Integrity & Credibility

I remember a story entitled, Crying Wolf from a book I read to my son some months ago. It was about this boy who was trying to fool the farmers in the village.

The boy came up with this mischievious idea. He went up to the top of the hill and started to shout, "WOLF, WOLF, WOLF......". Upon hearing the loud pleading voice of the boy, all the farmers quickly ran up to the top of the hill with sticks, spades, forks, staff, rods, etc to extend help but only to find they were being fooled. There was no wolf and the sheep were happily grazing the grass. The farmers were very angry with the boy. He did the same trick on the second day and again the famers raced up to the top of the hill, but there was no wolf. The farmers were very up-set with this boy's irresponsible doing.

On the third day the farmers again heard the boy shouted, "WOLF, WOLF, WOLF, PLEASE HELP, PLEASE HELP, THIS IS FOR REAL!", but this time no body believed him. People ignored him and continued to work on the farm. However, in this particular instant the wolf was actually there and it ended up hurting the boy and killing all the sheep.

This is a lesson on the integrity and credibility.

The Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was arrested last Friday under ISA. She was released after being detained for 7 days under the ISA, despite the fact that the police had earlier issued a 28-day remand order. "The flip-flopping doesn't inspire confidence", according to former Health Minister and also former MCA vice-president Datuk Chua Soi Lek.

From the general public point of view, her arrest under the draconian ISA has already affected the government credibility. A country that uphold democracy cannot simply detain a civilian without first ascertaining the grounds of arrest and later release the person and pretend nothing has happened. This will leave a very bad taste in the mouth.

With the recent arrest under the ISA and the uncertainties created, the government continues to cast serious doubts and the lost of confidence into the minds of the people.

I believe the integrity and credibility of our government will continue to erode should this flip-floppings and injustice treatments not reversed.