You want our vote, declare your wealth first to the ‘boss’

By admin-s On Nov 29, 2017

It is strange that these politicians make legislation to get the man on the street stripped to a thread if he or she lies, deceives or hides his income or wealth from the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN) but at the same time expect the public to trust them that they have only legitimate incomes.

Narinder Singh, Berita Daily

So much said but little done. The typical politician in Malaysia, especially when elections are around the corner.

How many times have we heard politicians promise the heavens and the earth to get to the bottom of an issue or problem only to be disappointed down the road?

The people have been taken for a ride far too many times and yet, as voters we become sloppy, lazy and adopt the attitude of ”tidak apa” when voting is done.

The moment the government, be it at federal or state level, comes into power, the ordinary man goes back to being the beggar to those in the corridors of power.

Complaints get ignored or rather the complainant becomes the problem when one goes to the local council, police, other enforcement agencies or the central government to make a report.

From addressing potholes, faulty traffic lights, unwarranted traffic congestion, over-development at the expense of the environment, right up to tackling lazy government officials – we the ordinary citizens remain at the mercy of these people in power to get their due attention.

Ironic indeed – that these very same people that became members of the august houses on the votes of the majority people forget that they must first serve the people on the ground.

It is the government that is indebted to the people and not the other way round. It is the government that must thank the people when the country does well instead of repeatedly reminding the people that we must be grateful to it for all the good that happens.

Since both sides of the political divide claim to be standing on high moral grounds, it is high time for all those standing for election, be it state or parliamentary seat, to declare their assets/liabilities and wealth held under their names – here or overseas.

Why all the drama of transparency and hurling corruption accusations on a daily basis when hardly any one of them has the moral courage and integrity to declare their wealth for public scrutiny?

If one is so clean and has only untainted income and wealth, then be proud and announce it to the public.

The problem is while the public is always lamenting that politicians have lavish lifestyles, live in huge mansions, have plenty in cash, bonds, land holdings, luxury yachts and even multiple young wives in some circumstances, yet they vote them in.

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) may be championing its cause for a level playing field in elections but it has been rather absent on getting the potential candidates come clean on their wealth and extravagant lifestyles.

And let’s not be so gullible to believe that opposition politicians are ”poor” – maybe they are in relative terms to their BN colleagues since they have no federal powers but then that should not be a criterion in making a declaration.

It is baffling that only when some “responsible” blogger or newspaper goes to town flashing the luxuries of the politicians or their family members that people get riled up and demand that they come clean.

Today we witness the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on high gear as if they are suffering some sort of hyperthyroidism – obviously trying to get as many corrupt “ikan bilis” and sardines as possible hauled up to court.

And if one is a former Umno man gone against his former party, the chances of getting picked up are definitely higher, as seen in some cases.

But then MACC’s conduct too is being questioned and that will not bode well for the government. The sharks still roam free in both waters.

The real ‘boss’

The bottom line is, the voters should only vote those politicians that declare their wealth or their lack of it.

So when it comes to election, all they tell to public is to say that they have declared to their ”bosses” and we voters must not question that.

Hey, who is the ”boss” to decide when you are actually seeking powers from the ordinary rakyat to sit in parliament or state assembly?

Let the public make the informed decision and derive at the conclusion if one deserves the vote or not. Let the voter decide if a politician vying for a seat is clean, transparent and had not amassed riches illegally.

Let’s call a spade, a spade. Skirting around it is pure exhibit of a cow dung brain.

MACC or any other agency cannot and will not be able to bring corruption levels down until and unless the ordinary voter’s pressure tilts the balance of getting the voice of the people louder than that of the elected representatives after any election.

Only when voters show through the ballot boxes that only those that come transparent are worth their support will there be a paradigm shift in combating the evils of money laundering, ‘kowtim’ deals and so-called cable-pulling.

It is not too late that we as voters demand each and every candidate who wants to stand in the next general election make a declaration of his wealth or income as part of the party/individual manifesto.

And if they refuse, then maybe it is time we refused them our vote. And if all of them shy away from coming forward to be transparent in a particular constituency, then you might as well not vote as you may vote another good-for-nothing person into power for the next five years.

So, stop blaming the system because it is the voters that make the system. Let’s fight corruption through the ballot by putting the right candidates into power first.

Be reminded – that the public is the real ‘Boss’.