Were it not for the internet and social media, I doubt many of us would have come anywhere near to visualising – let alone understanding – the devastation and the human haemorrhage that this year’s floods on the East Coast have thus far caused. From the initial images of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak engaging in ‘golf diplomacy’ when the East Coast was flooded, to accounts of local Hitlers denying aid from opposition parties for the suffering, right to the ghastly photographs of politicians plastered on bags of rice meant for the flood victims, this human tragedy has turned out to be one big public relations disaster for politicians, especially those in Umno. İt has been quite disingenuous, even stupid, for some of these ‘leaders’ to put the disaster down to “an act of God” or “God’s wrath”. It was as if they were laying the blame at God’s door, arrogantly implying that they are privy to God’s intentions. In doing so, the role played by human greed and even corruption has conveniently been brushed aside. Deforestation, for example, is clearly one of the probable causes. As one news report put it: “Total loss of forests through deforestation amounting to an area roughly larger than Denmark was among the factors that contributed to the worst flood disaster in Malaysia’s history.” It is the reluctance by leaders to critically and substantially address the real issues, their inability to lead that many Malaysians find galling, especially when tens of thousands of lives are affected. And the latest statement released by no less than Najib himself – about the gover’nment drawing up within the next six months a new SOP (standard operating procedure) to tackle major floods” –doesn’t reduce the frustration, the anger. For many, this latest statement illustrates a government that is reactive, not proactive. theheatonline.asia/VIEWS/Volunteerism-and-the-lack-of-leadership
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 05:21:06 +0000