Let’s not idolise political leaders, Anwar included

By Francis Paul Siah

In recent months, I’ve written at length on politics and political leadership in the country. I feel compelled to touch on the same subject again this week ahead of the Jan 9 Sodomy II court decision involving Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Previously, I’ve also stressed that we, Malaysians, should wise up and stop hero-worshipping political leaders. Why! I feel that there are no politicians in the country today worthy of such servile flattery. No, there are no Mahatma Gandhi(s) or Nelson Mandela(s) here. I wish to repeat that again.

Ha, do you know that idolizing others can also be bad for your health? The British Psychological Society says Idolising rock stars can harm your health.

Revering famous actors, supermodels, footballers from childhood into adulthood, increases your chance of psychological problems, eating disorders and problems forming relationships, according to the society.

Now, I don’t know whether idolizing political leaders can be harmful to our health. But I dare say that it can be harmful to the political health of the nation.

It is true that those who idolize or hero-worship political leaders are mostly party members or followers of the politicians. They hang around their party bosses because they have personal interests to protect.

All of us have egos but politicians, particularly those holding public office, have bigger egos – so big and heavy that they are incapable of carrying it at times. Of course, they will be delighted if their party cadres and others continue to polish their ego – who wouldn’t? We would too.

My worry here is that once those wielding some power are put on such a high pedestal, they tend to think that they are somewhat invincible and can do what they like.

In order to continue winning the adulation and affection of their followers, they will likely go overboard and do the wrong thing - abuse their power.

Elected representatives in Malaysia are paid pittance. We all know that even the salary of the Prime Minister is less than the CEO of a public listed corporation. Most elected legislators, whether from the government or opposition camp, do find it difficult to get by with their allowances.

You need money, and lots of it, to get re-elected and stay in power. And if you are crazy about being hero-worshipped, you will probably need more money to buy this personal glory you crave for. In politics, money can buy almost anything. This is sad but true.

This is when moral decadence creeps in and this is what hurts the political health of the nation most. Powerful politicians who are corrupt have no morals. So too are accomplices to corrupt practices.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had conceded that corruption existed along the corridors of power but he also explained that it had not spiraled out of control during his tenure. We can take that with a grain of salt.

Politically, so many things are happening in the country today. It is unfortunate that the negatives almost always tend to hog the limelight while the positive vibes are not felt or hardly talked about.

Now, let me move on to Anwar Ibrahim. The Opposition Leader is an enigma. I don’t think I’m way off to describe Anwar as the Malaysian political leader with the largest following of hero-worshippers.

You only have to read the postings online about how his followers idolize him. There are thousands in the many blogs and web-sites. I’m quite amazed by the daily dosage of praise and adulation for Anwar. This man can garner public support in a way no other opposition politicians in the country have been able to do so. We have to give credit to Anwar for that.

Events over the past 10 days leading up to the Jan 9 verdict of Anwar’s Sodomy II case have been interesting but as I’ve pointed out, they have been negative or made out to be negative.

What was really disturbing was fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin’s (RPK) attacks on Anwar’s character and personality. Among other things, he declared that Anwar was not fit to be Prime Minister and that he ‘may be’ gay.

RPK also said that Malaysians should not vote for his one-time ally because his statistical insight reveals a 90 percent probability that Anwar is guilty.

Now, RPK is also a man who is not short of followers. Although he is not a politician, he has earned wide respect and admiration from near and far for some ‘explosive’ revelations in the past. His web-site, Malaysia Today, is the nation’s most read online portal for a long time. His rise to fame was made possible through his popular blog.

I think RPK was a bit way off to criticise Anwar as he did. His statements have been confusing. In one breath, he declared his support for the opposition. In another, he slammed the Opposition Leader in a way which is possibly highly defamatory too. No wonder, people are ridiculing RPK. Perhaps, he deserves it.

But RPK is RPK. This man speaks his mind. He says what he likes, rightly or wrongly, and isn’t worried about the repercussions. This is the character of the man and love him or loath him, we must credit him for his courage in going against the powerful establishment.

However, I agree with RPK on one thing – that Malaysians, especially supporters of Pakatan Rakyat, must look beyond Anwar.

This struggle for democratic reforms and a better government is not only about Anwar Ibrahim. It’s about you and me and our fellow Malaysians. The show must go on, with or without Anwar.

PKR is again spearheading a ‘Free Anwar’ campaign which will begin with a rally on Jan 9 outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court where the verdict will be handed down.

Whether we agree with the demonstration in support of Anwar or not, let us respect PKR’s right to organise a peaceful assembly.

However, let me say that I don’t think it is generally beneficial to the public at large nor for the image of the country if we organise too may public protests or rallies, particularly those of a political nature.

Call me up to attend a rally for peace, justice and reform for the betterment of my country and my fellow Malaysians and I will be there. But I will have second thought about joining a rally for the sake of one man.

Unlike others, I do not hero-worship or idolise Anwar Ibrahim or any politician in the country. I don’t think we should.

Let us grow up and be more mature politically. The onus is for all of us who love this land of ours to help get rid of bad leaders and bad governments. It does not matter which side of the political fence they are from.

Here I am reminded of the wise words of John Adams, the second US President, who warned his fellow Americans against treating fallible men as faultless idols.

In his retirement, he denounced the tendency to make demigods of men like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and, in true Puritan fashion, called for a second Reformation to wash away such idolatry.

So my parting message here is this – Malaysia should never be a nation of idolators.