Who will bell the cat?

As the country goes down the chute, who among our present crop of leaders can lead us through a much needed transition?

By K Haridas

The one constant factor seems that we are moving from one scandal to another. The opposition seems to be doing their job while the government remains on the defensive.

As far as accountability is concerned only opposition members are held to task using the machinery of the state. The lapse, corruption and mismanagement of the government cannot be touched.

A government without the popular vote since the last elections continues unashamedly to rule by virtue of gerrymandering. Race and the primacy of this factor continues to protect people who should be behind bars.

Meanwhile the country goes down the chute. How long before we realise that it may be too late? Mismanagement is in the context of billions of ringgit. This is mind-boggling. Who is responsible if not the Ministry of Finance? What about Bank Negara, Khazanah, the other commercial banks who are all GLC’s?

Who are the leaders who will take a stand, close ranks and get rid of corrupt and ineffective leaders? The time has come for hard decisions. This has not happened through the ballot box because the system remains stacked against change even though the message from the electorate is clear.

Following the events of 1969, we had an evolutionary change with the ruling Alliance Party mutating into the Barisan Nasional (BN). We have now had over four decades of BN rule and the situation is getting from bad to worse in many areas.

The public at large is concerned at the state of education in the country, not to mention issues of finance, security, prices of goods, quality of services, the levels of corruption, mismanagement and arrogance that is visible.

The fire of race and religion are being manipulated by forces with their own agenda. A leadership that styles itself as moderate seems not to be in a position to respond and rein in the likes of Jakim.

Prime Minister Najib Razak’s belief in silence and his hope that issues raised will disappear altogether is now haunting him.

National security is at risk considering the levels of corruption in the country, with the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament were lamenting on their inability to do what is needed whilst Suhakam was being treated like a tied up dog.

I like Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s call for a new alignment amongst forces that value democracy, accountability, the Rukunegara and Vision 2020. Such leadership could include Tun Mahathir, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang amongst others.

There are others who love the country and could provide a cohesion based not on race or religion but by transcending values inspired by justice, ethics, values and a progressive future built on trust and confidence.

Now we have Dato’ Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, who is a Minister in the PM’s Department, lamenting on the state of the billions of loans taken by IMDB. “The quantum is very high and tough”. At least he has come out and made a statement and this restores my faith in him.

I have often wondered how people like Wahid, Idris Jala and Paul Low could risk their integrity with the present crop of political leaders. “Why are you not taking a stand on the basis of what is right?” Mere silence is perceived as condoning what is presently happening and this casts a toll on their own credibility.

We are now past the stage of evolutionary change. What is needed is a metamorphosis just like when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.

The new coalition or group has to become something radically different and respond to the needs of today’s Malaysia to become a progressive multi-ethnic nation that values diversity and maintains its unique features.

This will not happen by chance but by the determined action and leadership given by a few who inspire many to make that needed transition.

The key question is, “Who will bell the cat?”

K Haridas is an FMT reader