COMMENT | Why is govt not learning from costly mistakes?

COMMENT | After the back-door government was in place in 2020 after the now infamous Sheraton Move, an audio recording made its rounds which was purportedly made at the Bersatu Supreme Council meeting on Feb 23.

In the recording, a voice resembling then prime minister in waiting, Muhyiddin Yassin, wanted to entice Umno leaders to join his party with promises of positions in the cabinet and GLCs.

The voice had said: “If they know a new government is going to be formed with Umno, why not tell them to join us now rather than later? I think if we do that… 10, 20 people… Najib and his gang… and we give them positions… if not ministers, then chairmen of GLCs.

“They might not want to be left out. Rather than stay now and become the opposition, they want to be a part of the government.”

Appointments in government-linked companies and government bodies were the long-standing practice of the BN government to reward their supporters and cronies. Usually, Umno took the bulk, leaving MCA and MIC to feed on the crumbs.

Horse trading

Hence, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi defended Muhyuddin’s stance by saying the appointment of MPs to head GLCs and agencies was to help ensure that they can carry out Putrajaya’s agenda.

Skill, knowledge, experience, and academic qualifications were never considered as long as he or she was able to raise hands and say “setuju” (agree) or “sokong” (support).

These did not stop prime ministers and their deputies, including Najib Abdul Razak and Zahid, from continuing the practice of extracting every ounce of support from supporters akin to throwing a bone at someone who desperately needed income.

Among others, such practices laid bare the buying of support and loyalty besides the intrigues and methodology in which government MPs can be lured to cross the floor through wealth and power, as in the case of the Sheraton Move.

This prompted me to write a satirical article: “There far too many unemployed members of Parliament. Many are clamouring for appointments with perks because their (extra) source of income and share of the spoils have been non-existent since June 2018 (when the Pakatan Harapan government came to power).

“While attempts to meet their demands have been successful to a certain extent, many are asking: Mana aku punya? (Where’s mine?)”

Short-lived progress

Knowing how these positions can be used for power, one of the first things that Anwar Ibrahim did upon assuming power last year was to sack all chairpersons and board members of GLCs, statutory bodies, and state investment fund appointed politically with immediate effect.

Like a new broom sweeping clean, this move was seen as a follow-through of Harapan’s election campaign promise to dismantle political patronage.

But this did not last long. Perhaps pressured to reward sectional leaders and loyalists, it was back to square one.

After more than a year, dozens of politically connected people have joined the boards of GLCs and statutory bodies. Each time the issue is raised, one excuse or another is proffered.

Ten days after the sackings, Anwar said the public could expect some political appointments to be made in GLCs, dismissing suggestions that he is outright against the idea.

“I never said that individuals involved in politics cannot be part of (GLC) management. However, they should be bound by certain conditions and have the required qualifications in the relevant fields.

“There is a possibility that several political figures or MPs will be assigned (to GLCs), but we will set the guidelines on the required level of an individual’s professional ability, his past performance, and compliance with the rules of governance.”

‘Flexibility’

In March last year, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said political appointments in statutory bodies should not be a problem as this has been practiced before.

Given this, he said, Anwar should be given some leeway in the matter. However, he stressed that Harapan was against political appointments in GLCs.

Anwar’s administration, he said, is keeping its promise not to appoint politicians to key GLCs and companies listed on Bursa Malaysia.

However, Loke stressed, there is flexibility when it comes to statutory and regulatory bodies.

“We give some flexibility to statutory bodies like Felcra and port authorities, for example. These are positions that were previously filled by political appointees.

“And we give this flexibility to the prime minister to consider who to appoint so that party leaders at all levels can also play their role in helping the government.”

Have we not learnt from the scandals of the statutory bodies? (I am constrained from commenting because of the ongoing court cases.)

So, would it be okay for Loke for someone who has not been on a plane and knows nuts about aviation to be on the board of the Malaysian Aviation Commission? Would he be content allowing someone alien to shipping to be sitting on the board of the Port Klang Authority?

But when the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) broke in 2006, it exposed how such appointments and its members’ lack of commitment and oversight led to a series of blunders that have run into billions.

Have we not learnt from this fiasco? From the start of the project in 2001 until 2008, there were no fewer than 26 politically connected board members including five chairpersons of the board (sitting during different periods).

This is continuing under the current government. This says plenty.

Even a proposal to institute proceedings against the directors for dereliction of duties was shot down by loyalists and civil servants because they all wanted to jaga periuk nasi sendiri (look after their rice bowls).

There is little more to be said of political appointees.

R NADESWARAN has written extensively on appointing competent and qualified people to the boards, but when you must placate cronies and loyalists, it matters little. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com

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

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