Do we really want transparency?

On his first day, President Obama cut salaries of the executives in the White House, and took measures to increase government transparency. Will Malaysia's Government take such measures? So far, it looks like our BN-led federal government is not willing to do so. Only Pakatan Rakyat state governments of Selangor and Penang have announced that they want to introduce Freedom of Information laws.

But then again, not everyone in Pakatan Rakyat are committed to transparency. Just take a look at the Selangor state assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim, who refused to fulfill Klang MP Charles Santiago's demand to make public the concession agreement between the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) and the developer of the new Klang Sentral Terminal. Instead, he accused Santiago of being "bought" by BN.

So, it's not only BN who has a problem with transparency. As the rakyat, we deserve to know matters which concern and impact us. Now, the latest case is on the death of car theft suspect A Kugan while in police custody, which has just been classified as murder. Torture by police happens; a Malaysian political activist during Anwar's time actually managed to win RM 2.5 million from the government in damages, who allegedly had tortured him during detention under ISA.

When we give people the mandate to govern us, we expect them to serve us. If they do not fulfill their due responsibility, but instead abuse the power that we have bestowed upon them, it is high time that we withdraw the power that we have given them. We deserve to be ruled with transparency, justice and equality - nothing less. We Malaysians have not been diligent enough to demand our rights for such values. Hence, is it surprising that corruption has been allowed to flourish like a plague?

If we had been stricter with our demands, and less concerned about money than values, the government would not dare to make such flagrant abuse of power as they do now. The government reflects the people.

We are the people, and we hold the power to make or break governments. Problem is - do we really want to exercise that power for a fairer, utopian society?