Prime concerns

What’s that you have on, Abdullah? Is that sheep’s clothing?

In your 2004 GE manifesto, you said you offered heart. Everyone today remembers how you declared: “Work with me. Not for me.”

Yet during the great Johor floods, you weren’t around; not to mention working. Wasn’t serious enough, I guess. We now know you were vacationing in Perth. Nice summer there, Abdullah?

I suppose you had promises to keep. But despite the Promise to the People, you preferred to honour the other – you officiated the opening of a nasi kandar store there. We now know it is partly owned by your brother, Ibrahim. (See Malaysiakini; subscription required)

It isn’t so much whether your deputy or your charges could handle the job. Really it isn’t. Like in a hospital’s ER; if a friend has trouble with his heart, you’re there because you care. You’re not the one who’s cutting him up or poking in those drips. Experts take care of that.

It’s an instinct we call moral support, Abdullah. Most people have it. It’s simply a matter of whether you cared enough to postpone your precious break in a time of disaster in the country where you are its chief executive.

You didn’t care.

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What’s that in your mouth, Abdullah? Is that a forked tongue?

In your 2004 GE manifesto, you said you offered transparency and openness. A new light. Gemilang.

Yet you're checking if KeAdilan had violated the Official Secrets Act when it released information on Litrak's toll contract. You said action might be taken. Never mind if it's not about national security, the OSA covers just about every govt process from road-sweepers pay to charted flights you take to vacation places such as Perth. In fact, it's easier to ask what's not secret?

Openness is a willingness to reveal, Abdullah. Enlightened societies believe it is through openness and subsequent dialogue that real progress is made.

On the toll increase, you said: “They proved to the Government that toll rates needed to be increased.” No offence, but just because you're saying it doesn't mean it's the truth. After all, the OSA is practically a licence to lie.

And most of all, Abdullah, that isn't the point. The point is whether it is fair. We know now (thanks to KeAdilan) the contract is skewed. The govt goofed then. Fine print tak baca. Do you choose to remain in denial and do nothing, Abdullah? Are there no options? No dialogue? You could begin by releasing all information on toll contracts; especially those tolls which are due to be hiked next year. Just so there may be intelligent resolutions to these issues.

But instead, all you did was make was the dumbest of all responses: "If you want to use such facilities, you pay for them."

Abdullah, that's not the frigging point.

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The problem with bleakness is that it has no border. Sometimes I sit back and wonder: In what shape is the mind of a leader who could come up with a call to have 5,000-10,000 thinkers in a country where there is already way more than the aspired number.

Does he even know us?


Photo credit: Marilyn Chin, Asia Times (via Malaysiakini)