Erti Kepimpinan - The True Meaning of Leadership

ERTI KEPIMPINAN

Almarhum nenda saya selalu berpesan, sifat kepimpinan yang paling agung adalah integriti. Malang sekali, dalam dunia masa kini, sifat ini semakin sukar dijumpai.

Baginda juga berpesan bahawa seorang pemimpin yang pengecut merupakan manusia yang paling bahaya sekali, dan salah satu ujian dalam kepimpinan adalah untuk mengenalpasti sesuatu masalah sebelum ianya menjadi darurat. Baginda juga mendidik saya bahawa pemimpin yang hebat memperoleh kekuatan untuk mencapai visinya daripada semangat yang kental dan bukannya daripada jawatan atau kedudukannya.

Nasihat saya kepada semua pemimpin dalam setiap sektor kerajaan, NGO dan organisasi di Johor adalah supaya memberikan inspirasi dan memimpin segenap lapisan rakyat. Jangan cuba memanipulasi dan menguruskan orang. Inventori barangan boleh diuruskan, tetapi rakyat harus dipimpin melalui tauladan dan dengan berintegriti.

Ingatlah bahawa kunci kepimpinan yang cemerlang pada hari ini adalah dengan mempunyai pengaruh, bukannya dengan menunjukkan kuasa. Tiada maknanya jika anda mempunyai kuasa tetapi tidak mampu mempengaruhi rakyat secara positif. Sekiranya anda mempunyai kuasa tetapi tidak mampu mempengaruhi rakyat secara positif, itu petanda yang anda tidak layak menjadi seorang pemimpin.

Nampaknya apa yang saya katakan sering membuatkan ramai orang melenting. Oleh itu, saya hanya bercakap dalam konteks Negeri Johor yang dekat di hati saya.

Akhir kata, saya bersyukur kerana telah dibesarkan dan dididik oleh dua pemimpin yang unggul, iaitu Almarhum Sultan Iskandar dan DYMM Sultan Ibrahim. Ayahanda saya, Raja saya.

DYAM Brigadier Jeneral Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Mahkota Johor

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THE TRUE MEANING OF LEADERSHIP

My grandfather the late Sultan Iskandar used to say, the supreme quality of leadership is integrity. Unfortunately in today's world, there is not much of this quality to be found.

He also said that a cowardly leader is the most dangerous of men, and that one of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency. He also taught me that great leaders musters the courage to fulfil his vision from passion, not position.

My advice to the leaders in every sector of government, NGOs and organizations in Johor is to lead and inspire the people. Do not try to manage and manipulate people. Inventories can be managed, but people must be lead by example and with integrity.

Remember that the key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. There is no point having authority if you cannot influence the people. If you have authority but command no influence, it is a sign that you are not worthy of being a leader.

It seems that things I say usually ruffle more than a few feathers, so I say in the context of Johor, which is close to my heart.

Last but not least, I am blessed to have been raised and taught by two great leaders, which is the late Sultan Iskandar, and Sultan Ibrahim. My father, my King.

HRH Brigadier General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, The Crown Prince of Johor

Note: This pertinent and timely message from the Crown Prince was posted on the JOHOR Southern Tiger's Facebook page.  

OK atau TIDAK?

Ini OK

Ini pun OK

Ini lagi OK 

tapi yang ini TAK OK? 

Kalau sokong OK, kalau kritik TAK OK? 

Kita keliru. Harap Perdana Menteri, sebagai individu yang bertanggungjawab mencetuskan kontroversi ini, tampil membuat pendirian. 

Harap maklum bahawa ini isu yang amat sensitif dan dekat dengan hati rakyat.

Ambil maklum juga bahawa rata-rata golongan muda serta ibu-bapa dan keluarga mereka yang celik tidak membantah kenyataan TMJ, sebagaimana Najib sendiri tidak membantah, malah bermegah dengan pujian serta sokongan pihak istana. 

Nota: Jangan cuba gunakan isu ini untuk mengalih perhatian rakyat dari skandal 1MDB. 

Rulers are above politics and 1MDB is a scandal - AMPUN TUANKU

In mid April, amidst open criticisms against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak following the unveiling of the 1MDB scandal, DYMM Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah urged the people to support the Pekan Member of Parliament.

Slightly a month later, amidst growing calls for his resignation and further damning revelation of the multi-billion ringgit 1MDB scandal, Najib ignored prevailing public sentiments and re-emphasised that he enjoyed the full support of Sultan Ahmad Shah. 

Some questioned the rationale behind DYMM Sultan Ahmad Shah's open endorsement of the illustrious Tun Abdul Razak's son and Najib's crowing of the support he enjoyed from the Pahang palace but the rest of us basically took it as signs of the Prime Minister's desperate political situation.

Then came the #Nothing2Hide shame last Friday, courtesy of Najib's able aides and advisors. 

#Nothing2Hide became #Everything2Hide and drew a Royal rebuke from the Crown Prince of Johore HRH Brigadier General Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim. 

I believe TMJ's royal rebuke struck a chord with many a Malaysian, including those who have been strong supporters or rather sympatisers of the Prime Minister. 

A quick look at unadulterated figures and comments on social media alone would prove this widespread approval of the strong message from the Johore Palace. 

The Crown Prince captured many, particularly the idealistic younger generation, with his frank take on politicians and their repeated antics of taking the rakyat for a ride. On Friday the ride was called #Nothing2Hide. 

Did Najib learn the hard way, after Friday's royal rebuke, that 'playing' with the palace was a double-edged sword?  

Sources say that may not be the case. There are, they claim, renewed attempts to drag the Raja-Raja Melayu deeper into the current political turmoil as Najib's position as Prime Minister becomes increasingly untenable with each passing day. 

Some of his learned aides and advisors seem to be very keen in soliciting unanimous support from all nine Malay Rulers, via the Rulers Conference, to boost their boss' tainted imagine and waning support.  

It appears that almost all the Prime Minister's men now have their fingers pointed at others rather than to admit that the real issue is the unexplained 1MDB scandal and the missing BILLIONS of RINGGIT, kickback from IPPs included. 

I hope common sense prevails among our politicians and their highly paid aides and advisors, including those expatriates who may not understand our culture and customs. 

The 238th Rulers Conference starts tomorrow in Istana Negara and DYMM Sultan Ahmad Shah the Sultan of Pahang is expected to chair the two-day conference. 

AMPUN TUANKU! 

Selamat Tahun Baru - Lets go back to basics

Don't be shocked if our youngsters don't know this flower.

1. Belief in God (Kepercayaan kapada Tuhan)

This Nation has been founded upon a firm belief in God. It was in the name of God that this Nation was established as a sovereign State.

Islam is the official religion of the Federation. Other religions and beliefs may be practised in peace and harmony and there shall be no discrimination against any citizen on the ground of religion.

2. Loyalty to King and Country (Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan Negara)

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy and the Yang di‑Pertuan Agong is the sovereign Head of State. Parallel with this institution of the Yang di‑Pertuan Agong as a constitutional monarch is the continued existence of the institution of the State Rulers who are heads of their respective States.

The Yang di‑Pertuan Agong, the Rulers and the Governors are symbols of unity and therefore stand above politics.

The loyalty that is expected of every citizen is that he must be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty the Yang di‑Pertuan Agong and be a true, loyal and faithful citizen of the Federation. In addition, and without derogating from such loyalty, citizens who are subjects of the Rulers mu"i bear true allegiance and loyalty to their respective Rulers.

Loyalty constitutes the soul of our nationalism.. It is this inherent loyalty to King and Country which binds together our various races into one single, united Nation. Loyalty to other countries is inconsistent with undivided loyalty to this Nation.


3. Upholding the Constitution (Keluhuran perlembagaan)

Citizenship confers on a person membership of a state. The Constitution confers on a citizen certain rights and privileges; it also imposes on him certain duties and obligations towards the Nation.

It is the duly of a citizen to respect and appreciate the letter, the spirit and the historical background of the Constitution. This historical background led to such provisions as those regarding the position of His Majesty the Yang di‑Pertuan Agong and Their Royal Highnesses the Rulers, the position of Islam as the official religion, the position of Malay as the national and official language, the special position of the Malays and other Natives, the legitimate interests of the other communities, and the conferment of citizenship. It is the sacred duty of a citizen to defend and uphold the Constitution.

4. Rule o f Law (Kedaulatan Undang-undang)

Justice is founded upon the rule of law. Every citizen is equal before the law. Fundamental liberties are guaranteed to all citizens. These include liberty of the person, equal protection of the law, freedom of religion, rights of property and protection against banishment.

The Constitution confers on a citizen the right of free speech, assembly and association and this right may be enjoyed freely subject only to limitations imposed by law. The rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution do not include the right to overthrow the Government either by force or by other unconstitutional means.

The Rule of Law is ensured by the existence of an independent judiciary with powers to pronounce on the constitutionality and legality or otherwise of executive acts.


5. Good Behaviour and Morality (Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan)
Individuals and groups shall conduct their affairs in such a manner as not to violate any of the accepted canons of behaviour, which include the abhorrence and rejection of any conduct or behaviour which is arrogant or offensive to the sensitivities of any group. No citizen should question the loyalty of another citizen on the ground that he belongs to. a particular community. Good behaviour also includes a high standard of morality in both our personal and public life.


After reading and understanding the five tenets of this nation (above), you can't deny that we are/have been heading in the wrong direction.

We have almost completely abandoned the fundamental principles inked by our founding fathers. It may be bitter but that is the situation we are stuck in now.

Would it be impossible to drop the never ending political debates and blame game (in particular the multiple games played between races and our respective religious experts, politicians and their lackeys) and move on? 

I hope better sense prevails in this blessed nation. Malaysia was flying high, heading towards greater heights just slightly over a decade ago. What happened to her? 

Just slightly over ten years ago, we stood tall in the global arena. Our voices were loud and clear because we called a spade by its name. We were not feared by respected by friends and foes. 

Although we refused to kowtow to any superpower or their lackeys in this region we stood tall in Asia and Asean. 

We chair Asean now. That looks good on paper, but where do we really stand in the eyes of our Asean counterparts. 

Have we now become another lackey of those warmongers?  

There is a Malay saying which reads "Sesat dihujung jalan, pulang kepangkal jalan". If you are a Malaysian you should understand this simple saying.   

It's about going back to basics when everything else ends up in a mess. The Rukunegara could certainly provide some guidance, for the top most principle of the Rukunegara is 'Belief in God'.  

I truly wish, pray and hope that we in Malaysia and the rest of the world have a better 2015.

Happy New Year Malaysia! 

Commission of Inquiry on Lahad Datu... in the Philippines?

Former Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kala has said it loud and clear. 

Regarding the Lahad Datu intrusion, Jusuf said he believes former Philippines president Joseph Estrada, who is also an ally of Anwar, is involved.

He also said that a large Philippines-based company was providing Malaysia's opposition pact with monetary assistance.

“I know for a fact that there has been intervention by a particular group of people and Anwar’s friend Joseph Estrada is one of them and a Philippines company has also been providing them (Pakatan) with financial help over the Lahad Datu intrusion,” he said.

“They have only one agenda, to weaken the Malaysian government, the trespassers want to portray a weak Malaysian government which has failed to handle the intrusion”  he added. - The Mole

The Philippines Government may want to get to the root of this latest information from Indonesia's ex-vice president. I don't think Jusuf Kala was joking. 

The Sulu intrusion where Malaysian security forces personnel were killed/murdered is no joke either. 

Both Kuala Lumpur and Manila must recognise the fact that the intrusion could have easily turned into a war had it not for the close relationship and understanding between the two nations.

Maybe the time is now ripe for both the Governments of Philippines and Malaysia to conduct joint investigations into what actually happened. Expose the culprits.

Manila could take the lead (as their nationals with alleged funding from a Philippines company) had actually waged war against Malaysia (against the Yang DiPertuan Agong as per their criminal charge sheet reads).

This is a very serious matter and Jusuf Kala's latest 'information' appears to be leading us to a bunch of traitors from both sides of the border.

I'm sure Kuala Lumpur will render her full cooperation should Manila initiate a Commission of Inquiry. 

If the suspects are hiding in Malaysia (even if they are our MPs), we must surrender them to the Philippines.

Let truth prevail.

p/s The Foreign Ministers may want to get the ball rolling.