Can the Bugis warrior now scale the high seas and survive even deeper undercurrents? – J.D. Lovrenciear

The Bugis warrior prime minister of Malaysia has chosen loyalists over smart people to be his new oarsmen. Will his battleship continue to fare the high seas and survive the under currents within Umno, MCA, MIC and the opposition block and, if so, for how long?

Before the newly-appointed Multimedia and Communication minister hollers "biadap" and the new deputy prime minister throws up his fist for calling his boss "Bugis Warrior", the Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, you are assured that there is no disrespect alluded here by naming you as “Bugis Warrior”. It was a term you yourself used to drive home the point that your enemies will not destroy you.

The Prime Minister, just days after the shocking announcement of his new line-up of Cabinet members, that also saw the unceremonious sacking of veteran Umno leaders, has publicly declared that he prefers “loyalists to smart” people in his Cabinet.

That for starters is an insult to the newly-appointed Cabinet members. It implies that you are a bunch of not-so-smart individuals after all. Now, how will you defend that, is left to be seen.

Next, overwhelmed by a sea of some 50,000 crowd in Malacca, Najib announces on the spot a whooping multi-million ringgit allocation to help develop Malacca. He will table this decision to his new Cabinet and they being loyalists to the letter will not object.

Here again the Bugis warrior has set a precedent with a deep seated message. If you support me and stay by me, I will give you all the help and money you need. Otherwise... probably the same fate that befell Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and others will be our fate, or worse?

Meanwhile, the deputy prime minister in demonstrating his sense of loyalty to his Bugis warrior captain, has upped the notch in threatening the media. There will be no more warnings, just action, if they are not loyal in their reporting, presumably.

And if that is not enough, another of the Bugis warship’s oarsman has threatened that the social media will be whipped to ensure the safety and security of the country.

Wonder how that is going to happen when even Communist China is finding it almost impossible to put the lid on social media.

Of course, not to be left out from being seen as absolute loyalists to the Bugis warrior, another Umno leader announces a RM10 reward (or is it an incentive or inducement?) to those registering in the federal territory as new Umno members.

For a mere RM10, would there be people willing to trade their soul to display loyalty? If there are – and in significant numbers – then God bless Malaysia.

And then there was another, probably in order not to be overlooked by the Bugis warrior, screamed that Umno does not need its Barisan Nasional partners and can sail the seas better without MCA, Gerakan and MIC.

Indeed, while the cradle of Umno (Johore) weeps, others are clamouring to sail with the Bugis warrior with loud, deafening pledges of loyalty. After all, as the Bugis warrior captain qualified, being smart and savvy or brilliant in mind and character is not a priority for the prime minister.

But perhaps we need to better understand loyalty. Loyalty is not about being stupid or smart. Loyalty is about trust. The cornerstone of trust is ethics.

A leader, as poignantly stated by the Johor Crown Prince, builds leaders and not create more followers.

Hence, loyalty is garnered by winning the trust of the people and taking pains to head hunt smart people who have the credibility and track record to build on the much needed trust that the Bugis warrior is battling for.

Laws, threats, promotions, monetary rewards and protection cannot help any ship to sail safe for long.

* J.D. Lovrenciear reads The Malaysian Insider