Malaysians NO LONGER CARE & Najib is to blame for his 'leadership' by BAD EXAMPLE

The country’s reputation has been battered from almost all aspects of life on earth. But really, the most recent that affected even our sports arena clearly speaks volumes of the Malaysian mindset – thanks to all our so-called leaders who always never failed to remind us that they know best what is good for the nation and its people.

Listen up Malaysians! What else will we risk?

The recent injuries that were sustained by world best footballers and the forced shifting of the match venue from Bukit Jalil Stadium to Shah Alam at the eleventh hour is totally unacceptable yet we carry on with the infamous Malaysian trademark of “tutup stau mata’.

Foreign fans were inconvenienced and to the point of being short changed; the Barcelona team kept expressing concerns repeatedly on the condition of the original match ground even well before the match was to be played; and sustaining injuries to their prized players it takes a firm “No” from the world class players before the venue is shifted.

How much of reputation damage to the nation would this incident have caused us?

Who really cares? Just duck with “No comments” lah.

The big ones

In fact we all know that here has been more damage that has flown under the bridge of national reputation. Here are some for the records:

> A democratic nation that is still battling with the issue of vanishing ‘indelible’ ink that was used for the electoral process.

> Gun totting and explosives’ crimes going the way of the “Al Capone” as was pointed out by a senior politician.

> The still to be resolved Altantuya murder-of-all murders despite years of anguish, mystery and suspense.

> The “Allah” issue that is closely watched from all four corners of the world.

> The timber raiding and land grabbing allegations against a Chief Minister touted as one of the world’s richest official who ferries himself in a gleaming Rolls Royce.

> The many incidents of business ventures, locally and abroad, that has left bitter tastes lingering amongst foreign partners.

> The very race and religious divisive political mantras we adamantly cling on to when the world around us is speeding ahead with liberating humanity form the chains of tyranny and the denial of freedom of speech, expression and ‘beingness’.

National pride destroyed beyond salvation

Yet, life around here in this nation seems to go on as usual.

Who then is going to haul up the culprits who are responsible for the erosion of national reputation? Who then is going to stand up in the name of patriotism to king, nation and people?

Or is national reputation not a priority?

We need to arrest this ballistic attack after attacks on our nation’s reputation. Any amount of awesome superstructures and edifices; any amount of black gold; any amount of GNP and GDP prosperity – all of these cannot withstand the damage caused by reputation-damage.

When national reputation is lost, the effects are hard to account as it seeps in slowly but steadily over time.

Credibility and good reputation

In case the political leaders of this nation who beyond doubt seem to have steel-hands-in-velvet-gloves digging into the social, economic, political and environmental paradigms that frame humanity disregard the meaning, importance and power of national reputation, let them be told that:

Reputation is the sum of all our actions, thoughts and feelings. It encompasses what we do when we should not do and do not do when we should be doing; what we say when we should not say and do not say when we should be saying.

Reputation damage-control is not hiding behind “No comments”; it is also not about shifting the blame. When the head takes the blame and acts responsibly, battered reputation gains back the respite needed for redress.

Public Relations facades and make belief cosmetic actions as in the likes of propaganda peddling or showcase-lobbying cannot repair reputation damage. It has to be earned. It must be maintained.

Only then can we sustain a reputation in the eyes of the global communities where standards are transforming constantly and consistently.

More importantly, it is the nation’s leaders who carry the yoke of ensuring the safeguarding of national reputation – be it be in politics, social, economic or environment matters that determine the national badge of any country in the eyes of the global community.

It is time that we paid serious attention to the many misdeeds, omissions and tardy attitudes we display in this world that is increasingly being globalised. The world is a networked society. Malaysia cannot sustain its image in such a climate that demands accountability for its actions and inactions.

Unless of course we want to continue with the questionable maintenance culture that is fast becoming our national reputation and the very bane of it all.

MAILBAG