Does Govt Have An Image Deficit

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Just when you think that is all that everything is winding down, and… wait a minute! When has it ever wound down? Headline after headline continues to appear in the news, which just shows an image deficit for the current government.
It’s really small things here and there, but as they start to accumulate, it can get pretty significant. However, lately, the small things are becoming quite big.
The latest headlines made me think that our armed forces are getting into logistics now. Talk about diversification! The case with our Defence Ministry and how some officials there have been implicated in an investigation by the MACC really has played a nice number in the confidence we have in our authorities.
I mean, reading about military personnel allegedly involved in shady deals - can you blame me?
Then you have the case of the Sabah whistleblower. It would seem like it’s a clear-cut case with so much evidence being thrown out in the public sphere, mostly in video and audio form.
But investigations have been pretty slow so far, and there is also the debate of whether the whistleblower should or should not be implicated in the charges, all of which means that even the recent amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act seem to be lacking in certain ways.
About Zara
And finally, we get to the Zara Qairina Mahathir bully case. This one, you have to admit, is not a laughing matter, but the response so far from the authorities has been quite a joke.
A tragic incident where a child lost her life, and what follows? Outrage on social media and an extremely slow response from the authorities (initially, there wasn’t even a response!).
Zara Qairina MahathirIt is a clear reminder of how a system that’s supposed to run on compassion and logic often needs a good and hard shove from public pressure to even start moving.
This shows how important it is for the public to always be vigilant of how the government administers things, and if anything isn’t up to par, that’s when we have to make noise and make sure they do the right thing.
That being said, it shows that the system isn’t a proactive one - it’s reactive. It moves not because it’s the right thing to do, but because the people are getting restless.
And that may not be a sign of a strong, empathetic government. It’s a sign of one who’s just trying to survive and, every once in a while, appease the people.
Problematic narrative
When you put these three cases together (and whatever more you can find in the news), you start to see a theme. It’s not just a problem with a single ministry or a single policy. It’s a problem with the entire narrative.
I want to say that the government has lost the plot, but maybe it isn’t necessarily so. They just need to be more on the ball and understand that they are to serve the people in a much more efficient way.
These days, things are precarious for political parties and governments. Malaysians have shown that they have the power to change the administration if they feel there is a need for it. So it is very important that they have and can hold the trust of the people.
This is quite difficult to achieve when the plot twists involve corruption and a painfully slow response to tragedy.
At the moment, the people’s trust, or at least the image that they have of the current government, is more like scepticism or even weary resignation. This positive image deficit isn’t something that can be fixed with a well-sounding speech from a good orator, or a new slogan or campaign.
What needs to happen is quick and efficient action. That will be the only way to convince the people and change their perception.
It’s a fundamental issue of character, of a government that needs to remember its role in this country. What’s needed now is not more talk, but quick and efficient action.
The government must understand that its credibility now hinges on its ability to deliver what the people want and deserve. That is the only way to genuinely win back the people's confidence. - Mkini
ZAN AZLEE is a writer, documentary filmmaker, journalist and academic. Visit fatbidin.com to view his work.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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