Can Umno be sincere in helping Kelantan?

It's cruel to conduct political horse trading in times of crisis, says Zaid Ibrahim.

PETALING JAYA: Umno, as the party dominating the Federal Government, has been urged to set aside political interests in helping Kelantan deal with the aftermath of the flood. It should not try to “seduce” PAS into giving political concessions just because the “time is opportune and the people need Umno’s money,” says Zaid Ibrahim in his latest blog entry.

He says PAS should be allowed to continue governing Kelantan until its current term ends although “it does not make sense to allow the party to rule for many more years” seeing that it “has not done much to build the state in economic terms” in its 24 years in power.

“In times of crisis it is especially cruel to conduct political horse-trading when what is required is a bipartisan approach to solving problems,” he writes. “That’s how the federal system works in other countries, but can Umno be civil, helpful and responsible for positive change while making no political capital from the flood disaster in Kelantan?”

Zaid, himself a Kelantanese, laments that the people of the state tend to choose “pious-looking men” as their leaders, saying it might be hard to deal with future calamities effectively if they continued to do so.

“Sometimes we also must pick leaders who care enough about the people in addition to those who care about God,” he says.

“People-oriented leaders will find ways to solve long-term economic problems as well as issues relating to flooding and the destruction of forests. Such leaders work towards social improvements and are able to protect both people and property.

“Managing a modern state or government is a complex process in the 21st century, and so Kelantanese must start looking for other qualities in their leaders besides the ability to lead in prayers.”

Responding to PAS leaders who have said that the flood is a sign of God’s wrath for the sins of the people or His test of the faith of believers, Zaid says, “I am inclined to believe that the floods are due primarily to global climatic changes. These changes have caused severe storms and heavy rain in many places and it would have been ‘miraculous’ for us to have been spared the floods, given that other countries such as China, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines have experienced worse disasters.”

He sees a “ray if light” in the unity shown by Malaysians of various races in their support for the flood victims.

“Despite political forces going in full throttle to divide and break up the unity of the people,” he writes, “our sense of oneness is still strong.

“We must do more to support one another and achieve a united country as one people—in spite of the politicians.”