There are different types of political leaders and politicians. Some have true diplomacy, elegance, and class while some are deficient in leadership quality, style and character.
When a political leader lacks bedrock principles and values such as vision and social etiquette, he can never be a leader in a class above the rest. Over time, his deficiency in eloquence, wisdom, self-control, and finesse will show through and people will lose respect for him.
Penang Chief Minister (CM) Lim Guan Eng loves riding on popular sentiments for political mileage, but is he capable of bringing citizens together to develop consensus for unity?
Can such a leader be a role model for young people? Is he indirectly stirring up a generation of Gen Y rebels in the making, ever ready to go against the status quo at any opportunity for applause and fame via arrests and other brainless antics?
A political leader’s decisions and statements must be sensitive to public sentiments. Only then can he claim to uphold unity and harmony.
However, Penang has a hot-headed CM who loses his cool easily and uses a confrontational attitude with the media and police. As head of the state administration, he should seek solutions instead of creating more dissension.
Perhaps he sees Penang as his little kingdom where he is immune to police and legal action.
A political leader must have a clear vision of what he wants to accomplish, where he wants to take the citizens, and how to get there.
If Lim is indeed a literate political leader, offering intelligent, well-reasoned arguments would be a breeze but this doesn’t appear to be the case as he tries to win public support and sympathy by the sheer force of his bold statements.
Respect must be earned, not shoved down our throats.
By Thomas Tarnell, Free Malaysia Today
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