I wondered this morning whether the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is crafting a new form of governance – somnambulant governance – making Cabinet appointments on-the-run, with the public and the Ministers themselves completely unaware of the existence of such Cabinet portfolios and responsibilities.
This is from Abdullah’s reaction to the proposal from a coalition of Indian NGOs asking the government to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department to handle sensitive issues pertaining to religion.
Malaysian Indian Youth Council (MIYC) president A. Rajaretnam suggested that such a department should come under the Prime Minister’s Department and should look into issues such as conversions and temple demolitions so that these problems are handled department-to-department and not between NGOs and departments.
The Prime Minster’s response is utterly befuddling and confusing, as no one can make proper sense out of it, as illustrated by the contradictory media headlines, viz:
• Kerajaan tubuh Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Bukan Islam – Berita Harian
• “Government considers setting up panel for non-Muslims” – New Straits Times
• “Non-Muslim affairs dept, if necessary’ – The Sun
• Non-Muslims looked after –We already have panels to handle their affairs, Abdullah – The Star
• Not Necessary For Non-Muslim Affairs Dept Now, Says PM – Bernama
How can Abdullah’s one response produce three different perceptions as to what he meant – from the government setting up such a department for non-Muslim affairs, to studying the proposal and an outright dismissal as “not necessary”.
I do not blame the journalists, whether reporters or sub-editors for getting three completely different versions from one response, as nobody really knows what Abdullah was talking about.
The Prime Minister’s statement that various ministers in the Cabinet had been charged with the responsibility of looking after the interests of different religious groups – Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting looking after the interests of the Buddhists, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu covers the Hindus and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok covers the Christians in the country – has also come as a surprise.
This is because no one in the past four years of Abdullah’s premiership is aware that Ka Ting is also Minister for Buddhist Affairs, Samy Vellu Minister for Hindu Affairs and Bernard Minister for Christian Affairs.
This utter ignorance that there are Ministers for Buddhist, Hindu and Christian Affairs is illustrated by the fact that the New Straits Times – an Umno-owned newspaper – reported that it is another Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Dr. Maximus Ongkili who is charged with looking after Christian Affairs.
I do not believe that Ka Ting, Samy Vellu, Bernard or Maximus are aware that they are also Ministers for these respective religions – or can they give a report as to how they had been discharging their Ministerial responsibilities over these portfolios since their appointment?
Can MPs direct questions falling specifically under these respective subjects to them in Parliament?
When did the Prime Minister make these Cabinet appointments and why were they never announced to the public. Were these appointments ever gazetted?
This disturbing episode of Abdullah making Cabinet appointments on-the-run with the public and Ministers themselves completely unaware of these Ministerial portfolios and responsibilities is symptomatic of somnabulant governance – the very antithesis of a vibrant, dynamic, far-sighted and visionary leadership and government.
What is “somnambulant governance”? Oxford Dictionary defines “somnambulism” as “sleepwalking”.
Is Abdullah plunging the country to a new depth of shambolic government with his pioneering of “somnambulant governance”?