COMMENT | Rafizi Ramli emailed me a ‘thank you’ note the very same day my article, ‘Why I’m impressed with Rafizi Ramli’, was published in Malaysiakini on March 13.

The Pandan MP, whom I do not know personally, wrote: “Hi Francis. Thanks for your kind words in Malaysiakini. Very rarely people write so glowingly about me kah3. I am not the type who pays attention to flattery, but yours was not. It was kindness on your part and for that, I appreciate it so much.”

Well, that was thoughtful on Rafizi’s part. He took the trouble to send a ‘thank you’ note, even to a stranger. I have never met the young MP.

I believe Ambiga Sreenevasan, like Rafizi, is not one to pay much attention to flattery too. I am not about to flatter Ambiga here nor to glorify her. Ambiga and Rafizi are two public figures who are above personal glorification. Certainly, they are not egoistic. That much I dare say.

I observe people from afar these days – notably political leaders and civil society leaders. I’ve also learnt to be inconspicuous if I intend to do that, and with a certain degree of success.

You see, when you praise those, either in speech or in writing, whom you do not know or hardly know, people will have little or no reason to criticise you.

Hence, I do not keep company with big shots, unlike in the past. Granted, I do have several political leaders, including Sarawak ministers, as friends on WhatsApp and that’s about it.

In observing people, I’ve also learnt that their immediate reactions to different situations can be giveaways as to their true thoughts and feelings. But what I really look for are humility, decency, trustworthiness, wisdom and leadership qualities, especially if one is aiming for public office.

In Ambiga Sreenevasan, I see a woman who is humble, bright and above all, trustworthy. She is also able to articulate her thoughts well. Her messages are generally well received, perhaps even by her detractors.

Ambiga is a much-lauded civil society leader today because she cares for her country and fellow Malaysians. Although not a politician, she joined the Pakatan Harapan ceramah circuit occasionally, declaring that she was on the side of those who earnestly wanted to see a better Malaysia.

Mind you, a blind follower Ambiga is not. In the past, she has held differing views with even opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on certain issues and she was not afraid to speak her mind. She is a woman who is not intimidated by powerful men. That is the strength of a real leader. Why, I think Ambiga could even handle US President Donald Trump.

Unlike Rafizi, I do know Ambiga personally. She was the Bersih chairperson from 2011 to 2013. The Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) which I head is an endorsee NGO of Bersih. I used to attend Bersih meetings chaired by Ambiga and I once accompanied her to submit a memo to Suhakam.

Of course, I was also grateful to Ambiga when she publicly supported a “Red Rally” organised by MoCS in Kuching in 2011.

When she announced her decision to step down as Bersih chair in 2013, I recall her saying “Two years is enough. No one should lead Bersih for more than two years...