Are you happy with your leader?

 

If you could be the prime minister for one day, what single thing would you do to improve the governance of Malaysia?

Some young Malaysians may not be aware of the different political and social landscape older generations once enjoyed. Many only know that their lives are ruled by race, religion and rasuah. Previous prime ministers have lurched from one disaster to another, like the 1MDB scandal.

What is your idea of a good leader?

This may be a very simple question, but the answer needs serious thought.

Past PMs, since the early 1980s, encouraged nepotism, corruption and cronyism. Most of their friends benefited from closed tenders, as did their families. They became wealthy from government tenders, from corruption and from stealing taxpayers’ money.

So what did we get after voting for them?

Some of us may treasure our RM50 or the RM500 one-off BRIM payment. Then we became livid when we looked at photos and read about Hermes Birkin bags worth several hundreds of thousands each, the imported sports cars, the luxury watches, the palatial homes worth millions, and overseas bank accounts. What do we have? The Proton and a plastic bag for which we are charged 20 sen.

Is your idea of a leader someone who gives you RM50, or if you are a village head, RM1,000 to vote for him?

All the money Malaysian leaders used to bribe people to vote for them did not come from their savings. They used the taxpayers’ money to bribe us. Few people understand that this is the money collected in taxes, like land rates, the petrol tax and sales tax. In other words, our money is recycled and used to bribe us.

This money could have been better used for the good of all, such as increasing teachers’ wages, for building roads, bridges, schools and hospitals.

Do we want a leader with short-term vision or someone who thinks long-term?

Look at the quality of the leaders we have had till now. They use the three Rs – race, religion and rasuah – to divide us.

That is not the trait of a good leader. He is only angering us and making us suspicious of those from a different race or religion.

A leader must accept the consequences and be responsible for his actions. A leader must unite the people, despite their differences in race and religion. When he does that, he will build a stronger nation because we can work as a team and contribute to nation-building

Do you think your leaders listen to you?

They stole the taxpayers’ money and when you protested, they locked you up. When they broke the laws, like flouting the Covid-19 SOPs, did they listen when you said they were practising double standards?

When you wanted to have a quiet vigil to honour those who died during the pandemic, they fined you. They allowed corruption among some ministers and politicians, and they closed one eye to corrupt civil servants.

A good leader would have dealt with these issues swiftly and contained the damage done to our society.

A good leader would have started the new narrative that everyone is equal. No Ketuanan Melayu, no affirmative action and no special privileges.

Do you trust our current leaders? Do you think their policies benefit you – the rakyat – and the nation?

Are you prepared to question and scrutinise your leaders? Or are you going to be like sheep and allow yourselves to be brought to the slaughter by them?

The definition of “periuk nasi” (rice bowl) for ordinary people is to earn enough to pay for a roof over our heads, put food on the table, have money for our children’s education, set aside a spare amount for medical emergencies and, where possible, have some savings.

However, for many politicians and high-ranking civil servants, their “periuk nasi” is to acquire multi-million ringgit contracts to enjoy a lifestyle which most of us can only dream of.

Are you happy with leaders and politicians who benefit from your hard work? Look around you. One menteri besar threatened a neighbouring state. Many Malaysian leaders destroy the countryside by logging, mining and dumping toxic and plastic waste. We will leave a contaminated countryside for our children and grandchildren.

Do you think our leaders want the best for us? Thus far, most Malaysian leaders only want the best for themselves, their families and their friends.

What is morale like around you, your friends and members of your family? Are you satisfied with how Malaysia is run? Can you work in a team and, in the context of nation-building, are you prepared to engage with those of another race, religion or social standing for the good of the nation?

Are you prepared to sacrifice your self interests for Malaysia?

Selamat Hari Merdeka! - FMT

 The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.