Malaysia needs leaders with moral compass, not racial politics

The facts are stark: if both the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) continue to remain as blind as the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), what lies ahead is their dismal demise.

These two parties hardly have any worthy representation presently in Parliament to shout about.

The time has come for bold political moves. The ‘Malayan mindset’ has to give way to a more progressive Malaysian mindset.

If Umno does not want to morph into the United Malaysian National Organisation – where all these components parties gel together – they will all together remain irrelevant.

The era of the Barisan Nasional coalition is over. So too is the emphasis on ‘race’ as a basis of power-sharing. Coalition politics is the way forward, with critical public interest issues the priority. The challenges confronting Malaysia today cannot be addressed from a purely ethnic-based mentality.

The needs of all the people must become the cornerstone for a future inclusive Malaysian polity. We have to be fair to all the people of Malaysia. The cause has to be articulated beyond boundaries, ethnic or otherwise. Otherwise we must admit our failures despite all the pontifications about “1Malaysia”, “Vision 2020” and even the Rukun Negara (National Principles).

The “Madani” (compassionate and trustworthy) vision will similarly face these challenges. I am glad that the 13th Malaysia Plan, recently launched is needs-based and not race-based.

Leadership without vision

What is seriously lacking is leadership with a vision that is actionable. You may have graduated from Harward, Oxford or the University of Malaya. But if you are unable to mould a leadership for the future based on the collective will and determination to serve everyone in Malaysia, we will remain stuck in the mould of the past

Leadership must contribute to the creation of a more cohesive society that values diversity. Failing which, the only possibility is to remain in the present stinking cesspool of ethnicity and religious bigotry whilst dreaming of a different future.

There will be aberrations like Pas and some mosquito parties with their ideological and religious-centric approaches. One hopes they will also respond to a more progressive expression of Islam relevant to this day and age. These parties will remain on the scene, but their relevance or otherwise will become more striking in the years ahead.

We are one humanity and the need is for a mind shift that accepts the reality of diversity and plurality in an interdependent world. The very fact that some of these bigoted parties seem unacceptable in Sabah and Sarawak remains striking.

We live at a time when leadership with a moral compass is becoming more critical. Leaders need the capacity to see themselves clearly. A level of self-awareness, the ability to look oneself in the mirror, a commitment to the cause as more important than ambition and the capacity to accept looming challenges – all this seems sadly missing amongst current political leaders.

Learning from political setbacks

Political power is also based on one’s capacity to gain support from within the party and the electorate. When one loses on a 70:30 ratio – as at the recent PKR party elections – then no amount of blame nor claims that the system is rigged can explain away the scale of the loss.

We must nevertheless credit the losers for resigning from their positions, setting a much-needed political standard in Malaysia. Do not throw away your credibility thereafter by being negative and creating internal divisions.

Such a loss and fall from power should instead be a lesson to motivate politicians to get back in and regain support. Politics is a long- haul campaign with many ups and downs.

Those who survive are those who remain committed to the cause and to the party to which they gave their all. If their commitment is to the cause and the electorate, setbacks can be absorbed.

This commitment will shine through and respect will be gained. Eventually there can only be one leader, but to be part of the team is in itself a great contribution. Political leaders who have gone into oblivion have resurfaced to serve again.

Setbacks reflect political maturity. If you want to evaluate the character of a people, give them power and watch how they exhibit their raw nature in the public space. We witness such exhibitions all the time.

If, on the other hand, it is all blame and gripe, many will read it as ambition preceding commitment to the cause. The public at large are not stupid. We are just as human as everyone else.

Younger politicians have time and they should be patient. Many see arrogance in the rhetoric of some young politicians. In the adversarial system, this is often provoked. Yet, with time on their side, these politicians should show patience and persistence.

The capacity to absorb defeats and challenges are all part of the journey. It is in this sense that one feels for politicians like Syed Siddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

So much clarity comes from developing a moral compass with clear values and moral standards. This sensitises conscience, clarifies choices and displays convictions.

In relative terms, any compromise can be rationalised: “It’s OK, everyone does it.”

But if you are a champion for clean politics, your conduct should be well above the legal bar. Respect has to be earned and this is where BN politicians have failed the nation badly.

Need for moral courage

We just have to reflect on the life and actions of US President Donald Trump to realise what happens when a leader has no sense about his moral compass. So self-centred. What does this say about American democracy? The same can be said about many in the ranks within our present Parliament.

Without a moral compass, it is tough to navigate the territory and at the same time be just and fair to all. An awareness of our own biases and prejudices is necessary to overcome these limitations. Malapportionment of seats in the Malaysian Parliament has to be addressed if justice is to be revered

Moral courage does not come from prayer. It is about our personal convictions and the capacity to stand up and be counted. Those unclear about what they stand for, fall easily for everything. Everything becomes a ‘rezeki’ (divine blessing).

“What are the non-negotiables in my life?” is an appropriate question for every leader to ponder.

Compromise, me first, self-interest, blame, wine, women and money – and if you add to this the factor of power, this describes the many corrupt individuals within our civil service and politics. We have enough evidence of competence without character.

But you cannot live crooked and think straight. This is not ‘halal’ behaviour.

Ethical leadership is the call of the hour. This is not about pontification but about character, conduct, clarity, convictions and the desire to contribute to the whole, the cause that represents the needs of everyone in Malaysia.

It is by our actions that we will all be finally be judged.

...