Renowned local writer, Rehman Rashid, once said we are suffering from a dearth of heroes in Malaysia His thesis, voiced approximately a decade ago, still appears to be relevant despite the many changes over the years.

But there may be some who disagree. We have many heroes in Malaysia, they would argue. Just look at the Malaysians who swam the English Channel, climbed Everest, sailed solo around the world, and so on.

I do not want to dispute their abilities and achievements. I cannot see myself climbing Everest, swimming the Channel or sailing solo around the world. I salute them

What I am questioning here is the way we highlight such events (most of which do not even qualify to be recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, only in the Malaysian Book of Records!) as though they represent the limit of what our nation can achieve in terms of bringing forth heroes.

Witness the difference between two Malaysians - Abdul Malik Mydin and Lennard Lee.