2dPoint

Unfolding a Transformed Leadership Front?

On September 1, 2006, Fuziah Salleh, Head of the Women Wing of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (keADILan), has presented in her policy speech at the third Women Congress of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, an expectation of a new breed of politicians as the ones rightly to govern the country. The essence of such leadership is in the ability to move from being a “reformasi” leadership to a transformational leadership. To put it simply in general analogy, transformational leadership involves the ability to transform a present status to a totally new one, starkly different, even alien to the old/previous one, likening to a caterpillar transformed into a butterfly.

The suggestion is out rightly Martian to the prevailing political culture in Malaysia. Some have staunchly defended the present political setup as the most fitting in the Malaysian context. They support race-based party politics. They feel that only by maintaining the status quo, all races are appropriately represented. It would be impossibility for a number of Indian politicians to be a wakil rakyat as there are no majority Indian constituencies in Malaysia. That is true for race-based politics. Race-based politics decides on the interests of each race and negotiates its position from the strengths each race has. Policies are also designed according to the interest of race. Each party thinks about their own race first, rather than the interests of all people in Malaysia. Race-based politics denies the importance of other races except in political negotiations. Other races are not thought of as one of them but as something, that does not belong to them. These outsiders are considered petty items and best taken care of by their own kind only. The scramble for limited resources depicts the worst of race-based politics. Corruption in the form of bribery, political appointments, academic development, project distribution, resource allocation, and conflict of interests in positions of power, to mention only a few, are the result of race-based politics.

Race-based politics in Malaysia is already almost thoroughly infested with corruption, injustices, irrevocable wrongs, and individuals with greed dominating their minds and souls and the hunger to dominate others. The lack of human compassion is also there for all to witness. The lack of competence and non-partisan leadership is even overtly in feat.

Therefore, a transformation of political leadership is in order. Its main responsibility is to transform the ugly scenery of race-based politics from its roots. It will take a brave and bold action by the transformed leadership to achieve that. The team will have to make tremendous sacrifice, particularly in ensuring another term of office in parliament, for such changes will invite political anger from the infested politicians, who will stop at nothing to achieve their aims. Transformational leadership guarantees people’s rights in wealth, education, health, safety, and development. There will be a conscious and spirited effort to ensure the real narrowing of the economic disparity and knowledge gaps among races and among the haves and haves-not. Everyone, regardless of race and ideology will be opportune to develop his/her potential and given due rights. The present political leadership is known to sideline those who maintain a different political outlook on the country’s administration and development although such individuals may be the best element/worker that the country possess. Such is the unjust and prejudiced dealings of the Barisan Nasional government, which often disregard merit in many of its business.

A main issue of transformational leadership is its delineation from business involvement in all its aspects. That means, there should never be conflicts of interest at any time, anywhere as long as one is a wakil rakyat or a minister of the government in power. That implies that family connection becomes an automatic reason to shun business and any connection to government or government-linked projects. It ultimately means that the job of wakil rakyat and ministers are not the promising occupations for aspiring millionaires or billionaires in the country. Only then, will such group of leaders wholly and absolutely give imperative concentration on the fulfilment of the people’s needs. Such hope is highly suspect when money politics rule the political scene. Raja Petra had insinuated that in his writing, “Again money talks, bullshit walks.”

I think Fuziah regards the transformation occurring within the party will be major propulsion to win the trust of the people. It means practising in its totality the talk of new politics. That is a very difficult path, though not impossible, to political victory, judging from the continued lack of freedom in the press and the existence of intimidating and draconian laws, such as the ISA, which thwarts a free flow of alternative opinions writings and voice to the population.

The onset of declining growth has always prompted the ruling Umno-BN to maintain large deficit budgets and giving away bonanzas for everyone. The idea is to deviate even any thoughts of dissent of any kind from the voting sectors, whose support are vital in ensuring the present ruling UMNO-BN’s power to rule the country. Declining growth implies job losses, which results in the pain of unemployment and falling incomes. That is a sure indication that the present government is incompetent to provide the people’s needs and alleviate their difficulties. In reality, the problem of incompetence, of mismanagement of funds, improper delivery of monetary allocation and corruption are the major causes and obstacles to harmony, real physical and human development. Such problems will never be eradicated as long as BN leaders are bent on making decisions and budgets based on what keeps them in power. Power has become a sort of God of the BN regime. Strategically, the people have been deliberately made ignorant of the real state of affairs of the government and country. Public apathy, to me, is an orchestrated phenomenon aimed for the convenient realisation of irresponsible leaders’ self-interests, devoid of what Dr Syed Hussin Ali calls as “kepedulian rakyat.”

Transformational leadership makes correct decisions, NOT politically correct decision. The interests of the people will take precedent over the interest of any race or group. This kind of leadership is the leadership that speaks what resides in the hearts. They are dependable and we feel safe with them. In order for transformational leadership to flourish and becomes an institution, the transformation from within individual leaders, who make up the party leadership, is crucial. There is great hope from such leadership. As for a nation that believes in God, it is the right kind of leadership in achieving the pleasure of the Creator of men and universe.

appeared in Malaysia Today Oct 2, 2006