POLITICS is very much the flavour of the month still, almost two months after the life-changing general election. With the World Cup entering its final phases in Russia, and with Hari Raya Aidilfiti reaching its last week, politics is still a hot topic.
Newly-minted ministers, members of parliament (MPs) and state assemblymen have been busy crisscrossing the country attending open houses and visiting constituents. I bumped into one at an open house last week.
He was introduced by the host to other visitors, some of whom wasted no time asking for appointments to bring up their grievances.
“Saya akan buka pusat khidmat sikit hari lagi (I’m opening my service centre in a few days’ time),” said the YB, sounding a bit irritated with those asking for appointments.
This particular state assemblyman finally won a seat after two previous failed attempts. Surely you can’t be irritated with such requests, I whispered to him. It’s talk like this that makes me want to follow him on his rounds — just to make sure that he walks the talk!
Quite a number of first-time wakil rakyat have been making the rounds, thanking their constituents for their votes.
A few who failed also went around thanking their supporters. This is quite good, I thought.
Of the new ministers, a few hit the ground running immediately after they were appointed.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke was one. He’s been quite busy trying to get a good understanding of the tasks before him.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik paid a surprise visit to a school last week, grabbing everyone’s attention. And he’s been making a few statements as well. Many eyes are on him and Loke, apart from Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu.
Mohamad is perhaps the most followed, partly because of his friendly nature and his down- to-earth personality. Many people meet him when he drops by at his favourite food stall for mutton curry and teh tarik. Things like this make a good small talk and gossip. They bring a smile to many faces.
The past two months may still be regarded as a “honeymoon” period for those voted into power.
In the next few weeks, these social engagements will still evoke smiles with requests to have their photographs taken.
After that, things may take a different turn. To many people, seeing ministers at the teh tarik and street stalls may be a novelty for a while. Once the novelty wears off, people will start demanding results.
It is good for ministers to visit agencies under their ministries. Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo, for instance, visited Bernama recently to get a first-hand brief of the national news agency’s operations, problems and potential.
Last week, more ministers were appointed to the cabinet. Between a 26-year-old young man and a 92-year-old grandfather lies our country’s directions amid a world that’s fast changing.
Between Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (who asked to be called bro, remember?) and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, our nation embarks on its onward journey.
Dr Mahathir is the most experienced of the lot, of course. There’s also Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the home minister, who started his public office under Dr Mahathir during the latter’s first time as prime minister in the 1980s.
The first-timers have no real cabinet experience, having been members of the opposition all this while. They are on a short and fast learning curve, with little room or allowance for errors. I would suggest they stay focused on the task at hand, or else they may find their stint as minister short-lived and unrewarding.
I know one minister who is grappling with the new job. The minister had one public event that turned disastrous, and has since not ventured out, fearing another disaster!
Holding public office is no laughing matter. If you can’t handle the job, don’t accept it in the first place. I’m sure they will adapt well, but they must do it quickly and effectively.
At the states, menteris besar are being watched too. They have more direct dealings with the rakyat. They will be compared with their predecessors, some of whom may have been in power for more than one or two terms.
Selangor and Perak have young menteris besar. Much is expected of them. Amirudin Shari, the state assemblyman for Sungai Tua, has taken over from Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as Selangor MB. Azmin has moved to assume the post of economic affairs minister.
In Perak, Ahmad Faizal Azumu, widely known as Peja during his days as an activist with a couple of non-governmental organisations, is the wakil rakyat for Chenderiang. His predecessor was Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir from Barisan Nasional.
Old political hands said these first-timers are bound to make mistakes. Early mistakes may be forgiven. But if they make too many too often, they may prove to be costly.
Today’s voters are more discerning than before, mind you. Their tolerance threshold may not be too high. And we may see more one-term YBs in the near future.
Pakatan Harapan YBs, our eyes are on you. You have Dr Mahathir as your captain. Give him solutions; don’t give him problems.
One party stalwart posted on his Facebook page that a YB didn’t respond to messages on the latter’s mobile phone. This may seem a small matter, and the YB may be extremely busy.
But if you make this into a habit, you may end up with fewer friends helping you when you go to the polls again in five years’ time. Wake up, YBs!
ahmadt51@gmail.com
Twitter: @aatpahitmanis
The writer is chairman of Yayasan Salam Malaysia
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