Leader Sees Farther Than Others

Two articles published by The Star Online on 15 April 2008, really caught my eyes.

The first article reported a call for a change in Perak’s UMNO leadership with Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli being urged to resign as State UMNO Chief. Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan, Kampar UMNO division chief said Tajol Rosli had failed to give the state any direction since Barisan Nasional suffered huge losses during the March 8 polls.

“Until today, he has not given any signal on what needs to be done or issued any statements on the direction of the party in the state,” said Radzi, the former Tualang Sekah assemblyman.

“Our leaders must be forward-looking, be able to unite everyone and have the ability to move the state machinery,” added Radzi.

The rest of the news is reported here.

The second article, an excerpt from drkhir.blogspot.com reported Datuk Seri Khir Toyo’s call on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to draw up his retirement plan and pass the baton to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Abdullah must draw up an exit plan that should include turning over the party’s and country’s leadership to Najib. This is my humble and personal view,” he said in his April 12 posting.

The full report is here.

These articles reminded me of an episode where the then South African President De Clerk, when confronted by Mandela, denied any knowledge on the involvement of the South African Police Force in the supply of arms to Inkata Freedom Party for them to use against the ANC.

Mandela, in Mandela & De Clerk (DVD 1997), blasted De Clerk:

“Any leader who chooses to remain blind when vision is what our nation needs, is a lost man. A lost man can never lead anywhere.”

Mandela later assumed the Presidency in 1991 after spending 27 years in prison.

"A leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others do." Leroy Eims