The recent and still ongoing furore over the academic qualifications of Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Marzuki Yahya should serve as a good example for all our leaders that respect can only be achieved in one way – it must be EARNED.
Unfortunate as it may be, Marzuki’s case is not uncommon among our Malaysian “culture” of looking up to people with qualifications of any kind, even the wrong kind – many appear to put more emphasis on form rather than substance.
A name card with many dubious titles and qualifications appears more worthy than one without any – so it seems, better still, if printed on good quality paper to lend credence to its legitimacy.
It seems to make the person feel good and “respected” until his cover is finally blown.
Denials and clarifications will then take over, despite the obviously weak arguments, explanations, clarifications or even justifications.
A forthright apology would have gone a long way to make things better or soothe some frayed nerves but unnecessary time and energy are spent in continuing the defence of an indefensible position.
Would we have expected an apology from someone who has obtained his “qualifications” in an unqualified way?
Even if an apology were extended, would it have resolved the matter?
Obviously not.
Then why do it in the first place?
Isn’t that a form of deception?
This does not only apply to Marzuki but to all others, especially our ministers, leaders and those in positions of office where public trust is of paramount importance.
Like trust, these qualifications must be properly earned, not dubiously acquired.
Tan Sri Clement Hii summed it up very appropriately when he wrote on his Facebook page: “Morally, if you cheat others with false qualifications, you’re ultimately also cheating yourself.
“I think it’s like buying fake branded goods.
“It might not be illegal to get one but once you use it to misrepresent and deceive to secure an advantage, then legally, I see it as a clear case of fraud.”
In this present world of social media and its scary “viral” weapon of mass distraction, news does seem to travel faster than light.
From fake degrees to fake news, it’s just at our fingers tips and there is no shortage of messengers to ensure that the news travels and reaches the ends of the world – many a time not even properly verified, especially by political missionaries.
More drama appeared on our stage as the location shifted from Cambridge to Istanbul when it became public knowledge that gaming company Da Ma Cai sponsored a delegation led by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun on a working trip to Turkey.
It was reported that the delegation was in Turkey to learn about policing online gambling – that may perhaps explain why it was sponsored by a gaming company, although “gaming” sounds like “gambling” but it’s not gambling.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had earlier said it was funded by the Malaysian Totalisator Board, a statutory board under the Ministry of Finance.
Our Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng then clarified that the funding was not from the finance ministry but from Da Ma Cai, a number forecasting company, so they didn’t get a sen from the government.
We are supposed to believe our Home Minister because he is also overseeing the police force, whose motto is “Bersih, Cekap Dan Amanah” (Clean, Efficient And Trustworthy).
But we also have to believe our Finance Minister, who is renowned for his clean and transparent image and travels on economy class while senior police officers to Istanbul were allegedly flying on business class.
That leaves Da Ma Cai – let’s wait for them to clear the air and maybe explain to us that “gaming and gambling” are not the same just as “police” and “policing” may not be the same although they may sound similar, if not familiar.
I am not sure why it has to lead to all these twists and turns.
Maybe Pakatan leaders are still honing their skills in public relations that they have to contradict each other, even in moments of truths.
We have been told many lies by the previous Umno-BN regime, which were expertly spun into half-truths and even accepted as gospel truths by the gullible among us.
Maybe Pakatan leaders are not that adept at telling lies or maybe they don’t know how to lie properly – this comes with experience as Umno-BN had 50 over years of experience in both until that myth was shattered on May 9, 2018.
We hope the Pakatan leadership will buck up and stop taking us for fools.
The least they should do is to show some respect to the many voters who opted for “change for a better Malaysia”.
It didn’t come easy, especially the respect – if you don’t earn it, you don’t deserve it.
Please stop all these unnecessary nonsense and get back to more serious work.
Time to buckle up – there’s a rough and turbulent journey ahead of us.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
