COMMENT | Super-spreading clusters in our 'truth deficiency syndrome'
COMMENT | Long before the Wall Street Journal broke the story on Najib Razak and his links to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in 2015, the disease was just simmering with no outbreaks. Except for a small cluster, many took the doses dished out by propagandists.
The following year, when the US Department of Justice (DOJ) laid bare the goings-on and thievery by the key players, more clusters appeared. But again, the might and power of those involved created a new catchphrase to prevent the disease from being spread.
“All these are lies propagated by people who want to overthrow a democratically elected government,” they thundered in unison. But the disease called “truth deficiency syndrome” had already taken root. Despite the time, money, and effort spent by the government, it was an exercise in futility.
By the beginning of 2018, the spread of the disease rose to a crescendo. The resultant creation was a pandemic which saw the exit of Najib and the BN coalition which he led. For a good two years, it was brought under control except for a few clusters scattered here and there.
Today, after 11 months of the backdoor government in power, the pandemic is not just threatening to take control but has already done so in many ways...
When will the govt accept that everything and anything cannot be hidden from the public?
COMMENT | Long before the Wall Street Journal broke the story on Najib Razak and his links to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in 2015, the disease was just simmering with no outbreaks. Except for a small cluster, many took the doses dished out by propagandists.
The following year, when the US Department of Justice (DOJ) laid bare the goings-on and thievery by the key players, more clusters appeared. But again, the might and power of those involved created a new catchphrase to prevent the disease from being spread.
“All these are lies propagated by people who want to overthrow a democratically elected government,” they thundered in unison. But the disease called “truth deficiency syndrome” had already taken root. Despite the time, money, and effort spent by the government, it was an exercise in futility.
By the beginning of 2018, the spread of the disease rose to a crescendo. The resultant creation was a pandemic which saw the exit of Najib and the BN coalition which he led. For a good two years, it was brought under control except for a few clusters scattered here and there.
Today, after 11 months of the backdoor government in power, the pandemic is not just threatening to take control but has already done so in many ways.
We are being continuously fed with half-truths and misinformation, so much so that not many members of the public have any faith in the accuracy of government statements and announcements. Malaysians are being prevented from making an educated, well-informed, and precise opinion.
HSR and AssetCo
On New Year’s Day, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mustapa Mohamed announced the cancellation of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) which was originally envisioned in 2016.
The current state of the economy that was severely hurt by the Covid-19 pandemic, he said, meant Malaysia could no longer proceed with the project.
“The terms of the bilateral agreement signed in 2016 are no longer viable for Malaysia, given the current economic situation which has adversely affected Malaysia’s fiscal position,” Malaysiakini quoted him as saying.
Understandable, but was this the real reason? Two days later, the Singapore Parliament provided the answers.
The Straits Times quoted Singapore's Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung as saying that Malaysia's attempt to remove the assets company (AssetsCo), which would have required it to be jointly tendered with Singapore, was the main stumbling block to the project. The AssetCo would have ensured accountability to both countries.
Mustapa did not dispute Ong but said instead said that doing away with the AssetsCo model would save Malaysia 30 percent in cost.
“We will also have the freedom to appoint, for example, local contractors and consultants,” he said.
Couldn’t Mustapa have explained this from day one instead of blaming Covid-19 and the economy? Why only after our friends across the Causeway gave their version? Why are Malaysians being deprived of the truth? And why are we being compelled to get information from another government?
Telling fibs
The goings-on in Prasarana is also causing concern. Can the private sector trust the system when doing business with the government? What message is being sent to the private sector? Shouldn’t the LRT3 concessionaires have been told from the start that payment will be made when the government releases funds?
Instead, why does its chairperson go about telling fibs about bumiputera contractors when the requirement is above the quota set by the government? Why does he want to interfere in the appointment of sub-contractors when he does not have the power, nor the experience and knowledge on such matters?
And precisely, in the absence of adequate and acceptable reasons, can right-thinking Malaysians come to the conclusion that there are backdoor attempts to give contracts to cronies and friends? Was the issue of bumiputera contractors used to show might and power by choking the concessionaire by withholding payments?
These two are examples of the latest cluster of the truth deficiency syndrome. While many such clusters have emerged over the past few months and as the pressure on the backdoor government increases, more will emerge.
When it was reported that Umno chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had signed a letter in September supporting Anwar Ibrahim, it was denied. “No such thing”, the central characters shouted in unison. The truth was laid bare on Wednesday by former BN secretary-general Annuar Musa. What else will emerge? Did the Pekan MP sign such a letter too? Only time will allow the truth to be revealed.
In the meantime, without accurate information forthcoming from the government, the citizens are forced to believe reports on social media, some of which are pure conjectures or blatant lies.
When will the people in power eradicate this disease? When will the government face reality and accept that everything and anything cannot be hidden from the public? When will we be told the unadulterated truth? The Ministry of Communications is everything else but communicating.
In an open letter to the prime minister on April 18 last year, I concluded: “As you are aware, the nation is suffering from effects of the coronavirus but what is more contagious is a disease called the 'truth deficiency syndrome' which brought the BN government down almost two years ago. With the change in May 2018, it was contained but whatever traces remaining are imploding without control.
“Are you going to contain this disorder by standing up, speaking up, and making the right decisions? Or are you going to allow this government to operate on autopilot or remote control until there is no time to retreat?”
The actions and inactions over the months have already provided the answer.
R NADESWARAN hopes the powers-that-be realise that the days of dishing out half-truths in the hope the people would believe in them are over. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
