Economic leadership must for would-be YBs
Published on: Saturday, March 17, 2018
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Please allow me to deal on the importance of economic leadership in the choice of candidates by all political parties at the constituency level.
The top leaders of all parties have been emphasizing on winnability quality in their selection of candidates.
Not one has talked about economic leadership as being an essential quality in the selection process.
This is not good as the same cycle of lack of economic leadership at constituency level will persist.
YBs in government and opposition with good economic leadership at the constituency level are very rare.
Here are some common characteristics of many YBs –
[a] overtly and political selfish, looking out for themselves and pay little attention to the needs of voters.
[b] Ignorant of economic development for their respective constituencies or simply cannot be careless.
They are contended just being “kampong clowns”.
They are good at giving “cheap entertainment” but not economic value for their voters.
The constituencies with YBs of [a] and [b] are usually backward, people are poor with little basic infrastructures.
[c] Then there are frogs. The worst type of FROGs is in politics for personal interest, financial gain or political expediency. They are morally unfit and dishonest.
They have betrayed the trust of the voters. I have yet to see a frog with sound political principles.
All these negative attitudes must change for YB candidates for GE14. These candidates must have a primary responsibility for the economic well being of their constituents.
In all advance countries, the candidates for parliament or state legislatures must have solid economic leadership fundamentals just to qualify for selection by their parties.
We cannot expect rapid economic development at the constituency level unless there are some improvement in the quality of economic leadership. Hereunder are some essential ones.
Comprehensive appreciation of constituency’s economic perspective.
Looking at potential YB candidates for GE14, not many are familiar with economic perspectives of the constituencies they want to represent but this is crucial for rapid and co-ordinated economic development at constituency level.
What sort of constituency economic development can happen if the local leadership are negative on such a vital matter or not in consonant with the overall vision of the Sabah Government?
The economic perspectives are not complicated, in fact very basic and should include, among other things,
[a] current core economic activities.
[b] potential economic activities.
[c] income of the people.
[d] target income for the people.
[e] Requirements of infrastructures.
[f] Funding.
[g] How to attract investors?
Formulate an economic vision. Once economic perspectives are in place, it is possible to formulate an economic vision at the constituency level.
All the aspiring YB candidates can formulate/synchronise their constituency economic visions with their respective state leaders’ vision. If this can be done, then Sabahan voters will have economic insights of their economic intentions.
Economic visions should not be mixed up with party manifesto. They are quite distinctive.
Implementation of constituency economic vision.
Quality of implementation will “differentiate the man from the boys” or more succinctly “differentiate the wheat from the chaff”. In revealing his implementation strategy, a YB candidate can show his capability or the lack of it.
Promises are not enough. My reason for asking YB candidates for their constituency economic vision/plan is simply this. In the past, all sorts of candidates have made promises, most of these are either wild or unrealistic.
There was no serious intent to materialise them for the people, neither was there any focus on economic matters that can improve the lives of the people.
The result is that there have been excessive politics and insufficient economic development focus or concern at the constituency level by YB candidates. Sabahan voters should know that politics don’t put food on the table for ordinary folks.
The next time when a YB candidate tries to solicit your vote, you should not miss the opportunity of asking him for his economic vision and plan for your constituency. If he does not have any, tell him in his face that you will not vote for him.
Don’t vote for YB candidates who have no economic vision and plan to improve your lives.
In the first place, why would you waste your vote on a candidate who does not border to use his head to produce an economic vision and plan? He does not deserve your vote!
Also, he does not deserve your vote if he is too busy playing politics but does not take the trouble to spend some efforts to focus on improving your life.
If there are competing economic visions and plans, the game plan is simple – choose the best one that will benefit you, your family, your wallet and your future generations.
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