BY: COLIN GOMEZ

While power comes to those who through much hard work, industry and diligence work for it, it must be noted that power is nothing without control and absolute power corrupts a person absolutely.

Those who have walked the corridors of power in this country will readily attest to the fact that holding power is similar to the use of a double edged sword and while wielding power can destroy your enemies it can also be self destructive.

African author, Chinua Achebe, in his book “Things Fall Apart” wisely cautions anyone who wishes or desires to hold power over another person to think carefully as there is every possibility that it will end in tragedy.

Perhaps Mr Achebe had used the word tragedy to highlight the devastating effects of those who were resoundingly destroyed because they sought power with the wrong or evil aims and objectives and motives.

The aim of seeking power, recognition and respect by any individual should be to serve others, to serve humankind and to elevate the standard of living for all and not for selfish, self seeking, self serving purposes.

These are the individuals that people warmly welcome to hold power and these are the individuals who rightly know how to handle power and history is littered with people such as those who are held in memory by the world.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher