When a nation is in crisis, it is the duty of its citizens to increase their scrutiny of the deeds and words of those who wield authority and power. Such scrutiny is perhaps all the more urgent when the nation is confronted by a triple crisis--- a health crisis; an economic crisis; and a political crisis. Citizens should not only be alert and evaluative but also wise and reflective.
The
need for such an approach becomes apparent when we examine three aspects of
governance which have come to the fore in recent times.
One,
the paramount importance of inclusiveness in addressing our multiple crises.
There is no need to emphasise that our very demographic demands inclusiveness.
Notwithstanding the current composition of the Federal Cabinet, a product in a
sense of a bizarre political crisis, the Muhyuddin government has attempted to
be inclusive in certain respects such as its allocation of critical tasks to
senior Ministers from different parties in the Coalition. It has also
established a degree of rapport with the Civil Service by projecting the
Director-General of Health as the primary interlocutor with the public on
matters pertaining to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. The role of the Yang Di Pertuan Agong in articulating the central message of the fight
against the pandemic --- a role that is above party politics --- also
underscores inclusiveness in governance. Inviting celebrities to reinforce that
message enhances inclusiveness.
Perhaps
the time has come to give greater meaning to inclusiveness in dealing with the
health crisis by bringing in Opposition political leaders to also play their
role. They should be given space on our television networks to persuade a
segment of the populace to comply with the Movement Control Order (MCO). Since
party loyalties are a major cause of divisiveness in society, the sight of
opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders on TV urging their followers to stay
indoors or to observe “social distancing” could help curb the spread of Covid
19 and serve the public interest.
Two,
the government has also increased the allocation for personal protection
equipment (PPE) for medical frontliners and for other facilities needed in the
battle against Covid 19. PPEs in particular should have been given priority
from the outset. It is sad that in some instances our health care providers had
to make “their own PPEs using plastic bags, dustbin liners and other
paraphernalia…”
It
is not just getting priorities right. In the procurement of equipment and in
ensuring the viability of the supply chain, there has to be absolute integrity.
The middle-man as we had observed in an earlier analysis and the so-called ‘facilitator’
should be eliminated. Let the Covid 19 crisis set the stage for a meaningful
transformation of our entire health-care system.
Three,
the government has also sought to lessen the burden of the poorer segment of
society through a variety of measures in its most recent economic stimulus
package. This is commendable. However,
its proposal to enable EPF contributors to withdraw up to 500 ringgit monthly
for 12 months to make ends meet in these difficult times has run into
opposition from a number of groups including trade unions. EPF money is the
workers’ money meant for their retirement. It is not right to use it as a
source of income to alleviate transient hardship. As PKR president, Anwar Ibrahim has pointed
out it would be more sensible to draw from our national reserves to help the
poor and disadvantaged at this time. It is not just EPF contributors who will
benefit. Because the national reserves belong to the people as a whole, a lot
of the marginalised, including fisher folk, smallholders and petty traders will
also be entitled to the fund.
Ideas
such as these about how best to tackle the people’s woes in the grim situation
that confronts the nation should be accorded the attention they deserve by the
government of the day. For the Muhyiddin government which while legal is still
struggling with its moral legitimacy, an open and accommodative attitude
towards ideas and individuals outside its circuit of power is one way of strengthening
its credibility. Given the multiple crises it is facing, enhancing its credibility
is a fundamental pre-requisite for its survival and success.
Chandra
Muzaffar
Kuala
Lumpur
25
March 2020.
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