I do not know whether to commiserate or congratulate the overnight Barisan Nasional strategic communications director, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Minister for Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government who has undoubtedly won instant media fame (or is it infamy) by having egg all over his face.
The wonder of it all is that he is blissfully unaware that he has egg all over his face – a special quality of UMNO/BN Ministers and leaders. He could even admit to having soiled goods but insist that the importance is the message not the messenger.
But if the messenger is disreputable and mercenary, what is the credibility of his message?
School children would be able to give proper answer to this question which seems to be beyond Abdul Rahman’s mental and moral capabilities – no wonder former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir keeps lamenting the low-standard of present-day Cabinet Ministers whom he and his former Finance Minister, Tun Daim Zainuddin, have dismissed as “half-past six” or “deadwood” Ministers.
Abdul Rahman’s dismissal of senior Sarawak minister Tan Sri James Masing’s criticism over his use of the “confession” of a disgraced former Sarawak journalist, whose credibility was questionable, speaks volumes about the Urban Wellbeing Minister’s political and moral standards – who clearly has no qualms parleying with the dregs of society and the scums of the earth to serve his political ends.
It is time for Malaysians to aim for higher ethical standards in politics and governance which is an integral part of the Malaysian Dream to achieve a Malaysian nation where the citizens are inspired by the highest and most noble goals in life instead of being motivated by greed, avarice and other base human needs and desires.