14
speak up!
THE big news today is the
unveiling of the new cabinet.
Such is the case with every
new leader at the helm where
everyone – premier and ordinary
minister alike – wants to stamp
their mark on their administra-
tion. At times this involves doing
away with old policies, rendering
the previous five years a waste of
time and resources.
Granted, a new administra-
tion should be able to dispose
of redundant and outmoded
policies and procedure, but at the
same time, it should still allow
for continuity of the polices of the
previous leadership which are in
the best interest of the rakyat.
When Tun Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi took over the premier-
ship, he won a lot of applause
for cancelling mega projects
of his predecessor which were
regarded by many as an ambi-
tious waste of taxpayers’ money.
However, Abdullah who
opened the doors to the freedoms
that we have enjoyed over the last
six years unfortunately took his
In the best interest of the rakyat
time to review laws
such as the Internal
Security Act (ISA),
which were later
used to curtail the
very freedoms that
he had espoused.
Thus, Datuk Seri
Mohd Najib Abdul
Razak’s promise
of reviewing the
ISA was not only Down2Earth
a welcome respite
by Terence Fernandez
but also an eyebrow
raiser to those who
had thought that his would be a
more draconian and authorita-
tive style of administration.
Najib’s announcement that
he will ask his ministers to
keep up to a key performance
index is a positive move to get
his ministers to be accountable
for their decisions Malaysian Anti-Corruption
and actions. Commission (MACC) to clean
In this light, it up the cash-strapped ministry
is hoped that any and bring to book those who
investigation of had treated public money with
allegations related Najib’s such a blasé attitude.
to a ministry under announcement On this note, one would have
a previous leader- that he will ask hoped that Ismail had stayed
ship must persist. his ministers on to finish what he started,
It has often but there should be no second-
been the case to keep up guessing Ahmad Shabery’s
where misdeeds to a key giving his blessings for the
and irregularities performance investigation to carry on.
are forgotten due index is a At the same time, Datuk Seri
to changes at the positive move Dr Ng Yen Yen must also ensure
helm. Thus it is hoped that the that there is continuity in the
new youth and sports minister, to get his Tourism Ministry’s co-operation
Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, ministers to be with the MACC on the latter’s
will continue with the efforts of accountable for investigation of the activities of
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob their decisions ministry subsidiary Pempena
in cleaning up the ministry. Sdn Bhd as well as overstaffing
Ismail Sabri had brought and actions. by the previous administration.
in auditors and even the Past sins must be accounted
for and those guilty of these
wrongs or who sat idly by while
they were being committed must
be made accountable.
Being dropped from the
cabinet should not be a blessing
in disguise to those who got the
chop.
SPEAKING of being account-
able, a lot is put on the plate of
a new prime minister, where
everyone expects him to perform
miracles at the drop of a hat.
The wife of the premier is
often relegated to ribbon cut-
ter and looking pretty while
standing next to her man.
In this case, Datin Seri
Rosmah Mansor has played that
role very well from the time
Najib was deputy prime
minister.
However, an unexpected
burden has also been placed
letter
letters@thesundaily.com
Case for single
school system
“WHERE being local
counts” (Nutmeg Verses,
April 2) offers food for
thought for all peace-loving
Malaysians.
The statements “Malay-
sians of different races can
be brought together by a
common ingrained native
identity” and “this integra-
tion has grown organically
with communities naturally
evolving together” contain
truths that will help to
ensure a united and
harmonious Malaysia.
Unity is something that
did not happen by chance
and at the same time it
cannot be conveniently
forced onto society.
The unity that Malaysians
enjoy today should not be
taken for granted.
For the people to stay
united, there must always
be understanding, tolerance,
caring and sharing among
citizens.
How do we continue to
maintain this almost ideal
environment?
Since these attributes
should be experienced and
learned by the people while
theSun | FRIDAY APRIL 10 2009
on her shoulders. As the head
or patron of various charities,
she also has the task of being
accountable for people’s
money.
Rosmah was prematurely
thrust as the head of Bakti,
the organisation of wives of
ministers and deputy ministers,
upon the death of Datin Seri
Endon Mahmood. She stepped
up to the mantle and played her
role well, spearheading many
charitable initiatives.
However, Rosmah is head-
ing Bakti at a time when public
scrutiny is focused sharply on
such organisations. This is no
thanks to ongoing revelations
that members of Balkis, the
organisation of state assembly-
women and the wives of state
assemblymen in Selangor, had
misused its role as a charitable
organisation.
Rosmah also has to ensure
that Bakti secondaries such as
Balkis and Bunga Tanjung in
Penang keep to their charter
and carry out their functions
responsibly.
While her husband con-
solidates the country, she too
– through no fault of hers
– has the task of mending public
perception that exclusive
charitable organisations such
as Bakti or Balkis are not the
playgrounds of the wives of
politicians. For a start, she
could perhaps order full public
disclosure of the accounts of all
these organisations.
Terence is deputy editor special
reports & investigations. He is
reachable at terence@thesun-
daily.com
they are young, there is no
alternative but to send them
to the same school system.
What happens when
certain interested parties
persist on isolating children
based on their races by
demanding that they go to
schools that cater only to
certain races?
Will these young souls be
able to integrate and develop
all the desirable virtues to
encourage a sound under-
standing of the different
races and the need to stay as
one, when they are older?
As pointed out by the
writer, the residents of
Bukit Selambau are able to
mingle freely in this laid-
back Malay majority area
because they are able to
strike an understanding by
communicating in the same
language. And that I believe,
will best be achieved if we
support the proposal for a
single education system,
failing which we are not
being fair to future
generations of Malaysians.
Zamri Mahmud
Kuala Lumpur