Unjust rewards — The Malaysian Insider
Only the people of Malaysia can decide whether they respect a government that rewards such characters.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER
Today, Ezam Mohd Nor will take his oath as a Senator for three years.
Yet his appointment is not something that Malaysians should applaud. Here is a person who is being rewarded for turning on his one-time political allies.
A person who has achieved nothing apart from speaking up against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Therefore, it begs the question: does he fit the criteria that appointed persons must have “rendered distinguished public service or have achieved distinction in the professions, commerce, industry, agriculture, cultural activities or social service or are representative of racial minorities or are capable of representing the interests of aborigines (Orang Asli)”?
Fact is, Ezam’s appointment is probably an indicator of the moral decay in Umno/Barisan Nasional (BN), where no one bats an eyelid at rewarding questionable characters that defect or turn their backs on their former parties. Of course, the same can be said for those who cross to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties.
Consider this. Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim and Zulkifli Noordin were treated to trips to Washington. Not anyone else within BN or PR. Jelapang assemblyman Hee Yit Foong, who quit DAP to turn independent and tilt the Perak government towards Barisan, was given a “Datukship”. Her fellow frogs were also freed from corruption charges.
And yet, the ruling coalition wonders why a significant number of Malaysians still reject them. It is all well and fine to say that MPs or assemblymen can leave parties and join their rivals. No one questions that; it’s democracy.
But it is incumbent on the receiving side to carefully consider what they are getting and not simply take any Tom, Dick and Harry in what is a zero-sum game to control the Dewan Rakyat, or any state assemblies, for that matter.
BN did that. And that is why they have raised the ire of a number of the electorate, notwithstanding 1 Malaysia that speaks of the high ideals of “People First. Performance Now”. The reality is very far from the concept, leaving BN with the ignominy of continued rejection, regardless of the shortcomings of PR.
And regardless of whether they continue to spread the lucre. The people of Hulu Selangor showed that, almost equally supporting both sides despite the vote-buying that went on.
Today, Ezam is a Senator. And others have got their rewards, no matter how unjust it would seem. But not for long.
Perhaps, the storyline will change at the ballot box in response to all these shenanigans.
Only the people of Malaysia can decide whether they respect a government that rewards such characters.
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