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"