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Feb
10

Contrasting Leadership: Anwar and Najib

Anwar And Najib – Up Close and Very Revealing

From Bakrimusa.com
By Bakri Musa

The side-by-side commentaries by Anwar Ibrahim and Najib Razak in the recent Asian edition of the Wall Street Journal illuminated a couple of salient points, in particular, the state of Malaysian journalism and the quality of our leadership.

Consider first Malaysian editors, specifically of the mainstream media. They missed the essential point that the best way to intelligently inform their readers is to present them with contrasting and opposing viewpoints, as illustrated by what The Journal did. Respect your readers’ intelligence and treat them like adults.

Bernama mentioned the Journal’s articles as a news item but referred only to Najib’s piece. Obviously the Bernama editors’ instinct was to please Najib and protect his image. They see themselves less as professional journalists and more as propagandists for the state. Their reaction was predictable.

That the cue from Bernama was quickly picked up by the other mainstream editors too did not surprise me. They are after all from the same mold. What grabbed my attention however, was what the Sun Daily did. I remember that paper as one that had the courage right from the beginning to be a tad independent, and its journalists less willing to genuflect to the powerful; hence its success despite its recent entry into the business.

The Sun merely reprinted Bernama’s piece, again with no mention of Anwar’s contrasting viewpoint. The Sun’s editors had access to both commentaries (they are available on-line) but chose to follow Bernama’s lead instead of their own editorial judgment. That reflects the challenges in maintaining journalistic integrity in an oppressive environment.

Then there is MCA-owned The Star. It did what cowards typically do: avoid the issue entirely. I am uncertain whether that is better than blatantly kowtow-ing to the emperor, as Bernama did.

As for The New Straits Times, an UMNO newsletter masquerading as a daily, its behavior too was predictable. It did not directly report on the two commentaries, presumably deeming both not sufficiently newsworthy. That however, did not stop its editor Syed Nadzri from penning an editorial effusively praising Najib’s literary contribution.

“In approach, tenor and presumably intention,” Nadzri writes, “their articles went in practically opposite directions from the start – the prime minister taking a conciliatory, disarming style, as against the opposition leader’s fault-finding digressions.” What Nadzri calls ‘fault-finding digression’ is Anwar’s trying to elucidate, understand and then educate us on the many daunting problems confronting the nation.

Towards the end even Nadzri’s residuum of journalistic ethics pricked his conscience a bit, for he admitted that Najib’s commentary was indeed a “rah rah piece,” adding, “What else could anyone expect?” Such low expectations!

It would never occur to Nadzri and the others to consider republishing both commentaries; they are of interest to all Malaysians. Or better yet, do what the Journal did, invite contributors with varying viewpoints. While the Journal is an avowedly conservative paper (its editorials leave little doubt about that), its Op-Ed pages routinely carry views from the left and right; likewise, its news coverage. The unabashedly liberal The New York Times counts among its regular commentators such conservatives as David Brooks. Unfortunately, the likes of Syed Nadzri are intellectually and professionally incapable of such a monumental shift in thinking.

In contrast to the mainstream media, the on-line portals Malaysiakini and Malaysia-Today chose a diametrically opposite tack. Malaysia-Today published both commentaries in full without any editorial comment. Its editors are confident of their readers’ intelligence to draw their own conclusions. If those mainstream editors wonder why their readership dwindles while those of Malaysiakini and Malaysia-Today soar, the answer is right there.

Top Billing For Anwar

The Journal gave Anwar’s commentary greater prominence; it appeared on top of the page. I agree with the Journal’s editorial judgment. By whatever criterion – persuasiveness, substance, clarity of thought, or most importantly, readability – Anwar’s piece clearly trumps Najib’s. No wonder those mainstream editors dared not carry both side by side; it would embarrass their patron!

Anwar exhorts us to rise above our parochial interests by recalling the great moments in our Islamic history where tolerance and acceptance of divergent viewpoints were venerated. Najib excuses our prejudices and intolerances on the grounds that those have always been part of human nature, thereby condoning if not encouraging those extremists with their “passionate” views.

Najib claims to be “appalled by the irresponsible and dangerous finger-pointing of a few politicians who put personal political interests … [and] try to score political points by hammering on sensitive issues.” He forgot that it was his Home Minister who started the mess with his needless bureaucratic intervention of a long-established practice. Talk about blatant pandering to the political base! Do not expect Najib to have second thoughts on that. Reflection, or for that matter taking responsibility, is not his strong suit.

Najib writes, “…[T]he values we hold dear – religious freedom, tolerance, peace and fairness—remain the bedrock of our nation.” Too bad he does not take that to heart. While Anwar excoriates Utusan Melayu, an UMNO-owned Malay language daily, for inflaming religious sentiments among Malays, Najib remains eerily silent. Many rightly perceive that as tacit endorsement and outright encouragement. One wonders just who is pandering to the ugly Malay mob.

Anwar invokes our Quran and traditions to push us towards our better selves; Najib was only too ready to dismiss and excuse those “extremists.” To Najib, the extremists, like the poor, will always be with us. There is not much that he could or would do.

The clarity of Anwar’s message was elegantly encapsulated in his very first sentence, “Malaysia has once again resurfaced in international headlines for the wrong reasons.” No one, not even Najib, could dispute that assertion. Anwar’s thesis sentence was crisp, clear and stated simply. It may be embarrassing to have that ugly reality exposed, but it would be a serious abrogation of responsibility for a leader not to address it, as Najib awkwardly tried to do.

It was difficult to ascertain Najib’s message; his essay was all over the place – mushy! This fits his leadership style: heavy on homilies, short on substance, and most of all, mushy. He would prefer that our ugly problems be swept under the carpet, to save the nation’s ‘honor,’ or at least his concept of it.

Through the Journal’s initiative we get to view our two leaders. In Anwar we have a leader in command of the situation, someone serious and fully cognizant of the dangers of fanning religious passions. He appeals to our better side to meet the challenges. In Najib we have an individual full of fluff, blissfully unaware of the fury he has unleashed, and totally incapable of handling the ensuing wreckage. He is, to borrow Nadzri’s less-than-elegant phrase, a “rah rah” leader, reveling in his (Najib’s) own Pollyannaish fantasy.

The Journal rendered a great public service to Malaysians in having these two commentaries freely available on-line. Its initiative also reveals the sad state of Malaysian journalism. I keep hoping that one day our media would learn something from the Journal and treat Malaysians as intelligent adults. I also keep hoping that one day we would have as prime minister someone who would treat us with respect and trust us with the truth. We deserve better than what we are being served now.


11 Responses to “Contrasting Leadership: Anwar and Najib”


  1. 1 Shatter Feb 1st, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    It is undoubtedly the norm, we are very well aware of their game – the champion of the cause ( Utusan Malaysia ) is even better!

    Reply

  2. 2 Ida Rohayu, Pasir Mas. Feb 1st, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    Jika anda mahu menilai maka ‘neraca’ terbaik ialah Islam. Kerana firman Allah : Islam itu tinggi dan tidak ada yang lebih tinggi daripadanya. Oleh itu, dalam menilai peribadi seseorang; nilailah secara adil mengikut ‘penilaian’ yang terdapat dalam Islam. InsyaAllah, tepat serta adil !

    Insan mulia di sisi Allah ialah mereka yang BERTAQWA ! Mereka cinta serta takut kepada Tuhan mengatasi setiap sesuatu. Kebenaran daripada sifat itu dapat dilihat melalui ‘perbuatan’ dan amalan mereka. selain itu, insan bertaqwa sangat bersungguh-sungguh dalam amalan mereka. Keadaan demikian membuktikan cinta mereka kepada Tuhan.

    Lebih jauh daripada itu, insan bertaqwa punya jati-diri dalam mempertahankan agama sucinya melalui amalan yang istiqamah. Dalam keadaan susah atau senang, sentiasa ia meneruskan perjuangan, amalan serta pegangan. Tidak ‘goyah’ disebabkan oleh ujian ‘kebendaan’, ‘keduniaan’ hatta rela ‘berkorban apa sahaja’ demi membuktikan cinta setianya kepada Tuhan yang dicintainya.

    Saya beri markah TERTINGGI kepada Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dalam penilaian.
    DS Najib, jatuh anak tangga tercorot ! Minta maaf ler ! Bukti terpampang depan mata ! Nak nilai macamana lagi ? Jika, hal aurat pun kosong markah !

    SO, KEPUTUSAN MUKTAMAD JURI ‘BERTAULIAH’ :-
    DS ANWAR IBRAHIM : 100 MARKAH
    DS NAJIB : TOLAK 100 MARKAH. SAMPAI TERHUTANG ! HAHAHA….

    Reply

  3. 3 yc Feb 1st, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    HIDUP PAKATAN RAKYAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
    FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE/MSIA FINANCIAL ADMIN>WE REALLY NEED INTEGRITY >COMPETENCY>ACCOUNTABILITY>TRANSPARENCY.
    THIS IS DEFINITELY THE TEACHING OF THE HOLY QURAN.
    HIDUP ISLAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
    HIDUP PAS/PKR/DAP-PAKATAN RAKYAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    UMNO IS GOING AGAINST THE HOLY QURAN TEACHING
    SAY NO TO CORRUPTION/INJUSTICE/COVER-UP AND CONSPIRACY/INTIMIDATION/OPPRESSION/FINANCIAL SCANDAL AND ANTI-RULE OF LAW.
    SAY NO TO ISA/OSA/POLICE ACT/SEDITION ACT/UNIVERSITI AND UNIVERSITI COLLEGES ACT/PRINTING AND PUBLICATION ACT

    Reply

  4. 4 SIR ABU Feb 1st, 2010 at 6:40 pm

    SERUAN KEPADA SELURUH PENYOKONG DATUK SERI ANWAR IBARAHIM, PAKATAN RAKYAT DAN SELURUH PENCINTA KEADILAN DI SELURUH DUNIA.

    MARI KITA BERDOA KEPADA TUHAN YANG SATU. ALLAHU RAOBUL’ALAMIN ! DEMI KESEJAHTERAAN SAUDARA YANG KITA KASIHI, DATUK SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM YANG DIFITNAH DAN TERANIAYA. LAZIMKAN PADA SETIAP AKHIR SOLATMU MENDOAKAN KESEJAHTERAANNYA YANG DIZALIMI.

    POHONLAH DIJAUHKAN SEBARANG KECELAKAAN KE ATAS DIRINYA. DAN JAHANNAMKAN SETIAP PENABUR FITNAH DI BUMI BERTUAH, MALAYSIA. DEMI ALLAH, DOA INSAN YANG TERANIAYA MUSTAJAB DAN TIDAK ADA HIJAB BAGI TUHAN.

    KUBURKAN UMNO-BN DALAM SETIAP DOAMU. HANCURKAN MEREKA DALAM RINTIHANMU. KUCAR-KACIRKAN PENTADBIRAN MEREKA DALAM RAYUANMU ! KEPADA TUHAN YANG MAHA BERKUASA.

    WAHAI PARA HAKIM ! JANGAN LUPA. HIDUP DAN MATIMU, DI TANGAN TUHAN YANG MAHA BERKUASA. ZALIM DIJANJIKAN CELAKA. ADIL, NIKMAT BUAT DIRIMU ! PILIH !

    WAHAI PEMIMPIN UMNO ! PUSARA KEANGKUHANMU SEDANG TERBUKA SERTA MENANTI. TERUS ZALIM, ANDA DIZALIMI OLEH TUHAN YANG MAHA AGONG. JANGAN ULANGI SEJARAH FIR’AUN LAKNATULLAH !

    SELAMATLAH KE ATASMU WAHAI SAUDARAKU ANWAR IBRAHIM. KAMI CINTA KEPADAMU.

    Reply

  5. 5 stiga robot Feb 1st, 2010 at 7:15 pm

    najib make things happen.dsai watch things happen.thats the story.

    Reply

  6. 6 Halik Zaman Feb 1st, 2010 at 10:55 pm

    (Maaf Dato Seri, Diluar Tajuk)

    PRU: PENIPUAN BOLEH DI LAKUKAN OLEH “ORANG DALAM”

    Dari Kacamata Halik Zaman:

    MENGIMBAU kembali tuduhan YB. Azmin Ali pada suatu ketika dulu bahawa arwah ayahandanya yang sudah kembali kerahmatullah, kini sudah berusia hampir 100 tahun pun boleh bangkit dari kubur untuk menjadi pengundi yang sah. Sebenarnya banyak perkara misteri begini sudah pernah terjadi. Di Tuaran pun begitu, Nenek perempuan Haji Ansari Abdullah yang sudah lama meninggal dunia pun bila PRU boleh turun mengundi. Ada pula orang kata di Sabah banyak undi undi hantu?

    Ada orang kata pengundi pengundi hantu itu adalah ‘undi pendatang’ yang sudah diberikan Mycard dan nama mereka sudahpun ada didalam electoral roll, andaian ini pun masih lagi di anggap meragukan kerana ada ruang lain yang lebih canggih dan boleh meyakinkan yang mungkin sudah dilakukan?

    Ketika kita menyemak kembali keputusan PRU12 yang lalu di Sabah, dalam amatan kita, ‘cuma andaian sahaja’ kalau pihak ‘penyelenggara’ nak menipu dalam PRU, mereka mampu untuk melakukannya. Kerana terlalu banyak ruang kesempatan yang boleh mereka lakukan sebab cara diselenggara PRU itu tidak nampakkan ketelusan, terlalu banyak loop hole yang boleh ditipu.

    Andaian kita begini, tidak kesemua calon pembangkang effisien dalam melaksanakan amanah mereka. Ada yang bersikap sambil lewa tanpa menitik beratkan sesuatu keadaan boleh berlaku diluar jangka. Ada kemungkinan silap mata@magic show dilakukan oleh “orang dalam” yang berlaku di hadapan mata pun tidak mereka sedari.

    Kita mengambil contoh begini, katakan pada satu kawasan, pengundi berdaftar berjumlah 16,000 orang, yang keluar mengundi cuma 10,000 orang pengundi. Katakanlah calon BN mendapat 8,000 undi dan calon pembangkang mendapat 6,000 undi. Jumlah undi keseluruhan ialah 14,000 orang turun mengundi. Persoalannya ialah, dari mana datangnya undi sebanyak 4,000 sedangkan hakikat asalnya pengundi yang turun mengikut perkiraan sebenar hanya 10,000 orang sahaja yang keluar mengundi? Dengan silap mata ia boleh menjadi 14,000 orang yang sudah turun mengundi?

    Waktu mengundi bermula dari jam 9.00 pagi sehingga jam 5.00 petang. Tepat jam 5.00 petang tempat-tempat pengundian di tutup dengan segera. Tidak mustahil di antara ruang masa jam 5.00 petang sehingga 6.00 petang itu segala kemungkinan bisa terjadi. Pegawai-pegawai khas ‘orang dalam’ akan bekerja ‘memangkah bagi pihak’ pengundi yang tidak turun mengundi? Cara begini boleh sahaja berlaku dipedalaman. Siapa tahu?

    Seperti kita katakan tadi, ini hanyalah cuma andaian. Bukan tuduhan. Katakan dari 16,000 orang pengundi berdaftar di satu kawasan. 6,000 orang pengundi tidak turun mengundi. Maka disinilah kesempatan MUNGKIN boleh di ambil oleh ‘pegawai-pegawai orang dalam’ untuk ‘memangkah bagi pihak’ dan katalah mereka memangkah untuk 4,000 undi untuk BN ia termasuk lah Nenek Haji Ansari Abdullah yang sudah lama meninggal dunia pun turut mengundi? Tidak mustahil kalau ada kerjasama ‘orang dalam’.

    Maka hasilnya amat lumayan, calon BN boleh mendapat 8,000 undi manakala calon pembangkang mendapat 6,000 undi. Ini bermakna 80% pengundi turun mengundi, walau hakikatnya cuma dalam 60% sahaja peratusan turun mengundi.

    Penyelewengan ini boleh di lakukan setelah agent-agent calon pilihanraya di arahkan pulang oleh Pengurus Pilihanrya setelah jam 5.00 petang. Maka KEMUNGKINAN kesempatan ini di pergunakan sepenuhnya oleh ‘pegawai-pegawai khas’ ini untuk ‘menunaikan tanggungjawab’ mereka dalam memberikan ‘kelebihan undi’ kepada calon pemerintah.

    Juga di fahamkan bahawa agent-agent calon tidak dibenarkan bersama-sama kertas undi dalam satu kereta yang membawa peti-peti undi ke dewan pengiraan. BERKEMUNGKINAN juga di kesempatan ini, ‘peti-peti undi yang dipangkah khas’ ini di masukkan bersama-sama peti-peti undi yang lain.

    Maka kebanyakan Pengurus Plihanraya dikawasan tersebut ‘enggan menandatangani’ borang yang menunjukkan para pengundi yang keluar mengundi di satu-satu kawasan pilihanraya. KEMUNGKINAN bagi mengelakkan ‘kertas-kertas undi khas’ di kenal pasti sebagai kertas undi “pengundi hantu orang dalaman”. Ia bukan lah undi pendatang?

    Kita berharap andaian ini tidak pernah terjadi, akan tetapi tidak mustahil ia MUNGKIN terjadi. Beberapa langkah kepastian harus di ambil demi memastikan sistem pilihanraya di negara ini berjalan dengan adil dan saksama.

    Langkah-langkah berikut boleh di ambil bagi mengelak kecurigaan kedua-dua belah pihak. Antaranya pertama, agent-agent calon di benarkan untuk terus berada bersama-sama peti undi dan bersama pegawai-pegawai SPR setelah tamat tempoh mengundi sehingga ketibaan ketempat pengiraan.

    Borang – borang pengundi yang keluar mengundi seharusnya di tandatangani oleh Pengurus Pilihanraya dan agen kedua dua calon setelah setiap pengundi melaksanakan tanggungjawab mereka.

    Kita berharap perkara diatas dapat di pertimbangkan sekiranya SPR benar-benar telus dan ikhlas melaksanakan amanah dan tanggungjawab mereka dengan jujur tanpa ada sikap prejudis terhadap calon pembangkang.

    Reply

  7. 7 Shatter Feb 1st, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2435994830351481210&hl=en#

    Dato Seri’

    Jangan mengalah, alang-alang celup pekasam biar sampai ke pangkal lengan.

    Reply

  8. 8 Shukri Mokhtar Feb 2nd, 2010 at 7:50 am

    Siapa DS Najib ? Dia ‘anak’ Dr.M. Dan Dr.M itu ‘kepala’ keluarga Umno-BN. Fitnah terhadap DS Anwar Ibrahim adalah ‘kerja gila’ kerana janji mahu mempertahankan seorang manusia yang ‘gila kuasa’. Anda tahu siap ‘petualang’ itu.

    Bila bapak jenis gila, anaknya jadi huru-hara ! Dan sibapa pula asyik memuji ‘anak angkatnya’ itu demi menjaga hati sorang manusia yang pernah mencemar mutu keadilan di Negara Malaysia. Ini pun anda kenal siapa ‘tukang karut’ itu !

    Rahsia ‘binatang makan menyambar’ tak boleh dimakan adalah kerana perbuatan tidak beradab dan tidak berperaturan yang wajib dijauhi. Maka, diharamkan memakan ‘helang’. Ntahlah, jika tuan-tuan besar dalam Umno yang mengaku Islam itu langusng tidak memperdulukan halal $ haram.

    Maka, Si Najib itu dibesarkan dan dikelilingi oleh ‘para samseng’ yang bertuhankan manusia keparat. Asal teragak mahu menyambar, langsug disambarnya. Maka, fitnah menjadi ‘gula-gula’ dalam setiap tekak mereka. Tapi, jangan lupa ! Terlalu banyak menelan gula-gula menjadi racun.

    Di sudut lain, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ‘menyanggah’ semua perbuatan khianat mereka. Dan mereka pun menabur fitnah bagi menutup kepincangan setiap diri manusia-manusia jenis ‘menyambar’ itu. Memang ! Sejak dahulu kala. Pemimpin yang berazam menentang kezaliman dan menegakkan keadilan tidak sunyi daripada penentangan manusia rakus. Tamak kepada dunia yang bakal ditinggalkan mereka.

    Namun, ‘kemanisan’ perjuangan setiap ‘Penegak Kebenaran’ menjadi rahsia melainkan mereka yang BERTAQWA !Oleh itu, saudara semua akan lihat. DS Anwar Ibrahim pasti tidak akan undur sebaliknya akan mara ke puncak jaya. INSYAALLAHU TAALA. Dan itulah tanda keyakinan insan kepada Tuhannya yang Maha Ghaib.

    Yang rakus dunia pasti menyokong Najib. Yang Cintakan Tuhan pasti memilih DATUK SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM.

    Reply

  9. 9 monsterball Feb 2nd, 2010 at 7:29 pm

    Najib is a compulsive liar.
    Anwar is a reformed freedom fighter.

    Reply

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