Leadership, but not by example

COMMENT Sorely lacking in lackadaisical Malaysia, the concept of Kepimpinan Melalui Teladan, or leadership by example, urges leaders to walk their talk and live their words.

However, our ‘leaders’ diverge further and further from their duties and promises to the common folk who entrusted them with the power to rule the nation.

Their swaggered walk diverges from their forked-tongue talk. Their honeyed words, the furthest from the life-path they take.

Some say these ‘leaders’ are more akin to plunderers, that the only ‘leading’ they do is in running our country and our future into the ground.

Introduced into the Malaysian mix by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1983, Kepimpinan Melalui Teladan was a key aspect of his four pronged campaign to streamline Malaysian governance, alongside such values as the Look-East Policy, Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah and the inculcation of Islamic values in the nation’s administration.

The idea behind the policy: to plant and cultivate the seeds of effective leadership values to be observed, understood and emulated by the civil service at large.

However, what came about was not as desired, for less-than-desirable values were exhibited by those in power.

Corruption, abuses of all things including power, apathy and self-interest became the ‘take home’ instead.

But as another new year looms, I can’t help but wish that things will change.

Take the bull by the horns

That our ‘leaders’ will take the bull by the horns and begin to walk the show-talk that they put on; that they embody the words, government proclamations and royal decrees that they spit and spew upon us every other day.

My New Year's wish is to see:

Lynas staff, the confidently-strutting scientific experts who defended the plant and Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob, relocate their homes and families, as well as the schools and playgrounds their children learn and play to the area around the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) in Gebeng, Kuantan.

Leadership by example: If you say it is safe, prove that it is. How many of you actually live in the Lamp neighbourhood?

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin and their families must start to live the austere lives that they want Malaysians to adopt. No more millions in utility bills, no more expensive handbags, no more multi-million ringgit maintenance expenditure for official residences.

Leadership by example: If you want us to tighten our belts and rationalise subsidies, then you should first tighten yours and rationalise your salaries and spending.

Malaysia’s first nuclear power plant should be sited in Putrajaya, next to Seri Perdana, or at Jalan Duta near the newly-built palace for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that cost the citizens many millions of ringgit in public funds.

Leadership by example: If nuclear power plants built by Malaysia’s contractors are going to be safe, there’s no reason they can’t be located close to our dear beloved leaders, can they?

Sultans and their royal relatives who urge state governments to save money from lavish ceremonies to welcome them and for the rakyat to return to the teachings and precepts of Islam should be the beacon on how not to do things that go against Islam and good moral values.

Be the embodiment of what you decree

The monarchy should be the example for the rakyat not to drink alcohol, not to participate in customs and traditions deviant to Islam, not to siphon money from questionably-awarded public infrastructure projects and not to allow millions of ringgit in taxpayers’ money to be used to pay for grand royal palaces that none of the rakyat ever gets to see close-up.

Leadership by example: If you decree it, then you should be the embodiment of such decrees.

Ministers and government officers from the Higher Education and Education Ministries should send their kids to public schools and local universities instead of the more posh private or foreign ones.

Leadership by example: if you say our education system is good, there should be no reason to send your own children elsewhere, should there?

English-proud parents and PPSMI defenders  must do something about the deplorable state of and teaching standards of the English language in the entire education system and not just be happy that your USJ or Damansara schools have top notch English standards.

Leadership by example: If you want to keep something, make sure it is not just because your school has good English teachers. It must be a blanket quality that will benefit all students, including those in rural areas - or else you are just selfish.

Anti-PPSMI activists, Pena and other Malay language defenders have to do something about the fact that there is no development at all about the use of the Malay language in the various disciplines of the sciences, mathematics and in many areas of research.

And no, I don’t mean in a self published feel-good journal by fellow lecturers of a local university, but in international ISI quality journals, like the Indonesians have so proudly done.

Leadership by example: If you defend it, then you must also show why it is worth defending, not just for sentimental value, but for existing values and for the future that the Malay medium has and got the potential to offer.

Pakatan Rakyat must not copycat BN polices out of expediency, like using state assets for party purposes, award contracts to cronies and banning media like TV3 and Utusan Malaysia, despite crying foul over government interference with the media.

Leadership by example: If you cry reform, then make sure you be the reform that you ask people to vote you in for, or else you are just like old wine in a new bottle. Same s**t, different label. For true reforms, be ready, willing and able, or the voting rakyat may next decide to make you humble.

HAZLAN ZAKARIA is a member of the Malaysiakini team.