Report cards
* Opinion
By TAY TIAN YAN
Translated by DOMINIC LOH
As the year draws to a conclusion, results of school examinations are released. So are the appraisals of company employees.
Those who perform well will get a promotion, and the poor performers will have to drop out and find their own way to survive.
Politicians should also be evaluated by the people.
The Merdeka Centre recently released a report showing the high approval rate of Prime Minister Najib at 69%, which pales slightly to his all-time high approval rate of 72% but considerably higher than his just-passing grade when he was still new in office.
If the government is equated to a classroom, then Najib is its monitor. How about the performances of the rest of the class?
Unfortunately the Merdeka Centre did not evaluate individual members of the Cabinet. That's why I have come up with this supplementary note based on my own judgement for your reference.
1. The most outstanding student: Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, whose outspoken character has made him a highly commendable albeit occasionally unwelcome figure. His grades fluctuate a lot, either too high or too low but never moderate.
That said, his performance this year has been particularly prominent, making him a clear leader among his fellow classmates.
He puts himself a Malaysian first and a Malay second, and has a crystal clear mind in establishing the national identity.
He hits out hard at Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia for their narrow-minded community thinking, and is equally harsh on arrogant religious radicals.
He has breathed a new lease of life into the class, allowing people to see national unity, religious harmony and universal values as noble objectives the class should pursue.
As the minister in the prime minister's department, he has successfully spearheaded a few truly progressive bills, including those on corruption prevention and judiciary reforms.
2. The most diligent student: Idris Jala, the new boy who has come up with a few impressive plans this year.
Rich in content and relatively innovative in design, these reports, by theory, should lift the standard of the class to that of an elite class. But whether his plans can be effectively implemented will very much depend on the concerted effort of the rest of the class.
Idris' exceptional performance has nevertheless drawn the jealousy and grumble of some classmates. Due to his poor tactics in winning the favour of other people, he is almost marginalised by his class. His claim that the country's fiscal deficits could bankrupt the coffers if not properly dealt with has at one time triggered aggressive backlash from within the class.
3. Most controversial student: Ahmad Zahid Hamidi whose statement on the refusal of non-Malays joining the military due to a lack of patriotism has created much havoc that could potentially shake the class' 1Malaysia slogan.
4. Most headache student: Kong Cho Ha, who as the person in charge of transport affairs has to face merciless public censures over a string of serious road accidents in the country.
As for the rest of the class, their performances have been so-so at best. They are generally accustomed to the stereotyped education and are rigid in thinking, passive and indolent.
They pay little attention in class, and would remain silent in class meetings. Some are not much better than the invisible, as not many are aware of what they have done throughout the year.
These are the people who have held back the overall performance of the class, and should be referred or just sent off straight away to make way for new students with bright prospects.
Sin Chew Daily
By TAY TIAN YAN
Translated by DOMINIC LOH
As the year draws to a conclusion, results of school examinations are released. So are the appraisals of company employees.
Those who perform well will get a promotion, and the poor performers will have to drop out and find their own way to survive.
Politicians should also be evaluated by the people.
The Merdeka Centre recently released a report showing the high approval rate of Prime Minister Najib at 69%, which pales slightly to his all-time high approval rate of 72% but considerably higher than his just-passing grade when he was still new in office.
If the government is equated to a classroom, then Najib is its monitor. How about the performances of the rest of the class?
Unfortunately the Merdeka Centre did not evaluate individual members of the Cabinet. That's why I have come up with this supplementary note based on my own judgement for your reference.
1. The most outstanding student: Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, whose outspoken character has made him a highly commendable albeit occasionally unwelcome figure. His grades fluctuate a lot, either too high or too low but never moderate.
That said, his performance this year has been particularly prominent, making him a clear leader among his fellow classmates.
He puts himself a Malaysian first and a Malay second, and has a crystal clear mind in establishing the national identity.
He hits out hard at Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia for their narrow-minded community thinking, and is equally harsh on arrogant religious radicals.
He has breathed a new lease of life into the class, allowing people to see national unity, religious harmony and universal values as noble objectives the class should pursue.
As the minister in the prime minister's department, he has successfully spearheaded a few truly progressive bills, including those on corruption prevention and judiciary reforms.
2. The most diligent student: Idris Jala, the new boy who has come up with a few impressive plans this year.
Rich in content and relatively innovative in design, these reports, by theory, should lift the standard of the class to that of an elite class. But whether his plans can be effectively implemented will very much depend on the concerted effort of the rest of the class.
Idris' exceptional performance has nevertheless drawn the jealousy and grumble of some classmates. Due to his poor tactics in winning the favour of other people, he is almost marginalised by his class. His claim that the country's fiscal deficits could bankrupt the coffers if not properly dealt with has at one time triggered aggressive backlash from within the class.
3. Most controversial student: Ahmad Zahid Hamidi whose statement on the refusal of non-Malays joining the military due to a lack of patriotism has created much havoc that could potentially shake the class' 1Malaysia slogan.
4. Most headache student: Kong Cho Ha, who as the person in charge of transport affairs has to face merciless public censures over a string of serious road accidents in the country.
As for the rest of the class, their performances have been so-so at best. They are generally accustomed to the stereotyped education and are rigid in thinking, passive and indolent.
They pay little attention in class, and would remain silent in class meetings. Some are not much better than the invisible, as not many are aware of what they have done throughout the year.
These are the people who have held back the overall performance of the class, and should be referred or just sent off straight away to make way for new students with bright prospects.
Sin Chew Daily
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