A different set of rules — Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

I don’t know Rohaizat Othman. He may be a fine upstanding citizen. However, his public record of dishonesty would long ago have disqualified him from being a candidate for public office in any normal political party.

Is Umno so short of people that we have to find a lawyer disbarred for financial dishonesty to stand? Has financial misconduct become so common among us that we no longer see it as a factor in a candidate’s suitability? The party leaders who select and screen candidates must have known of this impediment but considered financial misconduct a trivial matter.

Honesty is a minimal condition for public office. Whatever the other virtues of the candidate, he should not be considered if he fails this test. The candidates we field for election must have a clean record because we are asking the public to place their confidence in him as their leader, and democratic government breaks down without public confidence. We are also saying this candidate represents us. I’m sad to have to say such obvious things.

By fielding a disbarred lawyer, today’s Umno is projecting the image that it lives by a different moral code from the rest of Malaysia. One set of rules for Umno, and another for everyone else. Either that, or this is the best we can do. — razaleigh.com


comments

Umno is not afraid to display its moral decadence for all to see.

Just not too long ago the grand old man of Malaysian politics have said that politicians or aspiring politicians must be clean and have an impeccable record. Now can he say something on this Rohaizat's suitability as Umno candidate in this coming by election

The candidate and the UMNO selection committee ought to be brought up for disciplinary hearing. How callous to admit a dishonest guy to serve the public. Standards have indeed fallen and the slippery slope leads to perdition. God help us to get out of this sickening mould/template set by our so called leaders.

This proves that UMNO is in reality a party of thieves. So it is not surprising that the thieves have chosen a thief to stand for election. For the rakyat of Permatang Pasir, the choice of candidate is obvious unless the voter has a screw loose in his or her head.