Dealing with our conscience

A few years ago, I asked my daughter Cheng, whether I should change my mindset just to prove that I can be money conscious and grab whatever opportunities that come along, to see if I could make millions like what people around me did. She replied, “Pa, I rather you remain as you are, with principles.”

I used to work for my brother’s small development companies. I could have done what some used to do, taking advantage of under-counter money since the demand far exceeded supply. But I played by the book and left it to him to decide who should get the units for non-Bumiputeras. While on this, I cannot help thinking Pak Lah reminds me of him, the incorrigible ‘Mr. Nice’ even when there is no hope for any changes.

For example, even when the units were allotted and letters of offer were issued, he would still give others hope with replies like, “I will see what I can do” or “When there are rejections, I will let you know”.

As a manager, I could not bear to see the ‘white lies’ being said and ‘false hopes’ given to those eager to own their first house. To me, the longer one continued with the lie, the greater the disappointment. Why not be honest about it from the start?

I could have learnt the ropes from him since he was known for his efficiency in obtaining Certificates of Fitness. For all those in the know, there was no magic in dealing with government bureaucracy. Call me naïve, or one without business sense, but I just could not get into the act.

I met my 80-year old school senior again on Sunday at his favourite complex, Amcorp Mall, which is within walking distance from his house. Incidentally, the Mall is owned by another school senior, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, who is his junior.

This time, he told me a story about his one-time junior who rose through the ranks to become a bank manager. It was a classic case of rise and fall as a result of dishonesty. As an example, he asked him to share in their office lottery pool in the then Social Welfare which paid a first prize of Rm375,000, a big sum then. He got a shock when told that one-tenth of that prize was pittance to him! Years later, he met him again and it was just months after he was sacked for using bank’s name to speculate in the stock market.

I was prompted to write on this subject by Dr. Azly Rahman’s article which first appeared in his column in Malaysiakini and now in Malaysia Today:

Should I cross over for those millions?

You will die satisfied that you have not sold your soul to any other party in whose ideology you actually do not subscribe to. These 'party jumpers' have no clear intention, just clear benefits for themselves.

That is a two million ringgit question.

How much does one get for 'crossing over' these days? I do not know. But if there are millions of ringgit involved, this nation will continue to rot as corrupt politicians continue switching allegiances, getting appointments to good positions, and making horror decisions for you and your children.

We must destroy this culture and heal anew.

We were convinced things will be better after the elections. We were sure that the revolution was going to benefit the masses and no party hopping would occur.

We are wrong. Things are getting more complex, in a complex time of rising prices.

This is my template letter to anyone on the verge of party hopping for money:

Dear sir/madam,

Don't make this mistake.

Don't do it if it's for two million ringgit. Stay to be free, and speak up against internal party corruption.

You will die satisfied that you have not sold your soul to any other party in whose ideology you actually do not subscribe to. These 'party jumpers' have no clear intention, just clear benefits for themselves.

Principles not resource

If resource is the issue, think of how you can take your party to newer heights without more money. Make your party appeal to the younger generation. Know your party's roots and make it dynamic.

You may not have the money, machinery, and the media at your disposal as means to influence the masses, however you have the will. Focus on helping people and problem solving at the grassroots level. 'Small is beautiful'

Think about the 'class' struggle we are in. Prevent a generation of our children from the dehumanisation of a new class system. Worker rights need championing in this globalised economy and you can win them their minimum wage for starters.

Figure out how to deliver what you promised and will promise, and find your place in the party's equation. Phenomenological questions that can help you understand your existence and purpose. Without it you are just part of a game of hypocrisy.

Don't flatter yourself with state honours and your finer language. You are not meant to be a 'yes man/woman' for powerful people and make others beg for your favour. Politics is about doing societal good not Machiavellian scheming.

A simple life is a virtuous life. Love others and commit yourself to good.

On the question of limited financial resources, here are some thoughts.

Leverage the Internet as a cheap and powerful tool of your campaign, while leaning on traditional methods of appeasing your constituency. Also the SMS system to mirror 'multilevel marketing' for effective campaigning.

Brainstorm with the young. Be creative. The greatest tool of human progress is the two pound universe one carries around - the human brain.

Past wisdom

The great soul MK Gandhi did not have much at his disposal yet he brought down the British empire. He was armed with a deep sense of spirituality and the principle of satyagraha.

Ahmad Boestaman, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Dr Ismail, Onn Jaafar, Nik Aziz, Lim Kit Siang, V Rajaratnam, and others have shown us what dignity and ethics mean. Learn from them but enrich these concepts of ethics to meet the needs of changing times without losing sight and vision of political realism. Learn from the many around you who are not servants of money.

However if you are logically convinced that your party is on the road to destruction due to massive corruption amongst its leaders, then by all means leave! You have one life to live - make it the best life, for yourself and for others. At a time when we have entered the world of multiculturalism, do not revert to blind ideology of racism.

Ultimately if you take those millions offered, sit in Parliament making decisions for our children, you will be a major crook who continues to rationalise his or her crookedness. You too will sink with the Bahtera Merdeka. The rakyat will help you sink with your two million, bahtera and all.

Abdul Rahman Abdul Talib's article which appeared in Malaysia Today is highly critical of Pak Lah's promises for reforms (excerpts):

Pak Lah's Reform? Hogwash, that’s what it is

We are hoping for a bunch of govt, appointed individuals to act as checks and balance against the government? Call me a fool but that to me sounds very logic defying

Many have been said about reforms being spearheaded by Pak Lah post 2004. But allow me to expose the fallacy of his reform programs. To me, the movements are far from reforms. In fact, they are just part of his political maneuvering to maintain his position as Prime Minister and President of UMNO.

Unfortunately, we do not see such step sponsored by Pak Lah and his cabal (otherwise known as “4th Floor Boys)”. In fact, soon after the election, when the newly elected Menteri Besar of Selangor officially requested for air-time on the radio that is operating from the State Administrative building, he was flatly turned down by Pak Lah’s regime courtesy of Minister of Information, Date Ahmad Sabery Chik.

The unpleasant gesture by the Minister of Information alone is testimony that freedom of media is not on the Pak Lah’s list of reform. Incidentally, during Sabery Chik’s S46 days, he is one of those who complain the loudest about the one-sidedness of Malaysian media. Now that he has a small window of opportunity, he blew it. I guess Ahmad Sabery Chik doesn’t think that integrity is an essential ingredient to life.

Now, why is freedom of the media an acid test? A prerequisite for reform? A must-have on the “shopping list”?. Simple. When there is free media, there is free flowing of information to the people.

The people, then, being properly and equally informed, will then be able to participate in the eradication of corruption, the improvement of public service, the fight against injustice and cruelty, the prevention of abuse of power.

Without the people’s involvement, all efforts towards reform are futile and mere political rhetoric. How can we hope for a small group of bureaucrats to act as a force of checks and balance against a corrupt regime standing in the current administration?

Malaysiakini report on the NUJ meeting with Zaid Ibrahim is another testimony that Pak Lah’s reform does not include freedom of the press and media. Zaid is quoted as saying:

"You must ask yourself first - do you take up an unpopular issue with your news owner?" asked Zaid in the dialogue, which was hosted by the NPC. “Don't assume all ministers are unreasonable," he said, receiving a chorus of boos from those in audience after his speech.”

It’s clear that from Zaid’s speech that media freedom is a very difficult topic to bring up with Pak Lah or with the government.