Time for politicians to be accredited too

By Saleh Mohammed

Before leaving primary school, my class teacher asked us individually about our ambitions. We were given three choices. The standard answers were doctor, engineer or school teacher. School teachers enjoyed a special place in society then.

However an answer from one of my classmates stuck in my head. His first choice was politician, then policeman, failing which he wanted to be a thief. Our class teacher asked why and he answered that if he could not make the law, he would enforce it. And if both failed, he would try to break it…

In Malaysia, engineers, doctors and accountants have their own institutes or associations that govern their conduct while regulating and developing the profession to promote honourable practices and professional etiquette. Even bakers have their own Institute of Baking to instil professionalism and the nurturing of their passion.

In this article, I wish to propose the accreditation for Malaysian politicians. This will provide them with credentials while encouraging them to conform and maintain standards in their profession. Hopefully, the Dewan Rakyat Speaker will give this proposal due consideration. The Malaysian public would surely agree to it too. The same proposal applies to the Dewan Negara too but let us leave that for another day.

An article in the “Association of Accredited Public Policy Advocates to the European Union” said: “Today, we need men and women of strong principles and courage whose interest in being elected to positions of public trust is to serve their country and make sure their generation leaves a better world to the next one.”

We need men and women of faith, integrity, commitment, practicality and common sense who view high political office as a term of service and not a means for personal gain.

We need politicians who have passion, a sense of responsibility and the drive to uphold national interest. Passion to get things done, pursue just policies and do good for the community.

The job’s prestige and the public’s respect should ideally be in a politician’s “remuneration package.”

We have heard ministers/politicians making absurd and immature statements especially in the last couple of years. We have politicians who have no qualms about spewing loud racist speeches at the slightest provocation and getting away with it. In 2012 our politicians approved a ban on sexist remarks in Parliament but as of last year dishing out sexist remarks was still rampant.

We have heard of our Dewan Rakyat Speaker warning ministers against usurping the speaker’s authority. Even the Dewan Negara president has ticked-off ministers and deputy ministers for giving inadequate answers. Of course, it does not help that the prime minister himself openly states that he values loyalty over ‘smart people.’

A few days ago, HRH the Sultan of Johor commented that a particular Act that limits the powers and role of the Yang DiPertuan Agong and other rulers while relegating them to nothing more than a “Rubber Stamp”, as being in force only for political and personal gain.

Cicero (Roman empire) wrote about this same situation in his lifetime:

1. The poor, work & work.
2. The rich, exploit the poor.
3. The soldier, protects both.
4. The taxpayer, pays for all three.
5. The wanderer, rests for all four.
6. The drunk, drinks for all five.
7. The banker, robs all six.
8. The lawyer, misleads all seven.
9. The doctor, kills all eight.
10. The undertaker, buries all nine.
11. The Politician lives happily on account of all ten.

Written in 43 BC but which I think is still valid even today.

Though I have lost contact with that classmate of mine, I do hope God did not fulfil his wishes and he did not end up a thief.

Saleh Mohammed is an FMT reader.

With a firm belief in freedom of expression and without prejudice, FMT tries its best to share reliable content from third parties. Such articles are strictly the writer’s personal opinion. FMT does not necessarily endorse the views or opinions given by any third party content provider.

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