Our leaders are a dismal disappointment

Were we too naïve in thinking Pakatan Rakyat's initial hiccups were due to their inexperience? Current events show we were.

COMMENT

By Chua Tong Ka

We were taught from young to respect our leaders. We were taught to trust them.

In return, we trusted them to protect us. We trusted them to do good by us. We trusted them to be honourable and decent people.

In return for their services, we accorded them status, perks and privileges. We even provided them with generous pensions to make sure they were free from worries and insecurities when serving us.

But where did that get us?

Here’s what I think became of those ‘leaders’ we looked up to – they became downright scoundrels, hypocrites and schemers, nothing more, nothing less.

Have they for a minute thought of the future of this country? Have they for a minute thought of the interests and well-being of the people?

We attended rallies, listened to their speeches, and read their manifestos. We stayed faithful, thinking we were at the threshold of change.

For years we have been hoodwinked, but we believed this time it was going to be different.

We believed that finally a group of decent, God-fearing and honest leaders had emerged to take charge of this nation.

We cast aside our misgivings despite their less than inspiring credentials in the past.

Now as we see shocking events unfolding each day, we realise our hopes and aspirations for a better future were all in vain.

We were naïve to think that the initial hiccups were due to their inexperience.

Apparently they did not understand their own eloquent speeches and their own inclusive and elaborate manifestos.

They failed to see the people were crying out for good governance, for service and for a better life.

Instead, all they thought about was their own positions and political survival. All they cared about was ventures and dealings. And all they exploited to the fullest was their narrow racial and religious parochialism.

So they allowed a simple and straight forward problem in Selangor to fester.

They wanted to have the cake and eat it too. They wanted to strike a bargain. They wanted to wait and see which direction the wind would blow.

To them, they was no right or wrong, no decency, no ethics, and no principles.

Hence, till now, no one (except Saari Sungib of Hulu Kelang) is putting up his/her hand.

This is how pathetic our politicians and leaders have become.

The next time, I suggest we don’t even acknowledge them when we meet them on the street.

Chua Tong Ka is a FMT reader.