Newly-minted minister Paul Low must be having mixed feelings these days.
Surely, it must have been a great honour to be appointed a minister in the Prime Minister's Department. Low must feel proud to be recognised for his past contributions to the nation, both as a business and civil society leader. Rightly, he should.
On the other hand, the barrage of criticisms against Low could have weighed him down and dampened his spirit considerably.
It must be particularly uncomfortable when people in Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M), the very organisation he served as chairperson, started casting aspersions on some of his decisions.
Then, some Pakatan Rakyat leaders unleashed some harsh words on him immediately after he gave his first press conference as a minister.
I thought that was a bit premature and unfair to the man who has just started work (at a ripe age of 66, mind you) and in an unfamiliar setting.
Yesterday, former MACC adviser Robert Phang dropped another bombshell when he said that Low had violated Transparency International's code of ethics by accepting his appointment as a minister.
Referring to Low's statement that he has no enforcement powers, Phang said it was an admission by Low that he is a lame duck.
Not very uplifting words from people whom Low would gladly call friends, I'm sure.
No words of encouragement, even from friends
I would have thought that words of encouragement from friends and associates, particularly those within the leadership of civil society, would be in order.
Alas no - that was not to be. What I've gathered from media reports are more negatives than positives. But I'm sure the new minister would have received different, kinder and more generous vibes from his private circles.
I wouldn't want to criticise the new minister just yet. He has just embarked on his new ministerial duties and is probably in the process of setting up his new office and sorting out the personnel made available to him.
Surely, it must have been a great honour to be appointed a minister in the Prime Minister's Department. Low must feel proud to be recognised for his past contributions to the nation, both as a business and civil society leader. Rightly, he should.
On the other hand, the barrage of criticisms against Low could have weighed him down and dampened his spirit considerably.It must be particularly uncomfortable when people in Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M), the very organisation he served as chairperson, started casting aspersions on some of his decisions.
Then, some Pakatan Rakyat leaders unleashed some harsh words on him immediately after he gave his first press conference as a minister.
I thought that was a bit premature and unfair to the man who has just started work (at a ripe age of 66, mind you) and in an unfamiliar setting.
Yesterday, former MACC adviser Robert Phang dropped another bombshell when he said that Low had violated Transparency International's code of ethics by accepting his appointment as a minister.
Referring to Low's statement that he has no enforcement powers, Phang said it was an admission by Low that he is a lame duck.
Not very uplifting words from people whom Low would gladly call friends, I'm sure.
No words of encouragement, even from friends
I would have thought that words of encouragement from friends and associates, particularly those within the leadership of civil society, would be in order.
Alas no - that was not to be. What I've gathered from media reports are more negatives than positives. But I'm sure the new minister would have received different, kinder and more generous vibes from his private circles.
I wouldn't want to criticise the new minister just yet. He has just embarked on his new ministerial duties and is probably in the process of setting up his new office and sorting out the personnel made available to him.
Let's be fair to Paul Low. Let's give him time to settle in. Allow him to concentrate on the job in front of him first, before we start to hurl criticisms and insults at him.
Let us give him six months to get cracking on his job and responsibilities. The tasks ahead of him are not one of envy - they sit pretty high on public expectations.
I would even venture to say that only a fool would be willing to take up a portfolio tasked with ensuring that transparency and accountability are the hallmarks of a government that was notoriously famed for its opposites for five long decades.
How could Low seriously think that he could propose changes to government systems, procedures and processes to reduce opportunities for corruption when the very system he is now embedded in is riddled with legal loopholes that enable the rich and powerful to get away with corrupt practices?
If Low is a fool, I must honestly say that this fool has my respect for now.
Even as I appeal to my fellow Malaysians to give Low six months before we start judging him, I must also say I'm not sure that the good man will last that long in the cabinet.
I expect him to clash frequently with his boss and cabinet colleagues in the days and months ahead.
We know only too well what transparency and accountability mean to most of Low's cabinet colleagues. These are the people who were unwilling to declare their assets publicly in the first place.
Low has conceded that he has no enforcement powers and is hoping to rely on the prime minister's stature to enable him to fight corruption.
I believe that the day when push comes to shove in terms of policy matters set in, his conscience will get the better of him.
Thus, I'm not sure Low will last even six months in the cabinet. I foresee a second Zaid Ibrahim.
Nonetheless, if the new minister is a man who relishes tackling the next-to-impossible challenges, then he has my support.
I sincerely hope Paul Low succeeds.
Let us give him six months to get cracking on his job and responsibilities. The tasks ahead of him are not one of envy - they sit pretty high on public expectations.
I would even venture to say that only a fool would be willing to take up a portfolio tasked with ensuring that transparency and accountability are the hallmarks of a government that was notoriously famed for its opposites for five long decades.
How could Low seriously think that he could propose changes to government systems, procedures and processes to reduce opportunities for corruption when the very system he is now embedded in is riddled with legal loopholes that enable the rich and powerful to get away with corrupt practices?If Low is a fool, I must honestly say that this fool has my respect for now.
Even as I appeal to my fellow Malaysians to give Low six months before we start judging him, I must also say I'm not sure that the good man will last that long in the cabinet.
I expect him to clash frequently with his boss and cabinet colleagues in the days and months ahead.
We know only too well what transparency and accountability mean to most of Low's cabinet colleagues. These are the people who were unwilling to declare their assets publicly in the first place.
Low has conceded that he has no enforcement powers and is hoping to rely on the prime minister's stature to enable him to fight corruption.
I believe that the day when push comes to shove in terms of policy matters set in, his conscience will get the better of him.
Thus, I'm not sure Low will last even six months in the cabinet. I foresee a second Zaid Ibrahim.
Nonetheless, if the new minister is a man who relishes tackling the next-to-impossible challenges, then he has my support.
I sincerely hope Paul Low succeeds.
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com
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