Watching and learning communiques of nation leaders in times of crisis is exciting. We learn and analyse the message, but most important to understand the leadership perspectives of a leader.
In times of COVID-19, I compare communiques of some political and civil servants persona. Based on Dr. Mahathir Mohamed’s interview with foreign journalist (Bloomberg, April 10th), I observe the following:
- Shared Responsibility V Blaming Game.
It is a populist move to channel blame to others and highlight one’s personal credit. We are creating a society of blaming (unconsciously) and not identify the common denominator within. We understand that blaming its part of political mechanics to divert the attention of the mass to the core problem.
However, in times of crisis, blaming game is detrimental for the country’s mission to heal. Instead, shared responsibility does. It is a very humbling (and rewarding too) experience to listen national appearances of Tan Sri Muhyiddin. The speech identifies every stakeholders/citizens of the country, highlight the roles each of citizens. Everyone feels belonging, and no one is left behind or unimportant when the country is facing crisis.
- Politics of Hope and Assurance V Politics of Pessimism.
Politically (as suggested by Dr.MM), this is not the best time to rule as government. The nation is facing serious health and economic crises, which involves death and retrenchment, recession in the months to come. DrMM states all indicators which explain a negative trajectory of the country. This is a reality-check for us all.
While facts will never lie, our spirit and resilience as a nation should not be based on facts alone. Our conscience has to be bigger than numbers and data – that is hope and assurance. In times of crisis, Malaysians (and citizens of the world) need politics of hope, not politics of pessimism. Our morale needs to be boosted, not to be worried with surroundings. A Malay written WA message is being circulating around that, TSMY might not be the best PM, but he is the one that we all need at the moment. He comes with personality of assuring, calming, and motivating the mass. In times where monetary and job cant replace health and happiness, his presence is very much felt.
- COVID-19: Disrupting V Re-setting.
Dr.MM says COVID-19 is disruptive. Disruptions mean, every order and system we have created, is disrupted (and destroyed). Dr.MM points our rightly that tourism and petroleum industry are disrupted to its core, which undermine the survival of local firms and country’s revenue.
We believe that COVID-19 resets the world. It halts the economic and world order temporarily, but it does not end human civilisation. This is the time every economist studies inequality, firms monopoly, nepotism, gender discrimination in the economic system. Hopefully, it is resetting for something better, for a better access to all. No doubt, old tactics die, new strategies emerge. That is in fact normal. From crowd-based buying groceries to online delivery, I think, is just a new phase of civilisational adaptation. It does not destroy economic fundamentals.
I surrender to the fact, my points serves for idealistic purposes. Being ideal and fantasised with ideas is not what we should all do. I agree we should not romanticise COVID-19. We acknowledge what it has caused us, but the way we are reacting defines our success in becoming a resilience community. This article intends to explore hidden opportunities behind complexities, to see things in a bigger picture, and to highlight a greater role of ourselves in the months to come.
