To Save Our Country, We Need To Save Ourselves First

How are we to save our country requires deep philosophical thinking and perceptive analysis beyond mere politics.

Will there be more bloggers/people discussing the big picture behind the systematic crisis that caused Teoh Beng Hock’s tragic death? Or will we continue to focus on the trees and miss out the forest?

Many intellectuals are puzzled by the state of affairs of Malaysia. There is a political mystery that needs to be solved first at the human level.

If our leaders are rational and sensible people, it would never be in their interest to take advantage of citizens (half of whom voted for them) under NORMAL circumstances. What is even more puzzling is why is the governing regime unwilling or unable to heal the disease that is undermining all our democratic institutions of rule of law and independence of judiciary (i.e. no follow ups/actions taken from recent Royal Commissions of Inquiries)?

However, there is a political economic theory that says that under certain unique circumstances, even rational people will act and behave against their long-term interests.

[Mancur Olson, the American economist and social scientist, explained in his book "The Rise and Decline of Nations: Economic Growth, Stagflation, and Social Rigidities" that at first, people will act in their own interests, not in the interests of their group. Once they have harnessed their individual incentives to the group, if they ever do, the groups then act in their own interests, not in the interests of the larger society. Olson also noted the tendency of individuals to opt for the free rider strategy, i.e. they will attempt to benefit from the public good without contributing to its provision. This free rider strategy is often adopted by leaders at the expense of the public's welfare.]

I think the real reason is because by 2012/2013, these leaders intuitively know that the world will be a different landscape (including the real possibility they will be voted out) so it is quite rational for them to take as much advantage, financial and political mileage, as they can now in order to intimidate, demoralise and indoctrinate the people into passivity and acceptance of the current political situation.

Having said that, it is my view that PM Najib is a rational man. But whether he is rational for himself, his party or for the rakyat is the billion dollar issue which all Malaysians needs to probe and resolve.

The dilemma for Malaysia is how the short-term interests of politicians can be realigned with the long-term interests of the larger society (rakyat). Do we have to wait every four years to decide whether to fire or rehire our public servants?

Instead of correctly calling for a change of leaders/political regimes (the Pakatan Rakyat solution?) or a reform of our institutions as Tengku Razaleigh had recently written, it would be far more powerful and effective to call for a change of mindset and heartset in every Malaysian.

When everyone looks into themselves, they will accept the rationality of a sharing a common vision that aligns the diverse interests of smaller groups (e.g. political lobby groups) with the larger society.

Open the floodgates of intellectual discourse and we will soon find the root disease is in the false ideas and selfish motives hidden behind our public personas. Lastly, we need humility and the grace of God to lead us out of our present political and social problems.

Painting by Rufino Tamayo: "Friend of the Birds"

The Shadow Cabinet: A New Era of Hope or A Pandora's Box ?

Finally, we get to see the potential candidates for Pakatan’s shadow cabinet.

To resolve the doubts public voters are now having about the credibility, competence and viability of the fragile coalition, Pakatan should put these three committee members per ministry to openly discuss their views/policies (cross examined by the media or Internet media like Malaysiakini and Malaysian Insider in a video telecast forum) and allow the public to vote online who is the most competent and fair to the rakyat in responding to issues such as:

1. Malaysia's Economic Conundrum: The global economic downturn and Msia’s new model to survive (sorry, Najib has won half the battle on this front by dismantling NEP on 30th June, in spirit if not fully in letter). So Pakatan has to work doubly hard on the new economic model.

2. Malaysia's Social Political Conundrum: The social problem of race and religion that is hampering the rakyat from moving forward. To what extent are these minister committee members open to a more flexible, intellectually free society or a more restrictive, closed society based on the narrow religious restrictions of one particular domineering faction of Muslims (no need to mention the partylah) ?

Finally, each member should come clean on the hidden agenda of unity talks - power for one race or ensuring good race relations in a complex society like ours?

Just as the Internet has revolutionized political news coverage in the past year, Pakatan should use any impactful technology it can get hold of to reach out to key voters who wish to look into the insides of the brains and hearts of our next leaders.

Having said that, I am sorry to say that, judging from the recent crises in Pakatan Rakyat, the insides of their leaders' brains/hearts is more like a Pandora’s box. While I don't subscribe to Greek mythology, it is ironical that at the bottom of the box, there is hope.

As at today, I doubt Pakatan can be trusted to lead any nation, much less any corporation at the rate they are going. Which is why the mandate to rule should be given back to online voters and citizens.