No place for arrogance in governance, cautions Rafidah

INTERVIEW | A cabinet minister for almost three decades, Rafidah Aziz knows a thing or two about being in government.

Recently, in an interview with Malaysiakini, Rafidah was asked to impart advice to the newly-formed Pakatan Harapan government which she played a part in putting into place.

“There is no place for arrogance in governance.

“There is no place for arrogance in anything.

“When you arrogant, you forget the Almighty God. When you are arrogant, you think you on your own are powerful, that you can move things around.

“When you are arrogant, you think you can circumvent the law and regulations,” she said.

Though since retired from active politics, Rafidah, along with her stinging remarks, continues to make headlines. In the run-up to the 14th general election, she even stepped out to make appearances at Harapan rallies as a speaker.

“I’m very happy that I participated in helping to change (the government),” she beamed.

'Own your role'

For 21 years till 2008, Rafidah was the country’s longest-serving international trade and industry minister. Prior to that, she was a public enterprises minister for seven years and deputy finance minister.

As she reminisced about her time in government, she recalled how she had been handpicked by the country second prime minister Hussein Onn in 1977 as deputy finance minister when she was just 34 years old.

“I was appointed not knowing everything, I had to learn on the job! It was a completely different kettle of fish from lecturing!” exclaimed the former Universiti Malaya economics lecturer.

Her leap into politics bears some parallels to that of first-time Harapan MPs appointed cabinet ministers like Education Minister Maszlee Malik and Rural Development Minister Rina Harun.

Rafidah advised them to take ownership of their new roles.

“If the leadership has given you that trust to assume a role, there is no role-playing here, this is not a concert.

“To assume a role, one important thing is to understand your role and to understand what is entailed in your job.

“(Don’t just) sit in a cushy job and get somebody to write your speeches for the next five years,” she advised. -Mkini