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The prime minister has spent most of his time recently defending himself against what he calls "lies and slander". Malaysia has become jaded at these continual references to the charges made by "certain parties" which the prime minister feels are untrue.
There is a limit to how long this tirade can be tolerated without the specification. Patience does have its limits. The public must now be told exactly what the lies and slanders are, and what the truth of the matter might be in each instance.
We have recently been told that the government will respond to the "lies and slander" by initiating a number of Internet web pages devoted to the subject. The number mentioned was around 30. This will be helpful, especially if the webpages are in the question and answer format, or in this instance a "lie or slander" followed by its refutation.
Let the prime minister put the facts forward. Let him answer the charges which have been put forward to him in an honest and forthright manner. Let him stop accusing the Malaysian people of "lies and slander" without identifying the sources of his discomfort. His behaviour is not statesmanlike, and rather than clear the air, it tends to bring discredit on the institutions of government, and more especially the prime minister's department itself.
The charges of misconduct by the Umno-BN government are lengthy. May we not do better to address these allegations? Do we have no one left in the government who will stand up for the truth and fight for justice? The country suffers from an international perception of perfidy and corruption that pervades the public and private sectors. The inability to restore confidence in the judiciary is a serious matter that is not confronted by any minister. There is no answer to the problems of Malaysia.
Will the prime minister please park his new airplane, and earn his pay (little though he feels it is), and tend to business at home? Numerous serious matters urgently require his attention, and rather than addressing these as a capable minister, he allows his mind to venture into various vacuous voids. For all men there comes a time to confess a diminution of powers. If that is the problem, let him be bold. We can accept aging. What we cannot tolerate is a further decline into the abyss of tawdry political maneuvering.
Failed role as saviour
Every stratagem of the past three years has failed to produce the proverbial race riot. Every effort to generate an incident to cast the Umno-BN government in the role of saviour has failed. Instead there is a growing perception that the maneuverings are mere acts of desperation, and a monstrous misuse of public resources, especially the police and the military. It is time to pay the piper.
Let the government stand before the Malaysian people in open debate. The ministers must now give answers to the many questions about misuse of the public funds. Let them explain why numerous instances of abuse go unanswered. Let them explain why there are no official investigations into the many troublesome matters on the table. Let them account for the missing funds.
Where is the prime minister? He is silent on all these matters. He presents to Malaysia and the world a suspicion that a massive cover-up is continuing. May we not have an end to this charade? The time for "lies and slander" is over. It is time for an accounting. It is overdue.
Park the plane. Statesmanship begins at home. Correct the public perceptions if that is possible. If it is not, accept the facts for what they are, and resign the office to an honest and capable man.