The example set in Malaysia in terms of investigations on graft, corruption, influence peddling and perhaps sleaze too, is an invaluable lesson for Sri Lanka’s own band of wannabe good governors.
Little time was lost by the 92-year old Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Within hours of his confirmation as the Prime Minister – a post he had held previously too – he initiated a process that saw the former Prime Minister and his spouse barred from leaving the territorial waters of Malaysia. Now that alone is enough for one to receive a standing ovation.
Some days after the first salvo, in what turned out to be the first day of Ramadan for Muslims the world over, investigators visited one of the smaller homes said to be in the use of former Prime Minister Najib Razak and discovered a treasure trove of valuables said to include cash and other valuables. It reportedly included Rs 28 Million of Sri Lankan currency. It would of course be most interesting to hear quite how he acquired those funds given that Sri Lanka currency cannot be converted externally.
The example that Malaysia has set has been to display purpose of mind and a commitment to deliver to the people what was promised. Not being in the soothsaying business it would be unfair to predict the outcome but the beginning does show promise.
The people of Malaysia too deserve to have their aspirations fulfilled. They had witnessed their country being taken down an abyss of corruption and political patronage from which there may well have been no return – this plunging Malaysia perilously close to failed states like Zimbabwe.
Yet in the face of many challenges and obstacles including the inspired re-drawing of the constituencies, by Najib to favour himself in areas he thought he could win easily (where he disproportionately declared more seats than in other areas) the people of Malaysia did the right thing – they sent home the person they felt was supporting corruption. It mattered little that Najib represented the party that had ruled Malaysia since independence.
What was paramount for the Malaysian people was the rule of law and real democracy. The peaceful transition of power was ample reward for the people of Malaysia to be further encouraged that they did the right thing by their nation.
In Sri Lanka sadly, the battle cry during the last Presidential election campaign of good governance has not materialised within government – thus rendering the people of Sri Lanka helpless and hopeless. To some homeless too.
A litany of broken promises and undertakings mark this governments’ tenure thus far. They gave solemn undertakings internationally about reconciliation and unity. They rushed the creation of the Office of Missing Persons and we are ever so grateful.
But have they for instance introduced connecting flights from Katunayake to Palaly in the north? Or does the government feel that they need to let the visitors fight their way into Ratmalana and then get a local flight to the North?
Or in their haste to cut deals, create confusion at the Central Bank, award tenders that are unsolicited and paying huge sums for insurance purposes, ignoring the housing needs of the 137,000 families requiring homes, have they conveniently overlooked the undertakings they so solemnly pledged before getting elected?
The latest is the watery and weak defence of the sliding USD – LKR rate. Even the astute Governor of the Central Bank has downplayed the fact that in rupee terms the foreign debt component of our overall national debt has placed a strain on our finances. After all the bulk of our earnings is in rupees and not in dollars. The former Finance Minister is quoted as asking: if the rate is so good at RS 160 why not let it slide now to RS 320 instead? A question he said the media ought to ask those in authority now. Touché.
The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe combine have let the side down terribly. Both are equally guilty of lacking real leadership qualities and have dilly dallied for their own advantages. In this sea of change and amidst the torrents of let downs, we have seen the emergence of a player the public appear to be considering with steady hope – after all one must have some hope to live.
The possible emergence of Gothabya Rajapaksa as a potential leader is gaining some currency and a recent event in Colombo was well attended. The former Defence Secretary has unfortunately acquired along the way individuals tainted by allegations and perceptions of corruption.
A multi-millionaire businessman who himself dilly dallied about attending the event or not, declared the entire event a great success until that is Nalaka Godahewa addressed the audience. Godahewa was very much in the news for all sorts of wrong reasons in the past: he was alleged to have been involved in various matters and the former Defence Secretary was said to have been instrumental in Godahewa resigning from directorships of organisations that came within the purview of the former Defence Secretary. He held on to the post at the SEC only to later face charges relating to payments made using official funds. His involvement in the Krrish matter was well reported and popular folklore is that the former Defence Secretary was to insist on a refund being made.
Godahewa may well be innocent of all charges and allegations but the fact of the matter is that it is he alone who is the cloud in an otherwise blue skyscape. Gothabya Rajapaksa must learn from the experiences – now bitter – that eventually led to the downfall of brother Mahinda. The minority communities may well support Gothabya but the one matter that the people of Sri Lanka as a whole will reject is one tainted by corruption.
Is that a chance anyone is willing to take?
