The council has just come out with a decision to fine women working in retail outlets and restaurants should they wear clothes deemed to be sexy or revealing.  

The offending clothes include tight fitting blouses, jeans, shorts and mini-skirts, according to the new ruling.  

Council public relations officer Mohd Azman Daham said those found wearing offensive clothes could be fined RM500.  

I am not sure whether wearing these clothes can create a riot or lead to political instability in Kelantan, but certainly many of us want to see, well, some transparency in the enforcement.  

The reason given by Mohd Azman is quite pathetic really.  

The council, it seems, had received complaints that some retail outlets and restaurants were resorting to getting their workers to wear sexy clothes to woo customers.  

That's a laugh really. Certainly, the men in Kelantan would feel insulted by that kind of restaurant.  

We believe Kelantanese have better taste – we are talking about food in the state, that is.  

For non-Muslim women, they would be banned from showing off their navel, so no ala Britney Spears, or anything that emphasises the buttocks.  

It may be easier to stop women from showing their navel but the council has to ban jeans completely if they want anything that "emphasises the buttocks" to be disallowed.  

For Muslim women, they don't appear to have much choice because they need to wear the tudung or a clothing that covers right down to the ankles.  

When it comes to Kelantan, the blame is always on the women.  

We have lost track of the number of times when Kelantan PAS leaders, including its Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat, pointed their fingers at women.  

The simplistic argument has always been that dressing is to be blamed for rapes and sexual molest cases.  

Still in a perpetual denial state, they chose to look the other way when confronted with facts and figures that even grandmothers, many in tudung, have been raped.  

Certainly, they were not dressed sexily and indecently.  

This is despite the fact that gender segregation is still enforced at supermarket check-out queues and the lights are still on in cinemas.  

But this obsession with sex is prevalent too among a few Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament.  

A few suggested that foreign sex workers be whipped as a form of punishment.  

Again, this came from Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamed Aziz who strives on controversy at the Dewan Rakyat.  

No doubt the number of foreign sex workers arrested are high.  

There were 5,783 arrests in 2004, 6,484 in 2005 and 3,245 in the first six months of this year.  

Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Johari Baharum said those arrested were mostly from China, Indonesia and Thailand.  

There is no reason why men who seek the services of sex workers should be spared.  

Their pictures should be put up on websites like what some states in the United States are doing.  

Many sex workers these days opt for the trade to earn fast money but many have also been forced into it by circumstances – some have been abandoned by their husbands and some by husbands who have stopped paying alimony after the divorce.  

While they have no justification for becoming sex workers, there is really no black and white approach.  

The simplistic argument from these politicians aside, the sad fact is that these men still see women as objects.  

Surely, they must have mothers, sisters and daughters.  

What next from the PAS state government – a ban on the Pagoda brand singlet for it can be indecent to some?  

The group was there under the Global Leadership Development Programme organised by the International Centre for Leadership in Finance, which comes under Bank Negara. 

Dr Rubinstein, a highly sought-after speaker on decision-making and innovation, served as a consultant to a committee set up to investigate the loss of a US$125mil (RM448mil) spacecraft belonging to Nasa in 1999. Billions of dollars were lost from research and satellite hardware left in orbit. 

But Dr Rubinstein, who also teaches engineering, said what was more shocking was the reason for the fiasco – it was the result of a failure to translate the English units of feet and inches into metric units by a ground-based mission software. 

In short, the spacecraft was lost due to translation failure. The fault was detected early but left alone until a major error occurred, resulting in the spacecraft losing its navigation path. 

The person who found the error had sent a notification to another person and presumed it had been received. 

Sounds familiar? We send an e-mail or SMS and we assume that it is received. Often, we do not acknowledge receipt of the note. 

The message from Dr Rubinstein, who has written eight books on problem solving, is simple: never let a small problem, even if it looks simple, grow big until it cannot be fixed. 

The guru of strategy shares another message: no matter how difficult a challenge, it can be overcome if people are prepared to collaborate. 

He cited the construction of the Santa Monica freeway, which was rebuilt in 66 days by a dedicated group after being destroyed in an earthquake. The experts had said it would take two years. 

There are applications and tools for solving problems but we do not need an expert to tell us about using common sense. 

On a macro level, the same can be said about the political developments in Malaysia over the recent weeks. 

We have wasted enough time on issues that have clouded our judgment and stirred our emotions unnecessarily. 

Malaysia needs to move on and look at the bigger picture. What is over is over and there is no need to keep harping on them. 

Surely, there are more pressing matters that warrant the attention of all Malaysians instead of useless political rhetoric from various parties and groups. 

As a small nation, we need to compete for attention in the world economy. We need to tell the world that we are in the game. 

But we have to get our act right. Malaysians need to put their strength and resources together to check the growing competition from other economies. 

Our Prime Minister has pointed out that the old economic model no longer works. He is right because the cost of labour in Malaysia is now higher than in Indonesia and Vietnam. 

What we can do is to leverage our strengths – in terms of networking and cultural links with the three biggest markets in Asia, namely China, India and Indonesia. 

The Malays have their links to Indonesia, the Chinese and Indians with the two other huge countries. 

None of our other competitors, either in the region or elsewhere, enjoy the same kind of leverage that we have with these three economies. 

We are familiar with their languages and way of thinking and doing business, unlike other competitors outside the region. 

Many of our companies have, in fact, beaten the others in the game long before Indonesia got onto the radar screen. This is particularly so with our plantation and poultry companies. 

But we need to up the ante, as the saying goes, because there are many other areas we have yet to take advantage of. 

Prof Uday Karmakar, who teaches at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, posed one question to his Malaysian listeners: "Why aren't the Asian banks, including those in Malaysia, zooming in on India when the Europeans banks are moving in aggressively?" 

The Indian-born American academic serves as a consultant for companies such as Ford, GM, IBM, Xerox, Thomson Publishing and the Aditya Biria Group. 

For the many bankers in the Malaysian group, it is a question many find hard to answer but Malaysian companies certainly need to look beyond our shores. 

We need to consolidate our strengths, even merge, to compete for a bigger pool of the profits. With just weeks before we begin the 50th year of independence, we need to begin lifting the spirits and stir the passion of all Malaysians.  

 o Wong Chun Wai can be reached at onthebeat@ thestar.com.my

Comments about this personal website are most welcomed. Please email me.

Bukit Bintang is known to have the best shopping malls, restaurants, hotels and entertainment spots.  

But has anyone seen Malaysian women in bikinis pole dancing on bar tops or touts inviting foreigners to tiger shows?  

According to Mohd Said, his Arab friends told him that the sex activities made Malaysia "better than Thailand".  

Mohd Said is known as the "close one eye" MP for his controversial
remark to Customs officials to overlook a consignment belonging to his
company's client that was seized for exceeding the size limit.  

He had also accused certain Customs officials of selling confiscated
luxury cars cheaply to their friends in the palace. He could not
produce any evidence to back his allegations.  

Mohd Said should have personally investigated what his Arab friends had
told him and if he could not do it personally, he should have submitted
the information to the authorities.  

To make these allegations, just when Malaysia is about launch Visit Malaysia Year 2007 is damaging, to say the least.  

We like to be known as a destination for family holidays and one where
wives have no reason to worry when their husbands are here on business
trips.  

Most wives know there are very few options for their husbands when they
come to Kuala Lumpur, but not so in Bangkok, Manila, Phnom Penh,
Singapore or even Jakarta.  

Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has correctly rebutted Mohd
Said, saying that Malaysians and not foreigners are confused as to how
Malaysia was being promoted overseas.  

Correction Tengku, it is Mohd Said who is confused and not Malaysians.
The rest of us are proud of the commercials being aired to promote
Malaysia ahead of the big event because we understand the economic
impact.  

We are ready to put on our best smiles and to extend our famed
hospitality to the millions of tourists coming our way because they
like the seas, the forests, the multi-culturalism and the food.  

These tourists know what to expect of Malaysia when they planned their
holidays and if racy adult entertainment is their choice, it is
unlikely that they will pick KL.  

Sure, there are nightclubs, and if foreigners look hard enough, there
would be sex workers but surely not on the scale of other sex cities.  

And if there are local women who like foreigners at bars and pubs, who
can stop them if they want to go further! It's nobody's business.  

Let's not mistake the foot massage outlets along Bukit Bintang for tired shoppers, because these are clean places.  

Bukit Bintang MCA chief Senator Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng has good
reasons to be upset and to feel insulted by Mohd Said's remarks. He
should know his territory better.  

As Tengku Mansor, the Federal Territory Umno chief said: "We cannot go
around branding everything which resembles entertainment as sinful and
illicit."  

The trouble with many politicians is that while they are quick to
criticise what they perceive to be sinful, the same decibel is not
heard when it comes to corruption.  

Corruption is a sin and surely we should hear more politicians back
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in his fight against graft.  

Not only are many of our politicians not on the forefront, but they
also seem to shy away from talking about accountability and
credibility.  

Many, including those seemingly religious in their diet and dressing,
appear to be selective when it comes to their pick of sins. Somehow,
corruption, abuse of power and women do not affect their religious
practices, regardless of their spiritual belief.  

The authorities should also call on Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
lecturer Zawawi Muhammad Lukman to back his claim in a survey of 4,000
people, that minors between the ages of nine and 18 were involved in
vice.  

This is a serious allegation. He also said he came across a mother who
asked her 11-year-old daughter to have sex with her boyfriend.  

The police must find out whether this is a case of sexual abuse, rape
or prostitution because providing sex for money is something different
all together.  

We hope the newspaper has quoted the researcher wrongly, and
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has correctly said the
police would probe the matter.  

Again it is an issue that has tarnished the image of Malaysia. For many
people, including those involved in non-governmental organisations,
they can only express disbelief.  

People in position, politicians or otherwise, must realise that they
cannot simply make general statements which can bring negative
implications.  

This damage is irreversible.  

The bottom line is let's open our eyes when we see something that we know must be brought to the notice of the authorities. 

Malaysians generally do not expect our politicians to admit they have done wrong, let alone to apologise. 

But it cannot be denied that many Malaysians, regardless of their race, have expressed their unhappiness and uneasiness at the inflammatory speeches made by some Umno delegates. 

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak have done a good job at the party assembly putting the remarks in perspective. They have also given their assurance to non-Malays that they have rights as citizens. 

Najib has also asked the authorities to investigate the Umno speakers who made remarks deemed to be seditious, describing some as "extreme."  

Outspoken Umno leader Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the law would be allowed to take its course against those who had gone too far. 

He warned that those who had spoken out of line at the party assembly should be prepared to face the consequences, saying "those who made speeches that were seditious will face the music." 

Barisan Nasional component party leaders, who attended the Cabinet meeting last week in their capacity as ministers, also expressed their unhappiness at the hurtful remarks made by these delegates. 

The statements from Umno leaders like Abdullah, Najib and Nazri are reassuring to Malaysians, as their views will be regarded as the official stand of the Umno leadership. 

If action were to be taken against these irresponsible speakers, it would set a precedent and serve as a warning to other communal-minded politicians from other parties. 

The message is simple and clear: if you exploit the subjects of race and religion in your fire-and-brimstone speeches, you will be burnt. 

Umno delegates, in their preoccupation with their share in the Malaysian economy, could have spent more time deliberating on the economic aspects of Pak Lah's speech. 

Even the media should be blamed. Perhaps there were just too many news angles to choose from and the more sensational aspects like religious ultra-conservatism, press freedom and corruption were picked. 

Many Malaysians have expressed their views on what they regard as an economic slowdown. Bank Negara may have released good growth figures but among many ordinary Malaysians, the pinch of an increasing cost of living is being felt. 

Businessmen have complained of fewer jobs and contracts while others have expressed fear of competition from other countries, particularly our drop in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). 

Pak Lah has addressed their concerns in an honest and open manner. Those who missed these crucial parts should refer to his full speech again. 

He acknowledged that Malaysians "want quick results" with complaints "that FDI is slowing" and the "stock market is sluggish." 

But he has offered reasons – some of our neighbours post impressive FDI numbers because they have allowed their companies to be bought by foreign investors. 

"We believe in selective mergers and acquisitions, and maintaining control of strategic assets," he said. "We can increase the FDI figures many times over with the stroke of a pen but it will mean loss of control. If I do that, you will be the first to condemn me." 

He also gave this advice to Umno delegates: be more competitive and innovative because the new way breeds more confidence, and that future economic growth will not just be dependent upon government spending but will be based on innovation and creativity. 

It's a shame that the words of the Prime Minister were lost in the sound and fury of some Umno speakers. 

In a globalised economy, where even the concept of a nation-state is losing its importance, we cannot escape from adapting to a borderless world. 

Pak Lah has spoken of a "transformative effect" that he wished to create – it is now up to Malaysians to help him realise his wish. 

No Malaysians should blame their fellow countrymen if they fall behind.  

The newspapers and TV stations can be directed to tone down political temperature but Internet news websites and bloggers are there to record the irresponsible words spouted by these politicians. 

And thanks to free video-sharing website YouTube (www.youtube.com), we may even get to see the antics of those who get carried away with their rhetoric in the belief that they can play to the gallery, be popular and still not be held accountable for their words. 

The days of politicians saying one thing in the Malay newspapers and giving another version to the English or Chinese newspapers, to cater to different audiences for political expediency, are over too.  

Nothing escapes the attention of Malaysians these days and if politicians have still not woken up to this reality, then they will be haunted by the ghosts of their communal statements at the next general election. 

Neither can they escape the heat by blaming the press for misquoting them. Politicians must be accountable for their words and actions. It's that simple. 

The issue is not whether the annual general meetings of communal-based parties should be telecast live. The issue is that delegates to these party assemblies must take responsibility for what they say. It's the content, not the communication tool, that matters. 

The speakers are after all picked by their respective state liaisons. The permanent chairmen of the various parties, who preside at these meetings, can interrupt to stop speakers from making remarks that are not just hurtful to other Malaysians but can be seditious in nature. In short, there is no place for issues relating to race and religion in Malaysia. 

If these delegates were to carry on with their fire and brimstone speeches, then the wrong message would be sent out. Worse, Malaysians may assume that their views have been endorsed even if they were just expressing their personal views.  

But when delegates speak at assemblies, they also represent their respective state or division. 

In one particular case, Umno Youth information chief Datuk Azimi Daim is a state executive councillor in Kedah.  

He is a senior Umno leader and should be wise and responsible enough to refrain from making remarks that might give rise to misinterpretation. 

On Monday, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said future Umno general assemblies may not be telecast live, given the flak the party has received over this year's proceedings. 

Many people felt that the telecast was an inappropriate thing because it gave a distorted view of Umno proceedings.  

Najib who is Deputy Prime Minister said it was up to the Umno supreme council to decide but said the leadership was seriously looking into the wisdom of having a live telecast. 

He also admitted that certain speeches during the just concluded assembly were extreme, adding that delegates should realise that "when they speak, there are others outside the party who are also listening." 

The racist remarks by a few delegates created unease among the Barisan Nasional component members and have continued to be a talking point among ordinary Malaysians, who felt it was out of place in our attempts to forge national unity. 

On Tuesday, MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek also said such AGMs should not be televised, saying all AGMS were racially charged including the MCA and MIC meetings. 

It is common to hear delegates at Umno, MCA or MIC meetings talk about defending their community rights but there is surely no need to intimidate or make threats. 

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has proven that he did not have to make racial statements to climb to the top of the party hierarchy.  

He has always been consistently moderate, which puts him high above the rest. He should be a model for party aspirants as he stands for all Malaysians, not just one race. 

Umno leaders have tried to assure non-Malays over the past few days that the views of these few delegates did not represent the thinking of the Umno leadership. Most Malaysians would agree but certainly it was not comforting for many.  

Malaysians look forward to the day when party delegates speak of orang kita, woh men or nam el lorum, when they really mean their fellow Malaysians and not just their own race.  

After all, they get their votes in the general election from not just one but all ethnic groups.  

He may not be an eloquent speaker but it was surely one of Abdullah's best speeches. 

The Prime Minister could have played to the gallery to boost his popularity, in the wake of a challenge against his leadership, with rhetoric on the Malay Agenda.  

But he did not, remembering that he is the leader of all communities. 

And he rightly lowered down the political temperature in this winding-up speech on Friday by declaring that Umno must speak for all. 

More important, he said Umno must never forget the rights of the other races as stipulated in the Constitution. 

Umno leaders, especially elected representatives, must also never forget that their victory at the general election is not from the support of one race.  

In close contests, particularly in predominantly Malay constituencies, they need the deciding votes of the non-Muslims. 

It is the same for MCA and Gerakan leaders. They can demand Chinese rights loudly but they must never take for granted the Umno leaders who deliver the Malay votes for them. 

It is this arrangement that has worked so well for Barisan Nasional because the leaders understand that they need each other. 

It is easy to label the DAP or PAS as being extremists but such elements do exist within Barisan component parties as well. They are probably more damaging than the opposition. 

Criticism and unhappiness on sensitive issues have always been discussed within the BN forum but when the floodgates are opened with direct attacks on fellow BN leaders, it would be more difficult to contain. 

Component party leaders, under pressure from their members and voters, may feel compelled to speak up to show their political bravery but this can only bring short-term gains.  

The long-term damage is far greater because there is always a price to pay for hurtful words. 

Likewise, the keris-rattling and posturing on Malay dominance at the assembly is disturbing.  

It cannot be denied that many non-Malays are concerned. 

A statement by Malacca delegate Hasnoor Sidang Hussein, who reportedly reminded party members that the time had come for Malays to act against those who undermined Malay rights, was clearly seditious. 

So was talk about unsheathing the keris, which is now being openly debated over the Internet.  

What would young Malaysians think of their future?  

Pak Lah has opened up the democratic space and exercised greater tolerance for dissent, but there must be self-restraint and ground rules. 

The advice given before the assembly by Pak Lah and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that delegates should not hurt the feelings of other races seems to have fallen on deaf ears among some Umno delegates. 

Kedah delegate Tajul Urus Mohd Zain, in his attempt to defend Port Klang Assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Deros, came out with figures of illegal places of worship with claims of an agenda against the Selangor strongman. 

Not only was there a racial slant, he conveniently forgot to mention that Zakaria did not bother to pay his assessment fees amounting to over RM46,800 for the last 12 years. Only recently did he finally pay up. 

How many Malaysians, including Umno members, would be able to get away with that? 

Tajul Urus said that "certain people had used the Zakaria issue to tarnish the image of Umno" – which seems an odd way to defend Zakaria. 

Delegates should also research better for the assembly because some speakers quoted wrong facts and figures. 

One delegate criticised those who spread the rumours alleging a baptism ceremony of Malays at a church but went on to repeat the figure of 200,000 Malays said to have become apostates.  

That figure, which is an imaginary number, has long been disputed. 

Ayer Itam Wanita delegate Rahimah Idris criticised the wives of ministers for their dressing, citing a minister's wife who wore a skirt at her ex-husband's funeral.  

We are not sure whom she was referring to, but there is no such image in our photo archives. 

Surely there were more urgent and serious matters to discuss at the general assembly of our country's dominant party. 

It is easy to demand for slices of the economic cake, but it would have been good to hear from the delegates how the country's economic policies and strategies could be strengthened and improved. 

There is too much head-to-head competition in an economy that is already slow, and it has seemingly led to what is called a struggle over a shrinking profit pool. 

In Pak Lah's words: "Bumiputras are unhappy that targets have not been reached while non-bumiputras are restless because they perceive that a time extension might mean they will not achieve equality." 

He clearly understands that Malaysia is not built by the blood, sweat and tears of one race but by all Malaysians.  

The Malays should not be made to feel insecure and, certainly, the Chinese and Indians are no longer immigrants but citizens with equal rights. 

There is a need to move away from the "them versus us" mentality because, as what has been described as the Blue Ocean Strategy, everyone should work together to look for uncontested market space and to make competition irrelevant. 

For example, the country's demography has changed tremendously with Malays making up over 60% while the Chinese population has shrunk. More and more hotels and restaurants now serve halal food because they see the expansion of a Malay middle-class, which is good for the country. 

Likewise, Chinese-owned direct-selling companies have focused their attention on Malay customers.  

It is here where the Malays and Chinese can forge true business partnership. 

With the shift towards West Asia, it helps to have Muslim partners and executives for non-Malay companies. 

There is no need for Malays to be uptight when Chinese companies insist on Chinese-speaking workers for trading with mainlanders.  

It may seem like discrimination but it is also against many English and Malay-educated Chinese. 

The investments of Malaysian companies overseas brought home RM1.4bil in 2005 from RM400mil in 1999. 

The bottom line, as Pak Lah said, is that in a flattening world Malaysians – regardless of race – need to improve in order to become marketable and adaptable in a globalised world.  

Malaysians should have a wider perspective of economic issues as trade barriers and protectionist rules are dismantled. 

It is clear from this Umno general assembly that the Prime Minister is very much in control. Make no mistake about it. 

While the Malay Agenda will top the discussions, non-Malays will also be following the event closely. 

As a communal-based party, it is understandable that Umno would debate issues affecting the Malays.  

Defending the rights of the community is the crux of the party's philosophy and there is absolutely no reason for Umno to be apologetic over this. 

The fact is that Umno calls the shots in this country and that is a political reality that Malaysians must live with, whether they like it or not.  

No other party, whether in the Government or Opposition, can come close to Umno's strength. 

Speakers at the 57th general assembly can be expected to talk about protecting the rights of the Malays on economics, race, religion and language, which will receive both national and international attention. 

There are bound to be some muscle-flexing among the speakers, to project themselves as defenders of the community.  

Even at the annual meetings of the MCA and MIC, there have been such familiar tones. 

But Umno leaders must also realise that they are also Malaysian leaders.  

Malaysians look upon them to steer the country's course in their capacities as Cabinet ministers and mentris besar. 

While their executive positions are dependent on their performances at party levels, they must never forget that they have been elected as members of Parliament and state assemblymen with the support of the other races. 

It is commendable that Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has advised delegates to be sensitive to the feelings of non-Malays in Malaysia's multiracial society. 

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein also asked younger leaders of the Youth wings of BN component parties to build trust among themselves and work towards a joint destiny. 

He said there were those who had been tempted to look at issues purely based on their racial group to gain temporary popularity with their own race, adding that in the long run that would not be beneficial to the party nor the individual. 

The Education Minister said that approach had been proven in history to be not acceptable by the majority of Malaysians. He said one of the issues Umno Youth would be discussing at the assembly would be its relationship with the Youth wings of the BN component parties. 

The assurances of these two senior Umno leaders are important in the run-up to the Umno general assembly, particularly when race relations in Malaysia had been tested in recent months. 

From the question of bumiputra equity to Bangsa Malaysia and the alleged baptism of Muslims, the issues have caused uneasiness among many Malaysians, and invoked sharp responses from some people who do not grasp the meaning of moderation and compromise. 

Knee-jerk reactions often lead to emotional responses which we often regret later.  

One example is the SMS rumours of the alleged baptism of a group of Muslims in a Perak church which were false, but thankfully fair-minded leaders like Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy put their foot down on such irresponsibility. 

Moderate leaders like Abdullah and other Umno leaders reassured Malaysians, especially non-Malays, that they have a place in a plural society and that fanaticism will not be tolerated here. 

That aside, Umno speakers especially the younger ones, and with the general election expected in 2008, must bear in mind that even as they speak up for their community, they must not forget their fellow Malaysians who are not Malays. 

Over the next few days, as Malaysians shift their attention to the Putra World Trade Centre, they must include other important issues confronting the nation in an increasingly competitive world. 

In a flattening world where trade barriers and old rules have been dismantled, Malaysians would want to hear how Umno intends to put up new models in a new economy so that Malaysia can climb up in the ranks of the global economy report.  

It is essential that bumiputras, who form the majority of this country's population, play a pivotal role in what Najib has dubbed the globalised bumiputras. 

The competitors of the bumiputras are not their fellow Malaysians, regardless of their races, but the educated and skilled workforce in Bangalore, India, and in China's Beijing, Shenzhen, Dalian and Shanghai, not to forget the fast growing economies of Vietnam and Indonesia. 

Malaysians trust that Umno leaders would not just talk about how the size of the economic cake should be cut but more importantly focus their mind on how to expand the cake.  

Abu Bakar's warped logic is that the sexy dresses of the women reporters are to be blamed for the action of the Peeping Tom.  

There were no promises of a thorough investigation to bring the culprit to book and certainly no sympathy nor apology from him but a quick shift of the blame on the reporters doing their work.  

Abu Bakar's statement is bewildering and certainly he owes Penangites, not just the reporters, an apology for his remarks and we hope he will not claim that he has been misquoted, like many often do when they are pinned in a corner.  

It did not matter to him that the technician was supposed to record the proceedings of the council meeting. Nor was Abu Bakar perturbed that the safety and dignity of the reporters had been compromised. 

He seems to be more interested in looking for a scapegoat and has chosen the reporters.  

New Straits Times reporter Melissa Darlyne Chow, who has maintained that she was merely wearing normal office attire, has ended up becoming the issue of the incident now.  

Like the others, she has every reason to be upset with Abu Bakar's sexist remarks. He is no different from the likes of PAS leaders who blame rape victims for their dressing instead of the lust of the predators.  

For simplistic-minded people, it has never occurred to them that even the tudung-clad in rural areas, including grandmothers, have become rape victims. Blaming the way women dress seems to be their argument, no matter how unconvincing it sounds.  

In Abu Bakar's own words – "The issue is the sexy dress of the journalist. If it was not sexy, it would not have happened." Sir, you have got it all wrong.  

The issue is what are you going to do with the Peeping Tom and what follow-up action would you take to make sure this does not happen again.  

The issue also is whether you, on behalf of the council, would have the decency to apologise to the women reporters who have become victims of the technician.  

Instead of spending taxpayers' money and time drawing up dress rules and codes, it might be better for the council to draw up rules to prevent such incidents from happening again.  

State Local Government committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan has taken an impartial position by asking for everyone to keep an open mind as he awaits the council report.  

Dr Teng has said that no one was sure it was done on purpose and whether the CCTV was faulty.  

I am sure the reporters are prepared to accept what Dr Teng has proposed but Abu Bakar's immediate finger-pointing, or rather fault-finding, is perplexing. Abu Bakar ought to be aware that he is not merely serving the council but serving ratepayers as well. Penangites, who are known to be open-minded and progressive, must find his remarks hard to accept. 

Neither are there many Malaysian leaders who can emulate first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, the late Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, oppositionist Dr Tan Chee Khoon, the Seenivasagam brothers, socialist councillor C.Y. Choy and Penang's first Chief Minister Wong Pow Nee. These were names synonymous with integrity and ethics. 

Except for the Tunku, few Malaysians would be familiar with the other names. This is most unfortunate because their contributions have been tremendous. 

They led simple lives and in many instances forbade their children from telling their friends who their fathers were. Certainly, they never had mansions with 17 rooms built without approval. 

Despite the Tunku's aristocratic background and free nature, he understood the strengths of compromise and his moderate ways kept the country together, ensuring that all communities felt secure. 

Dr Tan, a religious man, was not charismatic and certainly was never known for delivering fiery speeches but the opposition figure of the 1970s understood one of the most critical traits of a leader: humility. 

Writing on leadership in Time magazine recently, Sherren Watkins noted that a humble leader listens to others and is prepared to hear the truth, even if it is bad news. More important, humility is marked by an ability to admit mistakes. 

How many of our elected representatives – or even appointed leaders – are prepared to take responsibility for their fallacies and admit their mistakes? Not many are prepared to step down even when their abuse of power and disregard for the law have been exposed. 

And even when they do admit to making a mistake, it tends to come across as a political tactic rather than a genuine act of repentance. 

They claim to be passionate about working for the people but ignore public views at the same time. These people of power have become so accustomed to the privileges, perks and applause of their followers that they find it hard to let go. 

They cling on to their positions, hoping to be rescued by their political patrons. If they succeed, they hope all will be forgiven as the media moves on to other concerns. In most instances, such strategies often work. 

Tracing the failures of the Enron leaders, Watkins, who lectures on leadership and ethics, asked whether society was cultivating humility as much as we ought to if we wish to produce God-fearing leaders. 

Enron Corporation was an American energy company that went bankrupt, causing 21,000 people to lose their jobs. It has since become a symbol of corporate fraud and corruption. 

Last week, the head of the National Association of Evangelicals Ted Haggard was forced to quit after being accused of seeking the services of a male prostitute and buying drugs from him.  

Haggard was considered one of the most influential men in the US because he had direct links to President George Bush and the Republican Party. 

Writing in the Leadership magazine, editor Gordon MacDonald asked: "Why are some men and women in all kinds of leadership getting themselves into trouble, whether the issues be moral, financial or the abuse of power and ego?" 

Admitting his own failures and humiliation, he cautioned: "When people become leaders, when they become famous and their opinions are constantly sought by the media, we ought to be more cautious." 

The drive to achieve ambitious goals can sometimes stray us into areas of excitement and risks that can be dangerous and destructive, sometimes even unstoppable, he wrote.  

There are parallel situations in Malaysia. Politics, sex, greed and even religion are powerful combinations and, sometimes, can be deadly. 

We come across leaders who like to pass themselves off as pious with their ability to recite verses from holy books and seemingly choosy with their diet but are tainted with allegations of corruption. 

Then there are some who put on the cloak of religion but their ambitions and actions are identified by their desires for power and position rather than their commitment to God, irrespective of their faith. 

Malaysians cannot be blamed if they seem disillusioned with some of our leaders. They talk of the rich and powerful getting away with violations of the law; sometimes they express frustration over high-profile cases such as the death of 14-year-old Chinese national Xu Jian Huang who was found dead in a swimming pool of an Ampang bungalow, and the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Sabahan Anthony Chang Kim Hock. 

Certainly, they want justice for the victims and their families. They find it hard to understand why the killer or killers in these two cases remain at large and cast aspersions at the system when powerful figures are reportedly implicated. 

The lesson for leaders, whether businessmen or politicians, is that many of them claim to speak on behalf of us, even as they misspeak. How we wish that they listen to us more. 

On Thursday, Zakaria announced his decision to resign as a councillor of the local authority after the Umno supreme council ordered him to pull out from the swearing-in ceremony for the councillors on Wednesday. 

Despite the defiance put up by his supporters, the two-term elected representative must have got the message as he informed local reporters near midnight via SMS.  

He should be thankful. He is still keeping his other positions in the party and state government including the powerful Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor land committee, which handles land matters in Selangor. 

Zakaria continues to head the Port Klang Umno division. He is elected to the post and no one can take it away from him. The former railway gatekeeper and waiter appears to enjoy the support of his division and the supreme council is correct in keeping the status quo. 

Well-connected and powerful, the Klang strongman has plenty of clout, which explains why even some senior Umno leaders are reluctant to comment on the controversy. One minister made a statement but called the reporter back quickly to retract it. 

That is the perception of the political and media circles, but over the past 48 hours, Zakaria has made serious efforts to change his tough guy image. He has depicted himself as a caring politician with a heart of gold for the villagers. 

He has listed to the reporters the charitable work he has done and has dismissed suggestions that he is rude and arrogant, saying the constituents did not even address him as a Datuk but only as Abang Zak. 

He has profusely sought forgiveness, saying he has made mistakes, like all human beings, and hoped that he would be given a chance to rectify them. That included submitting plans for his mansion, which is still under construction, and to pay his assessment for 12 years. 

The beleaguered politician has blamed the opposition, his architects and other jealous politicians for the furore that has gripped the nation for the last one week. 

When he finally met the press, the former office boy read from a prepared text and refused to take difficult questions relating to his mansion, the DZ Satay House built illegally on state land, and other issues. 

The controversy would surely fizzle out over the next two weeks as the media move on to other issues. Zakaria certainly hopes that all would be forgotten soon. Malaysians easily forget, anyway. 

The Umno general assembly begins on Nov 13 and national attention would definitely shift to the Putra World Trade Centre, where more pressing national issues would be discussed. 

But for many Malaysians, the Zakaria episode is an example of how some politicians can abuse their powers and are able to get away with it. There seems to be different rules for different classes of power. How many of us would be able to escape paying assessment fees for 12 years without facing some form of action from the council? 

The poor satay man had his extension demolished while Zakaria's restaurant continued standing following a telephone call from a purported Datuk to the council. How many of us have that privilege?  

It is more than just Zakaria not paying his assessment fees and ignoring the law; the abuse of power and the flaunting of his wealth have also disgusted many Malaysians. It is his seeming disrespect to Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo that has put off the public. 

But much more important is the question of credibility, integrity and accountability. Malaysians are dismayed that some of our politicians are unable to discern truth, and simply refuse to take responsibility.  

They call themselves the representatives of the people, claiming they want to serve the people, but humility seems to be a trait they do not know. Throwing crumbs to their constituents seems to be their notion of dedication to the people. 

The leadership risks sending the wrong message to the public with the light rap on the knuckle on Zakaria.  

No one disputes his divisional leadership qualities but the abuse of powers and disregard for the laws are surely serious enough for the leadership to ponder on, not forgetting the strong public sentiments on the issue. 

If there is anything to take comfort from the resistance put up by the councillors in refusing to step down from the MPK, it must be their passion to serve the ordinary people.  

Not many Malaysians would want to take up jobs that pay an allowance of only RM500 a month but politicians are fighting over each for other for these positions. We wonder why.