1 Malaysia – in deeds, not words
(The Malaysian Insider) Coming to the three-quarter mark of the first 100 days in power, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has had his hits and misses.
The country’s sixth prime minister freed the Hindraf 5 from the Internal Security Act (ISA). And a few others. But Singapore’s most wanted Mas Selamat Kastari is now in Kamunting.
Despite two off-budget stimulus packages worth some RM67 billion, the economy is contracting. Badly.
There is no talk of a crooked or straight bridge to replace the Causeway with Singapore. No, there will be a third bridge instead. But only if Malaysia sells sand to the city-state.
Students are still heart-broken that they cannot enter local universities despite sterling results, more scholarships and more space on campus. Perhaps meritocracy is a work in progress.
And of course there is Perak. The silver state has ping-ponged between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional since Feb 5. Barisan now holds the serve in the court of law. But not in the court of public opinion.
The greatest hit or miss, depending on how you look at it, is his 1 Malaysia slogan with the tagline “People First. Performance Now” that has saddled him with expectations for equality, unity, meritocracy and perhaps, democracy.
Najib himself spoke of this yesterday in Sarawak. “Although the peninsula is separated from Sabah and Sarawak by the South China Sea, we only have one dream and not different dreams while sharing a pillow,” he said at the Malaysia Gawai Dayak 2009 open house
“1 Malaysia carries a meaning from the aspect of the government’s commitment that each ethnic group should receive assistance and protection from the government so that the country emerges as one that practises the principle of social justice,” he added.
Yet, more can be done.
For example, his ascension to power has seen regime changes starting in various government-linked companies, some under sovereign fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad. UEM Group has a new chief executive officer effective July. A few other GLCs too will have new chairmen and directors in the coming weeks.
There are also changes in the Umno-controlled Media Prime Berhad, the country’s media group that controls newspapers, television stations, radio stations and even outdoor advertising. Datuk Johan Jaafar, Datuk Ahmad A. Talib and Zainul Ariffin Isa have taken over the NST from those placed by the Abdullah Administration while there are changes in the pipeline within TV3.
And while we truly believe everyone should be called Malaysian no matter their ethnicity, what is troubling about these changes are they are only of one ethnicity. All the top positions are still being held by Malays/Muslims suggesting that that all his 1 Malaysia rhetoric has not been met with action.
The prime minister can go on explaining his concept, be it to Federal leaders or the Malaysian fisherman in Kudat or the hunter-gatherer in Batang Ai, or give assurances of a brighter future but actions always speak louder than words.
The wise words of the funny men in Comedy Court holds true for Najib unless he can make 1 Malaysia truly work, be it within his coalition, government or conglomerates linked to his administration.
“At the end of the day, when all is said and done. Actually, when more is said than done!”
