Rilek1Corner

Tag: leaders

  • Commentary: Leaders Are No Longer Chosen On The Basis Of Merit

    Commentary: Leaders Are No Longer Chosen On The Basis Of Merit

    The image of a ponding MRT on its submerged track is iconic and deep with prophetic tell-tale signs of the state we are in as a Nation.

    The admission of a culture of complacency in SMRT by its very CEO has served to expose the parasitic cancer eroding all that we have build as a Nation, when we abandoned what we used to champion, i.e., meritocracy.

    Leaders are no longer chosen on the basis of merit, required expertise and capabilities for the core functions demanded. Political interests to maintain control and power dictates who gets any top jobs. The best gets sidelined for not being correctly aligned politically. The mantra of the best man for the job no longer applies.

    A pervasive culture of silence exist deterring anyone to speak up for the truth which in today’s high salaried pseudo corporate top jobs potentially means foregoing that politically laced iron rice bowl. We are doing everything that the best management gurus warned against. Never to compromise separation of powers to ensure adequate checks and balances as well as non tolerance to conflict of interest situations.

    Now instead, an elitist tight clique safeguards their own vested interest as they run the faltering Singapore Inc. The reminder and caution of pitfalls when government do business is simply ignored. Lessons strangely don’t apply of gross abuse that always happen when the sacred lines on separation of powers that must never be crossed disappears.

    Emblematic of this chronic malaise is the blurring between who is checking who. We are shockingly reminded again of this sickness with the reply Minister Khaw gave to Low’s question in parliament. The information of how checks and balances are ensured between Ministry, Stat boards and Operators are vital and valid and must be clearly answered. Simply brushing aside such queries in parliament with pathetic line of we know what we are doing and can be trusted will not do anymore.

    Singaporeans must remember all these moments and there are surely plenty now to list. Government must never be allowed to get away with excuses instead of explaining why things fail and must take responsibility for their failures which clearly is the case with poor judgement on top executive choices. Poor decisions and bad judgments must have consequences.

    Ultimately, the root of the problem begins in government. This government has abandoned all the lofty ideals of governance that our founding fathers stood for and defended. The government has no checks and in truth we the People made it so. With no real accountability by the government to the people, the inevitable will happen. Remember this image when we next go to the polls and vote wisely.

     

    Source: Damanhuri Bin Abas

  • Damanhuri Abas: What To Tell My Children About Meritocracy, Racism Realities, Democracy, Malay Community And Singapore’s Future

    Damanhuri Abas: What To Tell My Children About Meritocracy, Racism Realities, Democracy, Malay Community And Singapore’s Future

    Since some remind us to accept and look at the wisdom of the whole episode of a race based Presidential non-election, let me share what I heard, saw, reflected, learned and gathered to tell my children.

    1. Meritocracy

    – It is a good word thrown around to legitimise why some are not up there (just not ‘good’ enough i.e. PM, top civil servant, etc., etc.)
    – It is a good word to justify high paying public salaries i.e. best in private sector will only be attracted to public service for equal salary
    – It is good word to excuse clear conflict of interest situations i.e. no other choice as he/she is the best for the position, even though related to one another i.e. so many out there (nepotism?, cronyism?)
    – It is a bad word used to apply selective affirmative action (symbolism i.e. Reserved PE, tokenism i.e. GRC – serving political interest)
    – It is an abused word – all the while the sacred meritocratic claim is a sad joke

    2. Racism Realities

    – Acknowledged – Majority privilege exposé
    – Racist – Chinese majority
    – Excused – 70% Chinese majority for racial harmony
    – Contradiction – GRC minority racial provision to assure minority representation is transferable to majority race (MYT GRC no By-election)
    – Undesirable – Madrasah, for its religious exclusivism
    – Legitimised – SAP school necessary for elitism
    – Institutionalised – HDB only race quota good
    – Ignored – i.e. Mindef unspoken security policy (Malays full loyalty doubted) poisoning wider society’s perceptions of Malays for the last 52 years of being inherently untrustworthy for no apparent reason
    – Taboo – public not allowed to talk race
    – Abused – government exploits race sentiments for political benefits

    3. Democracy

    – Institutionalised – the parliament
    – Institutionalised – judiciary and legislative
    – Process – election
    – Symbolic – the pledge
    – Reality – no press freedom (world press freedom ranking Singapore 151st position, worst than even Afghanistan at 120th)
    – Reality – controlled on public debate on policies (Think-tanks not allowed to think, IPS, LKYSPP, etc.)
    – Reality – political interest overrides democratic principles and foundations i.e. Constitutional changes with no referendum
    – Reality – constant changing the rules and gaming the system eg. constitutional boundary changes, limited campaigning period, cooling day, reserved PE, etc.

    4. Malays : Compliant Leadership and Voiceless Community

    – Painted as desiring the Presidency even though never consulted and neither asked for it
    – Supportive or silent Malay leadership in Government and community legitimising the reserved PE, not in sync with real community’s ground sentiment
    – Leadership not willing to criticise Government policy as will impact on funding for their community based institutions – beholden to the Government
    – Self-serving impression, prioritising community’s interest above that of the country’s interest to put the best independent individual to be President
    – Leaders colluded in elaborate scheme to deny Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s genuine chance to be President that the people really wanted
    – Sellout community i.e. easily bought and sold for cheaps

    5. Future of Singapore Takeaways

    – Political Maturity – undermined (vote denied), hindered (voiced-out), regressed (forced-acceptance)
    – Democratic Principles – downplayed (not-ready excuse), worsened (power-dominance strengthened), brutalised (people’s rights-trampled)
    – Multi-Racial Society – cosmetic (tokenism over real change), conflicting (racism politicised), compromised (racist policies unchallenged)
    – Overall Feeling – shortchanged (Singaporeans choice denied), cheapened (Malay community’s integrity), sold-out (leadership of yes-man)

    May we draw some wisdom for the sake of our country’s future.

     

    Source: Damanhuri Bin Abas

  • Ismail Kassim: PAP Leaders Must Ask Themselves If They Are Cowards

    Ismail Kassim: PAP Leaders Must Ask Themselves If They Are Cowards

    To all PAP leaders, watch the Hollywood classic High Noon and ask yourself:

    Am I a coward?
    A craven coward,
    A coward till my grave

    This is the refrain from the theme song. In this film, a sheriff played by Gary Cooper deliberates on his dilemma: hand over his badge and leave town with his bride (Grace Kelly) or stay and face four just released gunmen screaming for his blood.

    He could have left office as planned, but he decided to face the challenge head-on, and only after despatching all four to the nether world did he go on his honeymoon.

    The same question can be asked of the PAP leaders. When faced with a challenge from TCB, instead of taking up the gauntlet as our great departed leader would have done, they resorted to a cowardly dodge to avoid a fight.

    Now, one after another, they come up with all kinds of rationalisation to make themselves look good.

    But it will all be in vain. The damage has been done; multi-racialism and meritocracy have been sacrificed on the altar of political convenience and the disunity among the people and between and within each ethnic group will only get worse with time.

     

    Source: Ismail Kassim

  • JAKIM: Allah Hina Rakyat Yang Tidak Hormat Pemimpin

    JAKIM: Allah Hina Rakyat Yang Tidak Hormat Pemimpin

    KUALA LUMPUR, 11 Mac ― Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) mengingatkan umat Islam agar mentaati pemimpin kerana ia salah satu perintah Allah.

    Melalui khutbahnya hari ini, jabatan itu berkata pemimpin bukan sahaja mempunyai tanggungjawab terhadap rakyat tetapi pemimpin juga berhak mendapat keadilan daripada rakyatnya.

    “Sesiapa yang memuliakan dan menghormati pemerintah, maka Allah akan memuliakannya pada hari kiamat.

    “Manakala mereka yang tidak memuliakannya (pemimpin), maka Allah akan menghinanya pada hari kiamat kelak.

    “Perbuatan merendah-rendahkan pemimpin ibarat melepaskan tali kekang Islam dari lehernya,” teks khutbah bertajuk “Ujian Sebuah Kesetiaan” dipetik.

    Mimbar berkata larangan menghina pemimpin terdapat dalam hadis yang diriwayatkan Imam Ahmad daripada Abu Dzar.

    “Sesungguhnya akan muncul selepasku pemerintah, maka janganlah engkau menghinanya, sesiapa yang ingin menghinanya, maka sesungguhnya dia telah melepaskan tali kekang Islam dari lehernya,” mafhum hadis seperti dipetik dalam teks khutbah.

    Khutbah hari ini turut mengingatkan bahawa mentaati penguasa atau pemerintah umat Islam menjadi salah satu prinsip dalam iktikad Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah.

    Teks itu menyebut umat Islam wajib memahami tanggungjawab dan menghormati pemimpin, bahkan menyokong apa yang telah dirancang.

    “Rakyat wajib taat kepada pemerintah dan negara. Jika mereka cuai dan tidak bertanggungjawab, maka mereka tidak beradab di sisi Allah.

    “Kombinasi antara pemerintah yang adil dan rakyat yang taat akan mencetuskan kebaikan yang merata dalam sesebuah masyarakat dan dinikmati oleh semua pihak.

    “Bagaimana mungkin kita mampu mengecapi semua nikmat ini seandainya barisan kepimpinan kita bukan dalam kalangan yang layak iaitu adil, cekap, bijak dan prihatin?” kata khutbah.

     

    Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

  • Muslim-Singaporeans Leaders Must Be Proactive In Reaching Out To Youths

    Muslim-Singaporeans Leaders Must Be Proactive In Reaching Out To Youths

    I refer to the report “Nations cannot keep silent on threat of terrorism: PM Lee” (Nov 17). Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was quoted as saying: “We cannot avoid this problem (terrorism), much less solve it by hiding or by keeping silent, hoping that the scourge will pass us by, on the other side.” I cannot agree more.

    Post-9/11, there was a self-imposed gag among Muslim Singaporeans on talking about jihad in Islam. Now, Daesh has taken over its place. Muslim Singaporeans must discuss Daesh ideology openly such that they are able to counter its wayward ideologies confidently.

    In this regard, I hope Muslim-Singaporean leaders play a proactive role in reaching out to Muslim youth in schools and madrasahs.

    The Religious Rehabilitation Group has come up with an educational leaflet that quotes a few Muslim scholars regarding the conflict in Syria. It is important, however, to quote scholars trusted by Muslims.

    Quoting one from Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam, would give much credence in the struggle against Daesh ideology. Regrettably, the condemnation of Daesh by Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti has been neglected by local Muslim scholars.

    Haj Mohamed

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com/voices