MARCH 17 — This is how the reward system normally works in the real world.
An employee slogs for 12 months, meets all his key performance targets and is presented with a merit bonus at the end of the year. A professional football player scores 30 goals, leads his team to a championship and snares a new multiple year contract. A child burns the midnight oil for six months, snags a basketful of A’s at the PMR and is presented with a Playstation.
The common theme in all three examples is that the reward follows some positive action or evidence of progress.
But Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon of Gerakan — a political party which claims to champion meritocracy — wants Malaysians to turn this concept of reward on its head when it comes to dealing with Barisan Nasional.
He said yesterday that most in the BN leadership and component parties were aware of the strong message for change from voters which was expressed in March and subsequent by-elections in Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu.
“The people can assist and encourage the BN to change by giving BN support in the by-elections. This will give those of us in BN more support and strength to continue the process of reform from within.
“However, it will take some time and effort to bring about real reform in a big coalition of diverse parties representing various communities and interests,” Koh said in a statement.
Nice try but Malaysians should not lower the bar of expectations for any political grouping that wants to govern this country. The carrot and stick approach must be maintained always.
The electorate in Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau and Batang Ai should be influenced by a variety of factors, including the quality and image of the candidate, the campaign message and most importantly, the track record of the political parties.
If the voters in the three constituencies feel that there has only been glacial progress on the reform front by Umno/BN and that the ruling coalition has not walked the talk since Election 2008, then they have to exert more pressure by supporting the Pakatan Rakyat candidate.
Similarly, if Pakatan Rakyat persists in fielding questionable and lightweight characters like Jamaludin Radzi and Osman Jailu, then the voters have every reason to send a message to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Opposition.
Malaysians have been taken for a ride by the politicians in charge for far too long. Malaysians have been led to believe that change is just around the corner by politicians interested only in securing a win at the ballot box, and little else.
If Umno/BN said that they are interested in building a more equitable Malaysia, one where the poor gets help from the government regardless of the colour of the skin, let us wait for the evidence before passing judgment.
If Umno/BN said that they will shed the excesses of the past and become committed to serving the needs of all Malaysians, let us wait for the evidence before passing judgement.
If Datuk Seri Najib Razak really believes in reform and change; in putting credibility back in his Cabinet and the country’s institutions, let us wait for the evidence first.
Until Malaysians are convinced that progress is being made; until Malaysians believe that Umno/BN have turned the corner for good, we have to hold our support for the ruling coalition and its politicians in abeyance.
Unfair? Not really. They had 50 years to win us over and keep us in their corner.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment