Speak up and serve, politicians told
Published: Jan 23, 2009 3:46 PM | Updated: Jan 23, 2009 3:52 PM
“When right, keep it right. When wrong, make it right” seems to be what the electorate expects of their elected representatives and politicians in the making.
Many also feel that some of the BN leaders were too influential and domineering such that many of the BN politicians have been silenced and became submissive.
“When right, keep it right. When wrong, make it right” seems to be what the electorate expects of their elected representatives and politicians in the making.
According to an opinion polls entitled “Politicians! Politicians! Politicians!” conducted at www.sarawakpollster.com.my, about 50% of the respondents felt that politicians should be free to express their personal views irrespective of partisan affiliation on issues touching on cronyism, corruption, political dominance and leadership performance. Environment, social and moral matters received 26% support while justice, freedom, ISA, DNA, Race Relations Act 24%.
They (41.67%) would like their elected representatives to speak up and fight for their community’s interests, with 34.72% urging them to focus on national social policies affecting education, religions and racial harmony. Honouring their electoral promises received the least importance - perhaps the electorate knew that candidates tend to “over-promise” during the heat of an election campaign.
About 89% of those who participated in the polls felt that some of the BN leaders were too influential and domineering such that many of the BN politicians have been silenced and became submissive. Only 4% disagreed with the above while 7% were unsure. It is not difficult to identify such strong-willed political leaders in the Malaysian scene.
With a changing political landscape, gone were the days when leaders could speak down on the Malaysian people and expected the electorate to follow them blindly. Political leaders must consult and where practical follow the people’s wishes. Thus 79.17% of the respondents agreed with Disraeli’s statement: “I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?”. Few would like to have a leader who “sees nothing, hears nothing and says nothing”.
Move out of comfort zone
Asked to grade the performance of Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians, 44% felt that these representatives have met their expectations while 21% disagreed. Others concluded that their performance were average.
As have been pointed out by many analysts and commentators regarding the just concluded by-election in Kuala Terengganu, BN parliamentarians should move out of their comfort zone and double their performance to touch and serve the community. This is clearly reflected with 68% grading their performance as below expectations and 25% noted the performance as average. The rest gave a more favourable response as having met the expectations of the people.
To have a fair government with less corruption, cronyism and abuse of power, 78.67% of the respondents were of the view that a two-coalition party system with a formidable opposition would bring about such a laudable state of affairs.
It is interesting to note that Pakatan’s propaganda machine has been quite effective in pushing forward this concept of check and balance in governance, pointing out that BN component parties were ineffective in influencing the unilateral policies of Umno.
According to an opinion polls entitled “Politicians! Politicians! Politicians!” conducted at www.sarawakpollster.com.my, about 50% of the respondents felt that politicians should be free to express their personal views irrespective of partisan affiliation on issues touching on cronyism, corruption, political dominance and leadership performance. Environment, social and moral matters received 26% support while justice, freedom, ISA, DNA, Race Relations Act 24%.
They (41.67%) would like their elected representatives to speak up and fight for their community’s interests, with 34.72% urging them to focus on national social policies affecting education, religions and racial harmony. Honouring their electoral promises received the least importance - perhaps the electorate knew that candidates tend to “over-promise” during the heat of an election campaign.
About 89% of those who participated in the polls felt that some of the BN leaders were too influential and domineering such that many of the BN politicians have been silenced and became submissive. Only 4% disagreed with the above while 7% were unsure. It is not difficult to identify such strong-willed political leaders in the Malaysian scene.
With a changing political landscape, gone were the days when leaders could speak down on the Malaysian people and expected the electorate to follow them blindly. Political leaders must consult and where practical follow the people’s wishes. Thus 79.17% of the respondents agreed with Disraeli’s statement: “I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?”. Few would like to have a leader who “sees nothing, hears nothing and says nothing”.
Move out of comfort zone
Asked to grade the performance of Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians, 44% felt that these representatives have met their expectations while 21% disagreed. Others concluded that their performance were average.
As have been pointed out by many analysts and commentators regarding the just concluded by-election in Kuala Terengganu, BN parliamentarians should move out of their comfort zone and double their performance to touch and serve the community. This is clearly reflected with 68% grading their performance as below expectations and 25% noted the performance as average. The rest gave a more favourable response as having met the expectations of the people.
To have a fair government with less corruption, cronyism and abuse of power, 78.67% of the respondents were of the view that a two-coalition party system with a formidable opposition would bring about such a laudable state of affairs.
It is interesting to note that Pakatan’s propaganda machine has been quite effective in pushing forward this concept of check and balance in governance, pointing out that BN component parties were ineffective in influencing the unilateral policies of Umno.
View Comments0