1. Note that it isn’t easy to be a leader, the “Menang” dimension. Engaging with emotion is a flawed process, where opposing views could only be rationalised and harmonised with great difficulty, if at all.
2. There are remarks that Malays are an emotional lot, and that comes from not having the wherewithal to decide. This stems from uncertainty from aligning outcomes, fragmented methodologies unable to build concensus and buy-in, and inferior information and knowledge as inputs to form opinion. Without these thinking capabilities, rationalism is lost, and emotions and shouting takes precedence. Or in religiousity, we just follow whoever shouts the loudest, appears as the most knowledgeable and have a more religious outlook, or even, in the case of liberalist interpretation of Islam, a legalistic argument in favour of reforms and all appear very attractive. The other option is to be apathetic and follow the “truth” spouted out by Government. In Tun M’s time, as he had the capacity to use all media machinery, the latter was pretty much the typical position of the masses. But when Pak Lah, who had the good intentions for openness without the guts to control and mediate, the diffusion of ideas spread and anarchy takes root. In Najib’s case, borrowing Bakri Musa’s description of a leader who follows, there is no real guidance and leadership on issues.
3. I guess the stand to teach people to think may have substance, but it wont be a core component of Menang for leadership of issues and opinions. In the short run, emotional leadership still takes precedence. So, positioning of issues is still important and requires good R&D, good access to corridors of power, and the smarts to use national media when required.
4. First and foremost, lessons learned from the diplomatic antagonisms post-Mavi Marmara, is that we should be flexible in many instances, including strategic options. The only unchangeable, should be a broadly-defined purpose, objective to be achieved. In the process, the balancing of multiple ideas, even opposing ideas, should be entertained. The final decision, ijtihad, is one after taking into account all manner of outcomes, implications et al, and we hope we gain the benefit and barakah from Allah for the effort we put in to come up to the right decision, for our sake and for Islam’s benefit.
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