By : SELVARAJA SOMIAH
NO PRIME MINISTER in
Malaysia’s history has ever expressed helplessness in facing challenges that
have come up during his tenure. No Prime Minister has ever sought refuge in
compulsions in dealing with crucial national matters.
No Prime Minister has admitted
to the failings of his Cabinet colleagues while trying to absolve himself.
No Prime Minister has ever
tried to correct his image at the expense of his party or his coalition
partners. The reason is simple: the buck stops at the Prime Minister’s office.
Over the weekend, rumors
were rife that Najib had fallen ill with mild stroke. According to friends from
Putrajaya, doctors have been on standby in Pekan where Najib is said to be
recuperating.
Najib and his wife Rosmah
has been under tremendous pressure because of his corruption scandals
expecially in connection to the Scorpene submarines and the Altantuya
Shaariibuu C4 murder.
To make matters worst his
Deputy Muhyideen has ganged-up with former Premier Mahathir to oust him as UMNO
President and Prime Minister before the 13th GE is held and this is an open
secret.
What is his helplessness all
about even if he considers it is due to Mahathir’s interference?
If Najib is the Prime
Minister today is because Najib took over as UMNO President and the country’s
6th Prime Minister after helping Mahathir and Muhyiddin to oust Abdullah Badawi
who was blamed for the UMNO-BN’s weak performance in the 2008 elections.
Had the Barisan National got
a two-third majority in 2008, he would not have been the chosen one. But being
Prime Minister is not a license for corruption or inefficiency.
If anyone feels as strongly
about the evils of interference by the “puppet master”, there is no compulsion
of being associated with such politics or the offices it brings along with it.
When the Prime Minister
shows he is helpless, is he not letting down the rakyat? Is he showing that he
is helpless in serving the poor, who elected his government and have great
expectations? The poor would have wanted prices to be in check, corruption
within his ministers curbed and the influence of corporate giants contained.
Najib must realize that he
is occupying a seat that was once occupied by a great visionary and statesman:
Tun Abdul Razak his father, the man who faced many challenges in his life. But
he never said he was helpless.
The same office was held by
humble but strong willed Tun Hussein Onn, acclaimed for his discipline and
against all corruption. He was never helpless.
Neither was Tengku Abdul
Rahman, a leader whose mass base was astounding and who came to power after
getting independence. He was faced with confrontation with Sukarno’s Indonesia,
he was faced with political crisis with Lee Kuan Yew and even within Umno he
had to face people like Mahathir who was undermining him from inside, including
racial riots and the separation of Singapore but did not yield to the pressure
of the syndicate.
He dug his heels and
abolished privy purses. He was never helpless when he even fought the Singapore
leaders with all chips down.
Even Abdulah Badawi never
displayed helplessness. When his time was up, he just went but did not blame
political situations, colleagues and circumstances. But perhaps all these
leaders were from the political class and were not there after their tenures in
other fields had ended. Perhaps they were made of sterner stuff.
But they all realized and
respected the fact that Prime Ministers can never show helplessness. If they
were then what would happen to the country? If they lose relevance, they go.
Before going public with his
limitations, Najib should have stated his piece before Malaysians, who elected
Barisan National as its leader and subsequently the Yang Dipertuan Agong
endorsed his elevation to the position of the Prime Minister.
He must learn from his
predecessors and dig in his heels to fight corruption and inefficiency. He must
always remember that the buck stops at his doorstep.
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