KUALA LUMPUR: Governments can no longer afford to formulate policies, laws and regulations on a discriminatory basis and in an ethical vacuum, said Perak Raja Muda Raja Nazrin Shah said.
“No segment of society must be disrespected, discredited and disenfranchised. No group should feel that their efforts and contributions go unrecognised and unwanted.
“We must abandon the ‘silo’ mentality where we only look up at what is happening and not beside us at what others are experiencing,” Raja Nazrin said at the 21st LawAsia Conference.
Bringing this about is one of the greatest challenges of governance today. For this reason, he said that there was case for empowering through the principle of inclusiveness.
“Only inclusive development through empowerment can societies become strong and we can achieve lasting outcomes,” he told lawyers, judges and students of law in his keynote address.
He said that not empowering citizens could lead to “a deep sense of alienantion and hostility” that could cause “ rash acts of violence that fracture societies.”
"This is bad and insensitive politics."
“We cannot morally turn our backs on the fundamental responsibility of ensuring that all stakeholders in our society, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, have a place under the sun.”
“But closing two eyes to the problem does not help build the unity and integration required to face the economic and social turmoil that is likely to result. “Empowerment is a precondition for an integrated and progressive Asia. Interestingly enough, the forces that can connect Asia also have the potential to empower its people.”
He cited five areas that could empower Asia.
“The first prerequisite of empowerment must be to strengthen the rule of law. The law has the capacity to unite and enfranchise the people of Asia like no other.
“The second source of empowerment is greater political participation. One of the essential tasks of Asia’s leaders is to convert residents into citizens and citizens into stakeholders.
“It is only when citizens are also stakeholders will there be the widest sense of ownership of problems and challenges. In order for Asian countries to weather this storm, governance systems must be broadly based and consultative to minimise non-cooperative behaviour.”
A third prerequisite for empowerment is that values and beliefs need to be changed and this is never a straightforward task.
A fourth source of empowerment is technology, particularly information and communication technology.
A fifth source of empowerment is education that breaks the chains of oppressive traditions and extremism.
“Education has paved the way for many to find their way out of poverty and for countries to sharpen their competitive edge,” Raja Nazrin added.
Unfortunately, he said that good quality education was still a dream for many.
By M.KRISHNAMOORTHY
Star Online
30/10/08
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