19/06/2025

THURSDAY | JUNE 19, 2025

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Follow trends or lead with thought? T HERE’S something comforting about going with the flow. It makes life easier, decisions quicker and approval more likely. But every now and And this mindset extends beyond the environment to all the lives we share it with. When a tragic elephant death makes headlines, we unite in sorrow. But T H E M

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By Eric S. Margolis

MUTZIG, France – First stop on my annual visit to France’s mighty Maginot Line forts is this lovely Alsatian town. Mutzig was built by the Germans 1893-1916 to defend against enemy approaches to the important city of Strasbourg. It was – and remains – the largest modern fortress in Europe. The vast fortress, which covers over 800 acres, was never attacked during World War I by the Germans or French. But as Europe’s first important fortress made of concrete and fully electrified, it was eagerly studied by French engineers and served as a template for the Maginot Line forts two decades later. Both world wars showed the vulnerability of fixed fortifications. An enemy will always find a way round them or discover a fatal weakness. In regard to the 322km-long Maginot Line, the forts did not fail. They held out to the bitter end. The reason for France’s stunning defeat in 1940 was the failure of its field army and its blockheaded generals. Interestingly, a French parliamentary deputy with the effervescent name of Perrier precisely predicted where the Germans would break through the Ardennes Forest in 1940. Though vulnerable, the fixed defences of the Maginot Line were hugely popular in France and wildly overestimated because they involved huge construction projects for many of the villages and factories along France’s eastern border with Germany. Just as New Deal make-work projects boosted the United States during the Great Depression. We see a similar mania in the response to President Donald Trump’s plan to create a national “Golden Dome” defensive shield to protect the nation from assorted nuclear threats. In many ways, it’s a re-run of President Ronald Reagan’s Star Wars missile shield, which never got off the ground but was extremely popular among the public. Frederick the Great of Prussia noted, “he who defends everything, defends nothing,” As true today as it was in the 18th century. A national missile defence system to cover the entire nation would be impossibly expensive for a nation already deeply mired in debt. The always powerful military industrial complex will see Trump’s Golden Dome fantasy as a second Christmas though the basic technology has yet to be proven. One wonders if the proponents of this defensive system have noticed that Russia has developed ballistic missiles that can alter course, change altitudes and switch targets? Or that China has ICBMs aboard freighters in the Pacific. What about evolving electronic countermeasures that can fry enemy communications and guidance systems? It would be far more prudent for the US to pursue disarmament talks and effective inspection regimes with its rivals than pie in the sky defensive systems that will certainly enrich military companies but fail to protect North America. What’s more, having even a partial anti-missile system will likely make the US more aggressive and prone to wars. Better to spend the trillions on curing cancer or blindness than on space wizardry. Alas, we have a view of what awaits us. Lately, Trump banned people from 12 mostly Muslims nations and imposed restrictions on seven nations. Good work Mr President. You and your New York City construction buddies have now made enemies of a quarter of the world’s population. The writer is a syndicated columnist. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com ‘Golden Dome’ is pure fantasy

differently. To plant seeds of change that grow beyond us. You don’t have to wait for instructions. You already carry the tools: your values, your awareness and your willingness to reflect and redesign. There is quiet power in doing what’s right, even when no one sees. In reimagining systems not just for efficiency but for empathy. In choosing a path not because it’s popular but because it aligns with life, with purpose, with possibility. This is regenerative will, not just sustaining what is, but creating what could be. So ask yourself: What have I accepted because it’s common – not because it’s conscious? Where might I lead with thought, instead of following by default? What part of my life or work could become more whole if approached with regenerative intent? You don’t have to do everything. But you can do something. And when that something is rooted in thoughtfulness, it has the power to spark real change. Let’s choose the kind of thinking that doesn’t just pause but redesigns. Let’s nurture a culture that acts not from urgency but from alignment. Let’s lead not with noise but with thoughtful, steady courage. Because sometimes, the most revolutionary thing we can do is think regeneratively, clearly, deeply and with love. DrPraveena Rajendra is a certified mental health and awareness practitioner specialising in narcissistic abuse recovery. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

what if our care could extend beyond moments of crisis? What if we also noticed the quieter losses, wildlife displaced by roads, strays surviving in silence? Every one of these lives matters. And we can build systems that reflect that. By redirecting excess food to nourish instead of discard, or designing infrastructure that honours the interconnectedness of life. This doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It begins with noticing. Regenerative thinking asks us to slow down. To replace judgement with curiosity. In our homes, workplaces and public discourse, this shift creates room for better design and deeper connection. When we listen, not just to respond but to truly understand, we open doors to more inclusive solutions. Leadership, too, starts here. It doesn’t require a title. It begins with awareness. With the courage to gently speak up when we notice harm, waste or inefficiency. With the willingness to offer better ideas. With the commitment to act, not for recognition but because it feels right. Every step matters. Regeneration isn’t a grand gesture, it’s a way of being. A way of showing up again and again with intention. In Malaysia, we face complex shifts, climate disruptions, environmental stress and social tensions. But within these challenges lie opportunities to lead from within. To think I N D A R A J E N D R A

then, something deep within us stirs, a quiet nudge asking: Is this really the way I want to live? In today’s fast-moving world, many of us are doing our best. We recycle. We post awareness messages. We support

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sustainability when we can. But sometimes, even with the best intentions, we find ourselves caught in the wave of what’s trending rather than what’s truly transformative. And that’s okay. It’s human. But it’s also where regenerative thinking becomes a powerful guide. Regenerative thinking isn’t about being reactive, it’s about being responsive. It invites us to ask better questions, to view the world and ourselves with clarity and care. When we do, we begin to see the difference between surface solutions and systems that truly heal. Take, for instance, how we respond to environmental concerns. We’ve banned plastic straws, a step forward and yet serve the same drinks in single-use plastic cups. We install solar lights in new developments but replace older, working fixtures without considering the waste we create. The intention is good but the outcome could be more thoughtful, more regenerative. This shift doesn’t demand perfection, it calls for presence. It asks: What can we preserve or rethink before we replace? What small act today might ripple into something meaningful tomorrow? A THE East-West Highway is a marvel of its era, serving to block off communist insurgency in the thick jungles and to shorten the distance between the northern east and west coast states. While it has served the nation for over four decades, the highway also has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous roads to drive on due to the hilly terrain, eerie darkness at night and frequent encounters with wildlife. The government has made efforts to improve safety along the highway but serious accidents involving humans and wildlife still occur from time to time. Evidence of these incidents can be seen in the damaged, often non-functioning guardrails and the occasional pothole-ridden or uneven stretches of road. It is time for the government to seriously consider constructing a new East-West Highway – one that better serves the people and provides safer passage for motorists and wildlife. The new highway could incorporate multiple viaduct sections, creating larger wildlife crossings beneath and significantly reducing the risk of human-wildlife conflicts. Additionally, a redesigned route could help straighten the current winding alignment, while integrating traffic-calming features to make the journey safer and less stressful for drivers. A good example of an effective upgrade can be seen in the improvements made to Federal Route 5 for the West Coast Expressway, where drivers can confidently travel at the designated LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com

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New highway needed for east-west connectivity

The East-West Highway has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous roads to drive on due to the hilly terrain, eerie darkness at night and frequent encounters with wildlife. – BERNAMAPIC

northern east and west coast states. Alternative routes, such as the Second East– West Highway through Simpang Pulai and Gua Musang, are equally dangerous, while other options, like detouring through Selangor and using the East Coast Expressway, are significantly longer. It is hoped that the government will soon develop a comprehensive solution to prevent further accidents and wildlife roadkills. Andrew Lee

speed limit. Malaysia has many globally renowned civil infrastructure companies with the expertise to balance wildlife preservation and road safety in large-scale projects. Regardless, Malaysian companies have proven their capabilities, having constructed highways that span nearly the entire Peninsular Malaysia, including the ongoing Pan Borneo Highway project. At present, the East-West Highway is the most viable option to travel between the