Our scary state of affairs

Technically and morally, we are already a failed nation.

COMMENT

By Aspan Alias

Not everyone truly comprehends the issues that generate the uncertainties we face as a nation. The problems that beset us are plentiful but too much attention has been focused on the grave personal issues of the Prime Minister, who, moreover, leads a failed Cabinet.

There are numerous economic, social and political issues that cropped up even before Mahathir Mohamad came out in the open to pose questions about 1MDB, the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu and other scandalous matters perceived to be the result of the sitting PM’s weaknesses.

To be sure, the issues surrounding Najib’s person are so massive that one would be hard-pressed to argue against the unremitting calls for him to step down. Indeed, it appears that any effort to circumvent the total collapse of the government will fail unless he is replaced.

The manner in which Najib manages the government is appalling. His administration is perceived to be the worst in the history of independent Malaysia. We have one of the biggest cabinets in the democratic world and we seem to be creating the most unmanageable problems. Technically and morally, we are already a failed nation.

We are going through tremendous trials, and we are crumbling at every corner. Our leaders accede to the calls of evil although they claim to be struggling for God and country. How are we ever going to deal with the world’s perception that we are a nation bedevilled by corruption and beleaguered by powerful pillagers and plunderers of the country’s rich resources?

Our national debts are so high that it boggles the mind. And yet our leaders are still trotting the world to seek more loans to keep this ill-managed nation afloat.

How did a country like ours, which is blessed with such rich natural resources, get into such indebtedness as to beat much larger nations, such as Indonesia, which has a population eight times ours? We wait in vain for someone to tell us what has happened to all the wealth that God has graced us with.

We are in a critical situation and it’s hard to believe that the plunderers will solve the problems brought on by their irresponsible acts. Certainly, we can’t trust anyone from the Cabinet to address these issues since they have allowed Najib free rein to do whatever he pleases. The Cabinet members have a lot to answer for this frightening state of affairs.

There are also huge political issues that have been left simmering for decades. For example, we haven’t addressed the cancerous matters relating to Sarawak and Sabah. They have numerous disputes with federal leaders that need to be stabilised. And yet, the federal leaders seem to treat these matters as if they are trivial and do not threaten national sovereignty.

The voices of discontent coming from the two East Malaysian states are now becoming more deafening. We need astute leaders to respond to them. Regrettably, not a single one of our leaders seems to have the skill required to address the issues. It appears that none is aware of the threat to the integrity of the federation. Worst of all, they don’t appreciate the good that the two states bring to the federation. It’s no wonder that East Malaysians tend to maintain their impression that their states have been mere colonies of Peninsular Malaysia since they joined the federation in 1963.

Who are the astute men who can unravel the nation’s difficulties? Can we not find someone able and willing to enslave himself to the task of delivering us from this scary state of affairs?

Aspan Alias is an FMT columnist.