Murray Hunter Jan 23
Over the past year, YB Gaza appears to have spent more time
abroad than in the country. His frequent overseas trips, accompanied by an
entourage of hangers on.
However, this strategy has raised questions about its
effectiveness and the message it sends to the country.
His meetings with foreign leaders and potential investors
often culminate in announcements of billions in foreign direct investments
(FDI) expected to flow into the country.
While these declarations paint a promising picture, the
actual impact remains ambiguous. If one were to tally the estimated investments
he has claimed, the country should be witnessing significant economic
transformation. However, such results have yet to materialize tangibly.
His recent trip to the United K___dom exemplifies the
contradictions in his approach. He proudly highlighted Y_L’s plans to create
thousands of jobs in the _K. He did not realise it was actually an outflow of
investments from a Third World country to a developed nation.
Supporting reverse FDI and job growth in the _K.
The public expect the government to prioritize domestic job creation and investment.
It suggests a misplaced sense of pride—perhaps even a misguided notion of reverse colonialism—that contrasts sharply with the realities of our own economic struggles.
A troubling pattern has emerged: YB Gaza's overseas travels seem to correlate with his waning popularity at home.
The more criticism he faces domestically, the more frequently he travels overseas, surrounded by cheerleaders.
This escapism does little to address pressing issues at home.
His reluctance to engage meaningfully in parliamentary debates reveals another side.
He appears bereft of substantive policies worth defending. He has yet to offer compelling solutions to the country's challenges, including mounting foreign debt, pervasive corruption, and entrenched racial and religious divides.
Clamping down on freedom of speech while YB Gaza is overseas.
His credibility suffered further when he reluctantly acknowledged the existence of that "addendum".
This admission, forced by mounting political pressure, exposed his lack of transparency. Calls for his resignation over this concealment were brushed aside, a move reflective of the political culture, where accountability is often sidelined.
YB Gaza now appears to have abandoned his promised ideals to maintain power. His reliance on race and religion in politics mirrors the very tactics he once condemned, highlighting the reformist charade.
On international platforms, he strives to project an image of a progressive committed to diversity and openness.
However, in interviews, he frequently sidesteps tough questions about the economic and social challenges, offering vague responses or recounting his personal life stories.
This lack of substantive engagement has drawn criticism, such as during a U.S. trip when a journalist urged him to stop evading questions.
In many functioning democracies, withholding critical information or failing to deliver on promises would face significant repercussions, including calls to step down. Yet, here such demands often fall on deaf ears. YB Gaza simply focuses on planning his next international trip, suggesting he is increasingly out of touch with the situation.
In the end, he seems to oscillate between grand promises on the global stage and an inability—or unwillingness—to address pressing domestic problems. His lack of transparency, reliance on outdated political tactics, and failure to deliver meaningful reforms risk eroding the hope his supporters once placed in him. This represents a profound and disappointing shift.
adapted from Prof P. Ramasamy
Former professor of political economy at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and former deputy chief minister of Penang.
My Comments : I have nothing more to add. The developers are cutting the hill exactly in front of my house. When the expert tractor driver gouges out the bottom, the top of the slope crumbles and crashes down. I just step back and watch. After they crash we can start new again. And again and again. It is going to take a while before they get it right.
