Keep a hawk’s eye on the lifestyle of your YBs

When Dr Mahathir Mohamad introduced the ‘no gift’ policy - with the exception of flowers, fruits and food – throughout the cabinet and the civil service soon after Pakatan Harapan swept into power in May last year, all of us must have welcomed the refreshing change.

Wow, the new government under the old prime minister is finally serious about moving away from the corrupt ways of the previous regime.

Getting his ministers to reject expensive gifts, commonly showered upon them by those attempting to cozy up to government leaders, was a start to the ‘New Malaysia’ we envisioned and were promised, going into GE14.

Then we also witnessed two new ministers, Anthony Loke and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, famously rejecting their mobile phone and painting gifts in full glare of the media.

Oh yes, what a great start for a new government we all pinned our hopes on! Or so we thought.

But we now know we were fooled, don’t we?

The good vibes did not last long. Our high expectations for a change to an accountable and responsible governance under Harapan came crumbling down like a ton of bricks, 18 months later.

Now, the honeymoon is over, people.

The recent statement by Mahathir that ministers have a right to give out contracts “but not in areas apart from their own” is a matter of grave concern.

I was shocked and thought that the prime minister might have been misquoted but that was not the case. Mahathir said what he said.

Let me put this in a way as we all understood it.

If ministers are allowed to award contracts, who do you think they would give the contracts to? Surely, their first choice will be those within their inner circle – family members, close friends (read cronies) and political supporters.

What happened to Harapan’s promise of open tenders in the award of government projects?

Is not the concept of open tenders aimed to encourage transparency in the bidding of contracts and to weed out corruption?

Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh was right to disagree with the prime minister when he said that “it is morally wrong for ministers to give out contracts, whether within or outside their jurisdictions”.

He said it was an affront to the principles of reform that the Pakatan Harapan government aspired to adhere to.

'Leading moderate lives is the keyword'

In this connection, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s words of advice to party leaders that “they must not be bewitched by power and wealth but must lead moderate lives” has to be taken seriously.

"What is our (PKR's) difference? Our people are the most anti-corruption, anti-extravagance and anti-bribes. But when we rule, (our) idealism begins to wane," he added in his speech to his party cadres at a Shah Alam event over the weekend.

‘Leading moderate lives’ is the keyword. When those in power, who have nothing initially, started to lead an extravagant lifestyle they suddenly thought they deserve or need to, is when the trouble sets in.

Perhaps, the constituents, meaning you and I, should keep a hawk’s eye on the lifestyle of our lawmakers. Let them know if we feel that they are stepping or have stepped out of line.

I have known many MPs over the years and I do observe their lifestyle and their public dealings, but keeping a distance from their private lives.

As a voter in the then Stampin and now Bandar Kuching constituencies, I am happy to report that from the late minister Stephen Yong and Sim Kwang Yang, to Yong Khoon Seng, Chong Chieng Jien and now Dr Kelvin Yii (photo), all of them have led moderate lives.

I do not see the MPs building mansions in Kuching or driving around in Bentleys or hanging around classy clubs or dining regularly at five-star outlets.

On Yii, I’m even proud to say that for the past 18 months since he was elected, he has been exemplary in fulfilling his duties as the Kuching MP.

How do I know? Because I communicate with him on a regular basis and he was also gracious to keep me abreast of his work, through his statements from time to time.

Yii is only 33. My boy is 30. So he is around my son’s age and one I believe I could give counsel to from time to time.

And I have done so, even from the time before GE14 when he was just preparing for his maiden electoral outing.

I believe my young MP would remember when I repeatedly told him then: “When you become a YB, don’t be so big-headed, always remember your roots and stay humble.”

Being young and energetic does help Yii in shouldering his duties as an MP and I believe that if he stays grounded and does not stray, he has a bright political career ahead of him.

The constituents are possibly the best judge of the performance of their elected representatives, for they must have crossed paths regularly. It might be prudent for lawmakers to bear in mind that there are constituents who do keep tabs of their track record, and possibly their evolving lifestyle, too.

My final word to politicians: If you want to live the life of a high-flier and enjoy the finer trappings of life, I suggest you go into business and not be a politician.

Because, if you are one and run up a bill of RM329,000 for luxurious family holidays over a six-month period, and get sued for it in the process, then you are in deep sh*t.

Malaysian politicians do not earn that kind of money to be able to afford such extravagance. Our verdict – it could only have come from ill-gotten gains.

---

FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com - Mkini