“When the government is seen breaking its own rules, its credibility is gone.”
- Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin
To his credit, Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin has been the only one in government who has gone on record and expressed his views on the farce that occurred during Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's 100-day report card launch on Dec 9.
The four-day event held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre was packed with participants mostly ignoring physical distancing measures meant to curb the spread of Covid-19.
But since when did this government have any credibility in the first place to lose it? Since when did it care about image, integrity, trustworthiness, good governance and other positive traits which come with an open, transparent and efficient government?
Has it ever run the government based on principles and economic fundamentals? How many U-turns and flip-flops has it been making in its policies? Has it ever occurred to the leaders that their announcements and pronouncements should be taken with a pinch of salt?
It has been a case of one set of laws for itself and another for the rest, a case of “our interests” over those of the people.
Just look back at the early days when the Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented in March last year. Deputy Health Minister Noor Azmi Ghazali and Perak executive council member Razman Zakaria were fined RM1,000 each for violating the MCO.
Compare this with the burger seller in Kota Bharu who was slapped with an RM50,000 fine for operating his stall beyond the approved hours and in front of his house.
It was a slap on the wrist for the men who should have been setting an example for the lesser mortals – the rakyat. Shouldn’t it have been a case of “the higher they are, the harder they fall”?
Credibility? My foot.
Then, there was then plantations minister Khairuddin Aman Razali, who went off on a short sojourn to Turkey during the MCO and returned to Parliament without undergoing the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
No charges were preferred and neither was there any recrimination or admonishment by the government. He continues to serve as if no wrong was done. When political expediency (read: survival) is the end game, does anything else matter?
Credibility? My foot.
It is not just issues related to Covid-19, the MCO and its guidelines where the credibility of the government has taken a hit.
Isn’t this a backdoor government a motley group of turncoats who joined hands to boot out a government elected by the majority?
Isn’t this a government of political leaders, some of whom whose own credibility comes into question? Hasn’t there been an exchange of posts-for-allegiance? Haven’t the rewards, materialistic or otherwise, been dished out at taxpayers’ expense?
Credibility? My foot.
The starting point for both the Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob governments is how they ended up there. Have they looked back and recollected how they occupied the seat of the government in the first place?
The now infamous Sheraton Move should be a stark reminder. Did anyone think about credibility when elected representatives who were then on the other side jumped ship? But then, once arch-enemies who swore over the holy book were short on memory. Plump appointments in government prompted instantaneous forgiveness and they, the new-found allies, embraced one another – all for power.
Credibility? My foot!
What credibility when you have an XXXL cabinet just to appease all factions and appoint their cronies to posts in agencies and government-linked companies?
Contrary to being credible, the ability and standing of our ambassadors have been severely questioned with the appointments of five special envoys. Then, there was the appointment of special advisors. Add all their emoluments and you give a tidy ang pow on a monthly basis to a selected few.
Credibility? My foot!
What credibility can this government claim when the dominant party champions a convicted felon who was once described by an Australian newspaper as a "plundering idiot"?
Is there any credibility left when the same party casts aspersions on its own judiciary when it should have advocated the rule of law and admonished makers of such claims and insisted that the legal processes be followed?
Credibility? My foot.
Credibility is something you earn over a period of time by doing all the right things. By executing the duties and responsibilities to meet the expectations of the public is one way of gaining credibility.
You don’t have any credibility when you have different systems for different people based on their colour, creed or status.
You can’t buy credibility like how political loyalty has been carried out with sweetheart deals over the years. Unlike loyalty, credibility is not a commodity that money can buy.
Trust is built on credibility and it is earned – not demanded, traded or bestowed. You can’t become credible by beating your chest and claiming to be such. You are judged by your deeds and thoughts.
John C Maxwell, an author, coach and speaker who has been identified as the most popular leadership expert, has this to say: “Credibility is a leader’s currency. With it, he or she is solvent; without it, he or she is bankrupt.”
Need more be said? - Mkini
R NADESWARAN is veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues affecting the nation and its people. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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