One day, Sang Kancil wandered through the forest in search of tender shoots. Suddenly, the peace of the jungle was shattered by a sound — loud, buzzing, and unsettling him.
“What on earth is that?” muttered Sang Kancil. The noise rose and fell, growing stronger each time the wind blew. Leaves trembled, branches scraped, and the sound seemed to herald great danger.
Known for his wisdom, Sang Kancil did not flee in panic. Instead, he cautiously traced the source of the noise. To his surprise, it came from a large hornet’s nest hanging from a tree branch — but it was empty, abandoned.
Each gust of wind made the nest rub against the surrounding leaves, producing that terrifying racket. Sang Kancil smiled knowingly and said, “Ah… it is the empty one that makes the loudest noise.”
This, of course, is a biting reminder of those who speak fluently yet offer little substance, whose actions fail to match their words. Their speech often sounds convincing: “I know this person, I know that person,” “I know this matter, I know that matter,” “I can handle this, I can handle that,” or “Don’t worry, just trust me.”
And when we are in need, we may place our full trust in such a person. Sadly, their deeds rarely live up to their promises.
The question is: are these “all talk, no action” people always other people, or could they sometimes be one of us?
Whether as volunteers or in any walk of life, we should offer only what we truly have and what lies within our means, even if it falls short of someone’s expectations.
Guard yourself against self‑glorification. Guard yourself against chasing admiration and praise in the short term. Guard yourself against making empty promises, trying to “win hearts,” or embellishing conversations for effect.
Self‑control is the discipline of the heart — teaching us humility and openness. It is not weakness, but maturity. It restrains the urge to be seen as superior, replacing it with the awareness that dignity lies not in grand words, but in honest actions and promises kept.
Be like the yam, silent yet full within, not hollow and meaningless.
(This reflection on volunteerism — a principle close to my heart — is also contained in my book, Suka Rela Sukar Lawan, published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in 2024. For inquiries, contact zakiahsenin@gmail.com)
Zakiah Senin is a lead volunteer with Yayasan SALAM Malaysia, an NGO dedicated to volunteerism in Malaysia for over 30 years.