In times of need, we often turn to trades people like mechanics, firemen, doctors and policemen. Their skills help solve our problems, but it is comforting to know that we can also depend on politicians to create laws in the interests of the community. Let us take a peep, behind the scenes, into the corridors of power in Malaysia...

 

First: The principle concern of the many agencies in government is the welfare and security of the nation. Former PM Mahathir Mohamad proposed the censorship of the Internet as “it will be worth it because Malaysians will not be exposed to negative elements such as violence in film and television”.

 

His concern was that Malaysia was a “young country and a new democracy” and “the people do not know how to control themselves, how to discipline themselves”.

 

Second: The days of the politician making decisions on his own are long gone. The process of engaging the community in the decision making process, is de rigueur for politicians in modern Malaysia. In the last Sarawak state elections, Najib Abdul Razak said, “You help me, I help you.”

 

The new family-friendly image means that politicians visit their constituencies every five years, with gifts of rice, Milo and milk. The difficult journey to these backward areas is made easier by the levelling of pot-holes. These are all part of the service.

 

Third: Sometimes, it is necessary to put personal interests aside and think of the country. This decision requires nerves of steel.

 

Last year, in the run up to GE13, speed trap cameras were installed in the interests of road safety, as Malaysians are notorious for speeding and having poor road manners.

 

Unscrupulous politicians might have demanded that the proceeds, from the speeding fines, were transferred into their bank accounts, by the cronies who installed the speed traps. Only a sympathetic leader would request that the fines be allocated to fund the general election, because it benefits the nation.

 

Fourth: Being a car mechanic is easy, filling a rotten tooth is just another version of drilling a hole in a block of wood, but being a politician is an extremely complicated business.

 

Hiring accountants to hide a paper trail is burdensome. All the jet-setting, during the purchase of the Scorpene submarine, for instance, was tiring. Having a translator who can carry one’s briefcase and drive a sports car does help. Having her to translate the menu from French to English means that one knows what one is eating.

 

There are even a few people who are prepared to take the flack for the politician’s mistakes and go to jail on his behalf. The proxy who is willing to take the risk is always handsomely rewarded, when the fuss has died down, a ‘datukship’ awaits him.

 

Fifth: Politicians’ good intentions usually hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. They are often accused of failing to solve a problem because the rakyat’s problem benefits the politician or his party.

 

During the ‘Allah’ issue, the holier-than-thou politicians were relieved that the religious department was instrumental in banning the word ‘Allah’. This action saved the politicians’ skins because they are elected to serve the nation. Civil servants are not.

 

One politician wanted every kampong dweller to own a car. He ploughed money into Proton, and placed duties and tariffs on imported cars. This is patriotism. Then, bottlenecks were created in the road system, to make the traffic crawl, so that everyone could see the proud Proton driver.

Determined to be a high-income nation

 

Sixth: Malaysian politicians, like bosses, are good at motivating.

 

We are determined to be a high-income nation, and a developed nation, by 2020. Politicians have convinced some Malaysians that they are the supreme race. The drawback to this pampering is that many refuse to take jobs which they consider demeaning. Migrant workers have been imported to address this shortfall. They are desperate for jobs, so appear content with the low wages.

 

Seventh: Making hard decisions is not for the faint-hearted.

 

Politicians have to entice foreign investors to pump millions of ringgits and materials into the country. If a tax holiday is not sufficiently attractive, then turning a blind eye to environmental concerns should be an attractive inducement to invest.

 

The politicians may have to allow the processing of materials which leave dangerous radioactive residues. They can make these hard decisions, because they know that income from tourism will drop-off, in the state, if hudud laws are introduced. They have the interest of the rakyat at heart.

 

Eighth: The public is not always right.

 

The investigations into the missing MH370 aeroplane criticised the authorities for not checking passports against the list of stolen ones. Yesterday, when passengers arrived at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), immigration staff were checking the validity of the passports, as a result, queues built up and people complained.

 

Politicians must be asking themselves, “Do you people want speed or an efficient service?”

 

Ninth: Everyone, including civil servants and politicians, is entitled to a stress-free work environment.

 

As the recent GST protest showed, the rakyat are emboldened and not afraid of the authorities. This has complicated matters for the police, and a former IGP has proposed the enactment of a new law, similar to the ISA. He said that opposition politicians, NGOs, human rights activists and religious extremists are sprouting everywhere and making policing difficult.

 

Tenth: Stereotyping of politicians is not good.

 

Many people already believe that politicians do not tell the truth, and twist their words, because they have a secret agenda.  Some politicians like to use big words, or use more words than necessary to confuse and dumbfound the electorate, with their excessive verbal garbage.

 

There is always one exception to a rule. Najib has no use for words, apart from nice-sounding slogans. When trouble is afoot, there is little fear of him saying the wrong thing. He is always missing when there is a national crisis, and only appears once the worst is over.

 

These 10 examples of service and political dedication, are a celebration of one year of Umno Baru rule, since GE13.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO).