I did not once visit Ramlila Grounds while Anna Hazare fasted. I didn’t wear a cap that declared “I am Anna.” I did not carry the Indian National Flag astride a bike or a scooter.
I did not skip a single meal, nor found it tough to eat because Anna was fasting (a facebook friend’s tagline declared she couldn’t eat a morsel, thinking of Anna!) I did not shun ann, though I do shun corruption! I did not declare on social networks that we HAVE to end corruption. Because of course we do. Didn’t we always?
The time for opaque deals and unflinching public support is over for Asian governments, and failing to realize this could lead the region down the path of the Middle East.
Saying this at the Malaysia-China Trade Investment International Conference 2011 in Serdang today, CIMB chief executive Nazir Abdul Razak said this is because today the world demands transparency from governments.
“Faced with such an awesome game-changer, governments, especially in the East find that they can no longer operate under the hierarchical paradigms of the past, where decisions are made behind closed doors and executed with unquestioning public support.
“Governments here will have to adopt greater openness, more debate and increased transparency,” he said. Nazir, who Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s brother, added that failing to do so would not only threaten a government’s hold on power, but a Middle-east style upheaval could also bring Asian economies to their knees.
“Such transitions will have to be managed carefully to avoid the kind of upheavals that bring at least massive temporary, if not permanent, economic hardships. At the extreme, political upheavals could derail the Asian century,” he said.
Conversely, he said, Western government are finding that the systems placed to provide checks and balance are stopping them from being “quick footed” in the face of the economic crisis. Additionally, political opponents in the West have become “more Machiavellian”, proving that they would prefer their country fail than support an leader from an opposing political party.
“East is meeting West as it were, and I hope that where they meet, politicians place country ahead of self, long-term ahead of short-term interest,” he said.Nationalism exploited for Politics
One of the areas, which the top CEO believes could fall prey to political self-interest is ASEAN cooperation.“Nationalism is such an easy sentiment to exploit, and increasingly as ASEAN Economic Cooperation (AEC) gets closer, it will become more pronounced. Indeed, across Asia I fear that politicians will put self versus national and regional interests in the very ways that are undermining efforts to revive economies in the West,” he said.
One of the areas, which the top CEO believes could fall prey to political self-interest is ASEAN cooperation.“Nationalism is such an easy sentiment to exploit, and increasingly as ASEAN Economic Cooperation (AEC) gets closer, it will become more pronounced. Indeed, across Asia I fear that politicians will put self versus national and regional interests in the very ways that are undermining efforts to revive economies in the West,” he said.
For instance, he said, Indonesia’s Capital Investment-Coordinating Board yesterday suggested that products of foreign investors exported to Indonesia from ASEAN countries be taxed.The suggestion came over disappointment that Blackberry smart phone maker RIM chose to set up its factory in Penang , not Indonesia.
“To me, this is a sign that ASEAN leaders have not agreed on AEC in substance. It is easy for Prime Ministers to hold hands and talk about a great future. But down the line will people believe it? Will government agencies allow it?” he said drawing thunderous applause from the audience of over 1,000 people.
He added that failing to realise the need to cooperate as a region will only mean that ASEAN will be “ignored and marginalised” despite representing a collective market of 600 million people.
I have a further confession. I was irritated at the endless Anna intrusion into my living and breathing space -- through television, radio and conversations. Traffic hold-ups didn’t make life easier. But in the middle of it all, I did wonder at this man who for some superhuman reason was still going strong on the 12th day of his fast (I normally collapse by evening on Karvachauth!) But more than that, I was curious about his supporters!
Who were these people who had given up their work and families to camp out in support of Anna? Did they have no troubles of their own? Or, did they have so many that this was a welcome diversion?
Why were women shoving infants in khadi and Gandhi topis in front of cameras? How come everybody was ready with a quote for the camera? Why were students bunking classes to dance and sing? For heaven’s sake, why was the formidable former cop Kiran Bedi swaying on stage holding the Indian flag? Why was Dr Naresh Trehan addressing the nation from Anna’s stage (it’s scary when a competent surgeon is away from his scalpel!)?
Are these people more patriotic than me? Are they bravehearts willing to make sacrifices for the greater good? Do they have a greater sense of integrity?
Because all I did during the Anna heydays was go about my daily work. I pass no judgment on the crusading crowds. I neither admire nor am critical of them. But I am curious about their motivation. I understand that Anna managed to tap a groundswell of rising expectations and aspirations for a level playing field and a cleaner system.
The Anna crusade provided people with a readymade platform. The common man, looking for an identity and a better life, stepped centrestage with a feeling of empowerment -- “I too can make a difference!” In an age where carving a distinct identity and seeking the spotlight is not just a desire, but a need, Anna comes as a handy tool. The cameras are whirring non-stop to feed channels that are hungry for news.
Obviously all of us are against corruption, especially when it hurts our pocket and delays our work. But why did it need an Anna for us to act? If we have not been fighting corruption every day, at every step, do we really believe that just the passing of the Jan Lokpal Bill will put an end to corruption forever?
It will not, not till all people supporting Anna go back with the larger lesson that Anna’s crusade teaches. The lesson of stepping up and speaking out. Of standing together against what you do not believe in. Everyone must resolve to end corruption in their daily lives and to realize that we are guilty not just if we are corrupt, but also if we participate in or turn a blind eye to others’ corrupt practices.
Why must you find your spot in the sun by declaring “I am Anna” ? You areAnna or Gandhi, whoever you wish to be, if you are brave enough to follow the principles espoused by them in your daily life. So long as you do not leave behind your flag, your topi and your cry of “Vande Mataram” when you leave Ramlila Grounds finally, but carry them around with you in your heart, every day of your life as you go about your daily chores!
The continued revelations of corruption within the Defence Mininstry have caused much consternation amongst the public. EvenWikiLeaks has reported a diplomatic cable between the US Embassy in Malaysia and the United States that alleges corruption in Malaysia’s defense procurement in which UMNO politicians, agents, civil servants and military officials routinely receive 30 per cent “commission” on deals.
The US Embassy also noted that many government tenders did not follow procurement rules. Instead, there were shadowy agreements without any tendering process, relying on “money politics” where awards were granted with a cut of funds circulating back to the politician or UMNO through different channels.
The latest is SapuraThe opposition has pointed fingers at Prime Minister Najib Razak who was the Defense Minister from 1991 to 1995 and 2000 to 2008. In particular, they have pointed to a RM570 million ‘commission’ – possibly the single largest for one deal – which was allegedly paid to a local consulting company Perimekar, controlled by his close friend Razak Baginda.
In recent months, Pakatan Rakyat has also questioned the inflated costs of several new arms deals proposed by current Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi, which includes the purchase of 30 Eurofighter Typhoon jets and 6 naval patrol boats.
And just days ago, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s PKR had expressed concern at another RM2 billion directly-negotiated government procurement contract, on the basis that it can potentially waste millions of ringgit more of taxpayers’ money. The project is called the ‘Network Centric Operations’ (NCO) for the Armed Forces negotiated between the Defence ministry and Sapura Secured Technologies Sdn Bhd.
“How can the minister of Defence allow such weaknesses in governance to take place before his very eyes?” PKR lawmakers Tian Chua and Nurul Izzah asked in their joint statement.
Najib the biggest benefactor of Malaysia’s arms spendingThe NCO project is so haphazard it has also irked some of the military personnel themselves, who question the wisdom of the decision to go ahead with the project.
But sad to say, the Sapura deal is just another in a long line of highly questionable multi-billion ringgit deals entered into by the BN federal government.
Concern over the wastage of public funds has troubled the country for decades, in fact since the rule of 4th Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who was obsessed by over-sized infrastructure projects. But defense procurements have been the realm of Najib, who made the really big bucks if the speculation is true that his proxies had collected inordinate kickbacks throughout most of the past decade.
The controversial deals linked to Najib include the 2 Scorpene and one Agosta submarines purchase in 2002 worth RM7billion, 18 Sukhoi jetfighters in 2003 worth RM3.5billion, the 12 Eurocopters EC275 helicopters in 2008 worth RM2.3billion, the ongoing RM52billion MRT system for the Klang Valley and a multi-billion ringgit slush fund within the 1MDB project.
So far, there has only been evidence of lip service paid to open tender systems, but it is clear the preferred choice is through direct negotiation. And this is a major cause for concern.
Bitter pill for the ordinary peopleAlthough national security is a serious issue, Malaysians are beginning to insist that the Defense Ministry be transparent and accountable on procurements that run into billions of ringgit.
At a time, when the economy is unstable and set to slide downward, it would be prudent for the ruling government to start implementing spending cuts to buffer a possible economic backlash.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Idris Jala has himself forecast 7 years to go to a possible bankruptcy in 2019. It is no wonder that there is now increasing public pressure on the government to go on an austerity drive instead of splashing big sums on non-essential expensive projects.
This is an especially bitter pill for the ordinary folk to swallow, as they are still struggling with huge hikes prices after Najib slashed subsidies on a slew of consumer essentials.
Pundits warn that if the government continues to act in such suspicious manner, through direct negotiations instead of a tendering process, public trust will continue to take a turn for the worse. “They must not forget the fact that they are public trustees, elected by the people to govern the nation and to protect its wealth, not a license to line their own pockets,” said one analyst that Malaysia Chronicle spoke to.
Snubbing the opposition and the people at its own perilBut so far, there is no sign of such unscrupulous practise stopping if the Sapura NCO dealexposed by PKR’s Tian Chua and Nurul Izzah is anything to go by. None of the Najib administration has even queried the Defense officials involved in the project, nor has the Finance Ministry voiced any objection about the pricing, while the silence from the Cabinet has been deafening.
BN lawmakers in Parliament and the civil service are beginning to sound like people conferring on how best to finish spending taxpayers’ money in the fastest possible time.
The Opposition has been extremely vocal but totally ignored. Outnumbered, they can’t do much but holler to raise attention. To the BN lawmakers, snubbing their rivals is to show to the people that the opposition is ineffective. Again sad to say, this is another sign of how short-sighted the thinking has become in the BN.
Most Malaysians are now more aware of corruption than before. They seem to appreciate the efforts of the opposition in highlighting the facts, especially on the toll rate hikes, and increasingly understand that the only way to correct situation is to vote out the BN. Otherwise, a cleanup would never be possible and a situation like what is happening now would prevail until the country really does go bankrupt.
Old-timers even say, if 50 years ago, the ruling government had implemented ‘real’ democracy, with competing forces in Parliament ensuring check-and-balance and transparency, Malaysians may now even enjoy a monthly average income of RM10,000 and above due to the country’s rich petroleum reserves, bountiful oil palm harvests and tin mining of the past.
But it looks more like Malaysia is heading towards another failed state like Zimbabwe or Myanmar.
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