VOTING is about making good leadership choices
February 26, 2012
www.nst.com.my
VOTING is about making good leadership choices
by Dato Dr.Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid(02-24-12)
One vote can make a difference. The vote properly cast and counted can stop not only individual thieving but also institutionalised corruption.
Winnable candidates can be defined by political parties for ad hoc purposes of winning the elections. To the people, the wholesome winnable candidate is not just about the elections.
What the so-called winnable candidates do after the elections also matters. Legally, the winnable candidate will be with the people and their respective constituency for the full term of 1,825 days. In five years, leaders at any level can do much good or much damage.
Good leaders from any political party or any sector of human activities are hard to come by. Good leaders are not necessarily good through the life span but have to be constantly vigilant with self in order to be steadfast in integrity.
In any particular organisation or political party, leaders are expected to create conditions for the happiness, safety and security of the people. What political parties set as winnable candidates may really not be winnable enough. There are other criteria and checklists.
Candidates who will be rejected in the long-run are those who are pompous and arrogant, who are hate-mongers with destructive personal or sub-group agendas.
The negative attributes that the people do not accept include the following: the exercise of power distance; flaunting of power and living beyond means; covert looting, cheating, and wastage of public funds; and fraudulent behaviour or incompetence.
The leader must not be manipulative but must genuinely respect the people. The nominated person must not be uncompromisingly self-righteous with unresolved issues of relationship with others and with self.
The nominated leaders should not be people who would commit injustices towards neighbours or towards those who are not like them. The elected person must not be a “toxic” leader and must not damage the people or the country. He should not evidence inclination towards committing crimes against humanity.
The nominated leader would be one who fosters rational thinking and refinement of emotions of the people. The leader does not indoctrinate and debase God-given faculties to humans.
When the leader is elected, the people are proud to be Malaysian. It must not be the case that there is overall disappointment when a particular person with no credibility but with planned mischief comes to power to do damage in subtle and blatant ways.
The leader must not have the inclination to be corrupt but must be an example of integrity. Political manifestos come to nought when election promises are broken and not fulfilled. Leaders who lie to the people betray the people.
The nominated leader should have a level of practical and ethical awareness that he is 
answerable to his party in all matters. However, in important and critical matters he must have clear awareness that he is answerable to the people and to God.
In critical matters, his conscience should move to decide. There has to be clear willingness to draw the line between the relationship with party, and the relationship with justice, nation and God. Justice for the individual citizen, the common good, and the security of the nation overrides the interests of lobbyists or parties.
Leaders are expected to be the voice of conscience among peers and to have the courage to stand alone against the odds of injustice when a final judgment call is required.
True leaders make sacrifices and are not easily enamoured by power or wealth or adoration and are willing to lose all these in matters of first principles of justice. Good leaders would be willing to stand against the wrongdoers of their own political party. It has been aptly said by Edmund Burke that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.
A gift to the people is when individuals and political parties will win the elections honourably, or lose with honour and dignity as good losers.
“The nominated leader would be one who fosters rational thinking and refinement of emotions of the people.”
Well, in that case, Jibs definitely out. His statement of ‘factually and scientifically’ safe is irrational doublespeak (aka gobbledygook). See here:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pm-lynas-plant-factually-and-scientifically-safe/
And there’s no honor amongst thieves. Dignity is equivalent to a ‘free’ PhD.
C.L. Familiaris - February 26, 2012 at 8:24 pm
“… he must have clear awareness that he is answerable to the people and to God.”
What happens if that person doesn’t believe in God? Will that make him less of a good leader? We have witnessed a lot of people who claim that they are God-fearing people but still commit offenses against God and his creations.
didi - February 26, 2012 at 8:36 pm
It has always been this reality: leaders with integrity, empathy, and good character are vital in any society. I agree with the brilliant educationist, Dr. Ibrahim, with whom I have exchanged views on intellectual, managerial, civil society and political leadership whenever we met over the years. Being a politician does not make one a leader. Leaders must rise above politics. –Din Merican
dinobeano - February 26, 2012 at 8:39 pm
Yup, CL. Jibby should be among the first to be booted out. His excuses of having excluded MBs from PR states from the meeting between the federal government and state government were so stupid that I wish he’d just go away to another realm. He got some award from the silat association that carries the title sri tri buana blah2. Very apt considering from what I’ve researched, sri tri buana means lord of the three world realms. He can bring doc rosie along too.
didi - February 26, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Hi Dr. Ibrahim
Your concept on voting is acceptable only in a country where there this fair and transparent election processes in place. Not in Malaysia and i think you shoud focus on the corrupt election processes that is entrenched in malaysia, otherwise you too would be accused of ditracting from the real issues applicable in MelayuUmno rulled malaysia.
anakrakyat - February 26, 2012 at 9:01 pm
It is indeed a sad commentary that in many Third World countries the forms of democracy, voting rightsis one, are being used by the incumbent to undemine the very substance of democacy. Politics is seen as a tool to give hand-outs to firends and relatives wothout any regard for the viability or profitability of project. Everything goes on public dough. My observation is that this call for close cooperation between the public – private sector is being abused. So much so that today in many Third World countries you cannot get ahead if you are not connected. This attitude is all realted to the desire of leaders to remain in power for ever when the parliamentary system of government is designed to have a regular change in leadership. Many succseeful democracies in our part of the world have been subjected to this kind of devaluing of the nation. We are relcutant to point to examples because the powerful can always use the judiciary process to sue the pants off me, so speak. But this does not mean that they must take heed only when the issues go onto the streets.
Such policies lead to the unrstricted creation of money giving the illusion that countries are flushed with cash. Money is many respects has similar characteristics as water. It is all related to absorbtive capacity. When the econmomy cannot absorb the money like water it will overflow into corruption, purchase of luxury items, gambling and other undesirable activities. Every Third World leader wants to ride in that all German car Mercedes Benz. And not not any kind of Benz but the top of the range when their own car industry and people are struggling to make ends meet. Third World countries have no business to import luxury cars because they are a drain on foreign exchange as Greece has now found out the hard way.And apart form that they also use the system to export their currency to so-called stable countries. And these stable countries are willing to play ball because it benefits them because they know know that these funds will just sit there to earn low interest interest and in some sensitive cases willing to pay a parking fee.
All the Third World countries today that are on their knees with the begging bowl have enough natural resources fo all its citizens but do not have enough for the greed of one man.Parliamentary Democrcy is all about checks and balances and leaders must not try to play “god’, lower case in deliberale. And please do not sue the principles and forms of democaracy to undermine its very substance.
These are the issues that we must address before we even talk about our voting rights.
Anonnymous - February 26, 2012 at 9:20 pm
“Parliamentary Democrcy is all about checks and balances and leaders must not try …. ”
Here you are being self righteous. On the other, you told readers to let those who break our laws go free so long as they make restitution. Decide which side of the law you wannabe.
scarlet.pimpernel - February 26, 2012 at 9:48 pm
We are Not A Third World country.
We are stuck in between worlds, a parallel universe of bad or worse choices. It is not a matter of democracy. It’s the sheer idiocy of populism, propaganda and public relations with fake motives.
We do not have leaders with compassion nor any other laudable virtue. Yes, Dato they play Politics, with like fungi, feeding off dead things; others are just plain parasites, feed off the living.
Our choice is bleak, but i’d rather go with the saprophytes and shrooms – at least we can hallucinate. Thus, my offering to the Temple of Jibs:
C.L. Familiaris - February 26, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Great intentions but err there’s a problem here , we have NO good candidates. Obvious point you think? There is a VOID because the environment in M’sia doesnt allow for good candidates only YES men ( and women).
All are too weary with what you call politics back home.
Over here all we hear with this leadership challenge ( geez they even have courage to have one!) is WHAT the PEOPLE WANT.
D’ya think what the M’sians want is pertinent? This article is jumping ahead. We need the candidates first , ones who are new, fresh ideas, not part of Umno at all.
Then there is the system which needs to be addressed.
Kathy - February 27, 2012 at 6:17 am
Whats the point of talking like a first world nation when on the ground we behave like monkeys.
Kathy - February 27, 2012 at 6:19 am
What about we behave like first world nations and DONT talk at all but just DO. ( the right thing)
Kathy - February 27, 2012 at 6:20 am
Yes, restitution is the best form of puinishment and I stand by it.
Anonnymous - February 27, 2012 at 5:03 pm
the majority of the malaysian voters are uninformed. you can’t blame them for it, our politicians with purpose have kept them uninformed, thats the strategy to remain in power forever.
is political science taught in our schools? No, not in the way it should be.
instead of investing in religion and useless history classes give more time for politics as a science. what one learns as a kid remains with him the whole life long. the rebuilding of the country should start in the schools.
‘the child is the father of man’ – Tagore
democracy will become a farce if the voting public don’t know what they are voting and why they are voting – like in malaysia.
CLF, actually parasites are highly specialised lifeforms. they take only what they need to survive, they don’t have a swiss or israeli account like our politicians. I would prefer to relate politicians to the Laughing Hyenas who eat the living, the dead and the half dead; and laugh all the way to the bank!
reeperbahn - February 27, 2012 at 5:25 pm