Kula says gov't wavering causes cynicism

2:28PM Jul 19, 2014 Malaysiakini

Kula says gov't wavering causes cynicism

DAP national vice-chairperson M Kulasegaran said the government continued on matters of grave social concern to oscillate between noble intentions and a weak will at implementing the mechanisms for their transmission from intent to reality.

“This suspension between nobility of intent and an enfeebled will at enforcing good intentions is the reason behind the prevailing public cynicism about politicians,” observed the MP for Ipoh Barat.

Speaking at a forum on unilateral conversion of minors in Ipoh earlier this week, the federal legislator said that though seasoned politicians acknowledged that the road to hell is usually paved with good intentions, no lasting policy or initiative aimed at solving recurrent problems could take hold on society without it stemming from a good intention.

“The government had a good intention when it set up the Royal Commission on the management of the police force eleven years ago, but when the panel recommended a viable solution to the problem of custodial deaths, the government wavered on its implementation,” observed the lawyer who acts for estranged spouses who have had their children caught in custodial disputes converted to another religion.

Kulasegaran was referring to the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) which the RC on making the police force more effective recommended in its report unveiled in March 2005.

He noted that the government also had a good intention in April 2009 when a Cabinet committee recommended the banning of unilateral conversions of minors caught in custodial disputes between estranged parents.

Ignoring custodial battle kids’ pain

“A feeble will is the reason why the government has not moved from converting good intention into the legislative mechanisms to prevent unilateral conversions of minors caught in custodial battles,” asserted Kulasegaran.

He said this vacillation which takes no heed of the anguish of bereft spouses and deprived children caught in custodial battles is the cause of widespread public cynicism about governance and those engaged in it.

“Politicians fiddle while affected parties fume and file for court action but the judicial process and enforcing agencies are stymied by being stranded in a grey zone where clashing jurisdictions compete for the right to be recognized as the rightful authority,” said the MP.

He said enquiries he had raised in Parliament about these interfaith disputes and custodial deaths receive ambiguous replies from the relevant ministries.

These replies, he said, raise the question of who really is determining policy in government – whether it is the Cabinet or government agencies which decree what ministers should say and do.

“Confusion is created and skepticism about government and governance is bred such that matters are left hanging in a grey zone where people are encouraged to become cynical about politicians,” said Kulasegaran (left).

He said that in the ensuing void, demagogues who represent only a few and some not even anybody rise to fill the gap, spreading their racial and religious tocsins.

“Pretty soon the waters are poisoned as the best of peoples lack conviction while the worst of them are full of passionate intensity. In this atmosphere, anything and everything can happen,” mused the four-term parliamentarian.
 



Comments