Democracy and accountability

The mainstream media was heaping praise on Najib Razak's 100th day as prime minister. He handed 'goodies' to the public in an attempt to shore up his image after having assumed the highest political office in this country amidst controversies and scandals.

But what were these so-called 'people-friendly' measures?

They ranged from 20% discount for road users paying toll more than 80 times per month, 50% discount on the renewal of business licenses for petty traders in the Federal Territories, 3,000 more taxi permits over the next three months, to a substantial reduction of the fee for learning to ride motorcycles in Class B2 of 250cc and below.

It was strange, because Najib ( right ), instead of providing the country with a grand blueprint across the board, appeared to have forgotten his role as prime minister and chose to speak merely like a cabinet member or, worse, a mayor.

The pomposity and grandiosity accompanying the announcements were most unbefitting, to say the least. There is no denial that these measures are important and indeed welcome by many, but they could have been announced by individual ministers concerned.

Being a national leader, Najib should have devoted his time and energy to tackling substantive policy issues that would make Malaysia a long-lasting democracy and competitive economy.

Obama's first 100 days

Let's look at what President Barrack Obama has done to mark his first 100 days in the White House: A US$787 billion economic stimulus plan, an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program that could benefit four million more working families, the passage of the Ledbetter law to ensure equal pay for women, new ethics guidelines to curtail the influence of lobbyists on the executive branch, the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, support for the United Nations Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity , as well as the closure of the scandal-ridden Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

In other words, Obama ( below ) did not usurp the role of the Washington mayor by announcing discounts for subway users or reduced costs of licenses for hotdog vendors, but all the measures that he has taken will have far-reaching, positive influence on American life as a whole. This is where the real meaning of leadership lies.

After the March 8 general election last year, there was a euphoria that the Barisan Nasional's rule was at an end. However, the events over the last few months clearly indicate that such hope is short-lived.

Yes, there are visible cracks within the authoritarian regime, but it is far from collapse, and it is rather premature to talk about democratic transition at this juncture. Any democratisation process must entail genuine and fundamental institutional reform to be meaningful.

Thus far, all we see is the relentless effort by Najib and his government to destabilise the opposition front by hook or by crook, the tragic, mysterious death of Teo Beng Hock pending investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission being the latest example.

Why didn't Najib set the MACC free to summon all BN leaders - past and present - for a host of financial scandals and irregularities? Why Ling Liong Sik, a former MCA president, still walks with his 'conscience clear' despite having allegedly made use of his ministerial office for some dodgy business deals while transport minister?

And why Mohd Khir Toyo has not been called to explain his palatial abode?

1Malaysia sincere or just a hollow idea

The prime minister must demonstrate greater determination to prove to the public that he means business.

To that effect, he is duty-bound to ensure all public institutions - from the judiciary, police to the MACC - can fulfil their role without fear and favour.

Najib understands his administration must be buttressed with an ideology, hence his 1Malaysia concept.

Some see it as reflective of Najib's sincerity in forging a united Malaysia, but perhaps many more regard it as betraying the prime minister's intellectual dearth.

For one, Utusan Malaysia , an Umno mouthpiece, continues to turn every policy issue into a racial debate. From the correct naming of the Influenza A(H1N1), which it adamantly calls ‘Swine Flu', to the request by Chin Peng to come home, you name it.

Meanwhile, the government remains silent on the infiltration of two undercover journalists from the al Islam magazine into a Catholic church on the pretext of verifying allegations of conversion, although a good number of Muslim leaders have spoken against such method, including Khairy Jamaluddin ( above ).

Teo death a crisis of confidence

All the attempts to drive a wedge between Pas and its Pakatan partners, demonise the opposition, and tighten up control of the media only smack of a return to authoritarian rule, which may not be good for Najib's image in the long run.

The prime minister and his team must therefore learn to respect the contingent consent of a real existing democracy: Allowing their opponents to have sufficient resources to contest, and refraining from using executive powers and other state institutions to punish them for making inroads.

(Likewise, all Pakatan state governments must obey the same rules, and I disagree with the decision by Selangor state assembly to slap Mohd Khir Toyo with a one-year suspension. The action clearly denies the right of the people to be represented, especially when Khir is the opposition leader.)

Najib's 100 days have come and gone, but there is little evidence to suggest he is ready to promote the culture of accountability. As President Obama has said, while the first hundred days is important, it is the first thousand days that makes the difference.

The innocent death of Teo Beng Hock ( left ) signifies a crisis of confidence in Malaysian democracy and accountability, but it also presents an opportunity for the prime minister to initiate real reform by allowing a thorough, open and independent investigation, failing which we have no reasons to be hopeful for his 1000th day.