HORSETRADING, BACKSTABBING: As Najib tries to bully his way through, his men rush for deals with Dr M camp

The on-going challenges and counter rebuttals between Tun Dr Mahathir and Datuk Seri Najib, respectively, brings to the surface a harsh truth – accountability has eroded and is being deemed as a meaningless pursuit in this nation.

The barrage of pro-Najib supporters and key UMNO spokespersons and leaders who rush to tick off the Tun for raising several important concerns further confirm this fact that public accountability is not the preferred dictum of the day.

Someone even went the distance to say that Malaysians (the Tun included) should ‘forgive’ and let Najib continue to do his work. So it also seems that accountability is not the way forward but being able to forgive and forget counts in our nation-development.

Rightful questions from an educated electorate

All that the citizens – the Opposition politicians, a very senior UMNO member and the citizens through their civil society representatives are asking is answers that can enlighten the several serious concerns they harbor in their bosom.

If they are asking about where is all the billions of ringgit associated to the 1MDB; if they want to know what exactly led to the gruesome murder of the Mongolian citizen, Altantuya Shariibuu; if they want to seek answers to the question of why purchase another expensive jet and if the PM’s wife has been ferried in the official jets on her whims and fancy travel needs; if they are talking about RM3 million spent on floral decks for a wedding and even using official residences for the celebration; if they are crying over the GST burden and asking why have it in the first place and now of all times when the ringgit is plunging and cost of goodes is spiraling while salaries have stagnated (except for MPs and thanks to Najib again) – if the citizens are asking all these and many more questions through their equally concerned spokespersons like the Tun Dr or the MPs or civil society leaders, it simply means they want accountability conveyed in a transparent and digestible manner.

But Najib loyalists insist - NO NEED TO QUESTION, NOT EVEN HIS LAVISH SPENDING!

But what we are getting from the PM and his encourage of supporters is tantamount to saying that the prime minister just cannot account! Explanations are held behind closed doors; pre-recorded and edited interviews are beamed on pro-party machinery; and frequent rebuttals at public events.

And responses like:

“Bugis never turn back” translates to ‘do not ask me to explain my deeds and misdeeds. I can only tell you that I will continue doing whatever I have started even if I am beaten to smithereens.’ and 'do not ask me why or how or what, ok'.

“Do not run foul of contempt of court” and “motive is not needed” translates to ‘accounting for deeds and misdeeds is irrelevant and not needed at all.’

“Six months later you will appreciate the GST” means that ‘there is no need to enlighten you on why, who, and how, all these are going to work out; just take it as we give it to you.’

Strange. The various concerned individuals in raising these matters on behalf of the voting citizens have time and time again hoped that the Prime Minister and his wise men and women would have seized the opportunity to provide easily digestible explanations by way of accounting for all teh issues raised with a hiugh degree of believability.

And by being transparent and accountable the forces that be, could have dealt a lethal blow to any agent/agentry that has a hidden agenda of malicious intentions.

But no! Instead the Tun was counter-attacked and even rapped for taking up the issues in the open. The public are mulling street protests in a peaceful manner out of sheer frustration. The opposition block is considering even a vote of no confidence in Parliament in total desperation.

Behind the scenes horse-trading - BACKSTABBING

Meanwhile the pro-Najib supporters are rushing and trying to out-do each other in the process, to broker with the Tun for dialogues and private discussions.

Warnings are being issued to the public by law keepers. Civil servants are subtly silenced from partaking in these questionings of accountability. Legal Members of parliament are made to be seen as trouble rousers.

And all the issues raised in the public arena do not seem to make any apperance in the government controlled main stream media. And if does, it is nice rosy tales or making the rakyat look like some unreasonable fools.

Why?

It clearly indicates that accountability is no more fashionable or a reliable prerequisite for good governance. - MAIL BAG