Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin today slammed remarks by Anwar Ibrahim stating Malaysia's willingness to negotiate with China over concerns about exploration activities by Petronas in the South China Sea, saying they undermine Malaysia's territorial claims.
"The statement is careless and should not come from a prime minister. The implication of this statement is that it indirectly recognizes China's claim to an area that is already legally Malaysian territory that must be defended," the former prime minister said.
Anwar, in a speech briefing the Dewan Rakyat on his recent official trip to China, said while Petronas would continue its activities in the area, Malaysia was open to negotiations with Beijing over its concerns.
"I stressed... that Malaysia sees the area as Malaysian territory therefore Petronas will continue its exploration activities there," he said.
"But if China feels this is their right, Malaysia is open to negotiations."
Muhyiddin said Malaysia's territorial rights are not open to negotiation "even if it is claimed by China". He said there while there was no disputing that China was a global economic power, "it does not mean Malaysia's sovereignty can be compromised".
Pragmaticism in Leadership is generally distinguished from simple command by the fact that leaders must, through speech and example, persuade followers to follow with more or less willingness. In democratic contexts, the ability to craft persuasive speech is obviously central, but rhetoric will be popularly judged as empty unless backed by meaningful action that is seen to align with it. Consistency of speech and action is, however, more difficult to achieve than might be thought, precisely because of the “psychology of democracy”, which includes: a leveling tendency; suspicion of power and hierarchy; mistrust of representatives; and a demand for complete transparency and accountability. These attitudes tempt leaders to flatter rather than to be frank, to evade or conceal difficult but necessary choices rather than face public outrage, and to make promises that cannot be met. Any given situation with regard to the sovereignty of a nation requires deep thinking and implications thus if not will invite arguments and conflicts that will result in tension.
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Pragmatisme dalam Kepimpinan secara amnya dibezakan daripada perintah mudah oleh fakta bahawa pemimpin mesti, melalui ucapan dan teladan, memujuk mereka yang terlibat untuk mengikuti situasi dan realiti isu2 berkaitan. Dalam konteks demokrasi, keupayaan untuk mencipta ucapan persuasif jelas menjadi tumpuan, tetapi retorik secara umum akan dinilai sebagai kosong melainkan disokong oleh tindakan bermakna yang dilihat sejajar dengannya. Konsistensi ucapan dan tindakan, bagaimanapun, lebih sukar dicapai daripada yang difikirkan, tepatnya kerana "psikologi demokrasi", yang merangkumi: kecenderungan meratakan; syak wasangka kuasa dan hierarki; ketidakpercayaan terhadap wakil; dan permintaan untuk ketelusan dan akauntabiliti yang lengkap. Sikap ini menggoda pemimpin untuk menyanjung diri sendiri daripada berterus terang, mengelak atau menyembunyikan pilihan yang sukar tetapi perlu daripada menghadapi kemarahan orang ramai, dan membuat janji yang tidak boleh ditepati. Sebarang situasi yang berkaitan dengan kedaulatan sesebuah negara memerlukan pemikiran dan implikasi yang mendalam justeru jika sebaliknya akan mengundang perbalahan dan konflik yang akan mengakibatkan ketegangan.
