In other countries, around the world, leaders, national and political, are showing themselves publicly. Their example and their acknowledgment that they are in their places because their people want and respect them, or because they hold elected positions or even, in fewer cases, because they are recognised as national leaders whose words and actions must be respected and followed.

In the UK, for example, the Queen has led by example and by giving words of hope and encouragement. That is also the case in many other countries struck by the killer virus. But not in Malaysia.

What people there have seen is the Agong mingling with people when he should be showing an example of self-isolation. And the joke PM and his “Ministers”?  Maybe they have been on the golf course, as usual, but giving encouragement and example to the people? Nix, as the Americans would say.

Why is that? Personal fear of contagion? You cant catch the disease in a disinfected TV studio. Nor in a Press conference properly distanced. These cannot be the reasons for Ministerial invisibility. So what is left?

Just the same old, same old. We have given bags of rice haven’t we? We have given MLAs on our side public money to help the poor; or themselves.  We have isolated ourselves to avoid infection.And why not with a moribund Prime Minister? In other words take your chance, we are in the lifeboat.

Shame is a word seemingly unknown in PN circles.  The buzzword is GAIN.