Being a leader is not just about holding an important position, but in carrying the amanah or trust, the leader will be held accountable to God.
THE 13th General Election has come and gone and the leaders have been elected into Parliament and the State Legislative Assemblies.
They have been chosen by voters to represent their interests, care for the welfare of the people and also drive the country to greater heights. In this context, leadership is an important area that needs detailed discussion and focus.
Bryson & Crosby (1992) defines leadership as “the inspiration and mobilisation of others to undertake collective action in pursuit of the common good”.
Davis (1967) defines it as the human factor which binds a group together and motivates it towards goals.
In today’s world, leadership is about having a good understanding of the current political, economic and social dynamics. The ability of leaders to address the related concerns will enable them to face and overcome any adversity.
Leadership in Islam stresses on one important aspect of the whole process which is the concept of amanah or trust.
Leaders are appointed or even driven to their positions based on their ability to safeguard the trust given to them to carry out their responsibilities diligently.
Being a leader is not just a matter of filling up a specific important position or job, but in carrying the amanah, they are accountable also to God. Many leaders today lack this pivotal element in the leadership concept.
The hijrah of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina and his position as the ruler in the Islamic state of Medina offers an important lesson in leadership.
The Prophet’s ability to unite and lead a disintegrated society of different sects and religious beliefs was due to the essence of power bestowed upon him by the society and also through divine authority.
This aspect is seldom forgotten by leaders who only perceive leadership as a position of authority for them to further their personal interests.
Islam also put serious emphasis on the concept of ‘adl or justice in leadership. To be just is not easy as personal inclinations and preferences might jeopardise the real elements of justice to be applied.
Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealings and let not hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be Just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah for Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.” (Chapter 5, Verse 8)
It is imperative to understand that leadership must be coupled with the aspect of good governance.
The success of any form of political leadership especially, depends on the ability of the leaders to govern well.
The problems of governance that arise in most nations today are the repercussions of poor management of public resources and failure in policy implementation by leaders who lack commitment, integrity and the relevant knowledge.
It is vital for leaders to be knowledgeable and capable of demonstrating high competencies and correct attitudes for their followers to replicate.
Through this working framework, leaders are expected to be able to contribute constructively and be directly involved in formulating, implementing, controlling and supervising policies that are specifically designed to address the problems of their constituents according to the right order of priorities.
When discussing the elements of leadership, one must realise that leaders are the prime movers in the nation-building agenda.
Nation building is the process of constructing or structuring a national identity through state power.
This process aims at the unification of the people within the state so that it remains politically, economically and socially stable.
In effect, this process will make the nation become strong and resistant in the long run.
In carrying out the nation-building agenda, leaders must be proactive and innovative in their approach to ensure that the objectives are achieved.
As Malaysia makes its way to become a developed nation by the year 2020, the aspect of nation building should not just be about making the country economically and politically strong, it also needs to include the creation of a nation that is united and resilient.
In Malaysia, diversity shapes the very essence of the country’s social structure and historical aspects.
These must be considered as great assets that must be properly handled with wisdom.
Good leaders will able to manage these diversities and leverage upon the cultural and ethnic plurality to become pillars of strength in building a better nation.
Malaysians are putting high hopes and expectations on the leaders that they have elected in the recent general election.
They expect these leaders to deliver what they have promised to their constituents and also to the public as a whole.
Most voters today have become more politically aware about the dynamics in democracy and would be more likely to scrutinise every action of the leaders that they have elected into office.
As Malaysians, we also need to be objective in analysing the performance of the leaders in delivering their promises and carrying out their duties.
Being politically and democratically matured also includes our ability to acknowledge improvements and positive changes that have taken place and currently being carried out by our leaders.
For leaders, the positions that they have today must be considered as great responsibilities that need to be shouldered with integrity, enthusiasm and dignity.
Leaders must learn to become agents of change and learn to accept the reality that the country and its populace have evolved rapidly with the challenges put forward by the world today.
In facing this, leaders must learn to be innovative and creative to ensure that they remain not just relevant but are also well-liked for the right reasons.
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