TR EMERITUS

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab from Bernama (Malaysia) Good governance and strong leadership are the critical elements which underpins how the Singapore government steers its future forward, an Asia summit heard Monday. Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said over the years the Singapore government has distilled a set of principles on governance and leadership to guide its decision and policy-making. He listed five principles that the island republic applied successfully to run the city-state, namely, "Good, Clean Governance", "Integrity and Meritocracy", "Anticipate Change and Stay Relevant", "Do What is Right, Not What is Popular" and the final one is "Leadership is Key." Speaking at the 5th Asia Economic Summit here, Wong who is also Home Affairs Minister, said good governance and strong leadership were critical elements in the best of times, and in uncertain times as now, they were even more imperative. He said good governance inspired confidence in stakeholders, that the course undertaken was charted, with their best interest in mind. Singapore's government operating model was based on a firm commitment to good and clean governance, the minister said. Wong said "we have always eschewed corruption in Singapore", and in the recent Transparency International survey, Singapore was ranked the world's third least corrupt nation after New Zealand and Denmark. He said Singapore had also been consistently ranked among the top five least corrupt nations the past few years, and the scores in the survey were the result of a systematic effort by the government over the past 50 years, to weed out corruption. " Over the years, we have built a culture that rejects and is intolerant of corruption at all levels. We put in place tough laws tackling corruption and enforced these strictly," he said. The minister said a clean government that made decisions in the public interest and not to enrich its leaders earned the trust of the people. It provided certainty to investors, who knew that the rules of the game were laid down in law and more importantly, adhered to, he said, adding that they could not be changed arbitrarily based on personal favours or relationships. Wong also said while rules and regulations were important, the integrity and ethical standards of both government and corporate leaders were just as, if not more, important. The notions of "Integrity and Meritocracy" and "Good, Clean Governance" were closely intertwined, he said, adding that in Singapore, public officers were promoted based on merit, not because of their connections or the favours they could extend in return. The minister also said doing what was right, not what was popular required leadership and political will. " Leaders must have the conviction to do what is necessary, even if it may not win them political points," Wong said, adding that leaders must have the conviction to push through what needed to be done, rather than what was politically expedient or populist. - Bernama Republished from Bernama on 8 December 2009  Read More →

By Kim Quek writing for Malaysia Today This curt reply to crassly cut reporters off from asking further questions sounds to me more like a reflex in panic, rather than a responsible answer from the prime minister of a supposedly democratic country. For it was a totally inappropriate reply to Bala’s serious accusation, made in circumstances that commanded respect and credibility. What can be more serious than accusing Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor and his brother Nazim of having used the “carrot and stick” meneuver to force Bala to retract his first affidavit which implicated Najib in the murder scandal? And what can be more respectable than having his revelations made in an interview conducted and witnessed by three senior lawyers of the country? Bala alleged that Rosmah’s close associate Deepak Jaikishan offered him RM5 million and Nazim threatened to harm his family unless he followed Deepak’s instructions. This happened on the day he disclosed his first affidavit on 4th July 2008. Fearing the safety of his family, Bala retracted under coercion the allegations linking Najib to Altantuya in a second affidavit the next day, and disappeared immediately with his family until his recent interview which was captured in video and recorded in transcripts. These were first published in Malaysia-today.net and later relayed by other websites including Malaysiakini and Youtube. In the interview, Bala described how he was forced into retraction and how he and his family embarked on their fugitive journey to India under the overall direction of Deepak. That journey was a rather convoluted and lengthy voyage that saw them passing through or staying for various durations at Singapore, Bangkok, Katmandu, Delhi, Madras and eventually Chennai. Bala exuded confidence with his detailed description of occurrences supported by factual details that pin point the relevant players, locations, times, dates, durations, hotels, monetary figures, cheques, bank accounts, etc. Against these formidable allegations, all we have from the alleged culprits is deafening silence, despite the news being circulated in the Internet for more than two weeks. Until, of course, when Najib dismissed these as “frivolous” and not worthy of his response, during a press conference after an UMNO supreme council meeting on Dec 4. This effectively means that Bala has cooked up a pack of damned lies, according to Najib. So, one of them must have lied. Was it Bala, or was it Najib? FACTS FAVOUR BALA A cursory glance at the facts and circumstances surrounding the latest controversy would enable one to readily conclude that Bala has the upper hand, for the simple reasons that Bala’s accusation is buttressed by precise facts and details that could be easily debunked if false, while Najib and his group have chosen to remain silent in spite of the serious nature of the accusation. If Bala’s statement is false, and with the immense power and resources at the disposal of the Prime Minister, there is no possible reason for Najib not to have instantly ordered an investigation, and bring Bala to face the consequences for having so openly and repeatedly defamed the Prime Minister and his family. If Najib could have Raja Petra Kamarudin - webmaster of Malaysia Today - charged for criminal defamation for the publication of an article in his website that said Rosmah was present at the crime scene, why can’t he do the same on Bala? In fact, Bala’s case is even more serious, as he has signed two contradictory affidavits – a clear offence of false declaration – besides accusing the Prime Minister and his family of involvement in murder. And why should the Prime Minister, his family, and the various law-enforcement agencies be so kind and forgiving to Bala as to leave him untouched, while the nation suffers the humiliation of its Prime Minister being openly defamed and ridiculed? FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE Viewing the case from another angle – Bala’s perspective, it appears even more compelling that Bala was not likely to have lied. Why should a family man like Bala falsely accuse the Prime Minister of involvement in the most heinous of crimes, knowing its serious consequences as an ex-police officer? What possible gain could he get, keeping in mind that he couldn’t have extorted any money, since the allegation is untrue? Even if it is true that Bala had falsely accused Najib, that he had repented and retracted his allegations in a second affidavit, and ran away to another country to escape retribution, there is no conceivable reason for him to make a come-back to invent another pack of lies, thereby exposing himself for the second time to the risk of serious punishment. Unless, of course, he is a lunatic, which is clearly not the case. GROUNDS OF SUSPICION ABOUND Evidence of justice being aborted to protect Najib is found in the numerous irregularities that had occurred before and during the trial of the Altantuya murder. Why was Najib not investigated since the first two accused, who were his body guards and took orders from him, had no apparent motive on their own to commit the murder, and the third accused was his confidante? Why were the judge, prosecutors and even a defence lawyer abruptly replaced without credible reasons shortly before the trial? Why was the motive for murder never raised during the trial? Why did prosecutors and defence lawyer join forces to prevent critical evidence being pursued in court such as a certain photograph showing Altantuya and Najib taking meals together and the mysterious erasure of immigration entry records of Altantuya and her Mongolian companions? Why was Bala’s affidavit barred from the court without credible reasons? Since the third accused, who was charged for instigating the murder, was released without his defence being called, then who had ordered the killing? It is clear that unless these troubling questions are dealt with satisfactorily, there is no way Najib can clear himself of suspicions that have surrounded him, least of all by waving away inquisitive questions by a curt reply like what he did in the said press conference. In fact, such conduct only betrays his weaknesses. For it is plain commonsense that if Najib is on the side of truth, he would have welcomed reporters to ask questions – instead of crudely shutting them up – so that he has a chance to exonerate himself. And he would also have taken action against Bala ages ago, instead of inaction for so long – perhaps with the hope of the scandal fizzling out in due course? The latest Bala revelations have constituted a solemn challenge to the integrity and legitimacy of Najib’s premiership, for which he must now solemnly account to the nation. And the only way to do that without dishonoring his oath of office is to commission a truly independent panel to uncover the truth and account to the nation. - Malaysia Today Republished from Malaysia Today on 7 December 2009  Read More →

In a luncheon address to think tanks and business leaders at the fifth Asia Economic Summit about what makes good governance and strong leadership today, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said that leaders may have to find the platform and momentum to drive difficult reforms in a crisis. Mr Wong did not quote any specific examples of the possible crises faced by Asian countries nor the reforms to undertake. "Leaders must have the conviction to do what is right and not what is popular, even if taking that path may not win them political points." he said. Mr Wong, who is also the Home Affairs minister acknowledged that businesses and employees would be reluctant to see the withdrawal of temporary support measures put in place during the downturn in a probable reference to the Jobs Credits Scheme introduced at the beginning of the year to help Singapore companies tide over the recession. "In such a situation, leaders must have the conviction to push through what needs to be done, rather than what is politically expedient or populist," Mr Wong added. Due to the lack of an opposition in parliament to check on the ruling party to which Mr Wong belongs, Singapore's leaders are able to implement unpopular policies with little or no resistance from the citizenry such as its liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies. It is unlikely that other Asian leaders who have to face a demanding and critical electorate will be able to emulate the governing style of Singapore leaders who have no qualms ramming down unpopular policies down the throats of Singaporeans. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou's approval dropped to 33 per cent following Taiwan's elections for county mayors and magistrates which saw his ruling Kuomintang lost a large number of votes compared to the previous election. 44 percent of the interviewees cited the pushing of an economic cooperation agreement framework with the Chinese mainland as a reason for disapproving his performance so far. Unlike Taiwan and other Asian democracies, Singapore does not conduct any opinion polls for its leaders. Public show of dissent against the government is outlawed. The media sings only the praises of the ruling party and there is no opposition to challenge it in parliament. Though Singapore conducts elections regularly since independence, it is a shoo-in for the incumbent as the opposition is the perenially weak and divided opposition is no match for the ruling party which controls all institutions of the state. Under such "unique" circumstances, it is no surprise that Mr Wong can say it so confidently that leaders must have the "conviction" to do what is right rather than popular. Mr Wong's track record in government has been blotched by the sensational escape of famed terrorist Mas Selamat Kasteri who managed to evade his captors for four days in Singapore before swimming undetected across international waters to Malaysia. In any other democracies, the minister in charge will probably be forced to apologize to the public and even resign. Not only does Mr Wong need not do so, he remains as secure in his position as ever. When asked by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong if Mr Wong should resign, Mr Low Thia Kiang, one of the only two non-PAP opposition MPs in parliament was stunned into a moment of silence. With Singapore's brand of "non-confrontational" politics which is not seen elsewhere, it is little wonder that Singapore leaders will never have experience political pressure of any sort from a subservient people.  Read More →