Political values seldom reflect social and moral values.
– Native American elder
The government must appoint, anoint and announce one day in a year where a National Restatement of Values is publicly declared in a rally like taking an oath of office. Mindfulness is essential.
Any attempt at restating our national values can become uncomfortable for kites without strings who will obviously feel the pang and pain of public scrutiny especially when they decided to be elected to take care of the public trust.
Our national mission and vision must produce a provision provided there is no division by admission. The Rukun Negara offers an excellent restatement of values.
The government portal says: “Malaysia nurtures the ambitions of achieving and fostering better unity amongst the society; preserving a democratic way of life; creating a just society where the prosperity of the country can be enjoyed together in a fair and equitable manner; ensuring a liberal approach towards the rich and varied cultural traditions; building a progressive society that will make use of science and modern technology.”
“Nurturing ambitions,” and to “achieve these ambitions based on principles like belief in God; loyalty to the King and country; supremacy of the Constitution; rule of law; courtesy and morality,” doesn’t sound assuring, promising or convincing.
Noble aspirations and ambitions guided by well-meaning principles must be guided by a strong commitment to applying them – both by the leadership and the citizenry.
In matters of government policies, there should be no clash like that between ice and fire. Allergic reactions to indisputable facts and the truth unabashedly evidence unfairness and inequality despite the rule of law.
Universally, all governments vent their hopes and beliefs in the right to life, freedom of expression, right to health, housing, freedom from hunger, social security, education, the right to development and self-determination.
Politicians, ploticians and their bizarre sense of politics unfailingly threaten fairness, truth and justice. Plotting and charting a course of socio-cultural unrest seems appealing to some leaders who prefer stoking the dying embers of sensitive issues. This is pure treason.
In July 2006, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted a resolution recognizing the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct as an important advancement and complement to the 1985 United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary.
The Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct aim to set ethical standards for judges, providing a framework for regulating judicial behaviour and offering guidance on maintaining judicial ethics.
The Malaysian executive, legislative and judicial branches of government need to commit to such a restatement of values. It must translate to a practical path for government to operate and function as a responsible and accountable entity.
Chief Justice Tun Maimun issued a restatement of judicial values: “Citizens including politicians are, to a certain extent, free to criticise the judiciary. However, that does not mean that it is open to citizens, including politicians, to level unfounded and scurrilous attacks against the judiciary or a particular judge to further their own end.”
Like an oath of office, the restatement of values in the art and act of government is indispensable. Everyone in the professions and vocations must find time every day to be mindful of these basic values.
Trump 47 is now touted as a man on a mission ending illegal immigration, dismantling the d-e-i madness, eradicating wokeism, and the imposition of tariffs with the new sheriff-in-town mantra. The world watches as he restates American values.
Malaysian leaders must act, interact and react to change and reform with the fervour of promoting national, social, legal and moral callings. Malaysian values seem to be on the sliding slope of hopelessness as we encounter more and more incidents of feverish corruption.
The recent anti-corruption march from the Sogo Building to Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur was an excellent symbol of the restatement of Malaysian values. More Malaysian entities must rush to this arena of expression.
Malaysian leaders must become daring and caring. We can and should get better, not bitter in our faults and shortcomings. Our leaders must spend more time perfecting their craft instead of succumbing to the usual temptations.
Perhaps, the Restatement of Values must be taught as a compulsory subject from Year 7 onwards in all schools.
“The man who is endowed with important personal qualities will be only too ready to see clearly in what respects his own nation falls short, since their failings will be constantly before his eyes,” observed the inimitable Arthur Schopenhauer.
He continued that “every miserable fool who has nothing at all of which he can be proud adopts, as a last resource, pride in the nation to which he belongs; he is ready and glad to defend all its faults and follies tooth and nail, thus reimbursing himself for his own inferiority.”
It’s not being a prince of pessimism or a messenger of misery, but is it too much to ask what our leaders read, think and do during their leisure time? Do they have special advisors?
The Malaysian Bar recently proposed a less acerbic replacement to the Sedition Act which manifested a restatement of the Bar’s values. Parliament and the Executive must follow suit.
Be acutely aware of the siege of Malaysian D-U-I-T (Democracy Under Intense Threat) where ‘of’ and ‘by’ the people should suffice. ‘For’ the people takes on sinister connotations if semantics are revelatory.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune.
