The quest to come on-stream as a developed country by the year 2020 has over the last few decades spawned the emergence of a growing number of personalities in Malaysia who have been deemed as orang kenamaan or ‘important persons.’
In the past, in order to distinguish these ‘important persons’ from the ordinary lot, they were bestowed with the honorary label of VIP or Very Important Person.
But as the nation witnessed greater economic growth and prosperity, there further emerged an even more important number of personalities on the local scene and these were duly dubbed with the label of VVIP or Very, Very Important Person.
Free for all
The state of the nation appears to be such now that there are a growing number of Malaysians who are jostling and laying claim to be more important than the rest of the lot. It’s becoming a free for all.
It’s quite fascinating to note, and puzzling in a number of other ways, how a country with a 28 million-strong population can have such a significant and large number of dignitaries. This really seems to be a country with a whole number of big shots as opposed to a small fry like me.
But most unfortunately, on further and closer scrutiny and examination of these VIPs and VVIPs, it is amusing to note that the conferment of titles and awards upon them were, in reality, and in most cases, for such mediocre achievements that it beggars belief that they need to be honoured and recognized as being of people of such great importance.
Not only are some of their achievements insignificant and irrelevant, but the dubious manner in which they have earned “recognition” should also be a case for raising suspicion and concern.
Undoubtedly, the hope of quite a number of aspiring ‘important persons’ is to be able to obtain respect and recognition through shoddy ways and means.
How Malaysians are able to gauge the truth is by merely observing the haughty, ruthless and arrogant behaviour of the minority elite in this country and they will be satisfied by being able to judge for themselves that it is not in keeping with the traits of true, high and remarkable achievers.
As such, it invariably causes whatever value, prestige and recognition of titles or awards granted to these VIPs and VVIPs to erode greatly in value.
Further compounding the issue is that there are such a large number of persons who have been recipient of these titles and awards leading some Malaysians to wonder if there will now evolve VVVIPs in the country to enlarge the minority elite.
Using status to hide wrongdoing
Malaysia seems to be quick to reward and fails noticeably to punish those in the elite minority grouping for even grave violations of the law especially by those who hide under cover of their ‘important person’ status.
It’s really, truly, a happy situation where the significant number of dignitaries or ‘important persons’ who have been guilty of not just kurang ajar or uncouth behaviour, but despite being guilty of injustice, are “untouchable.”
It is basically the “untouchable” VIPs and VVIPs in this country who have contributed greatly to the rise in corruption and cronyism much to the disgust of ordinary Malaysians.
This perhaps explains why Malaysians, especially the younger generation, are defiant and have absolute disrespect for the governing authorities and elite in the country.
Playing GOD
Could perhaps the evolvement of VVVIPs in future also spawn the era of individuals who are actually able to “play God in this country?”
But the enjoyment of immunity from wrongdoings by the privileged VIPs and VVIPs in this country has now become the focus of attention for the common man who shudders at how there are persons in this country who are beyond the reach of even the long arm of the law.
The ordinary Malaysian follows, observes and watches the scenarios taking place in the corridors of power. Fortunately, there is an ample and free-flow of information from the grapevine as to what really happens and goes on behind the closed doors of VIPs and VVIPs.
Not that their activities are common knowledge, but that ordinary folk are able to keep abreast with developments and are able to surmise without much difficulty as there can be no smoke without fire.
Truth always finds a way out
It’s not also that ordinary Malaysians are psychic or being hypothetical in their analysis. It’s just that the truth always has a way of coming out.
It’s as if, no matter what, you can’t subdue the truth, because the truth will prevail, no matter how much skullduggery and cloak-and-dagger stuff goes on behind the scene to cover up misdeeds.
The time has come for Malaysia to put its house in order and it should inevitably be a top to bottom spring cleaning for the country. The corrupt, inept and deadwood have to be weeded out and the capable and able be given the authority and right to govern.
This 13th GE brings Malaysia to the crossroads. It’s the right time and the right opportunity for Malaysian voters to boot the corrupt and restore law and order, meritocracy and justice in this country and cut down to size those who are above the law and bring them to book.
How Malaysians vote in this 13th GE will reflect on whether they have arrived as mature, forward looking individuals who want to shape the destiny of a Great Nation.
It will be more than spring cleaning that the nation needs. If ever the country is to truly move forward and progress, it can only be achieved by Malaysians employing right and proper ways and means to achieve true glory and honor for us and others to enjoy and savor.
Malaysia Chronicle
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