The election in Malaysia of Dr Mahathir Mohammed is truly a sign of the desperation many Malaysians felt in terms of graft corruption and unhappiness at how their nation was being driven to the ground by corrupt politicians. Notably this was no mean feat – the party Mahathir Mohammad defeated was his old one and the same party that had ruled Malaysia since independence. It was truly an electoral earthquake on a grand scale.
The peaceful transition of power was a victory for the people and welcome news to the voters that change will happen if they the voters do the right thing even in light of overwhelming obstacles. Outgoing premier Najib offered all sorts of inducements including zero income tax for young voters. At the end of the day it was all a flop. The Malaysian people had gotten tired of ever rising graft and a wholesale “I don’t care attitude” by its politicians. They voted for change and the world and the Malaysian people will be keeping an eye on that – to ensure that delivery will take place.
One of the more telling parts of the agreement for Dr Mohamad’s ruling coalition comes in June this year when the charismatic and intelligent Anwar Ibrahim gets released from prison. He is expected to enter parliament and Dr Mahathir is then expected to hand over the crown to Anwar Ibrahim.
Dr Mohammad is no stranger to political leadership in Malaysia. The point however is that this time round he is aged 92 and the Malaysian nations’ frustration is evident. To have to choose a 92-year-old albeit in full control of his mind and still agile, to ensure their nation returns to a stable one where the rule of law is respected is a telling tale indeed
It does not necessarily follow that our leaders have been squeaky clean, but it does follow that corruption in Sri Lanka is either on a smaller scale given the comparative size of our economy or that our leaders are savvier when it comes to hiding the loot some place other than a store room in Temple Trees or at Paget Road.
In Sri Lanka the Sirisena – Wickremesinghe combine have played the people out wholesale – to put it in a wholly Sri Lankan way.
They arrived as a combine and events now have revealed that they will continue that combination. They have shared power together but in terms of economic development have delivered absolutely zilch. In some aspects they have delivered like the independent commissions, the right to information bill and lest we forget the media have had a field day and so on.
But in terms of housing for those affected by the tsunami and by the war the delivery has been abysmally slow. Arcellor Mittal were promised an order for 65,000 homes but stiff opposition from political sources including members of parliament who purport to represent the people of the area and politicians responsible to the voters in those areas and associates of big time dealmakers, has meant that instead of the full amount they were offered a contract of supplying just ten per cent or 6,500 homes. Not entirely surprising but they did leave Sri Lanka after trying for nearly three years to understand the governments’ reluctance to move on and move ahead.
In the meantime – as if the civil rights people the government and the area representatives all or individually actually care – the homeless remain homeless. That is the non-delivery of this government who came in gung ho about transparency. They all but accused the Rajapaksas of genocide and not caring for the minorities. We are not in agreement about the genocide and agree that the Rajas could have delivered more for the minorities but pray, what have the champions of these people done for the past three plus years?
This government – represented by both Sirisena and Wickremesinghe not just the one or the other – have displayed an utter disregard for the peoples’ monies. The cabinet mouthpiece Dr Rajitha Senaratna, was rather piqued when a journalist asked of Arjuna Mahendran. He deflected the question by referring to two other suspects wanted by the authorities in Sri Lanka and queried why the media were disinterested in them.
For the record and for the Spokesperson’s further education, we can verily state that the media have covered both matters with some intensity and perhaps the Spokesperson amongst his busy schedule has missed the reports.
It is disgraceful that the Minister hides behind a loose and baseless statement that the government is hanging on to funds of the errant company as a form of implied de facto defence for not getting Mahendran to return to Sri Lanka.
Mahendran will not in all probability return to Sri Lanka any time before the next parliamentary and or Presidential election. His return will cause great palpitations for the government and may even cause greater wounds to the so called national government.
The people of Sri Lanka must take solace and succour from the Malaysian example and do the right thing – vote this bunch of non-performers out and elect a whole new lot in to ensure that the country has a fighting chance at improvement. As it is the country and its economy, and its infra-structure is in dire straits thanks to this governments’ penchant for getting preoccupied with graft allegations of their own.
If the people fail we may see even further chaos being created with the arrival of a bunch of seasoned rogues who will pass off as the best with their triple degrees but who are in essence merely waiting for the moment to strike.
This government is by their inaction paving the way for Sri Lanka to dig themselves deeper into the mire.
