LETTER | Our fundamental right to live must never be at the expense of others. The Hammurabi law carries the simple premise of “an eye for an eye” to great lengths imposing accountability for one’s actions.

I advise everyone to read the nature of the laws as the central theme was to prevent the strong from oppressing the weak.

The discipline in practising kindness would also help impart your beliefs to others. Defined as a type of behaviour marked by acts of generosity, consideration, or concern for others, without expecting praise or reward in return, our baseline behaviour ultimately creates the right environment for society.

We lived in a fragile society even before the pandemic, evidenced by the mismanagement of resources and wealth among nations around the world which neglected the values of equity and compassion.

Democracy is a reminder to leaders that trust is earned and not given. If the people remain unconvinced after seeing the poor performance of a leader, we should not just wait for the next election.

The people are the most important element of the state and chosen leaders must be reminded of how loud our voices are at any present time.

Malaysians want pragmatic leaders to execute and impart their beliefs justly. The initiative is doing the right thing without being told.

Key reminders

Civil servants have no political masters and are responsible for running and maintaining government institutions that provide public services.

Political appointees and representatives need to be reminded that their clear objective is to serve and not demand.

Political leaders should be brave enough to consult a team that knows their lane well enough before crossing.

Water fasting for three days helps to train the mind and body on what really matters to lead a good life moderately.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.