I READ with great sadness Saturday's report ("Mubarak steps
down"). I cannot imagine how a leader could have led Egypt for 30
years, only to have his reign toppled in 19 days.
What lessons can we learn from this dramatic episode?
A country's stability cannot be taken for granted. Unbridled
power will not last long. There is no guarantee that any country or
corporation will be stable and prosper forever. Stability demands
continuous effort and time to build.
Leadership is a key factor in determining a country's stability
and prosperity. There can be no compromise in finding and nurturing
great leaders. When he took office, then President Hosni Mubarak
was a good leader who was committed to developing Egypt into a
great nation. And to some extent, he did. But that leadership was
not sustained.
Great leaders must constantly remember that their goal is not
self-aggrandisement, self-empowerment or self-enrichment. They are
called to lead their people by caring for them. Leaders should
focus on nation building and not empire seeking.
That means constantly striving to build for their citizens a
better quality of life than before. It means creating jobs,
strengthening family life, and building a just and harmonious
society.
Leaders can become arrogant and forget that it is the people who
have put them in power. The needs and aspirations of the people
must be taken into account. Wise leaders are able to adapt to and
change with the times, yet hold on to values of integrity,
transparent governance, competence, compassion and family.
Former president Mubarak stopped listening to the people. And he
did this to his own detriment.
How Egypt will survive and become stronger will depend on the
next generation of leaders. The verdict on Egypt's future is yet to
be reached.
John Ng
