Of relative power and relatives in power

 

Something seems very wrong with the family unit nowadays. It’s in a downward spiral of dysfunction and selfishness from which it can’t seem to escape. Things will not bode well for the country, nor for society, if this trend continues.

A case in point is the recent admission by the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that he had appointed his daughter Nurul Izzah as a special unpaid economic adviser. He was obviously aware of the impact of this political hot tapioca and appeared to have taken steps to keep it quiet for fear of unfavourable publicity.

To be fair, taxpayers’ money is not involved in Nurul Izzah’s appointment, apart from surely some reimbursables and the odd overseas trips. We’ve been assured there’s zero chance of her being awarded billions in government contracts as apparently had happened between previous unnamed PMs and their children (or children-in-law).

Malaysia’s politicians must produce the most outstanding offspring in the world, many of whom have piled on titles and positions and riches (especially the riches), heroically clawing their way up from the humble positions of being merely children (or children-in-law) of powerful ministers to the dizzying heights of wealth and success. Malaysia Boleh indeed!

The current government is continuing the previous governments’ policy of appointing advisers everywhere they think they can get away with, and taking some chances where they think they can’t. Given the quality of some of the ministers we have, that certainly seems understandable, perhaps even necessary.

Missing a pay cheque

Still, many people focused on the nepotism aspect of this appointment, which forced the prime minister into a huff, a puff and many retorts in sublime and poetic Malay and English (and possibly Arabic), with references to Shakespeare (Much Ado About Nothing? To Be An adviser or Not To Be An Adviser?) too, if you had listened closely.

One of the outcomes of the controversy is that from now on all advisers with blood ties to politicians will not be paid. This announcement came right before a slew of other appointments of non-blood-related (or so we’re told) economic advisers, who inadvertently became victims of the excitement and missed a pay cheque or two by just a few days.

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely, and even relative power may corrupt relatively, too, even if the relative is your own child. But to be fair, it takes years of uninterrupted absolute (and relative) power before they can create the next Malaysia Boleh Too environment. Excellence in corruption doesn’t come overnight.

But it’s another part of the family angle that intrigues me – filial piety. What’s happening to today’s children that their parents can’t even get a decent word, much else economic or financial advice, from them unless they’re given official appointments? What’s next – the latest iPhone and official appointment before you can get anything out of them?

I would’ve thought the PM could easily have got all the economic advice (and engineering blueprints as well as public policy briefs, of which Nurul Izzah is apparently well qualified to give) by just having her over to a family dinner of mum’s cooking at Sri Perdana.

Given how busy the mother is, perhaps order the dinner online if that’s what the young ones prefer. If ordering is expensive during this time of austerity, then combine your order with the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s family dinner too, while he enjoys his own consultation with his own well-qualified child.

Perils of unsolicited advice

Or skip the home-cooked meals and online deliveries and go have a meal at a restaurant. Bring along the other unpaid advisers but please don’t order chicken dishes or eggs because the official government economic advice is that restaurants are the cause of inflation.

There are many perils of having family members as advisers on political matters. A previous prime minister (not quite sure which one, there’s been so many I’ve lost track) had a fierce wife who gave unsolicited advice that many, the PM included, mistook for orders. That story didn’t end well.

There have been widespread rumours on social media that the PM has appointed his wife as the Mother of All advisers, or was it the Supreme Adviser to End All Advisers? He’s denied that, although given how agreeable the PM’s wife is, I’d love for her to be appointed as the Aye Minister. Unpaid of course. Having another minister is not going to bankrupt the country.

I think all these subterfuges and secrets are just to hide the brutal reality that today’s children aren’t like us when we ourselves were young. Those days, we’d tell the parents what they wanted to know, or even what they didn’t want to know, and would happily invent things and throw in the usual suspects such as siblings, ghosts and spirits and nosey neighbours into the mix too.

Somehow you just can’t get away from nepotism in politics, whether in Malaysia or elsewhere. John F Kennedy appointed his brother Robert to become the US Attorney- General. Singapore had their own cases, too, though of course in Singapore it’s different, because, well, in Singapore it’s always different.

Our politicians in Malaysia, in or out of the government, appoint their own kith and kins into positions of power without shame. Some went mad and tried to do good things for the nation, but the majority just followed the script and made themselves rich.

The Adzhar disclaimer

Given that some may think that I, Adzhar Ibrahim, who came from Penang, may be related to the PM, Anwar Ibrahim, who also came from Penang. In order to prevent any appearances of impropriety I hereby refuse in advance any prime ministerial appointments regardless of position or status or salary (or lack of).

In fact, I’ll only accept my own appointment. I hereby appoint myself as the Pro-Bodo Adviser-At-Large to Governments and Society (Prior Appointments Required, Mondays to Fridays Excluding Public Holidays. Tips and Gratuities Accepted). I’ll earn my keep by keeping my job with the firm of Hampus, Mampus, Cukup, Tutup and Ass., Attorneys & Advisers.

Happy to meet at any nearby mamaks to discuss inflation. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.