| 9th Malaysian Plan: Keep it simple Sir! |
| Wishful though it may seem, I would like to indulge in some luxury of penning down some wishes that to my mind are as basic as it may be
often disregarded or overlooked. It may cost me hardly anything to write my piece, but it would be extremely expensive for the premier should he desire to remain in denial of and oblivious about it. May I first remind ourselves that we are in the 9th MP (2006-2010), which incidentally is covering the second half of the Outline Perspective Plan (OPP3, 2001-2010). We also into the second 5-year period of the National Vision Policy (Dasar Wawasan Negara, 2001-2020) which in turn, is embraced by the entire Vision 2020 (Wawasan 2020, 1991-2020). So what do you think of that? Really awfully mouthful and mind-boggling to decipher, wasnt it? That is of course besides the Industrial Master Plan (IMP) and others. As a nation, are we over-managing? the over-sized cabinet, the various commissions, the numerous cabinet committees etc? But the basic question is; Are we getting any better? They have a saying in Management
Keep It Simple Stupid! (K.I.S.S.). For all these noble and lofty grand-plans, are we also about to witness the nation going into full circle once again 360 degrees! In this Bolehland, as some may like to fondly remember us by, nothing will surprise me anymore as I am too insensitised! On a more serious note let me get on to doing what I thought would be really a value-added exercise. Rather than listing what should be done, which of course is the business of the government and surely is none of my business, I am only to focus of things that shouldnt be done. Why? Because doing things that shouldnt be done hurt the country, the citizenry (rakyat) and the future generation. That is bad to say of the least or scandalous and criminal at worst! For all the things that have been strategised and about to be executed, could you care to consider my short 3 wish-list
of things that shouldnt be done for Gods sake: 1. Put an immediate and decisive stop and dismantle all rent-based political economy. In simple language stop cronyism! It is the scourge of our nation. It defies best-practices and good-governance. It reduces healthy economic competition and kills genuine and aspiring entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. Cronyism borders corruption and begets further corruption. The nation will be heading headlong into the abyss of decadency and entire system will rot as it gets cancerous. It is increasingly obvious now. The premier is indeed fighting a losing battle as his entire party and government machinery are plagued in crony practices at all level of management. For the record, the loss due to cronyism was, in the last 22 years a whooping RM 380 billions! It is not an Opposition medias estimate but none
other than The Edge (March 29, 2004). For Gods sake, the implementation and policy of 9MP must attempt at stamping out this crime at the outset! We will certainly see better efficiency in development (better Incremental Capital Output Ratio) in time to come. Otherwise we are doomed to fail again!. 2. For all the growth that 9MP is targeting and from whatever sector/s you wish to propel into (manufacturing to services etc), whether it be FDI-driven or DDI-driven (Domestic) may we remind that with wealth creation comes a more daunting task and responsibility. That is about Wealth Redistribution. The axiom and underpinning principle of the NEP is to my mind, entirely about Equitable Distributive Justice based on Growth. But what has become of it? Umno as a party and BN as a government derailed it! You indeed hijacked it! You should
have stood trial for this crime but the rakyat extended their amnesty, grace and subsidy to you!. May we remind you that Malaysia has amongst the most dismal income disparity in the region. Both inter and intra-ethnic. I need not remind you that the worst intra-ethnic disparity is the Malay ethnic group. Thanks to your Umnoputeras crony practices. Interventionist or affirmative action should be across race, culture, religion and political divide as it must be based on the function of needs and merits. If proven the Malays need to be catered through affirmative action as they are the poorest group, so be it. It evidently testifies to your achievement or perhaps more truthfully under-achievement of the Umnos-Hidup-Melayu-rhetoric for all these donkey years. 3. We have seen billions spent on mega-infrastructural development. For whatever little information that has trickled to us, we know
that you are still spending about RM40-45 billions on infra-structure. That may not be much relative to before. We know the nation needs this to come out of its flagging state and to spur the entire economy. But before you slip into the alley of megalomania of your predecessor and caught into the malaise of crass materialism coupled with the unbridled permissiveness may I remind you that you shouldnt relegate the importance of capacity building and generating competitive-enterprising graduates to others ie the buck must stop at the premier. We could no longer produce square pegs to be forced into round holes. The entire educational system is in dire need of nothing short of a total overhaul. Removing few black-sheep wouldnt work. In line with the revolution in education that is now in vogue, be sure you put the entire Intelligent Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ) and now Spiritual
Quotient (SQ) in its proper context. Frankly I like the straight As but that is not the be-all and end-all of education. Bottom-line they must be professionals who are God-fearing and God-conscious. I am not here to tell which God. That is their God-given freedom and liberty! (To quote Ivy Josiah, a womens right activist; we may be secular but were not un-Godly). Thats my 2-cent worth of thought for your kind perusal. I rest my case. |
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