The ‘untouchables’ in SGM

I understand and accept that there are problems with the organisation. But that does not mean that we should go and broadcast it in the internet. Say, you knew that your father did something not right. Are you going to tell the whole world about it? This will definitely affect our members and create doubts in their faith. We resolve our issue internally. Not publicly. Whatever is said and done, it is wrong to use social media. It is irresponsible and you just make the situation worse.

Why do you blame me for this issue? Why do you blame the reaction, those who use social media to disseminate information, as the main culprits? And why do you even want to attempt to stop these acts?

Allow me me to explain why I disagree with you.

Social media is a reality and information spread at lightning speed. Wake up. Open your eyes. No organisation or government can cover up any wrongdoing and protect the culprit nowadays. However, I also understand that in large organisation, there will be those in power, would eventually cross the line and give in to their greed and selfishness. That is not the main problem. The main problem is what we do about it. More precisely, how do top management respond. Three things they need to do.

1. They must be fair, and seen to be fair, in dealing with such matters. Top management cannot deny and deflect the issue by stating ‘evil plot behind’, ‘black hand’ and ‘devils entering the body’ of those who ask question.
2. They must be transparent. Show us what you have done. Top management cannot just allow the social media to spread. These things, unfortunately, do have a tendency to take on a live on its own and things can spiral downwards very fast. [This blogsite aim to focus on the main issue and speak up with objectivity and reasons.]
3. Communication. It is only the actions and the communication of such actions to the general membership that can reassure and regain the confidence and trust of members towards the top management. In the Johor case, we have a classic example of how NOT to manage a crisis. With each step, each action and each memo from the official sources, SGM only make the matters worse. There is no thorough explanation, no concrete action and no fairness in resolving the issue.  Instead, top management sidelined top leaders, sacked vocal leaders, did not follow the proper process in sacking, demoting and appointing new top leaders, and worse, no explanation given.

We live in an internet age. And we cannot go back to the stone age, where top management can take their own sweet time to rectify a problem, or cover it up and continue ‘giving chance’ to the wrongdoer, even silently encouraging it by taking no action.

It is plain to all that the double standards that SGM practice today. We have a certain Vice GD who throw dirt, spewing hatred and alleging serious corruption of past GD, wrecking the good reputation of SGM repeatedly on facebook [Can he get more public than this?] and yet, no action is being taken against this Vice GD. Why? Because he is another ‘untouchable’, like the one down south?

And the few leaders who disagree with the decision of sacking the Johor leaders, were sacked swiftly and mercilessly. If you do not want people to write negative stuff on the internet and social media, do the right thing. Do no double standard. Do it fast. And communicate to all leaders and members about it.

If you want to sack, go ahead. But do it with the proper process, with the right reason and explain thoroughly as to why this decision need to be taken. We, the members, are sensible and reasonable people. We know what is good reason and what is nonsense. Don’t simply ask us to support GD, trust SGM and all other organisations are evil, out to destroy SGM.

The top management, GD in particular, has the power to stop the negative publicity in social media. Not by telling others, or threatening, or pleading, for others to stop. Rather, by doing the right thing. Doing the things that suits the new environment we are in today.

Mr Toda was right. The greatest enemy of the Soka Gakkai does not come from without. It comes from within. And no, it is not those who write stuff on the internet, but the top leaders that want to protect wrongdoer, the ‘untouchables’, at the expense of the reputation of the organisation. Covering one lie with another, and another, until it does not make sense anymore to any thinking people. Of course, many still prefer to support SGM and accept whatever conspiracy theory they peddled.