Restoration of public confidence in existing institution needed

KUALA LUMPUR:There is a need to restore public confidence in the existing institution as there are attempts to twist the public mindset in achieving certain interests above others.

Negri Sembilan Prince Tunku Zain Al-'Abidin Ibni Tuanku Muhriz said the first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman had made it clear of what sort of country the founding fathers envisioned, yet Malaysia has now strayed away from that.

"Although the first Agong and the first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman had said it over and over, but the institution is deliberately lost…it is lost due to the works of the 'architects' of our education system," Tuanku Zain said during a forum held at UCSI University here.

Tuanku Zain, who is also the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) president, added that the public needed good knowledge in history and rediscover shared narratives, as well as empowerment among the citizens in order to restore the public's confidence in the existing institution.

"It requires citizens who would rise and empower each other in a national project of rehabilitation,"

"It requires people from all sorts of professions...lawyers and politicians, bureaucrats and activists, doctors and engineers, accountants and teachers, farmers and fishermen. It even needs people to interpret and exhibit the thoughts of the nation...philosophers and musicians, artists and poets, actors and dancers.

"And all these professions come through people in various ethnicities, religious affiliations, genders, age groups and states," he said.

Tuanku Zain added that to empower the society, the nation needs to have a mature democratic society, especially during uncertain times.

"It is essential to those in power to show the right kind of leadership," he said.

"Leadership that respects the limits established by the constitution and relevant laws, leadership that understands that different institutions have specified roles, leadership that shows courage in the face of threats to those legitimate roles, and leadership that comes hand in hand with empowerment."

He said there is no point in empowering people, just to gain power.
"Power without responsibility, without limits, without being respectful to the rules of law is irresponsible and destructive," he said.