In any meaningful endeavour, the ability to transcend self-interest is the key to enlightened decisions and actions.
The ability to transcend involves objective standards of behaviour that are ethical and morally sound, which serve the common good.
Watching the media conference of newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer brought some interesting insights about political governance.
While he was addressing various issues, one that got my attention was that he will do away with the culture that the party comes first and the country later.
He was referring to the culture of the previous Conservative Party that has paid more attention to party survival than the good of the country.
In Malaysia, there has been a blurred distinction between both. When it comes to the crunch, party survival or individual survival takes precedence over the country.
The withdrawal of corruption charges of a particular minister in the “Madani” (civil and compassionate) government, the constant pressure to pardon a former prime minister who has been convicted of corruption, or the widespread irregularities in government-linked companies are the consequences of a system of party first and country later.
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Besides that, the tribal behaviours of political individuals during elections and the silence of political parties who eloquently preached about fighting corruption in the past speaks volumes of our political culture, where narrow party interest takes precedence over the nation.
Malaysia today is at a crossroads. The once cherished Reformasi movement has failed because the position of prime minister is critical, what more with tribal-minded alternatives that fail to discover the light at the end of the tunnel.
Therefore, the Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue would like to appeal to all in Malaysia to evaluate the ethical and moral integrity of our political leaders and system beyond political parties before voting to ensure that they serve the country instead of being beholden to individuals and organisations that preserve their self-interest.
Real change will only come if we have leaders of integrity. Ethics, morals and service to the country should take precedence over self-interest. – Focus Malaysia
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
