WE all know idiots well.

In some cultures, like American culture, it’s considered rude to use the word to describe a person. But I mean it exactly as its popular meaning. In UK culture, meanwhile, “bloody” is acceptable to use, but not so in the US.

There is also another meaning when “idiot” is used as a basis in the word “idiocracy”, defined by Merriam-Webster as “a form of government in which a country or territory is run by fools”. The example sentence given is: some democracies can turn into idiocracies depending on the election results.

An idiot is defined as “a stupid person”. A more positive concept is “idiot savant”, defined as “a person who has a mental disability or learning difficulties, but is extremely gifted in a particular way, such as the performing of feats of memory or calculation”, or “a person who is extremely unworldly, but displays natural wisdom and insight”.

Idiocratic leaders exist in all forms and callings, and worldwide.

CNN recently introduced a term I like a lot, which is “scientific leadership”, meaning a leadership defined by the knowledge of modern science. The alternative is a leadership defined merely by emotion or belief, as is the case in most underdeveloped countries, which are usually also non-scientific societies.

Malaysian leadership challenge

A democratically elected government has fallen in an undemocratic move by a two-man team of traitors. That team is now running the country with equally non-partisan new members after engineering a backdoor coup. It is a coup by robbers and thieves.

Malaysians Version 2.0 are not going to tolerate the abuse of our good and slowly maturing democracy. That is my conviction, and therefore, my concern. It is about good and functional public morality; about what is good, right and true for society.

The coronavirus pandemic is unveiling all kinds of fears and uncertainties. It falls upon ordinary citizens, whom I call “moderate, middle Merdeka Malaysians” (4M), to make our voices heard in this period of uncertainty.

Recently, theSun carried a headline that screamed “Third Choice”. I agree that the choice for Rakyat Malaysia is “A Third Form of Voice,” which is different from the two others.

Some of us non-governmental individuals (NGIs) have elected to form “The Other Voice” (TOV). We try to voice out the third choice. Our goal is to think of new ways to make our democracy mature in our lifetime. The majority of us are 4M and born after August 31, 1957.

We are moderate in our views and values, and do not classify ourselves as liberals in the religious sense but in the philosophical sense, as we believe in a free and independent basis for human choices in all life matters, and not just once every five years during the elections.

Time for TOV

I used to work for Rafidah Aziz, and she was one of the best ministers to work for/with, even if every once in a while, her leadership style was a great philosophical challenge. Nevertheless, we had a very good leadership team at the International Trade and Industry Ministry.

My immediate boss was one of the smartest Royal Military College boys (if ever there was one!). He completed his PhD in economics at American University in Washington D.C. in less than four years. He was also one of the bright sparks in the Economic Planning Unit of the former government.

His first instruction to me was, “You work hard, and my job is to work smart”. I understand the full implications only today. And I was able to excel, too!

TOV, our NGI group, is trying to do both: work smart and hard. We are innovating a kind of tech application that will allow any responsible and accountable Malaysian to transform our beloved nation into a mature, fully sustainable and democratic Malaysia Version 2.0. – March 16, 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.