O Ye Hypocrites Listen To Sultan Nazrin

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No, we do not need a PhD – the kind espoused by Umno’s Ahmad Maslan – to understand that hypocrisy is also arrogance and tyranny posing as righteousness.
I believe that most of us don’t just hate hypocrisy because of the contradiction from saying one thing and doing another. That can be annoying. I think what is most irritating about hypocrisy is the arrogance behind it for it brings hypocrisy to a new abhorrent level.
We see hypocrites and hypocrisy everywhere. As long as we are human and if I may add, not mentally handicapped, there is hypocrisy in all of us. It’s only the level of hypocrisy and the extent of hurt or harm inflicted on others as a result of this evil deed, intentionally or otherwise.
Surely, we must have come across people who are very ‘professional’ in giving life advice when their own is a total train wreck. There are those who talk endlessly of compassion, but they are intolerant of anyone who disagrees with them. People also scream and rant about justice, but if someone they dislike is denied justice, they will turn a blind eye.
I noted with glee the recent message from Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah on the subject of evil and hypocrisy. I am taking a cue from the sultan with this article.
On Jan 12, he reminded Muslims not to give their trust or hand over responsibilities to those with an evil and hypocritical image, with low morality, tainted by corruption and abuse of power, as well as are untrustworthy and insincere.
That’s quite a mouthful from the sultan. Among the royalty, Sultan Nazrin has stood out as very outspoken and has often delivered hard-hitting messages to his listeners.
I am sure the sultan had done his homework and must have received plenty of feedback before he unleashed yet another no-nonsense reminder to politicians a week ago.
Now, my all-important question. Why is it that none of the Malay politicians, clearly the target of Sultan Nazrin’s reminder, followed up on the sultan’s message?
The eerie silence is conspicuous. No one commented. Is it because what the sultan said strikes at the very core of their guilty conscience? Surely, all of them are very much aware of what the sultan said couldn’t be further from the truth. They just refuse to acknowledge their past sins, faults and wrongdoings.
This is the same Malay crowd who would be shouting at the top of their lungs to protect with their lives the 3Rs – race, religion and royalty.
But when a royalty, in this case the Perak Sultan, told them off, they would not utter even a squeak. Being unwilling or unprepared to concede that we have done wrong is a sin in any religion. But no, they were just too proud to admit guilt probably for fear of losing the support of their constituents.
They are also quick to choose when to show loyalty to royalty, as and when it suits them politically. For example, when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong recently suggested that Budget 2021 should be allowed to pass, all of them invoked the king’s name in Parliament, turning a suggestion into a decree. What sort of behaviour is this? Isn’t that arrogance and tyranny posing as righteousness?
With Sultan Nazrin’s important message, the silence is deafening. That is what I would describe as the action of first-class hypocrites.

Ahmad Maslan
By the way, in case Ahmad Maslan is unaware, Sultan Nazrin has a PhD in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. So, shouldn’t Ahmad quickly tell his Umno colleagues that Sultan Nazrin must surely understand what he is talking about, just as those with PhD would understand the need for an election now (as Ahmad has stated)?
Let me say this for a fact too. It is unfair to blame only Muslim politicians for being corrupt and abuse their power. I think that Sultan Nazrin’s reminder should similarly apply to politicians of other faiths as well.
I am a Christian, and I will not be hypocritical and shelter those of my own faith. There are also Christian politicians who are equally greedy and corrupt, including some from my homeland, Sarawak.
Where are those Sarawak ministers and lawmakers now who had promised to struggle for their downtrodden community when they first stood for election? Most are now living a good life, either in Kuala Lumpur or overseas, while the majority of their own race are still trapped in where they were three decades ago.
A year or so ago, we heard of a Christian minister allegedly building a RM20 million palatial home in Kuching. If true, how did he afford it? And why the need to display ill-gotten wealth in just fashion?
I am just scraping the surface here of the misdeeds of Sarawak politicians. I have not mentioned Malaysia’s biggest thief who is a Sarawakian for quite a while now.
So, Muslims or Christians or others, let me tell you this. When you get into trouble with your mischiefs or misdeeds in politics, do not insult your Maker by invoking His holy name with the typical over-used “God is my judge”.
Live and work with your conscience, and you will not be branded a hypocrite.
It will also do you good to constantly bear in mind Sultan Nazrin’s important message.

FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is the author of ‘Hijack in Malaysia: The Fall of Pakatan Harapan’. Obtain autographed copies from [email protected]. - Mkini


The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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