A leader leads by action, not words


– Jacob Sinnathamby
The Malaysian Insider
Dec 26, 2012

DEC 26 – It is really interesting how our last two prime ministers – Abdullah Badawi and Najib Razak – have felt the need to talk about themselves as leaders of all Malaysians.

The truly great and effective leaders of countries and businesses never need stand on the roof top and tell people what they are. It is plain for people to see. In short, their track record and actions speak volumes about them, their character and their decency.

Abdullah loved to talk about being a leader of all Malaysians, but we all know now that it was just spin for political expediency.

He hoodwinked many of us into thinking that he actually cared for non-malays and malays equally.

Now, we know that it was just a charade to get Malaysians to believe that he was different from Mahathir Mohamad and give him a huge mandate in 2004.

With the mandate in the bag, Abdullah reverted to type and became Umno’s servant, not the servant of Malaysians.

From sending personalised greetings to Christians, he seemed scared stiff to protect the interests of non-Malays/non-Muslims, most noticeably by doing squat over the conversion issue and by treating Hindraf as terrorists.

Now, we have to hear how Najib is also the Prime Minister of all Malaysians.

I am all for Malaysian PM’s looking after the interests of everyone, but here’s the rub: that is the minimum job description of anyone who wants to be PM.

It is like a father proclaiming that he is the father of his whole brood. Surely, that, too, is the minimum requirement of a parent’s job.

Like a Malaysian Insider reader pointed out, actions always are better than words.

Till today, the Utusan Malaysia, Umno politicians and Perkasa have not been held accountable by the country’s leadership by the demonisation of Christians here.

It is akin to a father claiming that he is the protector of all his children and then do nothing when all and sundry beat them up.

  1. #1 by yhsiew on Thursday, 27 December 2012 - 4:52 am

    “Great talker” leaders are no leaders at all.

    • #2 by cemerlang on Friday, 28 December 2012 - 10:45 pm

      yhsiew :
      “Great talker” leaders are no leaders at all.

      It all depends on perception. Many people think that someone who is an extrovert is cut out to be a leader. Even theory says so.

  2. #3 by Jeffrey on Thursday, 27 December 2012 - 5:37 am

    Yes, a leader leads by action – the constant acts that show he believes in what he says – and not just occasional words as appropriate to certain festive seasons to those who celebrate them. To be sure the chance for matching of words and deeds to bolster credibility is better in an egalitarian society: for how can a leader of a nation, which since birth is structured upon communal politics, engender conviction in his claim that he is a leader for all when it is contradicted by the fact that his very position in power and his party depends on his leading and constantly championing the interests of only one racial section thereof?

  3. #4 by monsterball on Thursday, 27 December 2012 - 8:18 am

    I think Dollah has not guts and made a 180% turn to protect his corrupted acts too.
    I think Dollah does not want to be a puppet to Mahathir…but got cold feet to deliver what he promised…to get rid of corruptions.
    Having a new wife..he stepped down under pressure…trying hard to live a life without politics…as we can see..he is not like Mahathir…retired and keep on talking dirty politics
    As for Najib….Mahathir wanted him to be PM…but after Dollah…to see him have more experiences in the politics he wants Najib to perform…and so he has…to the delights of Mahathir.
    Mahathir is till the PM behind the curtain.
    Najib established himself a born liar..flip flopper…with more than 700 million stolen…into his pockets..under cronies trusts…and a suspected Murderer.
    Najib brought Mahathir’s Umno B lower than Dollah….with more and more voters running away to support PR.
    You can bet your last ringgit…Mahathir and Najib are thinking hard…how to win 13th GE.
    Mahathir’s concern is his son.
    Najib’s concern is avoiding the gallows.

  4. #5 by waterfrontcoolie on Thursday, 27 December 2012 - 8:30 am

    In any scenario, just look at any nations or society which depends on the gift of the gap against its economic achievement: The conclusion is pretty certain. just look at Bambang of Indonesia he acts more than sloganeering! Generally when a leader keeps on harping repeatedly without any action; he merely buys time and Malaysians have been said to be’ Senang lupa’ hence he plotted his game from day one. Of course when the Creator give people with plenty of talking power; it can only mean they have no time to THINK of what they are talking about. Malaysia has plenty of them and we also have a good proportion of Malaysians yang senang lupa. Otherwise how could he had misled them for over 20 years??

  5. #6 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 27 December 2012 - 9:59 am

    The problem is Najib (more importantly and even more so Rosmah) that this year holliday season there is no Christian and Christmas bashing and you critics are ungrateful for it..Other than the fact that its upside-down logic of guilty until proven innocent for everyone else but the proper way for UMNO/BN only, the other fact is even if there is no vitriol against Christian and Christmas – its likely someone else behind him who is making it so and not him…

  6. #7 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Thursday, 27 December 2012 - 10:07 am

    Come on. What do you expect? He has “W” tongue. If you have to blame anything at all, blame it on the left fork of his “W” tongue. That is the real culprit.

  7. #8 by cseng on Thursday, 27 December 2012 - 4:10 pm

    When a Prime Minister so clearly displayed his walks and talks are two separate entities, can he still have the moral ground to lead?…. if we don’t trust what he says, how can he leads? it is very embarrassing la. Ah Jib Gor!

  8. #9 by john on Thursday, 27 December 2012 - 7:01 pm

    He is a lame duck to be roasted comes G13. During Altantuya’s C4 trial, Mrs.Razak B. yelled out “is someone else who wanted to be PM, desperately ?” – as with this hindeous crime as baggage, becoming ‘PM’ is the only lifeline espicially in M’sia. Undertactics is his trademark eg. Perak coup de tat, TBH death – still many stones unturned (cheap talk with blood on his hand). The Scorpene case alone would have render him impotent totally to deal with NFC cowgate. Etc.,etc.,,, (Sure, inside Mad’tir’s ‘pocket’ at his callings, obeyance and demands easily)
    Any ‘actions’ by this ‘PM’ would be mainly to safeguard himself – the trappings that come with the PM post would able to ‘kotiam’ all later espicially so, with judiciary, police,military,,,,,here.
    For that matter, UMNO/bn’s ‘leaders’ whatever ‘actions’ were all of vested self-interest
    or solely to ‘makan’ monies mainly as proven over last 50 years (in control).
    Ever wonder why/how Mad’tir still the one behind in control ? Cos’ all the LOOT (sure huge, even just from Petronas,,,,,and 22years of plundering,hegemony) must be still under his ‘care’ under nominees.

  9. #10 by lee tai king (previously dagen) on Thursday, 27 December 2012 - 11:33 pm

    Lead by action? Awwww man. Umno to lead us by action? You cant be serious. Everyone in the country would end up learning the wrong thing and doing nothing else but holding butt shows and fake funeral rites.

  10. #11 by chengho on Friday, 28 December 2012 - 2:00 am

    Look at chronology , which leader practice all in the family

  11. #12 by Noble House on Friday, 28 December 2012 - 3:30 am

    Leaders like Bill Gates and the late Steve Jobs rarely speak of themselves. They don’t have to. They talked of the people, the products, and the innovations that drive the companies.

    Resorting to cheap political gimmick is when an opponent is desperate and can’t sell himself.

  12. #13 by monsterball on Friday, 28 December 2012 - 5:46 am

    All Pr family members are legally elected by voters.
    All Umno b family members are not elected…not even Najib…and he brought in so many MCA defeated members as ministers…. and to please Mahathi…he put his son a Deputy Minister..ignoring the elected Youth Chief …..Khairy.
    Chengho…… just focus your chronology on Umno b..and do not pull PR….especially DAP into your nonsense.
    And always remember…Mahathir killed off UMNO and set up his Umno B….and made himself a Dictator..for 22 years.

  13. #14 by Bunch of Suckers on Friday, 28 December 2012 - 7:32 am

    Absolutely!!!!

    When you read on our local media, they are full of FAKE promises! Endless suckers’ promises; but none exist! Even they exist; they are half-baked!

    Suckers have been bulsh*ting over decades!

  14. #15 by boh-liao on Friday, 28 December 2012 - 11:07 am

    NR n Loh SiMah luv 2 believe dat “It’s only WORDS, n words are all I have, 2 take your heart away”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g83IfdUzcg

  15. #16 by chengho on Friday, 28 December 2012 - 12:39 pm

    BN is people most trusted partner , you can believe Najib

  16. #17 by monsterball on Saturday, 29 December 2012 - 12:24 am

    Najib should reward chengho with the above vote catching idea.
    An idiot deserves another.

  17. #18 by chengho on Saturday, 29 December 2012 - 2:30 pm

    Any update about nga/ ngeh and Nick Ajis Agro land

  18. #19 by monsterball on Friday, 4 January 2013 - 5:07 am

    Go find the latest news and do not behave like s spoilt …spoon fed idiot.

  19. #20 by chengho on Friday, 4 January 2013 - 8:12 pm

    Careful with freedom of expression agroland may sue you

  20. #21 by monsterball on Sunday, 6 January 2013 - 11:32 am

    This blighter….you got to check every post.
    He is looking for attention….a lonely lonely man in USA.
    Here he gives warning trying to frighten commentators.
    Lets watch what tricks he has to shoooooo away PR supporters.

You must be logged in to post a comment.