By RK AnandFathered by a demigod, and conceived in the womb of a mortal, the immaculate conception Karnan is one of the central characters in the great epic Mahabaratha. He was a fearless warrior and skilled archer, whose loyalty to his friend surpassed his love for his mother and brothers.
But above all, Karnan is celebrated for having a heart of gold, and even death had to wait until he offered his good deeds, which guarded his life, as charity to Lord Krishna.
A Karnan now walks amongst us, here, on Malaysian soil. Not decked in armour, but in well-pressed suits. He resides in a palatial mansion in Putrajaya, and calls himself Najib Tun Razak.
(This is when 'most' readers would roll their eyes in disbelief and plot to lynch the writer for making such a doltish comparison.)
As far-fetched as the analogy might be, there is however no denial that the new administration has taken a “Karnan-logical” approach, dishing out cash and kind whenever it is called upon to do so and in some instances even in the absence of such a request.
The government, like all governments, claims that it is sincere in wanting to address the plight of the people. But unless another Mahatma treads the earth, putting the words “politics” and “sincerity” in the same sentence, would be politically incorrect.
Nevertheless, the Najib administration has exhibited something, which often eludes leaders. It is called political will. Like it or not, this is a government which listens and acts.
Regardless of whether it is a Petaling Street version of an Israeli brand, the 1Malaysia concept is being welcomed, perhaps not into the dwellings of the more discerning middle-class, but into the homes of those of the lower-income bracket who are in dire need of non-discriminatory aid.
A case in point being Hulu Selangor. (MB Khalid Ibrahim and MP P Kamalanathan take note.)
This is a land locked in time where there still exist those who take home less than RM100 a month in wages (see image below). Shocking? Yes it is. To them, clean water, tarred roads and decent houses have greater meaning than constitutional freedoms, oil royalty tussles and high-profile trials of murder and sodomy.
Destined for things greater than two-thirds?
The Najib administration is doing what an administration is supposed to do, and the prime minister is doing what a prime minister is expected to do. While in some countries this would raise little interest, in Malaysia, such traits deserve nothing less than a standing ovation.
Therefore, this is an opportune time for civil society groups, which are sincere in wanting to make a difference, to push for more and more.
Najib has also proven to be less vindictive than some of his peers. Refusing to listen to the fuedal voices clamouring for punishment to be meted out on the ballot box ingrates, he chose to keep his word and delivered his promises.
But wipe away the enchanting colours from the canvass, and the sketch would reveal that the motif is about votes, specifically a two-third majority in Parliament and the reclaiming of states swept to sea by the last tidal wave.
Najib is adamant on reversing the damage inflicted by his predecessor. He is determined to prove that he is the “messiah” who would return the ruling coalition to the pinnacle of power, and so he rights the wrongs.
On a political note, he must be credited.
With a bruised and tattered reputation, he inherited a BN, battered black and blue, to do battle against a strengthened opposition. Within a year, he has managed to turn the tables, relegating the opposition, so fond of shooting itself in the foot, to a defensive role once again.
Come the next general election, Najib is pining for a resounding victory to silence his critics. If he succeeds, he would become an exalted leader, at least in the eyes of Umno and BN.
But like Karnan, he could be destined for something greater. And his fate rests in the hands of the voters.
Najib has the potential to be the best captain ever for Malaysia. But if the winds of change, which bellowed through the last polls, shift direction, there is a danger that he could be blown off course. And this should not happen.
Denying him a two-third majority might only spur him to work harder and initiate greater reforms, which extend beyond the treasury's coffers.
The post-13th general election 1Malaysia could be a freer kingdom, with draconian laws being dismantled, greater space for dissenting voices, a professional police force, a more credible anti-corrpution watchdog and a more reputable judiciary, among others.
Pakatan will mature, in time
Perhaps Malaysians need a repeat of Hulu Selangor on a national scale.
BN wins, but not without a hard-fought battle. This is like the proverbial killing of two birds with one stone, where both the ruling coalition and Pakatan Rakyat are reminded that they need to strive harder.
Giving him the benefit of doubt, if Najib is truly sincere in wanting to make a difference, then he should look beyond Umno, BN and the next general election. To quote Zaid Ibrahim, the prime minister should think of the legacy he wishes to leave behind.
As for the fledgling Pakatan, especially PKR, it must prove that it is a coalition capable of running a government. Right now, the indications are that it cannot even manage a by-election campaign, let alone the nation.
To be fair, just like BN, Pakatan too was unprepared for the 2008 tsunami.
It was a child that was forced to cloak itself in the rainment of an adult. Expecting a miracle, the voters demanded that it prove itself a better option than its adversary, which had a six-decade headstart.
In time, with the right guidance, Pakatan would mature. Till then, God bless Malaysia.
