Leadership and policies matter, not strong mandate, says Daim
(TMI) – Getting a strong mandate is not the prerequisite for a good government, what is more important is the leadership and the policies, said Malaysia’s former economic czar Tun Daim Zainuddin (pic).
Daim cited examples such as British Prime Minister David Cameron, who does not have a strong mandate.
In the 2010 general election, Cameron’s Conservative party won 306 seats in a hung parliament. He eventually formed a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats.
It is the first coalition government in the United Kingdom since World War II while Cameron became the youngest British prime minister since the Earl of Liverpool more than 200 years ago.
Daim said former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard also did not have a strong mandate when her Labour party had a hung result in the 2010 general election.
“But it did not stop Gillard from forming a minority government with the support of other political MPs,” Daim told business news portal Kinibiz in an exclusive interview.
“In the end, it is not about the mandate, it is about leadership and your policies,” Daim added.
Daim served as Malaysia’s Finance Minister on two occasions, from 1984 to 1991, and from 1999 to 2001.
Daim said leadership and policies was more important than a strong mandate as in Malaysia, people wanted peace and stability.
“if there are agent provocateurs out there, they must be nipped in the bud. There are sufficient laws to handle this.”
“But any delays or procrastination will result in people taking advantage,” Daim told Kinibiz.
He described PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a weak leader who has never been able to solve any problem.
Daim said the Kajang Move was rubbish and a complete waste of public funds.
“Apparently, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has reportedly said that he is not going to resign,” Daim told Kinibiz.
“Anwar has not even been elected in Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), but yet he wields so much power and influence.”
“He decides what to do and the rest of the party leaders, who are elected to their positions, keep quiet,” Daim said.
He said Anwar was someone who wanted to be in the limelight all the time, irrespective of whether it was for good or bad news.
“Whether the media praises or criticises Anwar, it is also news for him. He is happy as long as he is in the news,” Daim said.
On Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Daim said the grassroots and the rakyat were united in wanting the same thing from Putrajaya, which was strong leadership.
“Based on the feedback which I have personally received, many people feel that Najib, as the country’s premier, is not strong or decisive enough.”
