Are we about to see legal suits and class actions against politicians and elected representatives for unfulfilled promises - a breach of people’s trust?

In a true democracy, will this result in politicians who have become tarnished by their acts of omission, arrogance, incompetence and lack of ethics being made to vacate their seats?

Interesting thought, but is Malaysia ready to move in this direction? Nay, I think. Because we are too forgiving to even the people who have treated us with blatant disregard for all our rights and interests that they claim to represent!

In October 1999, I organised a charity dinner function at Holiday Villa Subang. In the full view of over 2,000 people attending the function, a politician and a serving senator then, promised us RM2,000 to off-set the costs.

For the record, despite repeated reminders and telephone calls made since October 1999, the money did not come. I then met the senator at the office of a senior federal minister and I engaged him on the unfulfilled promise.

He had asked me to write to him, again, citing several excuses in embarrassment. I brought this matter up to Consumers Association of Selangor and Shah Alam council members and they decided that we should ‘drop the issue’ as they being made to look like beggars.

Cassa council members stressed that what was promised was made voluntarily. However, they admitted it was a sad case to have made us look like beggars when all that we sought was the fulfillment of a promise made in public.

Truly, far too many of our politicians langsung tak tahu malu - (shameless lot), they’re too thick- skinned.

Several years ago, two politicians, one a serving mayor and the other a sitting member of Parliament, had both promised to donate RM5, 000 each to a primary school for its Parent-Teacher Association project.

For this too I was made to run around a great deal before I could collect the said monies for the school.

Sensitive public-spirited individuals, corporate figures, retired Umno leaders and leaders of non-governmental organisations, service groups and charitable organisations have approached me seeking answers to several issues including selective prosecution and double standards in the interpretation of the laws of the land, the Perak fiasco, and several other matters that challenge our ethical values (or what is left of them).

Just look at how an elected MP can be threatened and others manhandled in the nation’s highest law-making institution - the Malaysian Parliament. That was not the first time that members of a dominant political party behaved like absolute thugs.

These are individuals who have failed to comprehend the essence and values of parliamentary democracy, the separation of powers and the need for moral conduct to be displayed. They may smoke cigars, dine in flashy joints, head corporations and banks or drive luxury imported cars but basically are still third-rate thugs.

But in time for the next general election, I am certain that they will be made irrelevant in view of their wayward and arrogant behavior and culture displayed many a time in the full glare of the electronic and print media.

These men and women I spoke to demanded answers. And answers I did not have. I sounded defeated and tired.

Unlike the politicians, our loved ones are always there for us - not like others who come into our lives only at the times of elections and by-elections. They come – these sunglassed politicians dressed poshly and driving luxury vehicles. They make their grand entry and exit during these moments.

Undressed children are cuddled, uncollected garbage pointed out, clogged drains were frowned upon after which immediate cosmetic changes were initiated and allocations approved! Then these politicians leave never to be seen again.

The good news is that some of the people I’ve met promised me sufficient financial aid and other support for any project proposal that I may suggest for addressing the long term concerns of any marginalised community.

Perhaps, readers of this blog may suggest and assist my team and me to initiate one where this promised financial support package could be utilised. Community groups like us learn fast and while we know that we do not have all the answers, we are honest and have good intentions and values.

This compared to our Malaysian politicians. Take your pick!