How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Sunday, January 02, 2011

Dangers of having a State Secretary who cannot be trusted

We have seen and read how the State Secretary of Perak was able to order the physical removal of the State Speaker.

The position of Secretary is often understated and some laymen think a Director is above the Secretary (as in limited companies), but in government service, the top dog is the Chief Secretary, not any Director General.

A State Secretary, like any profession, is only as good as the person holding the position. He can be efficient or inefficient, with or without integrity, conscientious or not, and so on.

If a State Secretary is perceived to be biased even before his appointment, how is the state going to be administered? A situation where a State Secretary does not know his job is bad enough, but if he cannot be trusted to carry out his duties accordingly, then the dangers of sabotage are very real indeed.

We have read about the staff of former MB shredding important documents just before Pakatan MB took over. There was an allegation of tampering with the Hansard in Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for instance:

http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/36852-tampering-with-the-hansard-to-protect-taib

Whether or not these allegations are true, the possibilities of such unscrupulous conduct cannot be dismissed. Just imagine a situation where not all official records are reliable and therefore unable to stand up in court if and when necessary. Local as well as foreign investors will lose confidence.

In Malaysia, even the physical possession of land titles does not necessarily protect the land owners, how else can we be sure of anything else? Minutes or the Hansard could possibly be changed or altered by the State Secretary. How will the Menteri Besar or other State Assemblymen be sure what they have voted for will be properly recorded? As in Agreements, does it mean every page has to be initialed by everyone to ensure it would not be replaced?

There is a possibility that the disagreement between the MB and Chief Secretary over the appointment of the Selangor State Secretary could end in a constitutional crisis and has to be settled in court. But from the experience of Perak court cases, in terms of delays and perceived bias in judgment, it might be better to have a fresh state elections instead. Since the GE is expected within 2011, the MB could preempt the PM's decision over when to hold the GE, by having the SE earlier. Otherwise, there might be a replay of Perak coup, with loss of control over when to have the state elections.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

just like having this forked-tongue pm...

in front of the non, barking about 1moolesial...

while facing the majority, screaming & unleashing perkosa to threatened the non...