29 March 2013
_____________________________________
SOMETIMES reading the news makes one rush to the bathroom for a long hot shower.
The feeling of being dirty demands nothing less than
near boiling water and the strongest antiseptic soap.
The recent video showing apparent deep corruption in
the Sarawak government should have caused widespread outrage on all news
media.
Instead, apart from the internet news portals, we get
nothing.
It is the same with political rallies that have
participants calling for the death of an MP.
It is beyond distasteful, it is uncivilised and
barbaric.
Or what about the viciousness against opposition
political parties, with threats of violence punctuated with the throwing of eggs
and sticks?
Again, the silence amongst the mainstream media is
deafening.
And it is not just the media which seems to have
abandoned their responsibility.
We hear nothing from the ruling party or from the
agencies that are meant to protect.
It would appear that this country has degenerated
into a mire of sheer hypocrisy, double standards and dishonesty.
What is particularly shameful about this situation is
not the fact that it happens, after all corruption and thuggish behaviour has
been around for a long time, but there seems to be not even a token sign of
disapproval from the powers that be.
It is now clearly and obviously a case of “if you are
with us and against our enemies, then nothing you can do is wrong”.
In a way I suppose this is a good thing because at
least we get to see groups and individuals as what they are.
What is frightening to me is the possibility that
even with such an exposure there is still apathy amongst the people and that to
them it doesn’t really matter.
I hope this is not the case, and that there is still
some sort of moral and ethical core in the peoples of this nation to see that
such behaviour and the condoning of such behaviour is vile.
We are quite obviously a religious
country.
There are buildings of worship scattered all over the
place and religion holds a strong grip amongst all of the communities of
Malaysia.
But what is the point of praying to God when such
obvious sins are seen as “just the way it is”. Or it is overlooked because the
one being attacked is “the other”.
Religiousness without morality is worse than useless,
it is repulsive.
The real question then is, is it too late? Are we
doomed to living in a lawless nation?
I don’t think so; it all depends on the leaders of
the nation. And by leaders, I do not mean just political leaders, but community
leaders, opinion leaders, and family leaders.
The tenor of this country has to change where ethics
and morals once again become the backbone of the nation.
By ethics, I mean the way one behaves with others in
the context of one’s individuality and one’s position in society.
By morals I do not mean cheap “moralism” of judging
the private behaviour of others, but instead I mean a deeper more profound
interpretation of a deep humanist and axial philosophy of right and wrong where
the core value is the golden rule of not doing unto others what we would not
like done to ourselves.
Note also that I did not say religion because I think
that we have seen too often how religion can be used to disguise abhorrent
attitudes and behaviour.
The name of God is so powerful and awe inspiring that
it can hide a multitude of sins.
Conversely behaving in a manner that is ethical and
moral according to humanist values leaves a person with nowhere to hide, for his
or her actions are their owns and can’t be attributed to a divine
power.
In other words, we need moral and ethical people at
all levels of society, from the person on the street to the people in
power.
We can’t do much with our fellow citizens, but we
most certainly can with the people in power and it starts simply with this: if
you can’t stand up against corruption, if you behave in a way that is against
the rule of law, if you have no courage to stand up against barbarism, then you
have no morals, you have no ethics and you have no business to lead.
1 comment:
This govt reminding me of a state govt in Queensland, Australia a generation ago: The National Party govt of Joh Bjelke-Peterson ran the state very successfully for many years and managed to build a strong economy and create development in industry, tourism, property especially. However they relied on a huge gerrymander that allowed their supporters to vote them many seats in parliament, whilst their opponents in city areas were contained in huge seats that vastly diluted their influence in the outcome of the elections.
Corruption bubbled away but did not cause serious problems for the govt until a brave journalist discovered extensive corruption between police and cabinet, including the Premier (Mentri Besar equivalent).
During the heady days, protests were outlawed and opponents were targeted by the govt and police.
Eventually such regimes run out of steam, and often with spectacular elections results and seismic changes in the mood and philosophy of the people. I am not sure Malaysia is quite at that stage. Eventually when scandals continue, the economy deteriorates, or quality leadership ends, the people are not willing to be fooled anymore.
Post a Comment