the brainchild of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister has called for Malaysians from all ethnic origin and religious belief to unite and work together to bring Malaysia to a higher pedestal.

Like the singing of the three cute pets from the cartoon series:

"We're not too big

"And we're not too tough

"But when we work together

"We've got the right stuff".

-- BERNAMA

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