A new political mindset is necessary

MP SPEAKS | Certain net citizens are lamenting that I spent most of my time attending and officiating functions of all sorts rather devoting full time to my parliamentary work. 

Actually, I hold the view that elected representatives including all ministers and civil servants should not be invited to attend and officiate any function be it that of NGO or government agency. 

Soon after May 9, 2018, I received many invitations and I did convey to my service centre staff that this is not work-related and is taking up my valuable time.

I explained that I have to allocate time to really look into policy matters and other national issues of importance. 

However, they relayed to me that this is our culture and it is politically not right to reject an invitation. 

I soon realised that almost all those who invited me were actually looking for parliament allocations. 

I then conveyed to the community through my staff that there is no need to invite me to attend any function in order to get allocations. 

I will disburse allocations to all NGOs that truly serve the community according to their needs. I had also given allocations to the NGOs that did not invite me.

Hence, I do hope that this practice of inviting elected representative to attend and officiate any function in order to get allocation must be done away. 

The elected representatives should be free to fulfil his/her core duties and responsibilities at any time necessary. 

A further move to reform our practices will be to stop addressing an elected representative as Yang Berhormat (YB). 

It is totally wrong to address an elected representative as YB as this automatically uplifted the elected representative a level above the other person.

In fact, the elected representative is a level down and has to work for the citizens in general.

Hence, an elected representative must be in touch with his/her voters at all times to know what their views are in relation to any issues of general interest or importance. 

Hence, a departure from voting in line with the party views in favour of the voters’ view may be necessary for all our state assemblies.

The parliament is to ensure that no party leaders can use undue influence to bulldoze through any personal agenda sacrificing those of public interest.

For Malaysia to move in the right direction, the above changes are necessary. 

A new Malaysia also requires the top political leaders to realise and accept that the citizens nowadays are well informed and will not be easily persuaded by our propaganda. 

The present citizens are more likely to accept views generally shared by others in social media. 

Hence, any act and any word uttered by any political leader will either draw praises or boos. 

Political leaders that move and touch the hearts of the citizens are more likely to get the support of the citizens to continue with the people’s agenda.

Place the agendas of the citizens before all else is the way forward for us all!

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STEVEN CHOONG SHIAU YOON is the MP for Tebrau - Mkini