Selangor has developed new standards for cover-ups

Datuk Ahmad Termizi Puteh's tenure as mayor has finally ended, a few days short of his second month's anniversary after PJ was declared a city on 20 June 2006. And it's for real this time. Looks like he has saved himself the embarrassment of having to answer to Citizen Nades' allegations of misconduct here. For once, he's probably thankful to lose a job that is becoming more untenable as the days go on.

Meanwhile, the SUN's expose on the Selangor government's shady dealings in awarding monopolistic contracts for billboard licensing has upped the ante now on the Mentri Besar of the first fully developed state to come clean on this issue. (I believe, as in the Bukit Cerakah issue, he's not going to lose any sleep over this as well.)

Let's take a look at today's news report. (Bolded and italicised words are all mine for emphasis.)

Transparency International president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam urged Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo to "come out strongly in response to the allegations of abuse of authority in order to safeguard and protect the name and credibility of the local authorities within the state.

Navaratnam added that as Selangor is the only state which declared itself 'developed', it should show the highest standards of transparency, accountability and integrity in order to justify such a status. 'Selangor should lead and show the way,' he said."

I think Selangor has lead and shown the way for all the other states, but not in ways which we decent folks condone.

The Business Ethics of Malaysia director Dr Zainal Abidin Abdul Majid said intervention from the prime minister must be imminent for change to take place.

"There is no such thing as a complete individual. Change can only come from the Big Man," and "He should not only promote good messages but also act. This issue is merely the tip of the iceberg. Common directive has to come from the top," he said.

Zainal Abdidin also stressed that government policies must not be linked to business deals, saying that the values of honesty and integrity are absent from the parties involved in the billboard debacle. "Despite a substantial amount of effort to promote integrity at municipal councils, misappropriation is still at work, possibly even more than before," he added.

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The Sultan of Selangor has spoken up on this issue.

Will Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi walk his talk now, given the mounting evidence of misconduct that has been levelled against the government of Selangor?

He dreamt of being the MB of Selangor as a school boy, inspired after shaking hands for the first time with then PM Dr Mahathir. Now that he is in the hot seat, did he find his reality as sweet or even more so than what he ever dreamed of in his wildest of dreams? Did he fulfilled all that he dreamed he would do as an MB when he was still aspiring for the post?

In his CitizenNades column published today, the scribe repeated a oft-asked question:-

"Now that the truth is out, what is going to happen next? By Malaysian standards, don't expect anything, let alone a response to the assertion that their claims have been proven wrong. ...

Perhaps, another denial by the lead actors and lots of echoes from the kuncu-kuncu and political wannabees? Not likely, not even a whimper. Three weeks ago, I e-mailed the MB and he has not responded. ..."

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"Elegant silence" is the new tool in public management, and they can claim that they are just learning from the Big Man.

Incidentally, in the run-up to the Merdeka celebrations this coming 31st, our Information Minister has scaled new heights to insult Malaysians by claiming that "those who did not fly the Jalur Gemilang were unpatriotic and had no love for the country. These people, he added, also did not appreciate what the country’s leaders had done and were ignorant of the fact that the comfort and prosperity they enjoyed today were the results of a long struggle."

Excuse me Pak Lah, what sort of criteria did you look for in the candidates shortlisted for the post of Information Minister? That crass remark was certainly not a very informed nor intelligent observation of what constitutes patriotism in our hearts and minds. Not that anyone cared very much for substance in this country obsessed with form and sick with "syiok sendiri" syndrome.

I don't know if Citizen Nades is going to put up a huge Jalur Gemilang in front of his house or even stick a small one on his car this year and I don't care BUT to me, he has amply shown the true meaning of patriotism in his passion to preach accountability, transparency and high moral values to those very people the common folks look up to for leadership and guidance.

Mr Nades has taken great personal risks to walk his talk and for that, I salute him and if there is a national award for "patriot Merdeka ke 49" given to a citizen of Malaysia for going the extra mile to bring about positive changes to our society, he would get my vote.

As to the rest of those who have yet to convince me that they are true patriots, I have only this to say:

Stop the cock talk!