When voting is glorified as a panacea, people become lackadaisical in preserving their rights.
— James Bovard, American author
An uncomfortable paradox standing ready for evisceration and analysis is the leadership qualities of the voters. Most assuredly, herd mentality outshines, overcomes and out-performs critical thinking.
Voters are unwittingly preyed upon byseasoned demagogues and skilled orators who havemade politics their avowed and sworn profession. It’s chilling to watch voters’ leadership waver and wanewith cheap persuasions laced with false promises.
Tribalism is the norm. Every aspirant to a political career joins a political party that appeals to his or her mindset. The butterfly syndrome and frog attributes play important roles as the puppet-master decides candidature.
Lackadaisical leadership is fed and fuelled by an omnipotent and omniscient ruling class of elites who often stay in the shadows. These elites pull the strings. The anointed and appointed puppets simply echo their masters’ wills.
Malaysia meanwhile continues to offer rare opportunities for lackadaisical leadership to be elected, and/or anointed and appointed. This, in of itself, is a recurrent state-of-the-art embarrassment. Read: recycling.
The retiring age for employed government officials in Malaysia is 65 years. Politicians remain running way beyond 70 years of recorded age as a testimony to encouraging lackadaisical leadership, elder abuse, and government decline.
“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things,” echoed US President Ronald Reagan. Who takes credit for this gem — Reagan or his speechwriter?
Leadership in Malaysia is about seeking power, not empowering others who deserve to be praised and raised into leadership roles. Theunmatched, unbeatable and unstoppable villain is sustainable corruption. Band-aid treatment isinevitably reported during a serious bleed.
Real leadership will levy radical and draconian punishments for corruption. Lackadaisical leadership renders a slap on the wrists instead of slapping handcuffs on them. Law enforcement must learn to welcome total overhaul in its policies, programs, procedures and practices.
Constitutions, laws, treaties, rules, orders, declarations, proclamations and regulations are usually aimed at showcasing a civilised way of life where everyone is treated fairly and equally. The Dark Ages is duplicated when government is the principal actor.
Many comments on MA63, and the faithful and watchful IGCR, are mainly focussed on what the problems are instead of leaving no stone unturned in strictly enforcing this internationally-acclaimed treaty.
Sabah and Sarawak must do more to exhibit uninterrupted political stability and maturity despite the ravages of race, religion and region. The Borneo States must exercise their inherent rights to their natural resources that boost their combined potential wealth and political health far beyond contrived and biased constitutional restraints.
The tautology between the word “territories” and “States” in Article 2 Federal Constitution (Admission of new territories into the Federation) is enlightening. The constitutional amendments after MA63, and the IGCR, characterise a continuing cacophony of controlled chaos, conflict,and controversy.
“Equal partners, surreptitiously became “States” of a Federation, with Malaya and Singapore. Lackadaisical leadership seems to be an acceptable excuse and explanation especially when treaty terms are transformed into the deprivation of democratically designed rights.
Robust and regular negotiations to readjust, re-evaluate, realign, and rewrite this constitutional anomaly is acutely noticeable by its total absence. A proactive Borneo Territories Council of Law Reform and Constitutional Amendments will bring a new burst of energy and enthusiasm to right the wrongs.
In South Korea and Japan, bad leadership usually faces public scrutiny and sanctions followed by a public apology and resignation from office of public trust. That is an expression of a contrite conscience and spirit of leaders who failed, and gallantly accepted their punishment.
Kimberly Cheatle, US Secret Service Director is another example of lackadaisical leadership following the failed assassination attempt on Donald J Trump. She cleverly resigned. She escaped a firing, no pun intended.
In Malaysia, the accused are ready, willing and able to plead not guilty, claim trial, smile to cameras while assembling a legal team of experts who are competent at quoting a volume of decided cases (precedents), not consecrated legal principles,to win. Lackadaisical leadership has assailed the professions, too.
The awakened claim there will be no violent regime change in Malaysia as long as the willingness to accept bribes is equally and mutually matched by willing bribe-givers. This is sinful according to Surah al-Baqarah verse 188, Holy Quran, and so say other religious Scriptures, too.
It’s trite to say that law enforcement is lackadaisical in curbing and eradicating corruption. Inherent prosecutorial dna requires keeping eyes wide shut on the Federal Constitution while taking refuge in convenient DNAA outcomes.
Malaysia needs strict liability laws to deal with the scourge of corruption. Strict liability, civilly and criminally, is said to exist when a defendant is liable for committing an action, regardless of what his/her intent or mental state. Parliament has its job cut out provided law reform is still the norm.
The Madani government must assiduously expose unsound minds — Article 48(1)(a) Federal Constitution — to prevent lackadaisical leadership in a concerted effort to save the nation.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
