The master-servant relationship

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I remember Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad lamenting about this same matter more than once. In a way he also touched on this issue in his book ‘The Malay Dilemma’, which was banned by the government in 1969 or 1970. In fact, later, when he became Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir went even further than that: he lamented that the Malays are so emotional and he wished that they were more like the Chinese -- pragmatic.

The issue that I am talking about here, and which is the brunt of Dr Mahathir’s lament, is that the Malays are too feudalistic. And Dr Mahahthir found this out the hard way when he engaged the Rulers in a Constitutional Crisis back in the 1980s and the rakyat sided with the Rulers. Dr Mahathir had no choice but to back off and rethink his strategy before coming back for a second round of attacking the Rulers.

Yes, even the great Dr Mahathir who could challenge Britain, America and Australia and tell them to go screw themselves could not break the feudalistic mind of Malaysians, in particular the Malays.

We all know the stories about the Sultans of old who would ask you to divorce your wife if he took a liking to her, or the son of the Sultan who would stab and kill you if you accidentally knocked into him, and whatnot. What about the legend of Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat where Hang Tuah is portrayed as a saint for allowing the Sultan to order his death based just on rumours while Hang Jebat is considered a villain for opposing tyranny and for standing up for justice?

Yes, that is how the mind of the Malaysian works, in particular the mind of the Malay. We are feudalistic through and through and don’t ever suggest that Malaysia abolishes the Monarchy and turn the country into a Republic. That would be like wearing a Liverpool T-shirt and walking into a Manchester pub. You would not need to jump out of a window of a MACC building to commit suicide.

And that has not changed much. Maybe the Sultans are no longer the powers-that-be and are only Constitutional Monarchs. Nevertheless, while we now have elected representatives instead of Monarchs in charge or running the country, these elected representatives and politicians have become the new feudal lords and masters.

And that is why we must become anti-politicians. Malaysians politicians have become the new feudal lords of Malaysia. Never mind whether it is Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat. They are all the same. After all, many of the Pakatan Rakyat politicians are ex-Barisan Nasional anyway.

And this is the reason why we must redefine the master-servant relationship. In the past, before Merdeka of 1957, we the rakyat were the servants while the Sultans, who were the rulers, were the masters. But that has now changed. Today, we the rakyat are the masters and those we elect to run the country are the servants.

But somehow the elected representatives and politicians have forgotten this. We removed the absolute Monarchy and replaced it with a Constitutional Monarchy. And then we elected those who should rule the country as our representatives. But then these elected representatives and politicians took over the role of the Monarchs and forgot that they are not our masters but our servants.

The politicians should not be the ones to tell us what to do. The reverse has to happen. We should tell them what to do. And now that the BERSIH march is over and Malaysia has regained its sanity, we need to focus on the new issue in hand. We need to bring the politicians to the negotiating table and force them to sign a Magna Carta or Social Contract with the rakyat.

The way the politicians are talking is like they are in charge -- they are the masters. They fail to realise that we the rakyat employ them and they work for us. They are not our masters but are our servants.

But can you just hear them talking? They are telling us that only they have the right to decide who shall become our elected representatives. When we tell them we are not happy they will reply that those seats belong to them so it is within their power to decide who contests the elections.

This seat is an Umno seat, says Umno. That seat belongs to PKR, says PKR. And all the more than 20 or so political parties will say the same thing. They decide who contests the election and which seat they contest. We the rakyat have no say in the matter.

So what say do we the rakyat have then? Nothing! We have no say whatsoever. Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat decide on the seat distribution and the list of candidates who will contest these seats. We the rakyat just put them into power.

They fail to realise that the seats do not belong to the political parties. They do not own them. The seats belong to the rakyat. It is the rakyat who gives them the votes. So surely the rakyat should have some say in the matter. The politicians and elected representatives are not our feudal lords and masters. And we are not their servants.

If we allow this state of affairs to continue the future for Malaysia will become very bleak. We do not have capable people running the country. What we have are political parties who treat elections as an exclusive club which only a handful decide who can join.

Over the next 20 years we shall realise the folly of our ways. Many of you will still be around 20 years from now. Some of us like me will not. And 20 years from now when Malaysia’s population has aged and the brain drain and capital flight have taken its toll on the country’s economy, we shall lament just like Dr Mahathir laments, that the feudalistic attitude of Malaysians has resulted in the country stagnating while the rest of the world progresses and moves forward leaving Malaysia behind.

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Malaysia will become aged nation by 2030

The United Nations (UN) has projected that Malaysia will become an aged nation by the year 2030 when 15 per cent of its population will be above 60 years old.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry put the current number of senior citizens in Malaysia at 2.1 million, constituting 7.3 per cent of the total population.

Life expectancy was expected to rise from 72.6 years in 2010 to 74.2 in 2020 for men while for women, the figure was expected to rise from 77.5 years to 79.1 years during the same period.

'The figure is expected to rise in line with the improved health standards of the population,' Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said.

She added that the government, through the Social Welfare Department, had set up Rumah Seri Kenangan to provide care and protection to the aged who were poor.

As of May 31, there were nine units of Rumah Seri Kenangan throughout the country which provided care and protection to 1,942 residents. -- THE STAR/ANN

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written by AtanSian, July 12, 2011 19:38:04

Make it clear to your MPs.
"I did not elect you to be my boss. I have enough already."
"I elect you to be my representative in Parliament.
Find out my problems, and the problems and concerns of the people around me and
bring it up in Parliament. Change the laws, the policies if necessary."
"I voted you in and I can vote you out if youdo not serve me properly."

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written by panca, July 12, 2011 19:35:23

So 'Who' is the BOSS?

If the employees screwed the Boss and stole money then the BOSS would kick them out of office and could even choose to put them in jail. That is what the Rakyat is - The BOSS!

The BOSS choose who does what and if they fail to perform their duties, we employ new people to run the business!

"BERSIH is the RAKYAT"s call and the RAKYAT choose the choice of government and NOT the government's choice of Government."

If Pakatan Rakyat wants to run government, better mend their way, serve the RAKYAT 1ST, plegde with commitment to correct all abusive laws and re-vamp all govt institution by-laws and regulations, creating an all transparent, accountable and credible system that yields productivity, no excuse of lackaidaisal management and administration - what we call good governance and nothing less!

Bro Pete, they must RE-SIGN THE PEOPLE"S DECLARATION for the GE13. We want to put PR as the next NEW GOVERNMENT but not the BN type of governance of Government that we want to sack!

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written by Voter get Voters 1, July 12, 2011 18:08:45

This is where MCLM charter comes in....to make sure that these politicians serve us.
If only the candidates of PR esp PKR are vetted or recommended by MCLM..there wun be any froggy.
Hope MCLM can work w PR or rather PR can work with MCLM to come to an agreeement for GE13.

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written by Fart Fart Wah, July 12, 2011 16:55:42

As far as I can see now the current developments has confirmed that the army and the police and the cabinet are now completely under the 74 million ring buttoks lady. All she has to do is make them kiss it and her big ass and the whole regiment of army, police and infantry is now the obedient wife. The MIGHT OF UMNOBIGDOGs manhood now lies flacidly under her mighty ass...UMNO.keep kissing her ass...

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written by Angela Ooi, July 12, 2011 15:32:46

While there are many who are still locked in, just as many have also broken out of the 'master/servant' mentality. Good education empowers everyone to learn that respect is always earned, not a freebie.
Political leaders must change with the times..the YB title must truly stand for Honourable n not Yang Berbohong..

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written by Nixcloud, July 12, 2011 14:42:39

it's so sad how our politicians have brain-washed us from the day we enter school.... most of my highly educated frens have been taught from young that betraying umno is worst than betraying your parents

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written by lakian, July 12, 2011 14:17:48

the people are all changed to be selfish,rhetoric and materialistic due to capitalism. we are all under the effect of imperialistic capitalism.simply money is the vital focus in human course. no power no money.

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written by earthman, July 12, 2011 14:14:56

Ref: syd July 12th. .................... syd, you reminded me again to put this forward to all politicians especially Anwar Ibrahim. He had to apologize to all rakyat for all wrongs committed when he was with Umno. For reconciliation to take place, Anwar and all politicians who had done wrong in the past must come forward and confess their sins against the people of Malaysia.
To hide and hope the people will forget the wrongs will only prolonged the state of seize in Malaysia and suffering. May God Allah have mercy upon us , bring us together and heal this nation. Amin?

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written by Chuan, July 12, 2011 14:08:11

The Rakyat will only kowtow to the truth, nothing less nothing more!

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written by Obadiyah, July 12, 2011 13:34:43

Dissolve PAS PKR and DAP, and become ONE UNIT please !!!

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written by Kaneeneh, July 12, 2011 13:30:30

Hisap and Najib don't understand despite their so called elite education.

They think they're Tuan 'cos their drivers used to call them Tuan when they were small sucking from their mothers' breasts.

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written by educationist, July 12, 2011 13:23:48

"Today, we the rakyat are the masters and those we elect to run the country are the servants." sad to say the UMNOputras do not acknowledge this fact!!
So, come GE13 let's teach them another lesson in what service and humility is about!!
In the meantime let's hope that Azmin chap don't get too bloated up with self importance!!

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written by Oscar Winner, July 12, 2011 12:50:09

Yes, absolutely, we the rakyat are the masters. Problem is NEP set in and was hijacked by the avaricious politicians who want to amass wealth. Thus it started the mind-controlling and brainwashing process and till today a section of the malays still think they are the masters by shouting out loud the ketuanan crap and waving the kris. Even Tun Mamak (well, I’m convinced he’s some kinda sicko) warned that the Chinese will take over power. It’s weird that if Tun Mamak had wanted the rakyat to be the masters, then why does it matter if it was Chinese, malays, Indians or DLL who head a certain state or even the nation? Aren’t we all rakyat? Aren’t we all Malaysians? Well, we all know, race and religion were always the tools made used of fully by the devils in UMNO/BN for 5Fs (fame, fortune, fellatio, Eff, four wives/mistresses). I say, let us the rakyat decide our nation’s fate and destiny. Let’s use PEOPLE POWER to rebuild the nation for our future generations and to be respected by the rest of the world. Let’s tell the politicians we the rakyat are the masters, and they serve us, the rakyat.

So Ibrahim Ali pls take note, you as MP will have to serve us the rakyat, and stop all the rhetorics and ketuanan crap. If you want to shout ketuanan, pls be one of us, join us on our side, and be a master like us all, and stop behaving as if you represent all malays (tak malu ke ??) and remind us malays are the masters. The Rakyat are the masters. Period

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written by Nunuk Ragang, July 12, 2011 12:46:07

I had an awful experience with politicians that will forever etched in my mind.

Back in 2000 after graduating i applied to work for Sabah government and went on to fill up the form and then to the Ministry of infrastructure to get "sokongan" from the minister. I duly waited at the Pol-Sec office before 2pm.

When i saw him coming in at 1.55pm, i respectfully knocked on the door, came in and greeted him and told my intention. To my horror, he sarcastically said "Cergas juga kau ni!, belum lagi pukul 2".

I just left my form and swear i will never work for the government..and that is one of the best decision i ever made.

And that is why we must become anti-politicians. And this is the reason why we must redefine the master-servant relationship.

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written by Ramesh, July 12, 2011 12:21:57

Raja, As usual I agree to your point of view to a certain extend. Maybe, you can enlighten us of a country where independent candidates rule. I adore Haris Ibrahim, Malik imtaiz, Pillai, Vengu and Ms Yacob, but their appeal is only for the middle class urban mainly in Kelang valley. Malaysia is made of thousands of kampongs and pekans. Maybe you have a plan to entice these kampong folks to MCLM (since you seem to hate BN and PR and the rest of the parties). Yes, free internet excess is the first step and the right step. But still the uphill task is to be able to change the mind of the people. That will take a little time, and the alternative we have rests in PR. With PR, we can implement laws and make sure they are in line with first world thinking, laws and democracy. With more time, people will think independently. There are people in PR who, although towing the party line, do seem to be independent, modern thinkers. Even PAS is changing and there are lots of leaders in Pas who are of high caliber not to mention PKR and DAP. It confuses people when you throw blank statements trying to equate BN/UMNO with PR.
And are you suggesting that we change the rukun negara? Tuhan, raja, negara, perlembagaan, undang-undang, sopan dan kesusilahan. The raja comes before Negara, constitution and law? Maybe the constitution comes first before anything else including tuhan, maybe? Did Tun forget to change the rukun neraga when he put the raja-raja in the right place? Beshis 2.0 suggest that the Raja-Raja seems to be even below the police and a little above the rakyat.

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written by Revolution, July 12, 2011 11:13:39

I hope you will still be there in 20 years from now ...

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written by IbnAbdHalim, July 12, 2011 11:01:54

The Malaysian (Malay) mind had be colonized ever since. To change that mentality is a gigantic task indeed and I doubt it will succeed if we can't weed out the root cause. The current government's survival depends on it and what would guarantee a change of government will move away from it.

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written by malsia1206, July 12, 2011 10:43:03

Masters or servants, do the Rulers really care and feel the pulse of the rakyat on the ground? With all their perks and high maintenance costs borne out of the rakyat's taxes, they seem aloof with all the pomp in their mansions and palaces.

And when they get into the news headlines, they have it for all the wrong reasons. And some delivered flowery speeches on the mainstream media and the rakyat found themselves losing their State Government which they had voted for.

Many questions need to be asked. But you get hardly any plausible answers.

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written by Pegasus, July 12, 2011 10:40:25

Need to educate large segment of population is no easy tasks! Their mentality is already fix like clock device unless we reboot it!

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written by syd, July 12, 2011 10:38:57

If politician becomes a coolie, who wants to be one?
Malay atitude when they are at the top is similar. they behave like lords.
I remember one company where the malay boss was showing off to the staff his new designer jacket at the time when their salalries were not paid.
remeber anwar as education minister? he was worse than Muhyiddin in introducing malay dogma ibot the system. Bahasa Baku/change of name from kementerian pelajaran to kementerian pendidikan/introducing non-mandarin speaking teachers into chinese schools etc..........

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written by Aduh, July 12, 2011 10:38:06

The group that still regards politicians as masters are mainly those from rural areas. It is partly because they are kept in the dark as to what is really going on in the country. Their only source of info is from TV channels, radio and newspapers that are owned or backed by the govt of the day. . Those media will portray the govt as the best.. And days in days out, they will discredit the oppositions by dishing out lies after lies and distorted news/info.

Unfortunately , the oppositions have no platform to explain the real truth other than through ceramahs.. But,.............it appears not many opposition leaders fancy giving ceramahs in remote places.

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written by benjo, July 12, 2011 10:32:55

The sooner the people realize this the better it is for the country and the faster we move forward. This should form part of the election campaign for all those who believe in this. For a start, people should stop paying attention, beating kompangs, holding kenduris, cleaning the roads, streets, kampungs the minute they know a 'politician' especially, if a minister turns up. We whould instead tell them who these guys are serving and who the masters are. Make them come down with their 'notebook' and take down the grievances, complaints, etc. to be attended to.

They should not allow themselves to be manipulated and exploited.

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written by temenggong, July 12, 2011 10:24:45

Yes, we can already see that PR is dictating to us; Azmin has already decided how many and which seats PKR will contest, quite oblivious to every other party.

This is going to be a problem and will weaken the opposition, and we have to stop them.

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written by earthman, July 12, 2011 10:07:20

When the minds are hardened by years of systemic programming and indoctrination by the power that be, its hard to rewind and return back to its innocent childhood mind. They have lost their ability to reason and understand what is decency . Once hardened they will not humble and listen and learn but insist that their's is the best and correct.
We need to re-educate our politicians on their duties and roles and stop condemning them and insulting them day and night. Unless our neighbors are made friends , we will never sleep well. First the education system must be revamped and the truth taught to the children . The indoctrination and systemic programming must stop . The people must be made to understand what is facts and truth . Unless the blind, deceived and stubborn are made to understand , the light is not in them and darkness continues to reign. Pray

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written by NSTPravda, July 12, 2011 09:28:34

Read lah my Oaf 1My Qur'4n swearing pink pouting lip$ smilies/kiss.gif

Why must we redefine the master-servant relationship? It works for 1Me your Divinely Cho$en $upreme 1Leader and Ro$mak 1FLOM. Why change a good feudal system that ain't broken? You $tir up all these problems for 1Me make me think you don't like me a lot lah.
Ra$uah $aya eh!