WHEN a person is a public figure, especially someone who is in public office, it goes without saying that he or she will constantly be in the public eye.
It would be difficult to draw the line between what is considered private and personal and what is public and should be known by everyone.
For someone who is in the public office, the responsibility is so high that his or her actions will always be scrutinised by the people who he represents.
And this is rightfully the way because the public has elected that person to carry out the administration of the office in their name.
The people are the boss.
So when an elected official, a cabinet minister no less, posts a statement on his Facebook page that reeks of generalisation, stereotyping and racism, the people should pay attention.
Yes, I am referring to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, the minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, who said that Malays should boycott Chinese businesses who do not lower their prices after the reduction in oil price.
It does not matter if the minister explains that it was given in the best of intentions. As a person who has been elected by the people, what he said is just wrong and unethical.
What would the minister (an UMNO member) say if, for example, a member of the MCA said that all Chinese should boycott Malay retailers who sell bad quality products?
It's really easy. If the minister really had good intentions, what his statement should have been to say that all businesses who do not lower their process should be boycotted by the public.
If he explains that it should be done to Malay businesses too, then what is the reason for generalising and referring to race and ethnicity at all in the first place?
We, as Malaysians, should condemn such behaviour because the racial polarisation in the country is already at an all time high tension without pulling it even tighter.
That is why we need to do away with racial politics, where we have elected leaders who are obligated to serve particular ethnic groups in public office.
And as Malaysians, we should also stop demanding that elected leaders of particular ethnic groups defend those particular ethnic groups that they are from.
No particular race - not Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan or anyone else - should have higher representation in the government. It is one Malaysian for all Malaysians.
Zan Azlee
Thu Feb 05 2015
If the minister really had good intentions, what his statement should have been to say that all businesses who do not lower their process should be boycotted by the public. -Filepix
Demonstrasi pro-Palestin di kampus universiti AS
Demonstrasi pro-Palestin tercetus di beberapa kampus utama Amerika Syarikat. Pelajar menuntut gencatan senjata kekal dan menekan Washington untuk menamatkan sumbangan dana tentera kepada Israel.
Dakwaan Israel: PBB masih siasat 8 individu
Pasukan Khas PBB menutup satu kes dan menggantung tiga kes berhubung dakwaan terhadap 12 petugas UNRWA yang terlibat dengan Hamas, susulan kekurangan bukti dari Israel.
Hamas mahu gencatan senjata bersyarat
Hamas komited kuatkuasa gencatan senjata dalam perang dengan Israel, namun dengan syarat yang dituntut.
Penghidap kanser tulang impikan telefon bimbit
Siti Zubaidah, calon SPM yang mengidap kanser tulang, bercita-cita memiliki telefon bimbit untuk merakam kenangan sebelum pergi. Petronas merealisasikan impian ini melalui program 50 Dreams.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu bermula hari ini
PRK DUN Kuala Kubu Baharu dimulakan hari ini dengan proses penamaan calon di Dewan Serbaguna dan Kompleks Sukan Daerah Hulu Selangor. Calon dari parti serta calon bebas boleh serahkan borang pencalonan mulai jam 9 pagi.
Michelle Yeoh terima penghormatan tertinggi Amerika
Michelle Yeoh akan dianugerahkan Pingat Kebebasan Presiden oleh Presiden Joe Biden pada majlis rasmi di White House pada 3 Mei depan.
PM Lee akan hadir Pemukiman Pemimpin Singapura-Indonesia di Bogor
Ini merupakan permukiman ketujuh dihadiri Lee dan Pemukiman Pemimpin terakhir dengan Joko Widodo yang lebih dikenali sebagai Jokowi.
Strok haba: Kerajaan Thailand nasihatkan kumpulan berisiko tinggi supaya tidak keluar rumah
Kanak-kanak, pesakit dan golongan tua diingatkan mengelak daripada terlibat dalam aktiviti di luar bangunan selepas strok haba meragut sekurang-kurangnya 30 nyawa di Thailand.
KKM kekal keputusan pinda Akta Perubatan 1971
KKM kekal dengan keputusan untuk meminda Akta 50 bagi menangani jurang antara PPP dan Program Sarjana Perubatan tempatan biarpun mendapat bantahan sesetengah pihak.
Malaysia-China bincang perkukuh kerjasama sektor pendidikan tinggi
Sempena sambutan Ulang Tahun ke-50 Hubungan Diplomatik, Malaysia dan China bincang inisiatif strategik perluas dan perkukuh jalinan kerjasama sektor pendidikan tinggi.