Holistic Approach towards Achieving Complete Fulfilment of the Emotional, Soul, Mind and Body

@Forum Dialog Global

Jamuan Perdana Silang Budaya

14th December 2025@Nafoura Hall Putrajaya

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning and a very warm greeting to all distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this meaningful programme. The theme before us today — a holistic approach towards achieving complete fulfilment of the emotional, soul, mind and body — is not merely a topic for discussion. It is, in many ways, a life question that each of us grapples with, whether consciously or otherwise.

In a world that moves very fast, that measures success in numbers, speed and visibility, we often ask:

Are we progressing?
But perhaps the more important question is:
Are we whole?

1. The Illusion of Progress without Wholeness
We live in an age of unprecedented advancement. Knowledge is abundant, technology is powerful, and material comfort is within reach for many. Yet paradoxically, we see rising anxiety, loneliness, burnout, and a quiet sense of emptiness.
This tells us something important:
Human fulfilment cannot be achieved through a single dimension of life.
When the body is fed but the soul is neglected, we feel restless.
When the mind is sharp but the emotions are suppressed, we feel disconnected.
When achievements grow but meaning shrinks, satisfaction becomes elusive.
True well-being requires balance, harmony, and integration.

2. The Human Being as a Whole
A holistic approach begins with recognising that the human being is not fragmented, but whole.
We are:
• A body that needs care, movement, rest and nourishment
• A mind that seeks understanding, clarity and wisdom
• An emotional being that needs connection, compassion and security
• A soul that yearns for meaning, values and purpose
These dimensions do not compete with one another — they support and complete each other.

When one is neglected, the others eventually suffer.

3. Emotional Fulfilment: The Language of the Heart
Let us begin with the emotional dimension.
Emotional fulfilment is often misunderstood. It is not about constant happiness or the absence of pain. Rather, it is about:
• The ability to recognise our feelings
• The courage to express them appropriately
• The maturity to manage them wisely
In many societies, we are taught to suppress emotions — to be strong, silent, and resilient at all costs. But unexpressed emotions do not disappear; they accumulate and eventually manifest as stress, anger, or despair.
Healthy emotional fulfilment comes from:
• Meaningful relationships
• A sense of belonging
• Being heard, respected, and valued

Empathy, kindness, and forgiveness are not signs of weakness — they are signs of emotional intelligence.


4. The Mind: Knowledge with Wisdom
Next is the mind.
We live in an era of information overload, yet wisdom seems increasingly scarce. The mind must not only be trained to think, but also to discern, to reflect, and to question with humility.
Mental fulfilment is not achieved through knowledge alone, but through:
• Lifelong learning
• Critical yet ethical thinking
• The ability to see complexity without losing moral clarity
A restless mind that is constantly stimulated but never grounded will eventually become anxious. A fulfilled mind is one that balances reason with reflection, and intellect with conscience.


5. The Body: Trust and Responsibility
The body is often the most visible dimension, yet also the most abused.
We push it beyond its limits, deny it rest, neglect movement, and then wonder why fatigue and illness follow. The body is not merely a tool — it is an amanah, a trust.
Physical fulfilment does not demand perfection. It demands:
• Respect for natural rhythms
• Balance between work and rest
• Awareness of what we consume, physically and mentally
When we care for the body, we create the foundation upon which emotional stability, mental clarity, and spiritual awareness can flourish.


6. The Soul: The Silent Compass
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the soul.
The soul is what gives direction to everything else. Without it, life may be efficient, but it will not be meaningful.
Spiritual fulfilment does not belong only to rituals, though rituals are important. It is reflected in:
• Our values
• Our integrity
• Our sense of purpose beyond ourselves
The soul asks questions that no technology can answer:
• Why am I here?
• What do I stand for?
• What legacy will I leave behind?

A nourished soul anchors us during uncertainty and guides us during success.


7. Integration: Not Balance, but Harmony
A holistic life is not about giving equal time to everything every day. It is about harmony, not rigid balance.
There will be seasons when the mind is tested, moments when emotions are fragile, times when the body needs rest, and periods when the soul seeks silence.
Fulfilment comes from listening — deeply and honestly — to what each dimension needs, and responding with wisdom.


8. From Individual Well-Being to Collective Good
When individuals are whole, societies become healthier.
A fulfilled person is more compassionate.
A grounded leader is more ethical.
A balanced community is more resilient.
Holistic well-being is therefore not a private luxury — it is a public good.

Conclusion: Returning to Wholeness

Ladies and gentlemen,
The journey towards complete fulfilment is not about becoming more, but about becoming whole.
It is about reconnecting:
• The heart with empathy
• The mind with wisdom
• The body with care
• The soul with purpose

In doing so, we rediscover not only peace within ourselves, but also harmony with others and with the world around us.

May we all strive not merely to succeed in life, but to live it fully, consciously, and meaningfully.

Thank you.

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

 ORAL HISTORY – EXECUTIVE TALKING POINTS (SESSION 2)@ PERDANA LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION (PLF)

2^ND DECEMBER 2025

SYED HAMID ALBAR

 

(SHORT VERSION)

SYED HAMID ALBAR

 

1. Bridge from Session 1

         •        Previously we covered:

         •        Big family, moving between states, growing up in Johor.

         •        Early education: Malay school, religious school, then Australia & UK.

         •        Career before politics:

         •        Judicial & legal service – Magistrate (KL), President of Sessions Court (Temerloh).

         •        Banking & corporate sector (around 15 years).

         •        Advocate & Solicitor (1986–1990).

         •        Key idea:

“All of that was preparation before I stepped into public life as an MP, minister and foreign minister.”

 

2. My father, “Lion of UMNO”, and my mother

         •        Father: Syed Jaafar Albar

         •        Known as the “Lion of UMNO” – open, fearless in speaking on religion, Malays and the country.

         •        Spoke truth to power, even when uncomfortable.

         •        Home full of political discussion; as children, we listened quietly.

•        Taught that politics = responsibility and struggle, not glamour.

         •        Mother: Syarifah Fatimah

         •        Calm, patient, centre of the family.

         •        Taught compassion, humility, care for others.

         •        Balanced my father’s fiery public style.

         •        My inheritance:

         •        From father: principle, courage, sense of justice.

         •        From mother: empathy, modesty, restraint.

 

3. Two key anecdotes about my father (optional highlights)

         1.      Carcosa & independence

         •        Idea to gift Carcosa land to the British as “thanks” for independence.

•        My father opposed: British had taken much from Malaya; independence is a right, not a favour.

         •        Reflects his strong sense of dignity and justice.

         2.      Draft speech under Tun Razak

         •        Draft policy speech for Tun Razak (UMNO AGM) mentioned three names for Vice-President.

•        My father objected: policy speech must set direction, not endorse individuals; unfair to other candidates.

•        He later lost the contest; Tun Razak offered him a Supreme Council seat.

•        He rejected it – did not want to return “through the back door” without delegates’ mandate.

 

4. Entry into politics & Parliament

         •        Politics came gradually, not overnight.

         •        After seeing law, courts, banking, corporate world and practice:

         •        Realised policies directly affect ordinary people.

         •        Felt a duty to move from observer to participant.

         •        Stood in same constituency his father served:

         •        Father: 1959–1977; I served: 1990–2013.

         •        As MP:

         •        Met real concerns: jobs, schooling, land, roads, cost of living.

         •        Kept my politics grounded in people’s daily lives.

 

5. Serving in Cabinet

         •        Held several portfolios:

         •        Law / legal affairs.

         •        Home affairs & internal security.

         •        Defence.

         •        Foreign affairs.

         •        Lessons:

         •        Law: must protect, not oppress; implementation as important as drafting.

         •        Home affairs: balance order & rights, firmness & humanity.

         •        Defence: behind every “policy” are soldiers, families, real sacrifices.

         •        Cabinet: government is teamwork; no one has all the answers.

         •        Theory vs reality:

         •        Ideologies and models learned at university must be adapted to context and culture.

         •        Principles stay, but applications must be realistic.

 

6. Diplomacy, UN, ASEAN and a changing world

         •        UN General Assembly (New York):

         •        Standing at podium: “I am Malaysia, not just Syed Hamid.”

         •        UN shows idealism + power politics.

         •        Corridor diplomacy often more effective than speeches.

         •        Asian Financial Crisis 1997/98:

         •        Showed vulnerability of economies to markets and speculation.

•        Malaysia chose its own path (capital controls, ringgit measures).

•        Message: sometimes leadership means polite disagreement with powerful institutions.

         •        9/11, “War on Terror”, Islamophobia:

         •        Muslims suddenly seen with suspicion worldwide.

         •        Tried to stress: terrorism has no religion; must address root causes (injustice, occupation, humiliation).

         •        Saw double standards and hegemonic narratives clearly.

         •        ASEAN & regionalism:

         •        ASEAN as our “regional home”.

         •        Consensus culture – slow but inclusive.

         •        Need a people-centred ASEAN: bring in youth and civil society, not just governments.

 

7. Lifelong learning & AeU

         •        Always felt I still know too little.

         •        As Chancellor of Asia eUniversity (AeU):

         •        Met adult learners juggling work, family, study.

         •        Very humbling; confirmed belief in learning from cradle to grave.

         •        Education not only to get a title:

         •        But to serve better and understand the world more deeply.

 

8. Leadership, power and life after office

         •        Core belief: power is a trust (amanah), not a trophy.

         •        Positions are temporary; what remains is:

         •        How we treated people.

         •        Whether we acted with integrity and compassion.

         •        After office:

         •        Phone becomes quieter, fewer invitations.

         •        You see who values you as a person, not your position.

         •        True measure:

         •        Can you look back and still walk in public without shame?

 

9. Advice to young Malaysians (short form)

         •        Build your character before your career.

         •        Take knowledge seriously; don’t live on slogans and social media alone.

•        Stay idealistic, but learn how systems work so you can change them intelligently.

•        Serve from wherever you are – government, private sector, academia, civil society.

         •        Keep empathy and conscience:

         •        Remember policies affect real lives.

         •        Hope:

         •        The next generation will serve Malaysia with more justice, more wisdom, more compassion than my generation managed.

 

ORAL HISTORY – INTEGRATED TALKING POINTS (SESSION 2)@ PERDANA LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION (PLF)

2^ND DECEMBER 2025

SYED HAMID ALBAR

 

1. Bridging from the first session

         •        Previously we spoke about:

         •        My early life in a large family.

         •        Growing up in Johor, moving between states.

         •        Early schooling in Malay school and religious school.

         •        Studying in Australia and the UK, qualifying as Barrister-at-Law.

         •        Early career:

•        Judicial & legal service – Magistrate in Kuala Lumpur, President of the Sessions Court in Temerloh.

         •        15 years in banking and the corporate world.

         •        Returning to law as an Advocate & Solicitor (1986–1990).

         •        How these experiences shaped my worldview before I entered politics.

 

“All of that was preparation before I stepped into public life as a politician and later as a minister and foreign minister.”

 

2. My father – “Lion of UMNO” – and his influence

         •        My father, Syed Jaafar Albar, was:

         •        A teacher, journalist, writer on religion and politics, and UMNO leader.

•        Known as the “Lion of UMNO” for his openness and courage to speak out on issues of religion, the Malay community and the country.

•        Direct, candid, unafraid to speak truth to power, even when it was unpopular.

         •        At home:

         •        He was firm and disciplined, but a father first.

         •        Our home was a meeting place for party leaders – we listened quietly from the side.

•        This taught me that politics is about struggle and responsibility, not glamour.

         •        My mother, Syarifah Fatimah binti Syed Salim Albar:

         •        The calm centre of the family.

         •        Taught patience, compassion, and care for others.

         •        Balanced my father’s fiery public life.

         •        What I inherited:

         •        From my father: principle, courage, sense of justice.

         •        From my mother: empathy, humility, restraint.

3. Key anecdotes about my father (for record)

 

a) Carcosa and independence

•        There was an idea that Tunku Abdul Rahman should gift Carcosa, a beautiful and valuable piece of land, to the British Government as a gesture of gratitude for independence.

         •        My father strongly objected:

         •        He argued the British had already taken so much from our country.

         •        Independence was our right, not a favour.

         •        In his view, they should compensate us, not the other way around.

•        This reflects his sense of justice and his view of independence as dignity, not charity.

 

b) Draft policy speech under Tun Abdul Razak

•        During the era of Tun Abdul Razak, a draft policy speech for the UMNO General Assembly was prepared.

•        The draft mentioned three specific names as candidates for Vice-President.

         •        My father objected:

         •        He said the President’s policy speech should not include those names.

•        The speech should set direction and principles, not endorse individuals.

•        Mentioning only three names would unfairly influence delegates and distort the party’s democratic process.

         •        The powerful part:

         •        He himself was one of the candidates and lost in that contest.

         •        After the election, Tun Razak, with generosity, offered him a place in the UMNO Supreme Council.

•        My father rejected the offer, saying if delegates did not elect him, he should not re-enter through the “back door”.

         •        This shows:

         •        He defended fairness even when it went against his own interest.

         •        He lived by his principles, not just spoke about them.

 

4. Entry into politics and public life

         •        Politics did not come as a sudden decision.

         •        Initial focus on:

         •        Law, judiciary, banking, corporate world, private practice.

         •        Over time, felt that:

         •        I had seen how laws, policies and economic decisions affected ordinary people.

         •        It was not enough to stand outside and comment.

              •        There was a responsibility to enter the arena and try to shape decisions.

•        I stood in the same parliamentary constituency my father had served:

         •        He served from 1959–1977.

         •        I served from 1990–2013.

         •        Advantage:

         •        People knew the family name.

         •        Challenge:

         •        I did not want to live only in my father’s shadow.

         •        I wanted to build my own record and service.

         •        As MP:

         •        I met villagers, farmers, fishermen, small traders, civil servants, youth.

•        Their concerns were simple and direct: jobs, school, land, roads, cost of living.

         •        This kept my politics grounded in real life, not just ideology.

 

5. Serving in Cabinet – different portfolios, same trust

         •        I served in several ministerial roles:

         •        Legal/justice-related portfolios.

         •        Home affairs and internal security.

         •        Defence.

         •        Foreign affairs.

         •        Key lessons:

         •        Law & internal affairs – laws on paper must be implemented fairly; law must protect, not oppress.

•        Defence – behind every uniform there is a young person, a family, sacrifices we rarely see.

•        Home affairs – constant balance between firmness and mercy, between security and civil liberties.

•        Cabinet as a team – no minister has all the answers; decisions are collective.

         •        Governing vs theory:

         •        University taught ideologies, theories, neat concepts.

         •        Reality is messy, full of trade-offs.

         •        You must adapt principles to context without abandoning your core values.

 

6. Diplomacy, the UN and ASEAN

 

a) Representing Malaysia at the UN

         •        As Foreign Minister, I attended the UN General Assembly in New York regularly.

         •        Standing at the UN podium:

         •        I was very aware: “I am not just Syed Hamid; I am Malaysia.”

         •        The UN:

         •        Idealistic in its Charter, but full of power politics.

         •        Many speeches, but not all problems resolved.

         •        Important:

         •        Corridor diplomacy – side meetings, bilateral sessions, quiet discussions often matter more than big speeches.

 

b) Asian Financial Crisis 1997/98

         •        Showed how quickly economies can be shaken by markets and speculation.

         •        Malaysia chose an independent path:

         •        Capital controls, ringgit measures, restructuring the economy on our own terms.

         •        Lesson:

         •        Leadership sometimes means politely disagreeing with powerful institutions when national interest is at stake.

 

c) 9/11, “War on Terror” and Islamophobia

         •        As a Muslim and as Foreign Minister, I saw how:

         •        Overnight, Muslims everywhere became a suspect community.

         •        Islam often linked with terrorism in media and policy language.

         •        I tried to convey:

         •        Terrorism has no religion.

         •        If we do not address root causes – injustice, occupation, humiliation – we will not solve extremism.

         •        Also saw:

         •        Double standards and hegemonic narratives.

         •        The way big powers use language like “security”, “democracy” and “reform” to justify certain actions.

         •        Conclusion:

         •        We must confront both violence and hypocrisy.

         •        Knowledge and critical thinking are essential.

 

d) ASEAN and regionalism

         •        ASEAN is our regional “home”.

         •        Learned the art of consensus:

         •        Moving together, even if slowly, is often better than moving alone and splitting the region.

         •        Belief in a people-centred ASEAN:

         •        Involving youth and civil society, not just governments.

         •        Community-building must include ordinary people, not only elites.

 

7. Thought leadership & lifelong learning

•        I never felt I knew enough; I always felt there was more to learn.

         •        Role as Chancellor of Asia eUniversity (AeU):

         •        Saw many adult learners – working, with families, still studying.

•        Very humbling to see people in their 30s, 40s, 50s pursuing degrees.

         •        Strong belief in:

         •        Learning from cradle to grave.

         •        Education not just for the young, not just for prestige.

         •        Learning in order to serve better, not merely to succeed or show off.

 

8. Leadership, power and life after office

         •        For me, power is an amanah, not a trophy.

         •        Positions come and go; what remains:

         •        How we treated people.

         •        Whether we tried to be fair and compassionate.

         •        After leaving office:

         •        The phone becomes quieter, invitations fewer.

         •        You discover who values you as a person, not as a minister.

         •        This stage teaches:

         •        Humility.

         •        That your worth is not your title, but your character and legacy.

 

9. Advice to young Malaysians

         •        Build character before career.

         •        Be serious about knowledge, not just headlines and social media.

         •        Stay idealistic, but understand how systems work.

         •        Criticise when needed, but also ask: “How would I fix it?”

         •        Serve from wherever you are:

         •        Government, private sector, academia, civil society – all can contribute.

         •        Keep empathy:

         •        Policies and statistics affect real human beings.

         •        Aim to serve Malaysia with integrity, wisdom and compassion.