WHEN I was researching Singapore and its success, I came across an article on the confrontation between Lee Kuan Yew and the SIA pilots Association (SIAPA) which happened in the 1980s. The association had grievances over pay and working conditions, and initiated an unofficial work-to-rule policy, which means employees will only do the bare minimum required by their rules of their contract. Due to the unresolved situation, Lee stepped in to rein in the crisis. 

What happened later has become common knowledge, and whether the actions by his government were just is debatable, which is not the intention of this article.

What inspired me most about Lee was his resolve in giving the ultimatum to the pilots’ association to go back to work and restore discipline and then come back and argue their case. He was not willing to be hijacked by behaviour that could be detrimental to the operations and standards of the airline.

Lee told the pilots that if they persisted with their behaviour, he does not mind grounding the airline and restarting it without them. The pilots ultimately agreed to comply. They did it because the man they were dealing with was of integrity and iron will, besides having a strong mandate from Singaporeans.

In his subsequent speech to the public he brought up the issue and said that those who govern Singapore should have this iron will. It showed a man who was willing to start over again because of his principles against behaviour that could break up a national asset that took years to build. How can we distinguish a leader like Lee, who has resolve and principles, with politicians in this country?

We are seeing a number of recordings and pictures being leaked in the course of Bersatu’s civil war. We see pictures of how those charged with corruption and who’s party lost in the 14th general election is seated with the prime minister at the time in their complot to bring down the Pakatan Harapan government. One wonders if former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sincere in keeping his promises and had the iron will to remain in Pakatan Harapan coalition, why are these traitors in his residence?

Then there are current PH leaders who are working towards at least getting 129 MPs to their side. The question is will there be reverse jumping of political frogs who might not be happy that they did not get government-linked company or ministerial positions? Or have some of them become born against politicians? If these MPs rejoin PH, what is the guarantee they will stay till the next general election and after?

What is clearly understood in the current political turmoil is the lack of leaders with the iron will to break from the past and start again to build a new culture of politics where the people’s mandate matters. 

Currently the Bersatu civil war and the type of governance we see in the Perikatan Nasional is all about self-interest of certain MPs, which reveals a deep-seated corrupted system of governance where people could be bought over by positions. 

Malaysian leaders should learn from the former Singaporean leader who was willing start all over again to safeguard what is right and legitimate.  Do PN and PH have such iron will? Certainly not. They are just  manoeuvring  to regain what was lost. – May 31, 2020.

* Ronald Benjamin reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.