Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi in his address to the Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi on Dec 21 last year, stated how he intended for his government to comply with his Islam Hadhari vision, as follows:

'First is a commitment to good governance, which must be demonstrated through best practices, righteous conduct and moral leadership, accountability, justice and the rule of law.'

Let us examine whether these avowals have been met by one of his ministers.

The situation - An innocent bystander has been shot by a reckless enforcement officer, who had failed miserably to exercise due diligence and care for public safety. The seriousness of any alleged crime associated with selling pirated copies of VCD surely would be insignificant in comparison to the consequential gravity of this unmitigated and deadly action.

The government failing - When public safety is at risk, the officer should have backed off from an aggravated situation rather than take the impetuous action he had taken. This is the basic rule of engagement for any police or government officers entrusted with the use of deadly weapons. Salus publica suprema lex - public safety is the supreme law.

The consequence of the government failing - While the issue of whether such a deadly weapon as a semi-automatic ought to be provided as standard gear to enforcement officers remains to be debated, an innocent member of the public continues to suffer an injury inflicted by one of the minister's officers.

The assessment - Where is the commitment to good governance demanded by Islam Hadhari? Where is the demonstration of best practices, righteous conduct, moral leadership, accountability, justice and the rule of law as espoused by the prime minister?

Why should the Penang government have to appeal to Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Minister Shafie Apdal to pay the victim's - Chow Heng Khow - medical bill? If it feels the need to speak up for Chow, and indeed it should, it ought to demand - not appeal to - Shafie to take the correct action, and to demonstrate good ministerial responsibility.

The Penang government seems to have also lost its bearings on good governance, righteous conduct, moral leadership, accountability and justice in its obsequious supplication. This is Shafie's responsibility, and his alone, to discharge expeditiously without submitting Chow to further suffering.

The conclusion - But the trouble with Malaysia seems to be one where ministers and bureaucratic bigwigs would conveniently ignore the plight of innocent commoners, even when a governmental wrong has been committed.

They only condescend to do something if there is adequate grovelling by the applicants or representatives. Perhaps somewhere in this disgraceful conduct lies the misguided perception that the minister would be absolved of all blame.

The recommendation - I would like to see the principles of Islam Hadhari swiftly manifested in the practices and conduct of the Malaysian federal and state governments, particular in this case.

Treat Chow immediately and compensate him for his suffering and disability for the intermediate term.