100 days after GE13: Moving on with public wisdom
First Published: 7:01am, Aug 08,
2013
Last Updated: 8:00am, Aug 08, 2013
fz.com
THIS Aug13 marks the 100th day of the completion of GE13.
Even though to some politicians, analysts and pundits, the debate on its result
will carry on, perhaps endlessly, but to most people, it is time to move on.
This is the time where, we the
people, no matter how diverse our views and standpoints are, and regardless
which part of the house we are seated in, make the best out of what has come
out of GE13.
We can, though admittedly it is not
going to be easy, if we are genuinely passionate about making Malaysia a better
nation.
This is an opportunity to engage
ourselves around public issues (not politics) that are fundamental (not because
they are viral) in ways that generate a coherent and shared voice of ours,
infusing the democratic process with common sense and guiding intelligent
decision making.
We must continue the new
conversation that has started prior to GE13, with the aim of discussing what
needs to be taken into account in order for us to produce long-term inclusive
benefits.
This process should include new
approaches in doing things, for example, more consultation, participation and
deliberation, and should move beyond partisanship.
Tom Atlee calls this process
"institutionalising the power of public wisdom in our government". I
call it "New Politics".
In this context, my take is that we
need to do the following:
Firstly, the practice of New
Politics. The aim is to put a stop to all
kinds of money, corrupt, dirty and gutter politics of the old, and bring about
a more mature and progressive democracy. It involves four major components:
integrity, new governance framework, innovations in democracy and progressive
political thoughts.
At a recent workshop on the GE13
results organised by Universiti Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections
(UMCEDEL), Dr Latif Ibrahim of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia compared the
different languages used by Old Politics and New Politics.
Old Politics talks about race and
religion and emphasises on differences and difficulties in working things out.
It includes issues on development, material handouts, use of threats and
instilling fear, loyalty versus treason, use of sheer power to silence people
and use of unsubstantiated sexual acts.
New Politics talks about justice,
equality, freedom, more democratic and two-party system. It includes issues on
working across ethnic and religious divide, moderation and non-materialist
values.
Secondly, reform of democratic
institutions. We need to regain the peoples’
trust in the Election Commission (EC). The announcement by Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Razak that the EC will now report to Parliament is a good start.
We need to strengthen the Parliament
by making it independent through self-governance and introducing new
initiatives, for example: formation of more select committees; all existing
commissions report to Parliament and their reports debated; formation of a Law
Reform Commission; and reform of the Dewan Negara.
The mainstream media needs an
overhaul. This is to ensure that the right to information is upheld and an
informed society is developed.
Thirdly, the practice of new governance. New realities, particularly the third phase of democracy,
necessitate that the government establish a "new governance
framework". It refers to a genuine consultative structure and process of
decision making that involves all stakeholders (state, business and civil
society; and federal-state relations). It must be complemented with a more
committed effort in implementing principles of good governance, for example, as
envisioned by the National Integrity Plan.
The GE13 shows that the government
is facing a trust deficit from the people. This involves the "4Cs":
corruption, cronyism, crime and cost (of living). Besides that, there is also
the other "2Cs": cows and condominiums!
These issues are real, not
perception. We need to tackle them urgently, comprehensively and effectively.
For example, in fighting corruption, we need a political will to go after the
big ones and to fully utilise spend management technologies (eg, e-procurement
and e-bidding) and address political financing.
And fourthly, new approaches in
policies. Today’s generational changes
warrant that we employ new approaches, that are more in sync with today’s ways,
in formulating, implementing and evaluating policies and programmes.
In economy, for example, its aim
should no longer be just about growth and equity, but must include new
objectives, like a healthy and inclusive system that results in happiness. This
entails, among others: ethic, social justice, end of economics of dependency;
new and decent jobs; start-ups development; and social entrepreneurship as a
new tool in empowering the poor.
Other examples are: migration from
"race-based policies" to "needs-based policies"; education
system that focuses on the soul of its institutions, quality of its graduates
and recognition of parental choice; and full and active empowerment and
participation of the youth, woman and civil society.
Let’s stop canvassing and start
working.
Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah is the
former MP of Temerloh and former deputy minister for higher education. Follow
him on Twitter @saifuddinabd.
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