COMMENT | Those in power need to prove themselves more to the people

COMMENT | I spent last night with my family celebrating my mother’s 70th birthday (happy birthday mummy!) when my uncle asked me what I thought about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s approval rating after all the fiasco about Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s court cases being given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).

My answer is - I don’t know. My uncle, however, thinks it’s utter nonsense.

Nobody really knows what happened. As far as the people are concerned, there seems to be a lot of damning evidence on the different cases that Zahid has been charged with.

And with the big movement on fighting corruption, it seems like there was a big cover-up to get him off the hook. So, could you actually blame them for having that kind of perception?

Speaking of perception, as journalists, we are always being told that we need to be honest, truthful, and transparent about our reporting.

We need to strive as much as possible to achieve that, and at the very least, we need to show that we have made all the effort to portray honesty, truthfulness, and transparency.

That gives confidence to the people who consume the news to trust us.

Political interference?

That is exactly what it’s supposed to be with democracy and politics as well. There needs to be honesty, truthfulness, and transparency because the people need to have faith and confidence in the people they choose to govern them.

So, no matter what, politicians and elected leaders need to strive for that, or at the very least portray that it all exists in order to gain the trust of the people.

When the Attorney-General’s Chambers decided to apply for a DNAA for Zahid’s case, it really came out of the blue because the trial had been going on as usual (aside from the occasional delays and postponements).

To the people, there are no real reasons as to why the DNAA would suddenly be announced. So when it was reported in the news, people just related it to what the popular perception is - political interference.

Whether it is really political interference by Anwar or not, the perception shows that the possibility of it exists, and when that happens, it goes against the democratic rule of having honesty, truthfulness, and transparency, or at the very least, the perception of it.

Whatever statements or explanations they give now would be considered firefighting because the damage is already done.

The AGC’s explanation of needing further investigations could actually be valid. It is also true when they say that it is “better ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer”.

However, it was also valid when Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah - as well as many others - criticised the AGC’s decision to apply for a DNAA. This should lead towards a civil public discourse.

The public perception of political interference in Malaysia’s justice system is something that has been ingrained for decades.

So, what else can you say when that is the default go-to reasoning of the people? It would take so much more than just a simple statement by the AGC to prove that whatever decision they made. And if they were sincere, they would make the effort to convince the people.

Keeping an open mind

This is similar to Anwar’s statement as well when he said that although he understands the sentiments of the people, if he were to ask for the case to proceed, then that would also be tantamount to him interfering when he shouldn’t.

There is nothing wrong with his statement, but isn’t it ironic to think that if there was criticism, then action should be taken to address the criticism?

Anyway, I am going to keep an open mind that the current administration has good intentions to improve the governing of the country. So, the outcome of this issue - whatever it may be - will determine their sincerity.

If criticism and explanations are progressive and lead towards a proper decision being made, then I will be very happy. But the people and I need to be convinced that it is the right decision.

As much as I want to remain positive, I can also see why many people are not taking it so positively. It is definitely going to be tough for the administration to convince people that no hanky panky has taken place.

Unfortunately for those in power now, they have to face it in order to show that they are sincere in wanting to create a better Malaysia. They have to work harder.

As for the people, we can and should continue to demand more so that we are convinced that the administration that we have chosen will do what they say they will do and meet our expectations.

We can keep the faith and be positive like me or we can be pessimistic like my uncle, but whatever it is, we should constantly push and expect more from those in power and they need to realise that as well.

ZAN AZLEE is a writer, documentary filmmaker, journalist, and academic. The Sheraton move really frustrated him but maybe after November 2022, he can start feeling better again. Visit fatbidin.com to view his work.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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