I think the debate around nepotism is futile because I am an outsider and I know there is no compensation of talent.
– Badshah, Indian rapper
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had a standard reply whenever he was criticised for allegedly practising nepotism.
“I have never encouraged any of my children to take up a political career when I was prime minister. Only after I retired did one of my sons, Mukhriz, partake in active politics.”
In a way that is true.
However, we all know too well that his children were already well placed with cables for the big business world, allegedly with lucrative projects for their picking. This happened when the patriarch was prime minister for 22 long years.
The sympathisers of the Mahathir family will come up with this usual defensive line: If your father is the prime minister and you do not know how to do business or obtain lucrative contracts, then you must be the greatest idiot on earth.
What they are trying to say is that if the job is yours for the taking, why not grab it and make hay while the sun shines. Just make sure everything is above board.
Folks, welcome to the world of favouritism or nepotism or whatever name you may wish to call it. It’s as real as it gets and it is practiced everywhere.
Nepotism – this was the topic raging within political circles this past week. The debate was over two specific political appointments in particular.
There was a barrage of criticism surrounding the appointments of Nurul Izzah as senior economic and financial adviser to her father, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and Mohammed Iqbal as a special functions officer to his father, Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul.
As expected, the two leaders had jumped to the defence of their children, saying that they were academically qualified to serve in the positions they were appointed to. On top of that, they said that their children were not paid a salary by the government.
Of course, parents will surely claim that their children are super qualified for any posts. No matter what their justifications might be, the anti-nepotism crowd will pull them down by declaring that the parents are defending the indefensible and justifying the unjustifiable.
We see nepotism everywhere. There is favouritism within the family and in the workplace. In private family domains within the household or in family-run companies, no one has the right to complain publicly if favouritism is practiced, and undoubtedly it is.
However, when it is a public setting like the civil service or politically-linked institutions, then it is something different altogether.
The people have the right to question any decision or appointment made by political leaders or the top brass within the public service which they deem to be controversial or out of place.
Hence, those who disapprove of the two appointments made by the prime minister and the Parliament speaker have every right to pose questions and state their grievances over the decisions by politicians. This is fair game!
What must be noted is that those who criticised the PM and the speaker are not only from the opposition but also from Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders and well-meaning civil society leaders who are known PH supporters.
Anwar, his cabinet ministers and other senior leaders of his administration should do well to take note of the criticisms, particularly those coming from within PH.
I believe there are many sincere PH supporters who want Anwar and his unity government to succeed and they meant well when they have to be vocal with their brickbats against the government.
From now on, the government must avoid making controversial appointments, particularly those involving family members.
This is my stand. Stating that their children are working “pro bono” is viewed as a lame excuse. Appointing your son or daughter into an official position in government is plain, pure nepotism which is impossible to camouflage.
It is still nepotism whether your family member work for free or not. This is how the public see it and they are not wrong. So, please avoid making such appointments in future at all costs. Don’t even think about it.
Do not let Malaysians think that Anwar and PH’s quest for reforms at all levels is just hogwash and meaningless election propaganda.
Bear this in mind, Mr Prime Minister. Malaysians in general are saying “No” to nepotism. Listen to them.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
