Write to Right, Right to Write: Questions for Reflection and Action

This is not a journey driven by ego, but a mission to make a difference. Just as salt was once used to preserve meat from rotting in the days before refrigerators were available, we, too, must work together to preserve the moral fabric of our society, with our army of 26 soldiers standing united in this mission.

Having been invited to speak at a seminar, the author would be happy to deliver the same talk to journalism students or youth groups. He has also prepared a set of reflective questions to encourage readers to reflect on their own lives and apply some of the principles that have guided his personal journey.

The purpose of this book 

26 letters of the alphabret on the keyboard

This is not an ego journey but as salt, often used to preseeve meat from rotting at an era where refrigerators were not available, we must work together to preserve our society with our army of 26 soldiers. Since he has been invited to speak at a seminar instal, he would be happy to repent the same talk to your students of journalism, or youth groups. This set of reflective questions is also prepared for the readers to apply some of my life’s principles in their personal journey.

Reflective Questions for Write to Right, Right to Write

By Stephen Ng

This author has prepared the following reflective questions based on the book, Write to Right, Right to Write. These questions are designed especially to help younger readers reflect on the experiences, lessons, and principles presented in each chapter, rather than simply test their understanding of the text.

The questions encourage readers to examine their own values, consider their responsibilities as citizens, and think about how they can contribute to positive change in society. They may also be useful for journalism students, religious groups, or community discussion groups, and aspiring writers.

Chapter 1: A Purpose Driven by Passion and Persistence

1. The author identifies purpose, passion and persistence as three important principles in life. Which of these do you find most challenging to practise, and why?

2. How does having a clear purpose help a person persevere when progress is slow or obstacles seem insurmountable?

3. Think of a situation in your own life when persistence helped you overcome a difficulty. What did that experience teach you?

4. Do you believe passion alone is sufficient to achieve meaningful results, or must it be accompanied by discipline, patience and a sense of responsibility?

5. What purpose would you like to pursue that could make a lasting and positive difference in the lives of others?

Chapter 2: Enter the Freelance Journalist

1. The author's journey into journalism began with an everyday neighbourhood problem: a neglected tree stump that became a dumping ground. What does this incident teach us about recognising wider social problems in seemingly insignificant events?

2. When the authorities failed to respond to his complaints, the author refused to give up. How would you respond if your own efforts to seek help from the authorities repeatedly met with silence?

3. The author used a camera and his writing to document problems that others had overlooked. What ordinary skills or resources do you possess that could be used to address problems in your community?

4. The author emphasises that a journalist must maintain credibility, moral courage and integrity. Why are these qualities especially important when reporting on people or institutions in positions of power?

5. The author sees his writing as a calling to serve others, rather than merely a means of earning a living. How might you turn your own profession, talents or interests into a means of serving society?

Chapter 3: Letters, and More Letters

1. The author continued writing letters to public officials, even when he received little or no response. What motivates people to continue speaking up when their efforts appear to be futile?

2. The author's experience shows how the media can give ordinary citizens a platform when official channels fail them. What does this reveal about the relationship between citizens, the media and public authorities?

3. Why is it important for journalists to follow a story until a problem is resolved, rather than simply report it and move on to the next assignment?

4. In the case involving open burning at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), the author presented photographic evidence and was prepared to apologise if his allegations proved unfounded. What does this teach us about the relationship between courage, evidence and fairness in journalism?

5. How can you use your own voice to help someone who is being ignored, treated unfairly or denied a reasonable opportunity to seek redress?

Chapter 4: Modern City Slums & More Brickbats for Local Government

1. The author describes how problems such as clogged drains, illegal dumping, potholes and broken streetlights continue to affect ordinary people. Why should these everyday concerns receive serious attention from local authorities and the media?

2. The author observes that changes in leadership, organisational structures and technology do not necessarily result in better public services. What do you think is needed to bring about genuine institutional change?

3. In the author's experience, complaints sometimes receive formal replies without producing practical solutions. How can public institutions distinguish between merely acknowledging a complaint and actually resolving it?

4. The author argues that citizens and journalists must continue to demand accountability. How can citizens hold public authorities accountable while remaining fair, constructive and responsible in their criticism?

5. The author believes that creating a liveable city requires the participation of government officials, elected representatives, businesses and residents. What responsibilities should each of these groups accept in improving the place where they live?

Chapter 5: Radiotherapy Is Now Covered by Insurers

1. The author's experience with prostate cancer exposed him to the challenges of obtaining insurance coverage for medical treatment. What does his experience teach us about the importance of understanding the terms and limitations of an insurance policy?

2. Should insurance policies primarily be designed around standardised treatment procedures, or should they give greater consideration to medically appropriate alternatives? What principles should guide such decisions?

3. The author chose to question an insurance policy that appeared to limit his treatment options. What can we learn from his willingness to challenge a decision rather than accept it without question?

4. Why is it important for consumers to understand their rights and seek clarification when an institution's policies appear unreasonable or unfair?

5. How can individuals turn their personal difficulties into opportunities to improve policies and protect others facing similar challenges?

Chapter 6: More Victories

1. The author recounts numerous cases in which persistence and public exposure helped bring attention to problems affecting ordinary people. What do these experiences teach us about the relationship between individual initiative and meaningful social change?

2. The author's work often required him to investigate problems outside his regular employment. How can people balance their professional responsibilities with their desire to contribute to the wider community?

3. Some problems can be resolved through public pressure, while others require repeated follow-up. How can we determine when to persevere, when to change our approach and when to accept that progress may be limited?

4. The author describes intervening when he encounters people who are being bullied or treated unjustly. What responsibilities do we have when we witness injustice, and how can we intervene without making the situation worse?

5. Looking at the author's various campaigns, which lesson about persistence, responsibility or public service resonates most strongly with you? How could you apply that lesson in your own life?

Chapter 7: Dealing with Bigger Issues

1. The author moves beyond neighbourhood complaints to address wider questions involving public policy, religious freedom and constitutional rights. What does this transition teach us about the relationship between everyday problems and larger questions of justice?

2. The discussion of Rooney Rebit's case raises questions about religious identity, freedom of conscience and the responsibilities of public institutions. Why is it important for institutions to treat matters involving fundamental rights with care, fairness and respect for the law?

3. The author uses his writing to question decisions and policies that he believes deserve greater public scrutiny. What responsibilities do writers have when addressing sensitive issues involving religion, politics and individual rights?

4. How can journalists express strong convictions about an issue while remaining committed to factual accuracy, fairness and the careful examination of evidence?

5. The author suggests that meaningful reform requires more than individual victories. What institutional or cultural changes do you believe are necessary to ensure that justice does not depend solely on whether an individual has the courage or resources to speak up?

Chapter 8: Where Do We Go Henceforth?

1. Looking back on the author's decades of writing and advocacy, what do you consider the most important lesson about making a difference in society?

2. The author acknowledges that some of his efforts produced meaningful results, while others achieved little. How should we measure success when working towards social change, especially when the desired outcome remains beyond our control?

3. Why is it important for the next generation of writers, journalists and citizens to continue raising questions about injustice, accountability and public responsibility?

4. The author returns to the principles of purpose, passion and persistence. Which of these principles would you most like to strengthen in your own life, and what practical steps could you take to do so?

A Final Question for All Readers

If you could use your voice, skills or profession to address one problem in your community or country, what would it be? What is the first concrete step you could take to bring about change?

After reading Write to Right, Right to Write, ask yourself:

These questions are deliberately prepared to be open-ended. They invite readers to connect the author's experiences with their own lives, rather than simply repeat what they have read.

For Chapter 5, the author would particularly encourage readers to reflect on consumer rights and the importance of challenging policies that may be unfair. For Chapters 4 and 7, the emphasis is on accountability, justice and institutional reform. The final chapter brings everything together by asking readers to translate the book's lessons into practical action.

This approach reinforces the central message of this pocket-sized memoir: writing should not merely describe problems; it should help people think, act and make a difference.