I am rather amused at the idiocratic behaviour of our inspector-general of police (IGP). To me, an idiocrat is a bureaucrat who hides behind the concept of rule of law and interprets is at rule by law. In short he is a bureaucrat who is actually an idiot and does not use his God-given brains to think issues through, and it is obvious to the rest of the world.
In a recent column , I argued and made the case that the police chief cannot become a lackey for the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim); as he is governed by the rule of law principle deployed to safeguard the civil nature of our federal constitution, under which he gets full authority to be the chief investigation officer for the executive arm of Malaysian governance.
Is that too difficult to understand? Therefore, if the MB of Selangor asked the rhetorical question whether the IGP is an Umno lackey, that is merely a different variation of the same issue I raised. The issue for the IGP is why the selective and elective persecution? Why say that your brother did not commit sedition one day, and allow your officers to investigate him under sedition the next? Are you not a lackey; at least to the thinking Malaysians?
The nature of public office
Although my father was elected as a councillor in 1955 and served in public office then; he did not finish a career in public office; although four out of five of his children did. Therefore, no one will, can or should ask anyone to instruct the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to review his assets, and explain anything to anyone; except for his family members.
That is not the same for Dr Mahathir Mohamad, my father’s friend, or the attorney-general (AG), and the IGP. They are all accountable for their service in public life; especially because they have held very responsible and accountable appointments in national governance.
At any time, the Parliament can instruct MACC to undertake a review of how Dr Mahathir’s children allegedly became so wealthy and question if there was any underhand dealings in their wealth acquisition, especially in terms of the role of Dr Mahathir or his close government allies, in giving unfair consideration to any matter of public interest.
Moreover, when in public office, there is no such thing as a ‘very private’ private life; for example, ‘what I do in my private life, or on weekends, is not one else’s business’. Not true!
Therefore, I am amused that the IGP does not understand why the MB of Selangor cannot question, or even worse, why the question should be made in private and not public. Dear IGP, if the heat is too much please get out of the kitchen!
What criteria to appoint public officials?
It was even more interesting to read the comments of the Umno exco member in Malacca. He decided to make an announcement about the cancellation of the sale of liquor in Malacca, and then admitted that it was his private opinion.
Is this guy for real? Is he really an exco member? Why do we appoint such idiocratic buffoons into the exco? Is it only because he is an Umno chieftain, and can only speak in Malay even after the SPM level? Is that all that is needed to be an exco member these days? Does one not need brains, and have at least an English credit, apart from mathematics and science? What criteria does Umno use to appoint such public officials?
You see, Mr IGP, the MB of Selangor’s question is a very valid one? His real question is: whose public interest do you really serve? Umno’s? That defines the quality of ‘lackeyism’, if I may create such a word. Is that not a fair question, Sir?
After all in a constitutional democracy, where everyone has equal rights, as do the church to put up their cross, and the residents to organise a peaceful protest, but what is clear is that it must all be done according to the laws of the land, not based on the whims and fancies of the public officials, or even church officials? Is that so difficult to comprehend?
The sultans as role models
Recently someone sent me an Australian TV show called ‘60 minutes’ about the grandeur and lifestyle of the sultan of Brunei and his brother. In Brunei, as crafted and approved by the sultan, he is above Syariah law, and therefore beyond their system of laws, including their God’s laws.
The same is not true for Malaysia. In Malaysia, even if you are a Mara scholar and an absolute brain, once you are caught, charged, found guilty and jailed in UK; you are deemed to have violated the terms of the contract for scholarship, and it will be withdrawn. There cannot be double standards; one for smart kids, and another for children of the poor and marginalised.
Therefore, I want to reiterate that while the sultan in Brunei is above his law; he is not above God’s laws. He will be judged by God. On his earth, the sultan of Brunei can behave as if he is god; and their compliant population may not know the difference.
Not so in Malaysia. Even the Conference of Rulers are common citizens, but because of their elevated status in public life, we have a special court to hear their cases, if they do not abide by the rule of law. All Malaysians citizens come under this same rule of law. Sultans do not carry a special yellow passport; there is no such thing.
No duality in human dignity of life
All humans get our dignity from the image of God. We were so created, says the Abrahamic Scriptures. Now, premised upon that, is there such a concept as private life versus public life? Did not Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden ‘eat the apple’ in private? Why then did the matter have to become public, when God appeared? And why then did shame enter the world for the very first time?
The word, ‘malu’, or ‘shame’ in Malay is a four-letter word. Our world today has in fact made it like a every other four-letter word, but let us never forget that it will get us when we least know it; as God cannot be mocked and will allow matters to devolve and not protect and preserve his dignity which we share.
There cannot be duality in life; whether for kings or for paupers. If God is God, we will all come under the surveillance of his light of investigation and then judgment. We can only get prepared for it. May God bless Malaysia.
Part I: Systemic integrity
