PM: LEADERS MUST BE ABLE TO EMPATHISE WITH PEOPLE
Don’t ignore people’s sufferings, says Dr Mahathir
PRIME Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad reminded top leaders against neglecting the people’s sufferings.
Drawing an example from the last Queen of France before the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette, Dr Mahathir said an aspect commonly overlooked was the ability to empathise with the common people.
“Sometimes, when leaders are aristocratic and of royal lineage, the tendency of not understanding the sufferings of the ordinary people is prevalent.
“It is akin to the oft-repeated saying attributed to Mary Antoinette who, when told that the peasants were hungry for bread, she said: ‘Let them eat cake.’
“Whether Marie Antoinette said it or not, the crux of the matter is that leaders have been known to be so detached that sufferings that could be resolved are
allowed to perpetuate.
“It can be argued that ordinary men who went on to become leaders have been known to ignore the sufferings of the ordinary citizens but that is not due to ignorance, but due to apathy.”
In his speech at the country’s first public speaking concert — My Voice, My Nation Malaysia 2019 — Dr Mahathir said education was once a luxury that could be afforded by only the rich.
“When I was growing up, not many Malays were fortunate to further their studies in universities. Only royal families and aristocrats could afford to enrol their children in universities.
“Some sent their children to England.
“I was fortunate to be given a scholarship and offered a place to study medicine in Singapore.”
Earlier, Dr Mahathir received donation cheques from corporate companies amounting to more than RM200,000 on behalf of Malaysia para athletes charity fund.
Present were Dr Mahathir’s wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok.