During my schooldays before leaving primary school, the class teacher would ask us individually on our ambitions. We were given three choices. The standard answers were doctor, engineer or school teacher. School teachers had a special place in society then.
There was this answer from one of my classmates I will never forget. His first choice was politician, then policeman, failing which he wants to be a thief. Our class teacher asked why? His answer - if he cannot make the law, he will enforce it. If both fails he will try to break it...
In Malaysia, engineers, doctors and accountants have their own institutes or associations that governs the conduct of its members and to regulate and develop the profession to promote honourable practice and professional etiquette. Even bakers have their own Institute of Baking to instil professionalism and nurturing passion.
In this article, I wish to propose for a system of accreditation for Malaysian politicians. This will provide them with credentials and to conform with some standards and maintaining it. Hopefully, the Dewan Rakyat speaker will give this proposal due consideration. I think Malaysians would agree to it, too. I guess it applies to the Dewan Negara too, but, let us leave that for another day.
An article in the Association of Accredited Public Policy Advocated to the EU said “Today, we need men and women of strong principles and courage whose interest in being elected to positions of public trust is to serve their country and make sure their generation leaves a better world to the next one”.
We need men and women of faith, integrity, commitment, practicality and common sense who view high political office as a terms of service and not for personal gains.
We need politicians who have passion, feeling of responsibility and uphold national interest. Passion to get things done, pursuing just policies and to do good for the community.
The job’s prestige and the public’s respect should ideally be in a politician’s ‘remuneration package’.
We have heard ministers/politicians making absurd, silly and immature statements especially in the last couple of years. We have politicians who have no qualms about spewing loud racist speeches at the slightest provocation and getting away with it. In 2012 our politicians approved a ban on sexist remarks in Parliament but as of last year it is still rampant.
We have heard of our Dewan Rakyat speaker warning ministers against usurping the speaker’s authority.
Even the Dewan Negara president had told off some ministers and deputy ministers for inadequate answers.
Of course, it does not help that the prime minister himself openly states that he values loyalty over ‘smart people’.
A few days ago, HRH the sultan of Johor made an interesting comment on an Act that limits and eliminates the powers and role of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and sovereign that diminishes them to a mere ‘rubber stamp’, was for political and personal gains.
Cicero (Roman empire) wrote this about the situation during his lifetime :
1. The poor, work & work.
2. The rich, exploit the poor.
3. The soldier, protects both.
4. The taxpayer, pays for all three.
5. The wanderer, rests for all four.
6. The drunk, drinks for all five.
7. The banker, robs all six.
8. The lawyer, misleads all seven.
9. The doctor, kills all eight.
10. The undertaker, buries all nine.
11. The politician live happily on account of all 10.
Written in 43BC, and I think it is still valid even today.
Though I have lost contact with that classmate of mine, I do hope God did not fulfil his wishes and he did not end up becoming a thief.
