Today Malaysia is a nation that seems to be led by mediocre individuals at all levels. Intelligent Malays and non-Malays are sidelined be it in the civil service, army, navy, and government-linked companies. Just consider the leadership of the police, the attorney-general (AG), the key spokespersons for Najib Abdul Razak, the utterances of some ex-judges and one is just amazed at where we have reached as a nation.

The present key performance indicator (KPI) for ministers and those in the civil service seems to be loyalty to the prime minister. Those who have this attribute seem to be speaking a lot, while others condone it by their silence. Some, perhaps, are too embarrassed to say anything.

The price for speaking up would be to be hounded out of office. The culture of loyalty is strengthened by the benefits that this brings so many rather remain silent, while the greedy will lap up and show their loyalty.

Break the culture and you are out like Muhyiddin Yassin and Shafie Apdal. No one stood up for them and the same will be the case should Ahmad Zahid Hamidi or Hishammuddin Hussein speak otherwise or question their revered leader. This also goes for the leaders of the other constituent parties within the coalition.

Even globally, people seem focussed in ensuring that they fulfill their KPIs which are often targets to be met. We have seen how this contributed to the global financial crisis. The very recent Wells Fargo scandal also highlights the misuse of KPIs. Our universities are an example where students are passed so that the relevant department meets its KPI.

Student performance and standards are found wanting because the focus is on ensuring the department’s KPIs are met. If need be the head of department will request for a review of student results so that KPIs are met. This would mean lowering the passing standards to meet the target. This then ensures that bonuses, promotions and other perks are secured.

So we have nearly 1.6 million mediocre civil servants. The Umno/BN civil service culture allegedly promotes mediocrity except in so far as it concerns corruption. Our civil servants can allegedly possess millions of ringgit in their own accounts, in addition to owning significant material goods. The leader establishes the standards and the others follow at their own risk. For the leader it is all ‘rezeki’, while for the rest it is both ‘rezeki’ and ‘takdir’, alas, if you are caught.

Visit a town council in the outskirts of any city and you may find civil servants who by mid-day are in banks attending to their personal matters. We the public are told that they are at meetings. Leadership at all levels remains wanting but we are not ready to face up and call a spade a spade.

The other factor is that people in leadership positions are fearful that they may be ‘charmed’. The dark word is often at play. It may be ‘People First, Performance Now’ but this slogan only expresses mere expectations.

Others will rush through a meeting starting at 11.00am as they will need to pick up their children from school by mid-day. Meetings usually end with lunch served courtesy of the government. Let the Malaysian Productivity Centre undertake an independent study and all of us would be surprised if all this is mere speculation. The civil service is perceived as a vote bank for Umno/BN hence they give and give.

Policies are changed with no notice to affected stakeholders. Overnight additional requirements are added. One wonders if the motive is corruption or if it is to make life difficult for entrepreneurs, businessmen and professionals. The apologists for the government, meanwhile, just shout their mouths out about Transformation and Integrity.

This is what Islam ‘al la Umno’ has become. Where are the Muslims with moral and ethical convictions who even have the courage to stand up within Umno? Has Umno become so bankrupt? Meanwhile, people who have graduated from religious school have the temerity to say that they have met the Arab donor who sent the money into the account of Malaysian Official 1 (MO1).

Leaders protecting their own agendas

How can we continue to trust such leaders who are ready to lie for the cause of loyalty? The story of the Arab donor remains a myth, while our county is in the hands of unscrupulous leaders protecting their own agendas.

If there were committed individuals they would have certainly taken a stand against MO1 and paid the price. Some have done so but many continue to tolerate and accommodate the wrong that is so evident. This confirms a general lack of commitment to values and moral standards. The same goes for the leaders of MCA, MIC, Gerakan and the other component parties within the coalition.

What is religion without a commitment to values? It is mere observances and rituals. This seems to be the fashion of the times. Money, titles and handouts represent their common religion and these make up for the missing substance and meaning that keeps this motley group together.

People committed to IS pray, the al-Queda members pray as does the president of Syria and his motley group. The Hindu extremist also prays as do a whole lot of miscreants. God must be having a tough time selecting which prayers should be answered.

For prayers to be answered there must be certain factors. Just like a plant, it has to draw nourishment from the surroundings, there must be enough water and care given to the plant. One must ensure that weeds are removed and when all this is done, then the plant grows up well.

Similarly if one is humble, honest and a person of integrity, lives by his values and convictions, respects life as the highest value then what is said in the ‘Blood Bank’ TV advertisement rings true, ‘unity runs in our blood’.

People can advertise their piousness and live like rascals, go to the River Ganges annually for their cleansing dip or undertake ‘umrah’ numerous times but the fact remains that they have had RM1.2 billion in their account which is now unaccountable.

What makes people compromise? One could say that rationalisation is part of the reason. God is Rahman, God is compassionate. I can commit whatsoever I want and go on committing sin. However, on judgment day when I stand before Him I will say ‘rabin rahman’, “Oh God the compassionate, have due compassion for me”.

This is akin to the Hindus who believe that a dip in the River Ganges absolves them from all sin. They can then start afresh again. Two religiously motivated individuals reading their respective holy books be it the ‘Holy Quran’ the ‘Holy Bible’ or the ‘Bhagavad Gita’ can interpret it from their perspectives.

A man of reverence and humility would speak with one tongue while another with a perverted mind will rationalise and interpret the same passage differently. It is for this reason that values are significant. These provide the moral spine and the light of clarity which inspires deep convictions that motivate individuals to stand up for what is right.

State-led religion can be very compliance-focussed rather than values-driven. We have leaders who have led hedonistic lifestyles now promulgating syariah law as the basis of the legal system in their nation. The lifestyles of some of our rich and famous who are custodians of Islam in Malaysia also highlight the hypocrisy that is evident. Do what I say but don’t do what I do.

Where values are missing it often reveals how religion is exhibited as a mere garment to mitigate one’s fears or to soothe one’s conscience. In the absence of values, people become susceptible and vulnerable to powerful forces of unbridled motivations, be it greed, lust, anger, violence, alcohol and drugs.

A commitment to values is what keeps these in check. If you do not stand for something, you will fall for everything. This is what happens to people for whom religion is mere fashion. Just dip in the Ganges or go for an ‘umrah’ and all is forgiven, even about the RM1.2 billion.

A lot to lose by taking a stand

Consider the character and conduct of several of the present leadership? Those who speak out and those who choose to remain silent. Both convey a message. One highlights cronyism and stupidity while the other condones what is wrong by their silence. Can we trust them after all that we read and hear? Yet they continue in power. Why? This is because many of them may feel that they have a lot to lose by taking a stand.

Whatever one may say about Dr Mahathir Mohamad, he at least has taken a clear position to somewhat redeem himself and seek accountability. One must also laud the Group of 25 and Rafidah Aziz for speaking out candidly. We need more voices of sanity.

Justice is one of the cornerstones of Islam and how is it that a nation that professes Islam as the religion of the federation undertakes such injustice as is exhibited in the constituency redelineation exercise which robs parity in the value of each vote between different constituencies.

When individuals without character and values hold positions of power, they also subvert institutions of governance and use power in an unconscionable manner. The judiciary becomes their instrument, as does Parliament and the legislative process. They survive because there are too many ‘yes’ men with no convictions but loyalty.