Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
mk-logo
From Our Readers

2010 was a year we witnessed numerous political bickering along the rifts of ethnic and religious disparities. It is certainly necessary for all thinking Malaysians to reflect on our way forward.

In the past 12 months, indeed many of the public controversies are old issues resurrected with the involvement of a new batch of current political players. It is common knowledge that most, if not all issues that were brought to the fore, have so far had no solution in sight.

Of course, rational-minded Malaysians might not be convinced that we do not have the wisdom to resolve the stalemate, but it is no exaggeration to attribute such an embarrassing scenario to the lack of political resolve among the politicians from both sides of the divide.

In reality, we have point-scoring politicians who would predate on any issues sensational, but our political parties do not seem to have any breathing space for individuals who are keen to fix the issues.

Similarly, we all pledge to fight graft but our politicians’ focus would only be centered on their rivals’ taint of corruption, many a time it is not even well-founded.

Our prevailing political culture is such that any whistleblower who picks on the wrongdoing within his own establishment with the firm belief of upholding integrity, would more often than not end up to be on the sacrificial altar within his own fold. He would likely be crucified for the expose he triggered, rather than be revered for his sense of righteousness.

On the part of those crusaders who pledged to fight graft in the name of justice, it is indeed very revealing to learn that their pursuit of justice has appeared somewhat selective and seasonal. The pursuit of truth, justice and recovery of public funds involved in the PKFZ (Port Klang Free Zone) debacle is a classic case in point.

In the past two years, much has been deliberated in the wrong perspective. No doubt it was Lim Kit Siang and Ronnie Liu from DAP who fired the first shot in 2007 when the latter lodged the police report against the authorities on the alleged malpractices in the implementation of the mammoth project. But, surprisingly, there was lack of input or evidence produced in relation to the fierce allegations made.

I have no intention or whatsoever to blow my own trumpet on the issue but factually it was until May 28, 2009 that the outcome of the first ever PKFZ probe I spearheaded spilled the beans on the debacle upon the release of its investigative report.

However this also heralded the unprecedented heckling of me in the open by Kit Siang. The public was simply puzzled as to why the perpetrators were readily spared while the whistleblower himself has to endure with such an unreasonable abuse, perpetrated by the oppositionists.

After March 28, 2010, notwithstanding my exit from the cabinet, I chose to soldier on with an unwavering commitment to continue pursuing the debacle in my capacity as a member of parliament. However, surprisingly all the scathing queries and allegations hurled against me earlier during my ministerial tenure, particularly when I was in the midst of conducting a thorough probe on the issue, have all the sudden reduced to a deafening silence.

The taxpayers, including those who had once pinned high hope on these self-proclaimed crusaders or graft-busters, have every right to question such an abrupt change in view that many doubts still remain unanswered. Also, recovery of the alleged fraudulent claim of billions of taxpayers’ monies seems to have sunk into oblivion.

Prior to the adjournment of the Lower House of Parliament, my parliamentary questions on the subject matter had either been brushed aside on the ground of sub-judice or simply been fielded with a brief answer of “currently in progress” where nothing elaborative had ever been furnished.

Perhaps, politicians from both sides of the divide do share the same belief that their compatriots generally have a short-lived memory. Through my years of observation, many of their past utterances and deeds if at all be revisited and measured against their current stance and deeds, would reveal nothing more than their self-contradicting nature.

Amid the familiar speculation on the imminent 13th General Election, it is imperative for the voters to be more discerning on making their choice, come  polling day. We should gauge and judge the candidates not merely on their party affiliation or their one-off statement made on certain issues, but instead their consistency in upholding certain virtues or values should be given top marks.

Politicians who are habitually embroiled in the never-ending power jockeying and mudslinging game might be able to secure power and wealth as they so desired, but the nation might risk being dragged into an irreversible path of self-destruction.

The writer is Pandan MP and former MCA president and transport minister.

ADS