Bone and marrow Print
Written by straits-mongrel   
Saturday, 06 April 2013 22:30

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AND about time too. When PM Najib announced the dissolution of the 12th Parliament on Wednesday, he closed the chapter on a fractious five years at the national legislative (not that Parliaments past were civil). In the midst of mud-slinging, new laws were passed hurriedly without due public consultation, among others the DNA Identification Act, Public Assembly Act in place of Section 27 of the Police Act, SOSMA in place of the ISA, and Section 114A introduced in the Evidence Act.


Due to loans and the lack of cows, we saw the first male check in as Minister for Women, Family and Community Development a year ago.


We saw frogs. Plenty of them. They who had not the decency to seek guidance from their constituents before hopping. The rakyat elected them in, and from then on, the rakyat can go to hell; that's just saying it as it is.


All this tells us a lot.


Are we in the business of nation-building or merely electing politicians? You know what they say about politicians; we've had more than our share. Nation-building needs people with a spine and a heart. Statesmen and stateswomen.

 

Integrity. Stewardship. Transparency. Accountability. Empathy.


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These virtues are what it takes to earn that seat in Parliament. Beginning today and over the days leading to the 13th General Elections, we will be providing anecdotes of past states(wo)men who showed such mettle in their leadership. They were not perfect, but they put the interest of the country above all.


It is up to us to restore that House. In a matter of weeks, we shall be collectively tasked with determining the character of Parliament and the State Assemblies.

 

At the ballot box, forget the personalities. Go for the principled. God knows we need good bones for the years ahead.


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Last Updated on Wednesday, 10 April 2013 21:59