I DEFINE “idiocrats” as public officials who use emotion, not reason, to determine what is good, right and true. Logic is what usually defines reason.

The rule-of-law principle was reasserted after the 2018 general election, and directly linked to what Rakyat Malaysia (RM) voted for. The Pakatan Harapan government merely translated it.

And, it had very little to do directly with our elected representatives, but more so the leadership of the government of the day. RM were fed up and wanted real and meaningful change.

The people kicked out a corrupt government by voting for radical and transformative change, regardless of who the particular actors were.

The Batu seat fell vacant when a misguided election commissioner barred the former MP’s nomination. A later court decision established that truth. The direct beneficiary of that grave error is now the youngest member of the Dewan Rakyat.

To me, P. Prabakaran is not a hero per se, but simply a guy who was in the right place at the right time. Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, was cheated, sadly. But luckily for the newcomer, he was elected by RM, who were driven by their desire for change. Prabakaran went on to collaborate with the PH government.

This column is not to argue whether he was right or wrong to visit his constituents who are under the enhanced movement-control order (EMCO). The greater question is, what is good governance? Are MPs aware of the problems and concerns of the communities they represent?

How can they know these matters if they don’t at least visit the hotspots? Who else should listen to residents’ complaints? Who really cares about them?

Community governance

How is our administration governed at the lowest level of community? How do constituents’ issues get resolved, especially when a lockdown is in place?

To answer these questions, I highlight the following words, which are used very specifically in our national governance:

* Governance;

* Management; and,

* Administration.

Jurisdictional governance is the 360° monitoring and evaluation of how management and administrators do their work. The executive oversees this governance.

Management is the deployment of all resources, including the workforce, within one’s jurisdiction, for the benefit of the community. This includes all specialised governance-related authority.

Administration, meanwhile, is the application of and compliance with the rules and regulations within the community, consistent with our rule-of-law principle. The administrators of all jurisdictions must use their wisdom in the application of their authority.

It is also the legal administration of any nation state, complete with the different legislative, executive and judicial due processes.

Therefore, community governance is the rule of law for administrative authorities in all three branches of government, applied in compliance with the federal constitution and the related rules and by-laws.

Case story

Early this week, Prabakaran got permission from district police to visit Taman Sri Murni residents in Selayang, where the EMCO has been imposed. At the operations centre – where the deputy Federal Territories minister was present – the lawmaker registered his concerns, but after a miscommunication, he was asked to leave.

He then went to the police station to lodge a report on the matter. He was not arrested. Only three news portals appear to have covered both sides of the incident.

Is it good, right and true when an MP demonstrates care and concern for his constituents, especially when there is a requisite need to be concerned, such as a lack of food?

My answers are simple:

* Police have to monitor and enforce the law in EMCO areas. But are they aware that it is the district health office that defines and determines the existence of a medical or related crisis there?

* The Covid-19 red zone is a category defined by the Health Ministry, based on its readings. It is a federal matter under a law specifying movement controls.

* The deputy FT minister has some jurisdiction, if and when such laws provide for a clear role and responsibility. Was it so in this particular case?

* Prabakaran is the elected representative of the constituency in which the “misunderstanding” took place between the two players.

This episode begs the question, who is the right person to be concerned about public issues within this specific community?

The MP, not the deputy minister, was voted in by constituents to look after the area. Therefore, it is Prabakaran’s responsibility to understand and resolve residents’ complaints.

The deputy minister does have some jurisdictional responsibility. He can be at the operations centre, but can’t behave as if he heads the process. That is the role of the district officer or their deputy.

If our Malaysian politicos were not so emotional, we might be able to build and grow our political “infostructure” for agreeing to disagree within an agreeable framework.

In this new governance model, players know how to assume their formal roles without degenerating into idiocrats, ensuring that their ego and emotions do not reign supreme, and the citizens are properly served.

May God bless Malaysia through the MCO period! – April 26, 2020.

* KJ John worked in public service for 32 years, retired, and started a civil group for which he is chairman of the board. He writes to inform and educate, arguing for integration with integrity in Malaysia. He believes such a transformation has to start with the mind before it sinks into the heart!

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.