Time to move forward: In less than a year, we will be voting for new Dewan Rakyat members, but some of the current batch of MPs are still squabbling over government leadership posts instead of dealing with the urgent economic problems. – FAIHAN GHANI/The Star.
TALK about being deluded – some of our politicians have turned it into an artform. We surely can’t be blamed for doubting that they’re clued in to our pressing concerns, or worse, even bothered about them.
While the rest of us struggle with the increasing cost of living, we have politicians squabbling over filling the Deputy Prime Minister position.
Realistically, do the rest of us even care if there was indeed a promise made to appoint someone to the post, especially when we’re barely a year away from the “expiry date” for the Dewan Rakyat members?
And even if there was such an agreement, would it even be valid, knowing the minute relevance to a political agreement, where accountability and integrity aren’t top essentials?
Now, that explains why the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has always insisted on meeting the Members of Parliament in person each time they sign a statutory declaration to back a leader.
It’s no longer news that some of them have changed their minds along the way, turning the SDs into worthless pieces of scrap. Conveniently, some have even denied putting pen to paper.
So, if SDs have no value, what more an agreement for a DPM.
More incredible, there are now allegations that the signatories of the agreement had signed it without the knowledge of their party heads.
Either these party leaders have suddenly developed dementia, intentionally or otherwise, or their senior leaders have sealed deals behind their backs.
PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said he wasn’t aware of the agreement to appoint a DPM from Bersatu while the party’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan has admitted to drafting the agreement.
Umno leaders said they had no idea that vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had made his stand on the issue as PM.
If it’s confusing to the rakyat, as a consolation, at least, we know the respective top party leaders are, likewise, in the same boat.
Here’s the point. The rakyat doesn’t give two hoots. After all, we’ve been suffering from political fatigue.
All these political aspirants who want to be PM or DPM have not made any constructive proposals on how they intend to tackle the inflationary trend, depleting foreign reserves and sustaining the subsidy bill.
Perhaps some of us missed their clever speeches.
But have you heard anyone pitch how we can increase our food products, especially from the agri-industry sector, and how we need to strengthen our food security policy and even develop our own food safety law?
Many related issues on food security have emerged, such as food price hikes, and shortage of essential foods including oil and chicken.
Yes, the Prime Minister has said the Economic Action Council has discussed food security, simplifying business procedures in Malaysia and addressing the skilled workers shortage in the electric and electronic sectors.
It was heartening to hear the PM speak about the involvement of Felda in food security last week.
But to ensure food security, Malaysia needs to galvanise the nation. For example, the Singapore Food Agency adopts the strategy of “three food baskets” – the foremost being the diversification of food sources including boosting local food production through funding for agriculture research and technology adoption, creative planning of farm spaces and efforts to drum up community support for local farmers.
Although Singapore is a tiny country with only 1% capacity for food production and over 90% of food imported, it has managed to generate public interest, concern and commitment to food security.
Some may argue that Singapore is hardly a good example as it can’t rear its own chickens and eggs but it has managed to steer national interest and a narrative.
Across the world, the Covid-19 pandemic, disruptions to food supply chains and now, the Ukraine War, have all wreaked havoc on food supplies, and our weakening ringgit can only mean our food import bill will balloon.
Contenders for the Prime Minister’s job in Britain must talk about how they can take the country forward amid high inflation and the tough tax laws there.
They also want to project to their countrymen that they are the ideal candidates to take the nation forward.
It’s fair to suggest that Malaysians don’t see any inspiring, progressive and competent leaders who can promise us a brighter future and take Malaysia to greater heights.
Leadership is surely lacking in Malaysia, although our politicians would like to think they are leaders. Of their own respective political parties, perhaps.
The issue here isn’t filling a vacancy for the DPM post but a void for a leader who can command the respect, confidence and trust of the people – a national leader who can lead us, and one who genuinely represents the interests of all Malaysians, regardless of their race and religion.
Diversity is to be embraced, practised and celebrated every day, and not presented merely as a hollow message drafted, or worse, cut-and-pasted by a press officer for a particular festival.
Perhaps we shouldn’t wait until the next general election before we begin our own elimination process for candidates who don’t even deserve our time.
