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Sakmongkol ak 47

ariff.sabri@gmail.com

Friday, 27 August 2010

Where has our leadership gone?

Sometime in 2007, Lee Iacocca, wrote a book titled 'Where Have All The Leaders Gone?. In light of what is happening, I find the subject matter of the book, becoming more relevant by each passing day. We should now begin asking the same question- where have all our leaders gone?

In the early part of the book, Iacocca asks a question which we Malaysians should also be asking- where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder at what's going on.

The level of corruption goes unabated. Ezam Mat Nor says he has got boxes and boxes of hard evidence against Rafidah Aziz and Mat Nor Yaakob and a slew of UMNO leaders. Why doesn't he turn them over to the government? Rais Yatim should be arrested for concealing material that can help the government bust the 18 high profile corruption cases that he once loudly announced. Was that his pompous piety and righteousness that were on display? Where are the evidence? RTM itself should be investigated as to why only one company seems to monopolize all the advertising rights?

The MAS corruption allegations have to be looked into on an urgent basis. Tenders that run into billions are given without open biddings. Large scale projects are said to be pre-chosen by people close to sources of power. A former sportswoman who didn't accomplished anything of enduring significance, is getting lucrative contracts that run into hundreds of millions. Big corruption cases continue to be swept under the carpet. The economy isn't doing well.

It's nice to paraphrase Iacocca- we've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind- such as proposing to build a new MRT at a cost of 30-40 billion where a simpler tram system which would probably cost only RM 2 billion can do the trick. We actually have a 1 Malaysia dominated and monopolized by the already rich and powerful and another 1 Malaysia inhabited by the voiceless but who are increasingly incensed.

We should all be outraged and not be derailed by infantile labeling of those who speak out as Melayu liberal if those who speak out are Malays. Or if those speaking out are non Malays, they are called anti Malays. That labeling is an intellectual lazy argument and is an attempt to stop people from feeling outraged.

Thus when I rail against the NEP for example, I am not all anti those measures that were meant to help the poor and the disadvantaged but I am angered by the blatant exploitation of the policy to steal from this country.

And the absence of leadership is no more glaring when we see the increasing popularity of ideas talked about by former premier Dr. Mahathir among the Malay public. Although it affects Malays in particular, nevertheless because of the reality of Malaysian politics where UMNO politics make or break this country, these ideas eventually affect national politics. UMNO will be severely hurt unless it can offer leadership to the Malays. Unfortunately the UMNO leadership hasn't done this, i.e. provide an interest-sticking leadership.

One commentator has provided a most perceptive thought to explain what is going on.

The fact that Mahathir is able to take centre stage and speak so loudly is because Najib has forfeited the stage to him - the elegant silence that Sakmongkol referred to. This is an abject failure of leadership. Leadership requires the selling of major ideas, to explain what those policies are, and how the people will benefit. Merely having labs and seminars won't do. The vast majority of the people do not participate, and it is all too complex for them. There is a need to go to the ground, not just to show his face or shake a few hands, but to speak about the key issues and speak repeatedly until people understand the issues clearly. We might remember how Mahathir campaigned against the sultans to take power away from them. That is the kind of effort needed. And he needs his ministers to all read from the same page. This does not seem to be the case. He is the lone voice out there. It won't do.

Lastly, it should be remembered that leaders don't always lead their people to good outcomes. Jim Jones and Hitler are good examples. But to ensure these types have no influence at all we need the good leaders with vision and courage to emerge and lead. Where are they?

27 comments:

ex-teacher,  27 August 2010 at 07:45  

Dato Sak,

I enjoy reading your blog, though at times I do disagree with some of your thoughts. But, more importantly I understand your intention of bring about `real' changes in UMNO leadership and its members.

However, one suggestion I have to offer is for Dato' to start writing in Bahasa Melayu if your targeted group is the UMNO leaders and UMNO members, for reason that you would know. I believe it can also attracts non-UMNO Malays (not anti-UMNO) group who are large disagree with PKR or PAS.

I think, it is the Malay masses, that really need to be exposed to your provocative yet well-intented thoughts.

I was thinking of starting a blog to mirror-translate your posting, but it's much work. Perhaps, one a while, please consider writing in Bahasa Melayu.

Anonymous,  27 August 2010 at 08:11  

The leadership UMNO is seeking can only be obtained when UMNO reforms itself. But the reformation needs another reform that is the psyche of its members or to be more specific the Malays.

And the Malays can only change themselves when they want to. But to produce that 'want' in Malays we should take back the 'dope' that have been given for many years. It will cause withdrawal syndrome but if the support system is well enough it can be done without so much pain inflicted on the Malays. But the support system which the Malays should be having are hostile to them and maybe want the Malays to just die rather than giving them the dope since they want to keep the dope for themselves. But the Malays don't want to die but rather have the dope forever to survive and thus causing the circle to never end.

Thus the status quo stays. We can only then pray for god to save us..

Quiet Despair,  27 August 2010 at 09:17  

Salam Nuzul Quran Sak and all my Muslim friends especially Hakiman (if he's Muslim).
May Allah bless Malaysia and its people.

Just a light touch to this beautiful holy day.

Najib has offered to find a wife for Taib Mahmud to replace Datin Laila who died early this year.

"I am sure there are women out there for you. The Federal Govt can offer to help you find one," he aaid.

Oh my. Najib, Najib.

Anonymous,  27 August 2010 at 09:31  

ini kan zaman liberal. semua orang boleh bercakap

Anonymous,  27 August 2010 at 10:41  

SAK,

Do you really see a change in leadership approach in our Malaysia political context? We must always remind ourselves that most (if not all) PM used to be the DPM, so what make Najib a difference?

To lecture the leaders how to manage is a waste of time, you better spends your time enlightening our electorate how to vote wisely, and that will transform the leader.

HuaYong

Anonymous,  27 August 2010 at 10:48  

The leadership is coming from Zaid Ibrahim, Khalid Samad, Khalid Ibrahim, Dzukifli Ahmad. You just don't like where its coming from.

Anonymous,  27 August 2010 at 11:01  

Dato'

Now you see them, now you don't.

And now is the opportune time for Dato' to consider your political future as GE is just around the corner.

Anonymous,  27 August 2010 at 12:09  

Can UMNO reform ? I dont think so and there is not much time left.It needs to be kicked out ,reform itself and then perhaps with new leaders at its helm come back to lead the country again but for now it must be shown the door, to show that the rakyat is the boss and they work for us and their job is not to pillage and plunder this country and if they do they must be held accountable.This country must be looked after well, not only for our sake but for the generations of Malaysians to come.We had so much potential at one time ,but today we are the sick man of Asia.Every citizen of this country must be looked after and as the slogan goes ,no one gets left behind.

schenker78 27 August 2010 at 13:51  

well,

that 18 boxes is the bargaining chip to get najib giving him senator salary and other perks.

so who is going to investigate the names in the 18boxes.

Police rank no 3, dato ramli was put into the court because he bypass Musa Hassan, AG gani and ACA/MACC, and hand over investigation report on MAS direct to Badawi. When there are crooks in the police leadership and in the AG office, nothing will happen.

However badawi, who is the sleepyhead and horny old man towards Jeanne danker, an ex-catholic biras, chose to put the case on NFA.

What can badawi do when he himself stuck in Iraq Oil for Food scam, MAS catering contract and Scomi nuclear parts scandals.

Anonymous,  27 August 2010 at 15:38  

In your posting this morning , you suggest that some commentators maybe using Malay names but they , ethnically , may not be Malay. Of course , implicitly, this would also mean there maybe Malay commentators here who maybe using non Malay names to make similar comments .

I can't understand why you make it seem like this is wrong . Afterall, this is Malaysia and i don't think there is any law against this .So i would be grateful , if you can offer some lucidations here explaining why this maybe wrong . thank you

Anonymous,  27 August 2010 at 17:43  

Dato'

You said in your erlier posting referring to Tun Dr M:

"Even an aged lion can still scare away the hyenas."

DS Najib and the rest of his motley crew do look like a pack of hyenas running scared of the Old Lion...

Why don't they lessen the agony and just pass the Leadership back to Tun Dr M.

At least we know exactly where UMNO and BN stand. As it is, the whole country is confused.




Joe Black

Anonymous,  27 August 2010 at 18:53  

" Merely having labs and seminars won't do. The vast majority of the people do not participate, and it is all too complex for them. There is a need to go to the ground, not just to show his face or shake a few hands, but to speak about the key issues and speak repeatedly until people understand the issues clearly. We might remember how Mahathir campaigned against the sultans to take power away from them."

Madhater Teloq besak.

Najib Teloq selit dalam "elegant silence"

Game Over UMNO.

PM part Bugis? Really!? do the Rakyat even cares? those are just Rhetoric Ass kissing by them Rent-Seekers and Melayu GLO-KAL.

-Ikan Tongkol-

schenker78 27 August 2010 at 20:39  

Raja Petra is appearing in Hard Talk, recording on 1st sept and will be shown on BBC within 1 week....

cant wait for the hard hitting punch from RPK towards fascist nejib and maha firaun.

If anybody watched mahathir when he appeared on that show, you know mahathirs ball shrunk greatly that day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP6ZISgzT6M&feature=related

schenker78 27 August 2010 at 20:46  

Ikan Tongkol,

kalau dulu awak rajin baca Sejarah, Orang2 Bugis ini terkenal sebagai keturunan Lanun, sama seperti Vikings dan keturunan Australia, Banduan2 dari Great Britain.

So x heran lah Najib pun perangai sama seperti Lanun macam nenek moyang dia lah...

PS.... RPK x bayar 1 sen pun kat APCO untuk muncul di BBC padahal Najib bayar berjuta2 nak cium buntut Obama, x lupa Mahathir bayar Abramoff untuk cium buntut George Bush, yang hari ini dia kutuk plk.....pelik sungguh org politik ni....

Anonymous,  27 August 2010 at 22:03  

Dato, I sense your frustration and despair. Being an Umno member and all makes it worse. As an ordinary man on the street, I have already given up on the so-called leaders that are running the country. They are just a band of thieves. And shameless too. The worst thing is not that they are greedy for money that belong to the people but the way they go about getting it. They use religion and racism and are even prepared to scarify the peace and whatever little prosperity left of the country. Honestly I don't understand how you can stand to continue to fight from within Umno when no one really listens to you. Thanks for trying anyway.

Anonymous,  28 August 2010 at 12:04  

Dato,

Every time when meritocracy is mentioned, the issue of level playing field crops up. Along the way some people has transformed this issue into a chicken-&-egg argument.

There must be level playing field in order for the implementation of meritocracy to be fair. But inherently meritocracy is a pre-requisite of level playing field! Otherwise, how to create level playing field without meritocracy?

So how do these two concepts jive with each other?

Society at large, by nature, is classified into difference SOPO economical layers. Each layer has its own distinct functions & characteristic, served by trained personnel with special skills.

Do noted that these special skills r NOT inherently racial – the acquired of these skills r colour-blind but through individual efforts.

Someone said this,

‘In a homogeneous country, the benefits of meritocracy outweighs its disadvantages. In a multiracial country of ours, meritocracy may have serious pitfalls if it runs unchecked.

A level playing field must first be achieved if everyone have to compete on equal grounds. Thus NEP, the so called affirmative action, is developed to achieve this. With NEP, opportunities were given to these children to get out from the vicious cycle of poverty.

The biggest achievement of the NEP is the creation of large middle class for all races. In the 60′s, nearly 80% of the people are poor. Now, nearly 90% fall into the middle class category.

Meritocracy does not favor the weak and the handicapped.’

Very eloquently argued. But then how do one explain the achievements as shown by the Others since colonial times? They were weak & handicapped (uneducated) too. & yet they have risen up from a non-level playing field. What gives?

Moreover, what happen to that 90% middle class category? Cant they formed a self-help group to uplift their kindred? Wasn’t/Isn’t that what the Others r doing for their own kindred minus the help of the govt? What takes?

‘A level playing field must be achieved before full meritocracy is implemented.’ Fair…. but .. but after RM52B & 40+ yrs? How much more money & time DO u need?

‘If meritocracy favors only the rich, and the rich are made up with people of the highest per capita income or comes from one racial community, then meritocracy is indeed, a racist tool disguised under the cover of a really nice concept we call ‘meritocracy‘.’

Can u see that this argument loops around the race angle? If those favoured, whether they come from the rich &/or one particular community, can do a better job in governing the COUNTRY, then so be it. What’s the use of having idiots & nincompoops, destroying the fabric of the nation for the sake of level playing field?

See the current mess that M'sia is in now?

Indeed, Why do the rest of the people do not realise this?

Could it be bcoz they r been manipulated by class4 human scumbag?

Anonymous,  28 August 2010 at 16:04  

The problem with this country's so called leaders is they associate leadership with fancy slogans and rhetorics, example, Vision 2020, Islam Hadhari, 1Malaysia, etc. When will these so-called leaders understand and accept that their leadership is measured by their actions, honesty, integrity and they walking their talk.

We have these so called leaders telling us to spend less and live thriftly in these difficult economic times and then they proceed to approve suspicious megabucks projects.

We have Rais Yatim amd Ezam Mat Nor "promising" to expose leaders of questionable character but sadly put their tails between their legs when they themselves were rewarded with a ministership and senatorship. Even the great TDM is now going back on his words.

There had been no able leadership since TDM becane the PM because he intentionally destroyed the system of leadership and replaced it with nepotism, cronyism and feudalism. This leaderless trend will continue as long as UMNO continues to live in it's own fantasy world that this country and non UMNO people owes them a living.

Anonymous,  28 August 2010 at 16:27  

Agree with ex-teacher. You should write in Bahasa Malaysia. It's the UMNO masses you need to reach out to.

Anonymous,  28 August 2010 at 18:54  

I think there was never any leadership since TDM took over. To be a leader, the leader brings the country forward not backwards relative to other countries around us.

We have practically no natural disasters like other countries in this regions from China to Indonesia. We have a huge enterprising community. We have among the best in the region in bringing the country to the next level.

So can anyone tell us, which leader is worth calling a leader? I mean those who calls the shots .. not those long time oppositions like Lim Kit Siang or PAS's Aziz.

So it was not a question of gone or not gone. It is rather a tidak ada leadership worth the name for the last 25 years.

Anonymous,  28 August 2010 at 19:02  

Schenker78 20:46

Hmmmm Sejarah dulu rajin juga tapi zaman saya baca teks terbitan DBP banyak emphasise pasal Parameswara

Bugis memang la ada keturunan lanun
dan sebagainya

Tak tahu pulak Zaman Bugis - Dato Najib sampai " LU TOLONG WA, WA TOLONG LU"


Entah la apa nak jadi

Semua Haprak - Politik Malaysia takde harapan cuma bau hapak dan percakapan Haprak.

UMNO tunggu apa lagi? semua change ship to PERKASA PRIBUMI wah sungguh gah bukan nama Perkasa?

Now, where's that pribumi perkasa coffee sachet I put just now ...

-Ikan Tongkol-

Col Roseli 29 August 2010 at 00:09  

It is not easy to reform UMNO as their leaders are all elected by the UMNO people particularly the perwakilan, who shares the same dream and interest as them.

As I see it, only the Malays can change UMNO. And this can be done thru GE13 by kicking them out so that the young can take the lead after GE14.

Anonymous,  29 August 2010 at 00:16  

Yang sibuk2 nak pegi LAB nih budak Arts Stream..cos kat sekolah they never had chance to go lab...

Tak surprising lah kalo results kat Lab tuh semua half past six aja..pemikiran budak2 Arts Stream tak sampai kemana.

umar,  29 August 2010 at 01:46  

Tuan,
UMNO is deeply entrenched in Feudalism. Remove this bigotry and UMNO will emerge clear of all inhibitions.Changing the captains alone is not going to change the malay mindset.The malay mind has been conditioned by generations of mal-nutrition ( of the mind, not food )to not to question authority or dissent.To question anything is 'derhaka'.
We need a long revolution and not just cries of Reformasi or Transformasi that would engage the malay mind to think,digest, judge and eschew. Something very hard for ordinary folks to ponder after generations of subjegation to comply to authority.

Anonymous,  29 August 2010 at 06:08  

AGREED. JUST JOIN PR, SAK! U R A VICE PRESIDENT'S MATERIAL.

Anonymous,  29 August 2010 at 08:35  

Brilliant, just brilliant, Dato'.

Primarily, as a law abiding citizens, we must make Corruption the number one enemy. We must not CONDONE any corrupt acts especially among leaders.

The under-currents of corruption embedded into the social and political fabrics need to be kept in perspective, failing which we may be sliding towards being an undeveloped nation again.

I suppose, the law has been suppressed intentionally to prevent the public from exercising their rights to freedom of information, expression and habeas corpus.

Btw, I am also planning to set up an association for True Professional and Golfers Club.

Hopefully, it could be the forum whereby we can enjoy our usual game of golf, create Awareness, develop Interest, build Desires and finally take Action towards making Malaysia developed in the true sense. AIDA it?

Appreciate feedback from all readers.

The Ombudsman

More dirt here.
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28452020&postID=9026126045017079570

Peter,  29 August 2010 at 11:05  

Yes, we urge all Malays to unit under PKR or PAS whichever your religious inclination level is.

You see, with Pakatan, the number of Malays representation would increase and Pakatan knows how to work closely with Chinese to bring forward everyone including Malays to the next level.

You need the Chinese to do business in this part of the world. Without their help you will be forever be small jagur kampong businessmen while guys like Robert Kwok take on the world,

Don't rush to become employees. That is good for experience but take the risk to be good businessmen.

A business once built will pass on to your children. A job is only good for yourself until you retire. Your children will have to start all over again. You can never go up.

Give Pakatan a chance because you can see for yourself how UMNO is condoning the likes of Ibrahim Alis and do you think Chinese can work with ANY GUY who is a friend of his?

We shall actively boycott any company/party that has any association with him.

The future lies with the vast decent silent Malays who thinks that to make Malaysia a better place is to collaborate and work together.

I tell you and I can fortell you. In six months' times, the world is going to get him real bad. Why?

USA is now in very bad shape. The stimulus money is at its end globally and millions of Amercians today cannot find work.

Without demand, all our factories will get it real bad like in the '80s. Today we still have China to provide the demand (hey Chinese helping lah). China will suffer too.

Then the recession will hit us real bad.

The fittest survives.

If everyday, you guys love to hear Ibrahim Alis .. .then go ahead. Let's see how many of you will still have a job or business to run

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