Legacy Of Lost Opportunity
[Reprinted from Malaysiakini.com, SEEING IT MY WAY, November 8, 2005]
M. Bakri Musa
Legacy of Lost Opportunity
With Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi entering his third year in office, many are disappointed that his previous bold commitments for reform were nothing more than a politician’s promise. Still, there are those who claim that the man is capable of greatness; just give him time, or a chance.
Unlike many, I am not disappointed with Abdullah’s performance. I did not expect much, and he did not deliver much. His wife’s illness was certainly a major factor lately, but my low assessment of his capability is based on his performance long before that.
Abdullah served in many senior cabinet positions before becoming Prime Minister. He has a long track record; all we have to do is scrutinize it.
There is nothing substantive to his legacy as Education Minister. Today, he expounds on the importance of English, but he did nothing to stem the decline of English in our schools and universities when he was in charge of that ministry. Of significance, the number of religious teachers exploded during his tenure.
Today, he decries the corruption and inefficiency of the police force, and the pubic applauds him for appointing the Police Commission. What is conveniently forgotten is that as Home Affairs Minister, he was in charge of the force. As for the Commission’s Report, it is stuck in some cabinet committee somewhere.
Abdullah Badawi’s ability to execute is severely wanting. In our system of governance, a minister is the chief executive of his or her ministry, not a ceremonial head or chairman of the board. Abdullah is more comfortable playing the role of the detached, imperial sultan who issues endless edicts, or titahs. Malaysians, in particular Malays, are more than willing to indulge him. Witness the increasingly common sight of citizens and subordinates kissing his hand. Nor does he discourage such displays of fealty.
Like Carter, Not Reagan
In my book The Malay Dilemma Revisited, I likened Abdullah Badawi to America’s President Jimmy Carter, a decent and honorable enough man, but a completely ineffective leader.
Abdullah’s number one fan, later to be his son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, vehemently protested and intimated that Abdullah would be more like Ronald Reagan. Such flights of fancy ignore certain realities.
Reagan was a man of firm convictions, and he was not shy in expressing them even if that meant embarrassing his guests or hosts. His famous “evil empire” characterization of the Soviet system may have discomfited many diplomats and heads of states, but it expressed Reagan’s firm belief.
In contrast, Abdullah’s convictions and beliefs, if he has any, are mushy. That is why he has not clearly articulated them. When he did express them, as his resolve to get rid of corruption and for Malays to dispense with special privileges, he crumbled at the first obstacle.
He should have seized the opportunity provided by Isa Samad and Kasitah Gaddam to sack them immediately. Instead, he let the matter drag. In the end, they were not fired but simply resigned. They were not even forced to do so; they quit more to spare poor Pak Lah unnecessary embarrassment.
When UMNO Youth’s leaders called for expanding the New Economic Policy with its rigid quota system, there was not a whimper of admonishment from Abdullah. He tacitly went along with the rhetoric, forgetting his earlier “Towering Malay” aspirations.
Reagan never hesitated in firing his key personnel. Donald Regan, who served as both Treasury Secretary as well as Chief of Staff, felt the sting of Reagan’s ruthlessness. Donald Regan complained in his memoir how he was made to feel like an office boy when Reagan fired him. The former chairman of Merrill Lynch did not take his dismissal easily.
Reagan’s widely acknowledged lack of intellectual depth did not prevent him from hiring and engaging the best American minds. Milton Friedman, the Nobel laureate in Economics, was a frequent White House visitor. Reagan’s cabinet included many luminaries.
Excuses After Excuses
Abdullah’s many admirers are perpetual optimists. When Abdullah succeeded Mahathir, they assured us that once Mahathir’s long shadow had receded, Abdullah would then really shine. Later, the excuse was, “Wait till after the election!” Having won an overwhelming mandate from an electorate longing for change, Abdullah still hesitated. His supporters then used the excuse that he had to secure his position in UMNO. Wait till the UMNO General Assembly! Now it is his wife’s death. “Wait ‘till the mourning is over!” I can already hear the next excuse, “Wait till the second term!”
These are expressions less of conviction, more of hope.
Surprisingly, Abdullah is getting favorable reviews from one unlikely source, south of the causeway. Knowing the state of press freedom there, one can reasonably conclude that the establishment too shares the same view of the man.
Today’s Singapore leaders, unlike their elders, have become more sophisticated. They have finally learned the finer ways of the Malays. Flatter a Malay, and he willingly parts with his heirloom. The British learned that very quickly, which was how they managed to get the Sultan of Johore to part with Singapore. The British managed to “advise” the Malay sultans by giving them the pretension that their thrones were on par with the British crown, and their rickety wooden istanas comparable to Buckingham palace.
Singapore’s younger Lee has learned that the way for Temasek to invest in Khazanah, or the island to have its cheap water rights to Johore secure, is to stroke Abdullah’s ego. Unlike Mahathir, whose massive ego would be difficult for anyone to massage, Abdullah’s is more manageable.
I have no problem with Singapore investing in Malaysia. Greater integration between the two makes great sense, not just from the business or economic perspective. I would encourage that. Singapore however should not get any preferential advantage; it must pay the market, and Malaysia must get the best price. Meaning, Malaysia should welcome any entity to invest in its GLCs.
Fortunately, Malaysia has come a long way in the last fifty years. We have had many relatively honest and fair elections. The private sector is vibrant, and Malaysians are very much in tune with the world. The Internet has effectively broken the government’s monopoly and control on information. The nation has thrived despite not because of its government.
Viewed thus, Abdullah’s lack of execution is a blessing; he could not muck up the system even if he tried. Were Abdullah to have the ruthlessness and efficiency of Pol Pot or Saddam Hussein, then Malaysia would be in great trouble. He is not, and Malaysians ought to be grateful. Nonetheless, I never underestimate the ability of an individual to create havoc. An idiot with a match could burn down a city, but only if the place is full of garbage and does not have an effective fire department.
Abdullah is a man of modest ambition, and he has far exceeded that by becoming Prime Minister. He now awaits his retirement and the expected Tunship.
While we could be smugly satisfied were Abdullah to finish his term without creating a mess, in today’s world however, if you are not progressing, you are by default regressing, as the world around you forges ahead.
Viewed from this perspective, the first two years of Abdullah’s tenure as Prime Minister was simply a lost opportunity. He secured a massive mandate in the 2004 elections, but squandered it. I see nothing in his record or personality to suggest that the rest of his term will be any different. Abdullah’s legacy then will be one of lost opportunity.
November 12th, 2005 at 2:15 am
Either way, Pak Lah has done the country a favour, in my opinion, by being such a lax leader. He has allowed idiots like Badruddin Amiruldin to showcase their anachronistic beliefs and permitted corruption scandals such as the APs issue to be waved in front of the public’s eyes for all to see. This can only heighten awareness of the corruption of our system of government and those running it, and encourage more people to take a stand and do something about it.
Incidentally, Dr. Bakri, I think your article would be an excellent description of Anwar Ibrahim, except minus the modest expectations part - Anwar seeks power, and he has the charisma and appearance of sincerity to do so. Unfortunately, he has a terrible record while he was in the government, where he not only never called for reformasi (comfortably waiting for Mahathir to throw him out before he would do so) and his policies were lacklustre. The only achievements of his I can remember are the introduction of the RM1 coin (now phased out), the introduction of moral education (utterly useless) and cutting off the oxygen to Mahathir’s nepotic enterprises, which seems to have been more of a serendipitous action than an intentional cutting down on graft.
Perhaps the saddest thing is that UMNO Youth is probably justified in calling for quotas, since those are one of the few things our Constitution authorises for aiding the Malays (and other indigenous peoples).
November 12th, 2005 at 8:05 am
Abdullah is a wishy washy prime minister – who became prime minister by accident. And as in all accident cases, we need to call an ambulance to have him whisked away for his own good - and for the good of this country.
November 12th, 2005 at 8:09 am
…but look who is waiting in the wings! The Prince of Darkness!
November 12th, 2005 at 8:21 am
Dear Bakri,
Yours is a very provocative piece this time. I am going to add to it, and let us both see what visitors to your blog/website will say.
People around Badawi are basically self-serving apologists. They are encircling him and will soon shower him with heaps of praises and stories that he likes to hear. They will keep telling Badawi, the Malay emperor, that he has beautiful clothes, until a small boy starts shouting that he only has his underwears. When he is laid bare, these same guys will walk away in search of another patron, and the same act will continue. I call this disease “bodekism” in a Malay feudal setting.
Excuses? How right you are! They are already telling me at today’s (November 12) Tun Dr. Mahathir’s Open House which I attended at Marina Mahathir’s invitation that I should be patient and wait for the 9th Malaysia Plan to see real action. Did they mean that in the last two years, his actions were unreal, just sandiwara?
It will take an optimist to say that Badawi will be leading our country for a second term. Since he has squandered his political capital and will have exhausted all excuses, he will be lucky if UMNO does not pass a vote of no confidence in his leadership during the next General Assembly in 2006. At the rate he is going with the economy, he will be tempting them to do so.
Even the joker, Dato Badruddin, the MP from Yen, Kedah, cannot help him with his pantuns and lawak jenaka.
Thanks.
November 12th, 2005 at 10:00 am
Dr. Bakri & Bro Din,
Sad isn’t, that a person given an exclusive mandate somewhat on a silver platter just ends up with ad-hoc decisions. What 9th Malaysia plan? The world is moving, and moving fast, and these people are still talking. Well, I mentioned that there are no credible brains around him who has the mettle to handle effectively our country’s problems. All are opportunists waiting to grab the limelight.
Well, we have been writing about what is wrong with Abdullah and the govt. he leads. What are the alternatives? Where do we go from here? Honestly I want Abdullah to succeed for the good of Malaysians but will he be able to make it? Yes, I have reservations. In the absence of any credible person in the present administration what are we to do? I cannot see anyone who would be a justifiable option. While the economies around us are galloping we have become regressive. Any suggestions Bro Din?
November 12th, 2005 at 10:10 am
Some call it “bodekism” others call it “wayang kulit”. Whatever term one may use to describe the charade by the hangers-on, the objective is the same. To gain as much before the gravy train comes to a grinding stop.
I was on the same flight with the former defence minister playing golf at the Tuanku Jaafar Golf Club in Seremban many years ago. One of the players was the out-going army chief. When the minister bungled his tee-shot on the frst hole, the rest shouted “mullagan” and allowed him to continue. It took the poor guy over ten strokes to complete a par-4 hole. It was the same throughout the next 17 holes.
At the end of the game, the guest of honour was given a huge hamper that was meant for the winner. The army chief wanted an extension and was prepared to be a water boy on that day. He did not get what he wanted and had to leave without much of a fanfare.
The apologists in the crowd will do anything to ensure their survival, even to the extent of selling their souls. For the right price, that is.
When you have such fanatical followers how is Badawi going to know whether he has his clothes on or not? Even as we argue his “menantu” is planning ahead laying the ground work for his father-in-law in the mistaken belief that he will be richly rewarded in the not-too-distant future.
That’s the trouble with our Malay politicians, especially infantile ones like Khairy Jamaluddin and Hishamuddin, they think that they are pre-destined to lead the nation and that positions in Umno are their birth right.
November 12th, 2005 at 10:15 am
I think we should nominate abang Din Merican sebagai Special Advisor kepada Perdana Mentri. Apa kata anda?
November 12th, 2005 at 10:25 am
Fathol: When you have such fanatical followers how is Badawi going to know whether he has his clothes on or not?
Well, he would know he is naked when the caddy stares at his crotch rather than at his balls.
November 12th, 2005 at 12:44 pm
I am a female Chinese Malaysian, living in the Washington DC area in the United States. I have read many of the letters that often talk about foreign countries when the writers have no real knowledge of actually living in those countries.
Many draw conclusions about what those countries are like after hearing it from someone else or by reading and hearing about them in the media or after four years in a college town in those countries.
I finished STPM with outstanding results from the prestigious St. George’s Girls School in Penang. Did I get a university place from the Malaysian government? Nothing. With near perfect scores, I had nothing, while my bumi friends were getting offers to go overseas.
Even those with 2As got into university. I was so depressed. I was my parents’ last hope for getting the family out of poverty and at 18, I thought I had failed my parents. Today, I understand it was the Malaysian government that had failed me and my family because of its discriminatory policies.
Fortunately, I did not give up and immediately did research at the Malaysian American Commission on Education Exchange (MACEE) to find a university in the US that would accept me and provide all the finances. My family and friends thought I was crazy, being the youngest of nine children of a very poor carpenter. Anything that required a fee was out of our reach.
Based on merit and my extracurricular activities of community service in secondary school, I received full tuition scholarship, work study, and grants to cover the four years at a highly competitive US university.
Often, I took 21 credits each semester, 15 credits each term while working 20 hours each week and maintaining a 3.5 CGPA. A couple of semesters, I also received division scholarships and worked as a TA (teaching assistant) on top of everything else.
For the work study, I worked as a custodian (yes, cleaning toilets), computer lab assistant, carpet layer, grounds keeping, librarian, painter, tour guide, etc. If you understand the US credit system, you will understand this is a heavy load.
Why did I do it? This is because I learnt as a young child from my parents that hard work is an opportunity, to give my best in everything, and to take pride in the work I do. I walked away with a double major and a minor with honours but most of all a great lesson in humility and a great respect for those who are forced to labour in so-called ‘blue collar’ positions.
Those of you who think you know all about Australia, US, or the West, think again. Unless you have really lived in these countries, i.e. paid taxes, paid a mortgage, taken part in elections, you do not understand the level of commitment and hard work it takes to be successful in these countries, not just for immigrants but for people who have lived here for generations.
These people are where they are today because of hard work. (Of course, I am not saying everyone in the US is hardworking. There is always the lazy lot which lives off of someone else’s hard work. Fortunately, they are the minority.)
Every single person, anywhere, should have the opportunity to succeed if they want to put in the effort and be accountable for their own actions. In the end, they should be able to reap what they sow.
It is bearable that opportunities are limited depending on how well-off financially one’s family is but when higher education opportunities are race-based, like it is in Malaysia; it is downright cruel for those who see education as the only way out of poverty.
If you want to say discrimination is here in the US, yes, of course it is. Can you name a country where it doesn’t happen? But let me tell you one thing - if you go looking for it, you will find it. But in Malaysia, you don’t have to go look for it because it seeks you out, slaps you in your face every which way you turn, and is sanctioned by law!
Here in the US, my children have the same opportunity to go to school and learn just like their black, white, and immigrant friends. At school, they eat the same food, play the same games, are taught the same classes and when they are 18, they will still have the same opportunities.
Why would I want to bring my children back to Malaysia? So they can suffer the state-sanctioned discrimination as the non-bumis have for over 30 years?
As for being a slave in the foreign country, I am a happy ’slave’ earning a good income as an IT project manager. I work five days a week; can talk bad about the president when I want to; argue about politics, race and religion openly; gather with more than 50 friends and family when I want (no permit needed) and I don’t worry about the police pulling me over because they say I ran the light when I didn’t.
How about you………….?
November 12th, 2005 at 12:47 pm
We made a decision to emigrate to Australia 15 years ago deserting my high fly corporate position with our three children.
If history could turn back, we would still do the same.
It is a joke when our three children are fully qualified in their respective professions, then our Malaysia leaders only realize that “Actually English is very important in this era of globalization, let’s go back to English again in our primary school for science and mathematics subjects”.
It is fortunate that we had our own thinking and were able to jump out from this “black box” of trial and error type of management in practically every aspect of the government administration machinery. As a result, our children do not waste their precious years.
Our children enjoy the experience of equal opportunity not only in education but also in employment. That has a very strong impact in character development because then they believe in themselves i.e. their own ability and equal opportunity available for personal development to the fullest extent. And they could fight for their own rights too simply because the environment encourages them to do so i.e. Freedom to think, and freedom to express. They enjoy their work in their respective professions and they have both close Asian and Australian friends.
The Australian authority treats the problem of racial discrimination very seriously and takes action very fast. I still remember those days when my youngest son was teased by certain racial remarks by his schoolmate. My wife reported the case to the school authority and after a proper investigation, the Aussie kid was made to make a public apology to my son and was suspended a week from school attendance.
Australia herself is a country of migrants from all over the world, the Britishs, the Italians and other Europeans also never give up their citizenships though they may stay for over many many years. If they tell you to go back to China, you have equal right to tell them to go back to whatever country they come from. “Fight for your right” is the spirit.
What we are concerned is actually the management of the country. There is enough wealth to be distributed among all the people who can theoretically enjoy better education, better life and medical facility. But poor management and the evil “corruption” have eroded away what the people deserve. If people demand a change, “racialism” is always a powerful tool to protect the regime.
The Australian government extinguishes any little spark that concerns racial issue. There are strict laws and they are very good in enforcement. The two party systems ensure no one monopolizes the government. If the government is not good, people will vote it out for sure.
It is a land of plenty, and of equal opportunity for everyone. One will make his way if he is prepared to seize the opportunity and work hard for it. No one believes in “God” will give, and most believes the creation and reward from their own hands and intelligence.
Though we pay high taxes, the future is more or less ensured as in case we are sick or in difficulty, we have all the assistance from the authority. It is the right for every kid in Australia to have the opportunity to finish his tertiary education if he could make an attempt and possible financial assistance is always there.
Australia’s economy is very robust now and most graduates and school leavers are doing very well. My three kids who are qualified as professionals at a very young age are doing very well. They would not have achieved that type of level if we were to remain in our country of birth. Thank God!
We face less racial discrimination in university and workplace in Australia than in our country of birth.
The ironical fact is that we are being treated more a first class citizen in our host country than in our own country.
Human rights, good administration, equal opportunity and transparency convince us that it is no point wasting our precious time in our own country.
If you really miss our own country, earn and save more money in the host country and join the shiver hair program later on. If you have the money, any country will welcome you for sure.
In general, it is an educated society. People talk not shout, and people reason not accuse and more over it is a much cleaner and more beautiful place to live. I am pleased with my decision and have no regret at all.
November 12th, 2005 at 12:53 pm
molisa
Wow, that’s quite an inspirational story……..
But can I ask, what is meaning of nation? What is meaning of freedom? And what is meaning of citizenship?
What is meaning of slavery? Etc.
I hope will read story with more care to get these answers!
Our legal system sucks, our government sucks, our sport sucks, the people sucks too……
Is there anything about Malaysia that doesn’t suck?
That’s why I sent my son to study oversea. I want him to learn the culture of other people not just the standard of study in this country.
Any welcome to Malaysia - the only country in the world (another world record) where majority needs the protection from minority.
Actually we have a very good country.
We have a very good people, multi cultured, multi racial, we live very happily long long time ago even before independence.
But after Umno taking over the country, everything, many things change!
The protectionism and bumi special rights are the roots to our today problems.
I myself feel very sad to see what is happening in Malaysia. The country is getting sick, very sick!
I was in the same situation way back in 1980s. My only choice was to go to Australia. I am happy I did. Now I can retire in any country I want, including Malaysia. If I had been accepted in the Malaysian university, I would have less than a fifth of what I have now.
Hoping some miracles will happen in future……….
November 12th, 2005 at 12:55 pm
Well, I worked in a few different countries and I have met some transplanted or former Malaysians (Chinese or Indian and even mixed blood). Almost all of them narrated the same treatment they received while they were in Malaysia, when I asked them why they wanted to leave the beautiful country Malaysia.
I have talked to an automotive engineer in Germany (ex-Malaysian married to a German); I met a mining engineer formerly from Ipoh who now lives in Canada; I met a petroleum engineer in Australia who is specialized in fracture stimulation (whatever that is);
I met a spacecraft engineer in Houston who has nothing good to say about Malaysia……….many more people with great talents and expertise who have given up Malaysian citizenships……….most interesting was a malay women who married to an American geologist……….she did not repay her RM90000 Mara loan and do not want to return to Malaysia.
So……….now I am in Malaysia for a year and I realized what those people told me about……….Most of what they said I can now sympathies and understand the situation.
They never ever regret the choice make to give up Malaysian citizenships. Being a non-malay is a second or third class citizen in this country.
My job here is not to change the political situation……….I am just saying what I come across……….
November 12th, 2005 at 12:56 pm
For those who are already in oversea and live comfortably. There is no reason for you to come back to Malaysia. Life in Malaysia is getting tougher each day.
Frankly, as a Chinese, I don’t see there is any future for our next generation.
Another dangerous mentor that people always use is JFK “Don’t ask what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country”.
Is sound nice, but isn’t how German Nazi and Japan militarism start the world war using the same mentor? Under the great “ask what you can do for the country”.
Patriotism? Yes, I understand how you feel. Your love for the country was spoilt by the political party. Since non-malays will always be a second-class citizen, so you are probably the same in any other countries, if not better.
You get cannibalised by your own countrymen, intellectually and professionally.
As someone else advised, be a Global citizen.
Patriotism does not need you to be in Malaysia to work your due. Let no one pointed at you and say you are a traitor if your true intention is to generate good deeds for Malaysia wherever you are.
Save your time about coming back to Malaysia. Nothing will change in Malaysia. At least not even in this lifetime. Racism will still be here to stay, and also everything else.
I think there is such an entrenched discrimination against the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia, that it will take probably a whole generation to undo the damaged.
This is happening in whole spectrum of the Malaysian government, civil service, state governments and universities. Just look at percentage of malays in all these government bodies - 98%……….
A whole generation of malays has been brought up to think that it’s their inherited right to own Malaysia. The other races are damned.
I think the malays especially those in power, are scared right now that if they will to compete openly with other races, they will surely be the loser. You will see very strong resistance to hire other races even the most qualified.
The malays are never brought up to compete on even ground. This is fault of previous PM and now the present PM has to tread a balance ground to ensure the malays are not cast away as well as to make Malaysia competitive worldwide.
In US I never met a malay immigrant, although there are thousands of Malaysian Chinese and Indian immigrants. Why? Malays in Malaysia have an easier life where they are literately prince of the land.
We have infrastructure good enough to be considered first world or better. Look at the Cyberjaya, Petronas Twin Towers, Putrajaya?
Gleaming high-rise buildings but also in every city, dirty toilets abound, litter clogging up the drains, public telephones damaged, plus unreliable rubbish collection and disposal. We just treat public facilities badly, not caring about others.
Being an urban dweller myself, I am constantly disheartened by the poor public infrastructure and upkeep in our capital city.
Faulty pedestrian traffic signals, illogical positioning of bus stops, poor public cleanliness, poor quality sidewalks (which are paved using slippery tiles), un-integrated and poorly managed public transportation system, the list goes on.
Your children can’t even walk safely along the Kuala Lumpur streets, as they might be bags snatched, kidnapped, murdered, raped, or robbed, as they do not know the jungle laws of Malaysia. The police won’t help much as they now have a big pile of corruption cases running after them.
You owe nothing to Malaysia, you pay your due, so live on.
So, my last advice. Don’t come back unless you are really suffering in oversea.
I’m sorry this sounds very racist but I think we have to be honest in discussion.
November 12th, 2005 at 2:29 pm
i remember you as that guy who goes by the nick, “racist” in limkitsiang.blogspot.com. apparently you have migrated to this blog to post your sentiment on the issue of racial discrimination.
“For those who are already in oversea and live comfortably. There is no reason for you to come back to Malaysia.”
the fact is there are many malaysians making a living abroad, who are struggling to make ends meet and saving so that they can return (to begin afresh).
“Since non-malays will always be a second-class citizen, so you are probably the same in any other countries..”
there is racial discrimination. the difference is that in united states there are laws against it - but they still discriminate. you dont even realise they do- when they do. whereas in malaysia they do it openly - racial discrimination is institutionalised. which is better? you decide.
the playing field was not level to begin with. they tried to level the playing field so that the malays stood a fair chance.. they saw it as a way to ensure political stability and racial harmony. the policy was not to enrich a few politically connected malays or to deny malaysians like molisa.
there are four of us Malays right here in new york. we have adopted the U.S. as our country - one of my kids is married to a U.S. citizen and doing well.
“(referring to malaysia)… dirty toilets abound, litter clogging up the drains, public telephones damaged, plus unreliable rubbish collection and disposal. … poor public infrastructure and upkeep in our capital city.”
“Faulty pedestrian traffic signals, illogical positioning of bus stops, poor public cleanliness, poor quality sidewalks (which are paved using slippery tiles), un-integrated and poorly managed public transportation system, the list goes on.”
you can find the same here in the united states. depends where you are.
“You get cannibalised by your own countrymen, intellectually and professionally.”
when we left malaysia, they were not eating people over there.
“So, my last advice. Don’t come back unless you are really suffering in oversea.”
thanks for the advice. but i would like to return one day to visit the place where i was born. i love the chinese food over there.
November 12th, 2005 at 2:32 pm
P.S.
i love the chinese girls over there too. i almost married one.
November 12th, 2005 at 2:34 pm
to molisa
i am so very sorry.
November 12th, 2005 at 2:43 pm
to molisa again
as a malay and a malaysian, i feel ashamed for what did not happen for you back in malaysia.
November 12th, 2005 at 4:57 pm
Molisa
In your brief narration about your life struggle, your misfortune in not being able to receive financial assistance of any kind, you rightly differentiate the (Malay-dominated) government from the people - the Malays. Most do not, and equate one with the other. It is wrong to do so.
Your problem has not been just with the Malaysian government. Your problem is wider than that. The system failed you – not just the government. You have fallen within the cracks in the system.
A classmate of my son, a son of a former Minister when offered a place in one of the prestigious institutions in the U.K. Cambridge University refused to apply for a government scholarship and had his education financed through other means because he felt it would be wrong to apply and deny somebody else of the opportunity. Another classmate of his did not get good results for his exam but was offered a Petronas scholarship but felt very guilty afterwards because his father could afford to pay his way. Also he knew he got the scholarship based on his father’s connections – and not on merit. One should be commended for his exemplary behaviour – and, to be sure, there are not many like that. The other cannot be blamed. Would you refuse an offer of scholarship when offered one?
My kids attended the International School in KL and continued their education abroad because I could afford it. I did not seek government assistance of any kind for them.
Would I myself have been able to attend university without a scholarship? No. I had good results in my exam (at the time, exam scripts were corrected in England) and was offered a place by the University of Singapore (relatively rare for a Malay since Malaysia has its own university) but could not afford it. During my days as an undergrad I could not afford anything more than goring pisang for supper when some of my other college mates, Chinese and natives from Sarawak and Sabah included, could afford to gamble away the money they receive through poker games and some just living it off, spending their money in cabarets. Even then something was not quite right.
November 12th, 2005 at 7:47 pm
I am currently in one of the top UK universities. Here, we have arguably some of the best minds from the younger generation of Malaysia; many of the top scorers from all over converge here. Every year, around 40 of us enter the university, as undergraduates or postgraduates, and every year, around the same number graduate.
So how many actually go back to Malaysia to contribute their talents to the country? Safe to say, not more than 10 percent of the whole lot. Why? Because quite a number us are disenchanted by the system.
For those who have worked their guts out under the public education system, they just want to get out. This is especially true for those from lower- and middle-income families who have to struggle beyond all odds just because they are not ‘special,’ punished by the system not because of their abilities, but because of their skin colour.
Prospects for them to explore their potentials here in the UK after graduation are unhindered by any discriminatory systems.
What about the rest of the younger generation who are not so lucky? Many above-average Malaysian students are denied proper local tertiary education and end up being picked by universities from our neighbouring country (look for Singapore).
Hundreds of talented students are there because they were not given the proper opportunity at home. After graduating, most of them have to work in that foreign country for a couple of years and chances are that a great portion of them will not be coming back.
I have talked to a close friend from in a similar situation recently and he told to me that it is very depressing; in his own words, he said that he feels “like a destitute, unwanted by his own country,” and yet he does not really feel as though he belongs where he is now.
Brain drain by the tank-loads is what we get. Every single year, Malaysia loses people who could potentially contribute to the country immensely.
November 12th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
We have never experienced any racial discrimination in any form whatsoever the many years I have been in Canada. A Vietnamese sushi chef here I know was once a refugee at Pulau Betong. He, like many others, I know has prospered and his children have all gone through university.
Malaysia’s loss of talent to other countries is the result of the pervasive special rights now entrenched in the constitution.
It was meant to last for 25 years to allow - in the words of the first prime minister - “the malays to catch up with the Chinese”. It is now 47 years later.
In foreign countries such as Canada, it is the majority that has to take care of minority rights be it the gays, the natives, the women and whatever groups there are. We pay heavy taxes but these go for the poor and low-income people irrespective of race, colour or creed.
So the malay, you may keep your rights and perpetuate them. Such things are archaic. Who loses in the end? Your country, which should have been a first world one by today.
November 12th, 2005 at 7:51 pm
It is over in San Francisco and I love respond to the question. Emigration is very common. Our family had been emigrated to USA (me), my elder brother (UK), my younger brother (Taiwan) and youngest brother (Canada).
All of them are doing very well. I am almost light year ahead of my Malaysian counterpart who did not move. Believe me, I do not have much grudge against the government.
As far as I am concerned, it is a matter of survival for our family. I just cannot wait for the ’system’ to be totally fair. Because there is not such things. Even in many countries where there is only one race, there will be other self made problems such as left and right, and so on.
My vision from the point of Malaysian Chinese to be educated (real), not getting just a ’silly’ diploma, diversify all portfolio internationally. You must understand that there are many Americans who are doing well, they always have some portfolio oversea, it does not mean that they are being disloyal.
The world is getting so small. I really do not see getting a job in Hong Kong or Taiwan or the US is such a big deal anymore. I am happy that we left, I do not think we could achieve in Malaysia ‘even’ if the system is totally fair. It is because we are lacking of vision for ourselves. We are always responding retroactively and try to catch up.
For example, Malaysia want to start the biotech, but I am worry that the educational level ‘even’ from the top university (UM, USM) is not good enough. I did research some of the top professors of said colleges. Sorry, I am not too impressed. We have to really catch up.
My wife is another brain drain. She just got a research grant from NIH by being the top 1% of all US scientists. Her boss always said: You must be the top 5% or above. Her group has a total of US$147000000 research grant (147 millions). We have no clue what we can contribute to Malaysia’s science if we return. We will be dealing with silly racial politics and intransigent bureaucrats.
Same thing happened to my brother in Taiwan, he is one of the top civil engineer in Taiwan and very successful one. It will be a torture for him to return home. What do you guys think?
My greatest concern is that if Malaysians are not serious about progress, I am a little pessimistic about the future. We will be seeing too tidal wave from China and India, and not to mention Japan, Korea or Taiwan.
We are so spoon fed by government, we can’t think anymore. You see, I have little respect for governments (Malaysia, Taiwan or USA) because they are run by a lot of incompetent peoples especially in science.
For example, all the chancellors in the university in Malaysia are from royal family. I am skeptical of their scientific achievement except they are great in giving themselves all the meaningless titles.
You see, my wife’s chancellor was the 1987 Nobel laureate in Medicine. He discovered the ‘Oncogene’. They are the people who started companies like Genentech (www.gene.com) or Chiron (www.chiron.com), just to name a few.
Final suggestion: Education, I mean real. I accept only doctorate level. My wife has two, PhD and MD as well. Compete internationally.
Sorry for the bragging.
November 12th, 2005 at 8:21 pm
Humans have always migrated throughout history - ‘in search of better lives’. It is in our blood. Animals also do it. Some prefer to settle, others move on at whatever odds. The Chinese race is a good example of enthusiastic migrants. The Scots yet another.
Take the example of my own extended family. My father, who came from a poor family, emigrated together with his late father and late elder brother from Guangdong to Ipoh in 1923. The price they paid was separation from my late grandmother for a couple of years.
When reunited, the family expanded to a total of 10 children. Within one generation, eight of these children were able to go to university in Malaya (Singapore) and the UK. Three of these were Queen’s scholars and another, a Colombo Plan scholar. This was during the time of the British, with free and fair competition prevailing.
Within another generation, my family were all dispersed around the world. Today, we have family in the USA, UK, the Middle East and Australia. There are only two families left in Bolehland (Malaysia) from the previous generation - and they are retired.
In this generation, we have 13 doctors - all but one specialists - with one the holder of personal chair in a UK university. I am sure all of us can attribute our various successes to being at the right place at the right time and also by being open minded, diligent and persistent.
The argument has nothing to do with patriotism or race. We all love Malaysia as a country but we objected to the form and type of governance and the society it created during various times.
This spurred our migration and our decision to work and live away from the land we were born in. Some of us have even maintained our Malaysian citizenship in hope that things will change and we may be able to return. Nonetheless, we are thankful that we have not been hindered in our move across borders. We are also thankful that holding a Malaysian passport today will facilitate movement between many countries compared to say, 20 years ago.
In short, our leaving was our silent, peaceful protest. It will of course fall on deaf ears because the existing muhibah ruling class will only be interested in furthering their own wealth and well-being and not those of the rakyat. Fortunately for some of us, we could vote with our feet. So let it be.
We take a larger global view and see that we contribute to the world, not directly Bolehland. My question is: Have you considered that those who do not migrate are the ones who are truly enslaved?
And to the present government I ask: How do you think you could lure people like us back? (Hint: Better money would not work - as we get less where we all are.)
November 12th, 2005 at 8:22 pm
There are push and pull factors involved. An emigrant is both trying to escape something and advance towards another thing at the same time. For instance, a scientist who cannot flourish in his own country will want to go somewhere where his expertise is appreciated.
Perhaps he finds the anti-intellectualism in his milieu too stifling (unfortunately, this is very true in Malaysia), or the government of the day too partial when it comes to resource allocation.
You see, the major problem with a not insignificant number of Malaysians is that there is a lot of false pride around. This is a vestige of Mahathirianism. Small achievements are overblown so as to build up national pride. It’s Malaysia Boleh this and Malaysia Boleh that.
Anyway, I say cheer the emigrants on. Let people do what they want with their lives - they should not be beholden to the country. Do not blame their lack of patriotism for not staying - patriotism is poor persuasion.
November 12th, 2005 at 10:12 pm
Fair Malaysian:
T.I.N.A. I am sure the real Tina in Bangsar Baru will react at the very mention of her name. Selamat Hari Raya, Tina and Matmacho, Maaf Zahir & Batin.
The system which is dominated by UMNO of the wrong types (such as Dato Badruddin, the Lord of Yen, Kedah and his fellow pantunniers) is too entrenched. As I have said before, UMNO members must decide what they want. Sadly, most of them prefer the status quo. Why change something that works for their self interest.
You should read the works of public choice theorists like Mancur Olson, Gordon Tulloch, Nobel Laureate in Economics James Buchanan to understand how the system operates. Just remember the words “distributional coalitions” or vested interests. After all politics is about who gets what, when, how, how much, and how soon.
Lim Kit Siang and Anwar Ibrahim would do the same if they ever came to power. George Bush and Dick Cheney are doing that right now in the United States for the Republicans, and the Christain Right. Even Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouges cronies, and they too were not adverse to the politics of greed during the reign of terror (1975-1979).
So in the short term, we know that nothing changes in our country. In the long term, we will all be dead, including those are perpetuators of the present system of politics. That does not mean we should give up.
Today, we urgently need a leader who has lots of common sense, guts to make critical decisions, strong managerial skills, and self-confidence to engage people who are smarter than himself and empower them to get the job done. He must be someone who has the courage to fire those who do not perform, and change things without waiting for “ilham” (inspiration).
I do not have anyone in mind after the man who we once criticised retired from office two years ago. All I can say, Fair Malaysian, that Badawi hasn’t got what it takes to bring our country to the next stage. Of course, I could be entirely wrong in my assessment. After he is now entering his 3 year in office. Rome was not built in a day. God took seven days to create the Earth. Badawi will take longer than even Tun Dr. Mahathir. So why not give him 40 years!!
Until we can be tough and are prepared to demand high accountability standards of our elected leaders, our country will lag behind our neighbours in the era of globalisation. Dr Bakri devoted an entire book titled “Malaysia in the Era of Globalisation” with very useful ideas and practical suggestions. In it, he also published an open letter to Tun Dr. Mahathir, then the Prime Minister, where he made some proposals. Badawi would be well advised to read it.
WanitaUMNO:
If you belong to Wanita UMNO, you should get the woman folks to do something. For example, you should reject Rafidah Aziz and her cronies so that fresh leaves have a chance to grow and mature in Wanita UMNO. Maybe Puteri UMNO leader, Dato Noraini. She and her team could take over with the proviso that she remained very cool and level-headed. Would you do that? Probably not as you would be wanting to protect your hide.
In responding to you, I can react to your suggestion that I should be appointed to advise Badawi in one of two ways, either, one, by treating it as a cynical remark, coming from an UMNO loyalist or, two, as a compliment. I tend to think that you are being cynical as most UMNO types are.
Anyway, allow me to say that I am not looking for a job. In addition, I am sure Badawi has better qualified people around him. The only problem is that his people are afraid to displease their leader. Realistically speaking, who will appoint (assuming I am desperately looking for a job) that “small boy” who is prepared to say to say to his leader, “Sir, you have no clothes except your underwears”?
Remember, the smart boy who suggested to the Malay Sultan of Temasek that he, the Sultan, should line the coast with pokok pisang (banana trunks) to deal with the ”ikan todak” (swordfish) threat. You know what happened to him!!
Molisa (and others):
Great and congrats. I expected no less from a former student of the St. George”s Girl School, MacAlister Road, Penang. I was educated in the Penang Free School. My classmates and I had a special fondness for the girls from your school. They were our cheerleaders whenever we played against St. Xavier’s Institution in soccer, rugby and athletics. They rejoiced whenever we were victorious and lamented whenever we lost. We used to say to ourselves that we would rather break our legs rather than hurt their hearts whenever we took on our rival school. By the way, during my time (1958-1959), we beat St. Xavier’s hands down. We also won against Chung Ling High School.
I believe that we, the Malays, too can compete and excel. For every Malay you and others seek to insult and label as “soft” or “useless” by implication, I can find another who survived and excelled under conditions of adversity and intra-racial discrimination (UMNOputra Malays versus Malays).
We are capable of competing with the rest of you. We too respond to incentives, not handouts and can work our butts off for our families. Get off the Winstedt mind-set and remove from your mind the Myth of the Lazy Native (Syed Hussein Alatas).
While I admire your achievements and rejoice in your success, I am saddened that the Malays who succeeded through their own blood, sweat and tears are being lumped together with those who relied on patronage and political connections (Fathol Zaman made this point, of the son of a former Mayor of Kuala Lumpur).
It is dangerous to generalise. It would be more helpful if you could suggest how we can change the mind-set of Malays who are addicted to handouts, drugs and corruption. A confident Malay polity is key to the future stability of Malaysia.
Thanks.
November 12th, 2005 at 11:19 pm
Hi Molisa,
If what you say is true, and by default, that happens to be the situation after 1970 anyway, then it is sad to hear that yo had to endure such a shameful treatment but you made a choice, and a good one at that and glad that you have built a life where guilt and shame borne out of shameful govt policies have hurt one too many.
In a way, you are lucky. With parents who had little or no education, you were still able to make the grade and above all did not stop in going further when you were cruelly slapped with racial politics. We believe, as Malaysians, and as equal participants and contributors, we need to be treated with respect and dignity. But let me tell you something that I see it my way - you or others may or may not see it that way but this is what I have understood. When the Alliance and its successor, Barisan, proudly declared that their form of power-sharing govt ensures a fair distribution of “everything” the notion was to protect the minority interests of respective races. While I would certainly take a jibe at this marriage of convenience, that was how it was to be. UMNO was supposed to take of the Malays, MCA the Chinese, MIC the Indians and so on. While there is reason to believe that the common Malays are dissatisfied with how the affirmative policies have benefitted a select few with a large majority just shown the crumbs, the Chinese and Indian warlords have utterly failed in ensuring an equitable position for us. Look at Samy Velu at the helm of MIC for more than 20 years and he is still talking about his “unfinished business” for the Indians. Perhaps, what he means is that his has not reached the mark of his quest for his standard he has set to attain the wealth he had sought out to when becoming the MIC president. The Chinese were slightly better because of their deep-seated belief in the economics.
What irks me most is many of the Indians are caught in a cycle of deceit and discontentment and end up making the numbers for anything but right. The Indians seem to face a gloom and doom and while most Indians do know that the MIC had let them down and the govt is definitely not sincerely bothered except for the votes, why are the Indians and the non-malays still voting for the BN. The election prior to the last one gave a fantastic opportunity to change all that where the majority of the Malays decided to vote against BN but we, the non-malays, saved the day for BN but has this ever been taken into consideration. I don’t see it. Frankly, the Malays have a wisdom in exercising the political rights and votes. This time around they abandoned PAS and voted BN because of the fear of their rights and priveleges being diluted but we, the non-malays, do not have such wisdom. We ride by the word “patriotism” and as pointed by some, it means disaster to the non-malays. If the majority of the non-malays have chosen this path and failed to make the difference, even if it has been subtle, then we have ourserlves to blame. We will be only heard and our plight taken note of when we stop believing in these half-baked politicians and decide to vote with our own minds. The Malays have done it, why not us? Are we that stupid or ignorant?
November 13th, 2005 at 1:25 am
Fair Malaysian,
Let us hope that the Malaysian Indians will start doing something about Samy and his gang in MIC. I used the word “gang” for a very good reason. Gangsters are being used to keep party dissidents in line. MIC too has gotten the avian flu of the UMNO variety, and the pandemic has spread to Ong Ka Ting’s MCA.
Fair Malaysian, is MIC ready for a change, or is it again a question of TINA?
Thanks.
November 13th, 2005 at 3:05 am
Bro Din,
If the recent Samy’s outbursts is anything to go by, he is worried, not for the Indians welfare but for his welfare. The war being fought generally against the MIC in general and Samy in particular may bear fruits by the time of the next election. The consensus among us is that he should go or we are going to vote for the opposition, lock,stock and barrel. He might be thinking within his small kingdom that he is immune from the anxieties of the Indians to the extent that he dreams of having it all his way, at his peril. That will be his dream and only a dream as the tide is slowly but surely turning against him. In fact, the words MIC and Samy Velu are “dirty” words in our dictionary and it will be his folly to think that all is well.
MIC will become more of a liability to BN with Samy around. The sad part of this is, like UMNO, the entire gang behind him are as useless and the “tea-talk” among our friends is that we should abandon the MIC. After about 25 years in power, with Maika failed and cheating his way through, he has the cheek to say that he still has “unfinished” business. Can you believe that?
November 13th, 2005 at 6:32 am
bang din,
adoooh…! bulu roma dik tinah berdiri lah. for the first time, bang din kita ‘emotional’. easy, be cool! dont lose your balance, be fair and balance.
November 13th, 2005 at 6:39 am
P.S.
tapi jangan pulak mengorat molissa. dia tu dah kahwin. dik tinah belum lagi lah..
November 13th, 2005 at 8:01 am
Bro Din,
This is the dilemma. I have scratched my head many a times and tried to pin down any one leader who would be able to “take the bull by its horns” but sadly and quite honestly I cannot see one. With a mandate almost unprecedented in Malaysian history, I hoped Abdullah can make the cut. In addition, he is seen to be clean, quite opposed to the greedy and tyrannical goofs around him. However, I do see your point that time is not on our side and Abdullah may lack the courage to go head-on. After all, he has been bred from the same grains and the genes of the ruling partyists seem to run through without exception, and the culture therefrom would be an encumbrance forever, since the price of support for him would well be the loyalty expected and also renders the tendency to the “close one eye” syndrome.
Most of my friends and I are looking at the prospect of someone from the “outside” to bring about the changes but it is still too early to invest our hopes on anyone yet but given the extent of the problem, nothing short of a paradigm shift would be required.
I have been writing a book together with an Australian friend which essentially deals with a hypothetical country. Guess what - the similarities are striking indeed and she has a desire to turn it into a mini series. Maybe when the time is right, I may publish it on the web.
November 13th, 2005 at 8:01 am
Hi Tina,
Welcome back and how was your Hari Raya?
November 13th, 2005 at 8:27 am
I was posed this question several time before. “What would you do if you were in their position?” We all are looking into a glass window and are mulling over our actions, as the temptation is just too great to miss. It is easy to deride those who have their hands in the cookie jar.
But if your resolve is strong you’ll never want to be corrupt.
This Chinese business friend of mine relishes in telling me the antics of a former State Secretary who acts as a link between his company and the Kedah state government. He would tell how demanding the ex-officer was, how lavish his lifestyle and how tasteful his palatial bunglow in Alor Star. And he had acquired such expensive taste after a few years into retirement. It seemed rather odd to him.
Why complained, I asked him. After all, he was part of the problem. Did he not benefit from the guy’s connections? I had similar experience with one rich Dato’ in Malacca who claimed that he was Rahim Thamby Chik’s “lembu”. And all that after knowing him for hardly an hour.
That goes to show how loyal some people are.
Corruption involves both giver and taker and here we have a classic case of the giver making a mountain of the taker’s taste. Such is the greed of Man. He is never satisfied, under whatever circumstances.
I allude to the statement by Pak Din about Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang. Would they not do the same given half the chance?
November 13th, 2005 at 11:22 am
Well, you know what they say. Power corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely, given the chance, should he not watch himself, any politician (or most) would abandon his mission for money and status.
But anyways, its sad to see the state of the modern Malaysian. I for one believe that Malaysians are very talented, and we can literally take the world by storm. If only we were given the chance and the support to do so!
Being an undergraduate, I have been advised time and time again by my elders, that if it were possible, attain a job overseas (currently in Aussie). And don’t come back. Except for holiday, and the food. But its hard, because despite the racial prejudices, I still love my country, and would really like to see to its betterment.
Well, perhaps not in my lifetime. =\
November 13th, 2005 at 12:34 pm
Molisa, Sans and Humans and others like yourselves,
I am a Malay living in the United States. I graduated from a U.K. university. I left Malaysia in search of a better life where I am free to think and do as I please, where nobody tells me what to think and do. I am a free spirited individual. The Malaysian government discriminates against Malays. We are not free like the non-Malays are. The Government leaves you alone and do not have that “in your face” presence as they do in our case. The community back home, in which we live will not let us be free or different.
When you talk about emigration there is more to it than just economics - and affirmative action policies.
I have relatives and friends who now live in the U.K., Holland, Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand – and call these places home.
It is our choice – and we are happy for it.
We still have roots back in Malaysia. Are we bitter with the Malaysian government for discriminating against us? No. We are thankful that as a result of their discriminatory policies, we are leading happy and fruitful lives in countries like the United States – where we are free, and I mean free.
If I were in your position, with all the racial discrimination back home in terms of places in the country’s tertiary education institutions, scholarships etc, I would be happy to pack up my bags and leave like you have done – and like I, and others like me, have done though for different reasons.
I do not hate the country I was born in. It is part of my heritage. I would like to return occasionally in search of my roots.
Life is more than just having a good job – and is not to be measured in terms of dollars and cents alone. I am not prepared to live a lie and say that I am happy when I am not.
We are among the fortunate in that we are able to excercise our freedom of choice. Others do not know what they are missing.
November 13th, 2005 at 6:16 pm
Oversee
You did not look hard enough. I personally know of 20 families of Malay immigrants living in California alone.
Dr Bakri,
When Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was the Minister of Education, he was caught in the Bahasa Malaysia euphoria and so couldn’t see the usefulness of English as the international language. When he was the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, he couldn’t act unless the PM who was also the Home Minister say so. In Malaysia Ministers can’t act or decide on their own. Everything has to be decided by the Cabinet. Call it collective decision making so you can’t be blamed if something goes wrong.
Time passes on and trend, taste and fashion changes. Decision made by Abdullah in his previous capacity were the best at that time. Now with new changes and information, his decisions then may not be the best now. We too make that mistake and years later find that we should or should not have made certain decisions.
Notwithstanding all that I agree with you that Abdullah’s report card to date is dismal and have not shown signs of improvement. Maybe that is why his initial is AAB. Start with A, then still maintain an A and end up with a B. (just kidding)
It seems that all of us want instant action, instant punishment, instant correction of the system. Sometimes it is easier said than done. The way the government machinery and decision making process in Malaysia is set up is complicated and too many patronizing. Thus Abdullah can’t fire Isa and Kasitah or even Rafidah.
November 13th, 2005 at 6:18 pm
Tina, Tina, you must be more discreet. You are scaring the “young studs” away. I am sure you got style and class, so use that and you will win your man soon. It is just a matter of image and strategy. Your present approach is giving even Matmacho a bit of a headache.
Take care.
November 13th, 2005 at 7:38 pm
Fair Malaysian,
Thanks for your comments.
Politics is a strange animal. Since it is all about power and the benefits that go with it, Machiavelli probably offers the best advice. Forgot about ethics and morals, but the politicians will always use morality as a front because it appeals to “suckers” like you and I. It is no wonder that politics, which is as old as humanity, never appealed to me. What you say about Samy Velu and others is true. They are as strange as politics itself.
I am concerned about the economy at this time. So, I am re-reading Keynes’ General Theory and Treatise on Money (and I will look at John Kenneth Galbraith’s The Great Crash and Paul Krugman’s The Return to Depression Economics after that). Both books are classics today, and they contain some valuable insights into how the economy works.
Keynes argues that the economy is driven by entrepreneurs who act on the basis of “expectations”. He recognised that there is a time lag between the entrepreneur’s decision to invest and produce, and the delivery and sale of his goods and services directly or indirectly to the final consumer. This brilliant British economist also wrote an outstanding tome on Probability Theory, focussing on Uncertainty and Risk.
Anything that upsets an entrepreneur’s perception of and confidence in the future, and hence his willingness to produce (his inducement to invest), will affect employment and national income (GDP). So policy uncertainities, for example, the concern that the fuel prices will go up in Malaysia next year, will prevent him from making any commitment to produce now. For this reason, government policy is an important variable.
I am sure Badawi understands this Econ 101 stuff. Right now, I do not know what he wants to do. Indecision can only create more uncertainty. When Tun Daim was the Executive Director, National Economic Action Council in 1998 and Minister of Finance, he, with the support of Tun Dr. Mahathir, made the restoration of investor confidence the primary objective of our national recovery plan.
The National Economic Recovery Plan (NERP), which was prepared in consultation with captains of industry, academics, policy makers and foreign experts, spelt out as precisely as possible what the Mahathir Administration would do to revive the economy in terms of Government strategies and policy responses. The Plan included the creation of Danaharta and Danamodal to deal with Non-Performing Loans, and to recapitalise and merge the banks, thereby strengthening the banking and financial system of Malaysia.
Both Tun Dr. Mahathir and Tun Daim got the economy moving again in 1999-2000 because they acted decisively, and reduced uncertainty. As a result, Malaysia experienced a V-shaped recovery by mid-2000. Given the state of our economy today, we may need to revisit the NERP.
Sitting still around and hoping for the best is not an option. Restoration of investor confidence is a must for 2006. If Badawi can do that, he would have regained public confidence in his political leadership and economic stewardship. Dato Mustapha Mohamed, the respected University of Melbourne trained economist, should be given a prominent role when Badawi reschuffles his Cabinet.
Thanks.
November 13th, 2005 at 9:00 pm
Dear All,
“Tabik-spring” to all those (malays and non-malays) whom “made-it” overseas. Your stories (esp. those like Molisa) are truly inspirational. Your strength of conviction and resolve makes you a true “towering individual”. to me, it doesn’t matter to whom you pledge your allegience now. If you have any grief, I believe it is towards the system, and administration, but not at the millions of honest Malaysians who toil everyday to earn a decent living, who sees the value of their ringgit dimish as time goes by, whose struggle are the same either a malay, chinese or indian, that is to put food on the table and clothing on their back, who have to spend hundreds of ringgit monthly to sent their kids for tuition as school is not enough, etc..etc. Do not punish decent honest Malaysian for the misdeeds of others. Enlighten us, guide us, impart your expertise and knowledge, but do not abandon us. Help us to make Malaysia a better place.
November 13th, 2005 at 11:35 pm
Dear All.
Life is a double edged sword.
Mother Nature offers us the choice between protection and nurturing for our young. Over protection would result in dependency syndrome while nurturing through life’s hard lessons would require resolute to stand by while our young struggle through the mills of the real world to become men and women. A balance would be ideal. Somehow, in reality many parents find it difficult to achieve this balance.
I like to repeat the most oft quoted quote here.
When someone is hungry, if we give him a fish, we only feed him for a day and while if we teach him how to fish, he feeds himself for the rest of his life.
After reading many of the comments, I am very much tempted to add my two cents worth.
I am a contrarian. I like to see it from a completely different perspective. It is perhaps not by design, that the advantaged ones are the non-Malays and not the Malays. I like to differentiate advantaged as against privileged.
Let me explain
Gold is tried by fire, brave men by adversity
- Seneca. Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD
Molisa, Clear, Iexpat, and others I believe if life had bestowed you with comfort and privileged existence in the past you may not have achieved as much as you have today and definitely would not have written your piece with such great pride. What you have gone through was simply ‘opporthreat’ ‘When written in Chinese, the word “crisis” is composed of two characters. One represents danger, and the other represents opportunity.-John F. Kennedy. You all have evidently done tremendously well affront with your own respective past adversities. Your achievement today, I believe is the result of what you have become as a result of your environment – your family values and your upbringing.
He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has.
Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887, American preacher, orator, writer)
In view of current economy, there is plenty of uncertainty and insecurity amongst Malaysians in the streets, particularly small time businessmen and employees and contract workers of the private sector. Government employees are selfdom affected by the unpredictable temperament of the economy being cushioned by the concept of lifetime employment by the government. However I believe the Malays had been and still is at a cross roads. Theirs is an insecurity of a different kind. By default, the system of government today where leaders continue to drum into them that they are not only not- up to the mark globally but also to the other Malaysians not of their ethnicity as well. The collective people psyche of insecurity is a powerful negative driving force in a society.
I remember working on a social psychology project during my varsity days to test the veracity of the theory “fear and affiliation’. People tend to either become aggressive, assertive or withdrawn depending on the level of fear – threats or insecurities confronted by them. Those subjected to moderate fear/threats would generally seek association and those subjected to severe degree of fear would generally be withdrawn. UMNO, I believe knowingly or unknowing created the atmosphere of fear/threat from other communities to gain support of the Malays. When subjected to threat (perceived or otherwise) they quickly seek association and as a result conveniently cringe under the umbrella protection from UMNO. Obviously crutches are distributed as incentives for political support and not as assistance for improvement - it may have started with good intentions. Subsequently, it is found to serve political interest to continue to have the people addicted to the crutches instead of weaning from them.
For those who enjoy reading cartoons, Peanuts was a cartoon strip I enjoyed reading during my secondary school days. One of the characters in Peanuts is Linus, he would ‘die’ if caught without his security blanket. Somehow I see the Malays today as Linus. Their security blanket is the government or to be more precise UMNO. However when UMNO failed/s to deliver over the past many years and even now, they found a new security blanket – religion, Islam.
This security blanket has to be dealt with. The most effective way to improve people is to give them the confidence in life. Confidence in oneself can only be attained through achievement in life. Material wealth alone does not add confidence to a person’s life. It is pretty common today to hear many professional Malays have done so successfully. The few that posted their comments here are perhaps representative of the new Malays that have gained confidence not as a result of the government largesse but more due to their ability. Dr Bakri, Saudara Din, and many others who comment confidently on this blog are good examples. Dr Bakri in his writings has made numerous recommendations to expose the Malays to diverse challenges such as to prepare them to succeed in the real world. Are the people who walk the corridor of power listening?
The heart is a good example. It is a vital organ of our human body. It is known fact that, for an athlete to perform, the heart need to be challenged frequently beyond its normal performance. UMNO does the opposite. It takes away the challenge from the privilege ones and assigns them to permanent disablement. Therefore crutches are needed into eternity.
Obviously I am not addressing the concept of fairness here. Just from the angle of human achievement through opporthreat which result in many succeeding where the privileged ones could not. Which would you rather your children be, enjoy the handouts of the government of today and be damned permanently as invalids needing crutches frequently? Or pride and dignity be the options, given the number of commentators who have ‘made it’ in spite of lack of assistance from the government.
Having given my two cents worth, there is something that came into mind.
I salute you all for standing out and succeed in this world. So are the one million who have migrated. But please think of the many many more unfortunate ones, tile layers, carpenters, technicians, spray painters, mechanics, salesmen, hawkers, drivers amongst them, who may not have the opportunity as you have to pit for a place in an alternate land of opportunity apart from our place of birth, Malaysia.
It is often forgotten that these people are the ones providing us with the basic needs in life. They contribute to the economy through their daily toil. Thousands of them working and toiling in their own world providing services as SMI’s to churn the economy. Do they ask for their fair share of the government handouts? They just survive. Survive they will in the own way, away from the eyes of the more privileged middle class who majority enjoy modern facilities like internet while occasionally raiding the buffet table at hotels complaining the lack of variety for the price they pay. Most of these people live in villages and urban slump. I am sure their number is not small. Incidentally, I am not raising the issues of the poor farmers for there are already enough said.
Shall we also endeavor to bring awareness and opportunities like what Molisa had to them? Their children too deserve similar opportunity for education to take them off their present condition of poverty lest we assign them to a permanent place as VCD peddlers. MCA? DAP? Can we teach these people to fish and fish smartly?
November 14th, 2005 at 2:10 am
Kgboy,
Those Malays in leadership positions should set the example with their own children. In stead, they chose to take advantage of their status, and teach the children how to exploit and abuse the system. That to me is the most tragic aspect of Malay feudalism. Today, if these kids are challenged they will wilt and die with drugs.
Thanks.
November 14th, 2005 at 3:25 am
Saudar Din,
Malaysia can be such a great place to live. Many foreigners would break a leg to come here and enjoy the best of both worlds, quality of life and the cost of living and ofcourse plus lack of natural disaster. The cultural diversity and the yum yun, the food. Unfortunately, we have to spoil it by increasingly making our country less safe and less comfortable due to lack of maintenance of infrastructure. Amongst the many who would agree with me is Tan Sri Dr Nordin Sophie who spoke at length of our advantage in this area during seminar I attended some three months ago.
Our motherland, Malaysia can be and should be such an ideal place for melting pot of the great Asian cultures. We are learning from each other’s cultures, the Malays from the Chinese on work ethics while the the Chinese from the Malays in the area of demeanor. There is a very important principle in the traditional Chinese teaching. “Tolerance” which could also mean discipline. Discipline, learned from young would enable the practitioner to be equiped for challenges in later life. For example, financial discipline, discipline against societal ills such as drugs, gambling, promiscuity, etc. One of the weakness I see amongst the corrupt is their lack of discipline. They give in to tempatation of corruption easily without a ounce of resistance. I believe there is a Islam’s equivalence to this in the name of ‘jihad’?
I am a sucker for quotes. This quote by Seneca always inspire me.
Gold is tried by fire, brave men by adversity
We would survive. But we need changes. Changes always create ‘white waters’ Are we prepared for it - to shoot through the rapids!!.
November 14th, 2005 at 3:58 am
And Napolean said and I quote, “The only reason that prevents the poor from murdering the rich is religion.” Religion, as we have all acknowledged on this blog, is one stumbling block. It’s regressive in nature and has become a convenient political weapon to keep the Malays in check.
If you want to teach a person to fish make sure he’s not hampered by religious edicts which serve only to deter him.
Religious programmes on radio revolve around “hukum” for this and that. Seldom have I heard the preacher ’s words of wisdom on a myriad of issues other than the punishments for sinners and the wayward in the hereafter.
Where do we go from here?
November 14th, 2005 at 6:35 am
Hi Friends,
I remember once reading a very interesting article by Marina Mahatir, laying out a number of questions to the ulamas (I believe) on how they intend to solve the problems listed therein. That lady has real substance.
Correct me if I am wrong. Malaysians have chosen successive govts. from the Barisan fold. Are we barking at the wrong tree here? We have all occasion to take it on the govt of the day, elected through a democratic process, a process meant to be a fair game for anyone to have a fair game with the people, the voters.
Of course, with the govt’s colossal machinery, every sphere of information dissemination is controlled but guys, this is the information era. You ask a person who had risen from the ashes and facing abject adversity, he had to walk two steps ahead of the person living in comfort to make the grades. Does it occur to any of us that the opposition has not got their act together and do not have in them the mechanism and sadly the ingenuity to come any closer than in previous elections. What these people talk may appeal to few but by and large most are more concerned with the bread and butter issues and who wish to move with the tide rather than against it, rather than the perceived antique issues raised by Kit Siang, Karpal and the like. In short, if BN has been able to win the people’s support, no matter how it has been solicited, it invariably points to the ineffectiveness of the opposition. Time and again they end up as “suckers” because they are not seeing or do not want to see far ahead. They simply do not have the game plan to stand against the might of BN and want to stick to their ground penchantly. As I see it, the groundwork and the modus operandi to get to the people in the present context can never ever pose a serious threat or challenge to the BN despite all of the shortfalls of BN we have been discussing here. PAS is run by egomaniac religious zealots who learnt the bitter lesson in the last election - for not listening to the sentiments swelling on the ground.
In all this, isn’t it possible to see something common that is lacking. While they claim to be politicians, they have failed to understand the game of politics? Last week, a friend of mine called me early in the morning to say that perhaps, someone has struck a chord - referring to a discussion I had with some of my friends on what was lacking in the opposition camp to take on the might of the BN and its machinery. Sound how it may be the way I have put it, let us see whether the opposition pundits get it or not?
November 14th, 2005 at 6:48 am
Enough said of the need to teach fishing than to simply give the fish. I have a tough time just to make ends meet - as a fisherman. I dont need more competition.
If you teach every man who comes along your way, how to make the fishing rod, how to make the string, rope whatever and make the bait or look for the live bait whatever, then our economy will be at the subsistence level - everybody is self sufficient. No trade, maybe some barter. But it is obvious that we need to look for somebody who has what we want and wants what we have - the infamous double coincidence of wants before there could be trade. Now that is tough!
Our economy can move away from the subsistence level only when there is specialization.
The problem in Malaysia is that when you look for a fisherman, he is likely to be a Malay - with ten children and four wives to support. He has been self-sufficient over the centuries and felt no need to be otherwise - i.e. until the orang putih, centuries ahead of the fisherman arrived and changed all that. He told the fisherman, you continue to fish. We will provide for your needs, and he brought the chinaman to do his bidding - telling the chinaman that this fisherman is lazy. The chinaman is too happy because there are millions like him where he came from and life is tough as it is. Thus emerged the chinaman on the local scene, uprooted from a foreign culture of survival he was familiar and conditioned to over the centuries, and with only his clothes on his back and just his two hands to help him along he worked hard to provide for the needs of the lazy fisherman - working in tin mines in exchage for monetary rewards sufficient to provide for his needs and those of his family. He worked hard and played hard- he has no choice and furthermore what has he got to lose?. But credit should be given to him as he quickly found out that he had to run in order to stand still. The orang putih did not teach him that.
Soon more like him came on the scene and industries grew. And what happened to the fisherman? He continued happily to fish.
So do not teach me how to fish. I know better than anybody else here. Teach me also how to make the fishing rod and whatever that comes with fishing.
And dont tell me I am lazy, or inferior in any way. And I dont need so-called leaders of men to tell me what I need or dont need. I know what I need. All I need is the opportunity - much like that given the chinaman. I may fail but it is my own failure. And when I fail, give me the freedom of choice to change my life - so that I could say to myself, “I did it my way, for better or for worse.”
November 14th, 2005 at 9:19 am
Dear Fisherman,
I would want to hope that what you say is true but the reality is far from true. The infamous crutches are there - I am not the only one saying this, the leaders have repeatedly said that. But let us be clear - none of us with a fair mind would ever point fingers at all Malays. This should not be seen as a racial problem, as the political goonies would like us to think. Among the Malay plunderers are also Chinese and Indians. We know that all too well. Among those who have been taken for a ride are not only the Chinese and Indians but also Malays, the common folks. And I also want you to know that knowledge and capabilities do not just belong to any one race - it belongs to everyone. This is a ploy by politicians to indoctrinate us in a way to create animosity among us. We have a greater task than this petty quarelling - that our country has been monopolised by corrupt and power crazy politicians and we need to realise that we are all on the same side - not on the opposite as these politicians would want us believe and behave.
Good day to you.
November 14th, 2005 at 9:29 am
I believe it’s a question of choice. What choice do voters have? Pick a religo-centric PAS or an ethno-centric DAP to govern? Alliance and then BN has ensured that the opposition parties remain as such - merely to oppose, so as not to appear undemocratic.
The target has always been the rural masses - the poor Malays and Indians in the kampongs and estates, respectively. Keep them poor and ignorant and they will continue to vote BN every five years.
The political savvy urban masses are impervious to platitudes and promises by BN politicians. But their number is too small to make an impact.
This may appear naive but that has been the winning formula thus far. As for the civil servants, academicians and the men in uniform? Well, they have been threatened with the aku jangi declaration and will remain meek and subservient.
Constituencies are frequently demarcated in order not to dilute the support base. This gerrymandering by BN is so commonplace. The Election Commission is never independent, as the appointees are being screened and picked by the PM himself.
The Opposition, sadly, is fractured and fractious. They offer no real threat to BN. Just see how the Pengkalan Pasir by-election will turn out to be.
It’s a foregone conclusion. A foregone conclusion.
November 14th, 2005 at 2:15 pm
the time for ideas has passed.
it is time to mobilise public opinion and working on the underdeveloped or undeveloped social and political infrastructure that has taken almost five decades to emerge, leaders of public opinion be they among the opposition political parties or/and ngos etc must retake the government from fascists that purport to act in the interest of the malaysian public.
we dont need pinheads in suits to tell us what is good or what is wrong. the time for all that has passed. we must now act - and not talk about acting.
do we want change or dont we?? it is pointless talking about change. it is time to make the changes - even if it means the loss of our personal freedom.
it is time to come out of our shells. it is time to stop harping on the need for change in the blogosphere or hide behind the security of pseudonames and the anonymity that it gives us. it is time to organise our discontent into identifiable issues and lead the way.
let’s roll!
November 14th, 2005 at 2:17 pm
I say man…tough words!
What will happen to my motor business??
November 14th, 2005 at 7:18 pm
Dear Political Activist,
I think most of us share your views but the “most of us” I am talking about represent a small minority in respect of the total voting population. Then, you will find that you will be sitting in the Kamunting detention centre because this govt is waiting for the any opportunity to stifle dissent. I mean no ill-will but just trying to explain the reality.
That does not mean we should rest on our laurels. But we have to be discreet. The utopia of being a knight in shining armour does not pay in Malaysia, as many have unfortunately found out. If that happens, the few of us who feel that something has to be done would just vanish from the map into oblivion. Unlike in previous elections, this time around the ball game would be very different but expecting the opposition politicians to lead the way would be wishful thinking. Everything has to be done through the democratic process. And again, the claim by many that a silent majority in Malaysia is waiting to usher all of us into a new era would also be a folly because what we have is a complacent society that feels that the govt would always be their guardian angel and lord protector and no one else could be trusted with that role. So, a lot of work has to be done. Again, I do not know about others, politics does not interest me at all and my interest has been and would be to see a “better” life for all. For this and towards this end, I would not be a fence-sitter. I will contribute towards this end.
November 14th, 2005 at 7:47 pm
A complete change may be a little far-fetched. We can make a dent in BN’s pride by reducing its majority in parliament. But like Fair Malaysian said, there is plenty to be done, and I agree.
Most fear being a guest of Hotel Kamunting but if you have the strength of conviction, why bother? You need not take to the streets. A more subtle aproach is to vote for the Opposition. Protest vote carries alot of weight.
Give it a thought - okay?
And for pete sake, don’t be a fence sitter!
November 14th, 2005 at 8:34 pm
More Malaysians will have to change their mind-set if we want to make Malaysia a progressive nation.
For too often, there has always been the fear to vote opposition as the government has always managed to create the fear that if it is overthrown, chaos will ensue.
To me, the opposition should just concentrate on winning two or three state governments and then prove to the rest that
“Hey, it is OK to change your government if it does not perform.”
Even Indonesia has had a few changes of government and they survive. I am sure Malaysians can do better than that.
November 14th, 2005 at 8:53 pm
Fathol,
Religions have always been hijacked for perosnal ambitions. Islam is no exception. Bigotry, result of lack of promotion of reasoning and rationalisation in the upbringing of our youngs, is a potent explosive force in societies. America is perhaps the result of the bigotry of The orthodox church of England. I still stand by the concept of diversity of our education for our young ones. I strongly support Dr Bakri calls for such reform in our educational system.
Fisherman,
Boats and nets, not fishing rods. Today fishermen need technologies and equipment combined with an education of application of technologies with a constant reminder of sustainability of our environment for long term survival of the fishing industry. I would be the first to retort the accusation that fishermen are lazy, especially applied to the Malays. They just do not know how to appreciate the concept of time. Idling is the only option away from the sea. Bring them further technical education relating to fishery to occupy their idle time and this would eventually increase their yield. I am sure the perception of them being lazy would drastically change for the better. I know very little of the fishery department’s activities and perhaps they are already doing that.
Political Activist,
Any sudden change of society would have dire consequences. The rationale is not difficult to see. The society have to be prepared for the changes. Changing the government through rapid reformation or revolution have, through history, not been successful in the long term. This is because the new government does not have the neccessary ingredients (HR resource) to succeed. We need to change the government through education of our future generation for without doubt the younger generation would be the leaders of tomorrow. Evolution perhaps be a better options. Lets start with our schools and universities.
MatMoto,
The auto industry is oft referred to as oily and dirty. Wonder why our Tun M chose this industry to develop Malaysia?
Fathol,
Lim Kiat Siang has a role to play in society. He perhaps has self appointed himself as the permenant member of the opposition and the society’s watchdog and no more. I do not believe he has any ambition of governing Malaysia. However, his authocratic style and idiosycrasies had/has perrhaps alienated quite a number of the voters especially the non-Chinese and consequently jeopardised the opposition alliance of any chances of winning the government. But we need him to raise issues such as to promote a nation of informed voters.
Fair Malaysian,
Most posters here are perhaps like you. Concerned citizens wanting a better life for all and perhaps wish that we would move towards the ideal goal of a civil society for Malaysia.
I believe all of us here are genuinely and collectively contributing to values created here at this blog. Bravo to Dr Bakri.
November 14th, 2005 at 9:27 pm
“I remember once reading a very interesting article by Marina Mahatir, laying out a number of questions to the ulamas (I believe) on how they intend to solve the problems listed therein. That lady has real substance.”
Put all the questions she raised here…I’ll try to answer them.
Silence from ulema does not mean ignorance from them. It could be a case of people not sincere in asking the questions or more like trying to pick them at their own games for their own entertainment.
Put it here. I know that lady…she aint no something too difficult to handle….
November 15th, 2005 at 12:13 am
Dear all especially Molisa,
It is getting scarier being Malay in Malaysia today! You would want the other races to be treated fairly coz thats how things should be and that is the only way the other races will look at you like a normal human being that work their way the top… not an idiot Malay who got lucky and receive all the help in the world thru the so called rescuer – UMNO.
To all my non Malay friends out there, sorry for the mess… but please don’t categorized us as a lazy bunch of people who don’t care about the others… ‘’ kerana nila setitik rosak susu sebelanga” , get someone to translate that for you, should be no problem to understand if you ever considered yourself to be Malaysian.
Everyday I talk to my Malay friend about meritocracy and they’ll be angry at me. ‘Why should you give away something that is ours?’ if the malay can’t even compete with the big hand protecting what would they be without?’… hmmmm… what should I do?
(Malaysia) – (Hak keistimewaan Bumiputera) = (Patriotic Molisa)
Or
(Malaysia) – (Patriotic Molisa) = (Smiling UMNO delegates)
Or
(Malaysia) – (UMNO) – (Prejudice) = (Patriotic Molisa) + (cluster of unhappy Malays)
can’t decide till this moment….
November 15th, 2005 at 12:45 am
Dear All,
If you think we have problems. Go down south of the border.
http://www.littlespeck.com/content/people/CTrendsPeople-051114.htm
Here we see Mr Harry Lee had probably done potential damage to the future generation not much disimilar to what Mao Zedong to the Chinese in Mainland China for 30 years. Dissent, dissent, dissent. Both could not tolerate it. Results stifling of progressive ideas and creativity of the future generation. Though the former favoured the more intellectual ones (intellectual robots programmed to carry out instructions perfectly and efficiently) as against the later the peasants.
Is it the intention of our Creator for us to propagate in diversity? The wider the gene pool that stronger the resultant offspring?
In Malaysia, are we suppressing dissent due to ideology or insecurity in leadership?
November 15th, 2005 at 12:57 am
Teman_org_perak,
When you want to engage a coach to teach you professional tennis or golf, would you want a coach who demand that you hit another 100 balls before you head for the shower or a coach who says ‘its ok,go straight to the shower, I would hit the balls for you’?
You decide.
November 15th, 2005 at 2:36 am
Dear Baju,
The article I referred to appeared as a column in the STAR and is reproduced below. May be you can give us some answers, not necessarily the correct ones. Hope to hear from you soon.
“Asking the right questions
BY MARINA MAHATHIR
I TRY to be fair to people as much as I can and the other day I had a major epiphany. I realised that I really had not been very fair to our religious officials by constantly criticising them for their obsession with topics that are either trivial or beyond their field of expertise. Then it occurred to me that the reason they feel compelled to comment on little topics like whether it is okay to kiss people’s hands or not or whether reality shows promote immorality is because that’s what the media keeps asking them.
I think the media should realise that they are really insulting our religious lot by asking them these questions. Nobody asks Really Important people these questions because, frankly, it is beneath them to answer them. But there they are, our self-sanctified guys, having to endure these silly questions all the time, and then getting flak for it. It’s really not their fault!
Therefore I have decided to provide a list of questions that the media should ask our religious leaders in order to show them the respect they deserve. Here are some of them:
What do you think should be done to reduce global poverty?
The world’s richest 500 individuals own a combined income that is greater than that of the poorest 416 million. What do you think should be done about reducing this massive gap between rich and poor in the world?
70% of the world’s people are uneducated, with only minimal schooling. Do you think this is a bad thing, and what would you do about it?
According to the latest UNDP Human Development Report, every hour 1,200 children die around the world, mostly because of poverty. What do you think would be the best way to help children such as these?
Income inequalities are not the only thing that disadvantages people. Gender inequalities also play a part. In India, the death rate for children aged 1-5 is 50% higher for girls than it is for boys. In Pakistan, two million more girls would be in school if there were gender parity. What do you think should be done to address these gender inequalities?
According to the report also, the development of any country is influenced by the status of women in that country. Hence, Malaysia ranks only 61st in the Human Development Index (HDI) because women make up only 13% in Parliament, 24% in managerial and administrative positions and only earn 47% of men’s income. Nothing much has changed for women for the past 30 years. But we are not the worst off. The countries with the least empowered women are all Muslim countries, including Pakistan and Yemen. What do you think of this?
Although terrorism in developed countries is most in the news, in fact the poorest countries in the world experience more conflict. These conflicts only fuel under-development. For instance, nine out of the 10 countries with the lowest HDI have experienced conflict at some point since 1990. Conflict also plays a part in five out of 10 countries with the lowest life expectancy, in nine out of 10 countries with the highest infant and under-five mortality rates and in eight out of 10 countries with the lowest primary school enrolment. What do you think should be done to resolve conflict so that these countries may prosper?
How much of a rise in fuel prices do you think people can take?
What do you think can be done to prevent cross-border environmental problems such as the haze?
What do you think should be done so that disabled people are not left behind in our country’s development?
Our country spends only 2% of GDP on health and 2.8% of GDP on military expenditures in 2003. Do you think this is right?
What do you think of the Millenium Development Goals? Malaysia failed one of the 6th MDG, which relates to health. What do you think we can do to redress this?
In 1975, 37.7% of our population lived in urban centres. Since then, our people have become more urbanised with 63.8% in 2003 and a projected 71% by 2015. Is this a good or bad thing, and should politicians recognise this fact and act accordingly?
While we are ranked 61 in the Human Development Index, many Muslim countries are ranked even lower, even so-called “rich” countries such as Saudi Arabia (77). There are also many Muslim countries ranked very low such as Iran (99), Egypt (119), Pakistan (135) and Yemen (151). The small oil-rich United Arab Emirates are the highest-ranking Muslim country at 41. What do you think of this?
I wait with bated breath.”
November 15th, 2005 at 2:41 am
Thanks kgboy for your input on LKS. Don’t get me wrong, I am a great fan of the man. At this material moment he is the light in the dark tunnel. Lim is worth a score of BN’s MPs in parliament. Definitely, much smarter than the pantun-craving guy from Jerai. Voters are being easily duped into believing the untruth about the Opposition but they cannot fool me.
November 15th, 2005 at 3:27 am
the reason why marina mahathir has bated breath is because she is potentially a pneumonia case - having over exposed herself to the elements.
November 15th, 2005 at 3:48 am
Dear doctor,
Surely as a doctor (I believe) you can do better than that? Typical of being evasive isn’t it - either you don’t know or don’t have the answers.
November 15th, 2005 at 6:18 am
What do you think can be done to prevent cross-border environmental problems such as the haze?
Answer: simple – stop polluting the environment.
What do you think should be done so that disabled people are not left behind in our country’s development?
Answer: If you are talking about the Malays, Art 153 of the Constitution should be made permanent.
Our country spends only 2% of GDP on health and 2.8% of GDP on military expenditures in 2003. Do you think this is right?
Answer: Increase % of GDP for military expenditure. The rationale is, if we were all to die from military conflict with Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam, then % of GDP spent on health would be nil – and that is bad.
What do you think of the Millenium Development Goals? Malaysia failed one of the 6th MDG, which relates to health. What do you think we can do to redress this?
Answer: Do away with MDP – then we would have no such goals.
In 1975, 37.7% of our population lived in urban centres. Since then, our people have become more urbanised with 63.8% in 2003 and a projected 71% by 2015. Is this a good or bad thing, and should politicians recognise this fact and act accordingly?
Answer: Redefine “urban” and “urbanization” so as to make Malaysia less urbanized. Set up a new Ministry and call it “Ministry of Deurbanization” headed by Abdullah Badawi.
While we are ranked 61 in the Human Development Index, many Muslim countries are ranked even lower, even so-called “rich” countries such as Saudi Arabia (77). There are also many Muslim countries ranked very low such as Iran (99), Egypt (119), Pakistan (135) and Yemen (151). The small oil-rich United Arab Emirates are the highest-ranking Muslim country at 41. What do you think of this?
Answer: Re-do the Human Development Index to reflect the needs, progress and aspirations of the developing countries, which would put Muslim countries at the top 10 – or/and have a separate index for the developed and non-Muslim countries. Don’t think about it too much.
I too await with bated breath.
November 15th, 2005 at 6:20 am
Fellas, particularly Mr. Fair Malaysian,
Penang where Mr. Badawi spent his early years is suffering from neglect, and political infighting between the Chief Minister who is from Gerakan Party and UMNO local leaders who think they can do a better job. This is likely to get worse because of the depressed state of the local economy with unemployment rising. The city is also unkempt and dirty, and suffers from daily massive jams.
Even Kepala Batas is in state of economic amnesia. So our “Suami Yang Soleh” (not salleh lah), meaning the loyal and pious husband, is losing control over his own constituency, not mention the state of our national economy with our Stock Market performing very poorly compared to other stock exchanges in ASEAN. He has not a care in the world. No worries. But that is not the real purpose of my comments.
I met a dynamic American, a Business School type at the Rasa Sayang Hotel recently. He told me that he had been travelling around Sabah and Sarawak over the last six months gathering information for a research project about what people there think about the Federal Government. He spent a week in Kuala Lumpur as well where he talked to some academics, taxi cab drivers and stall operators. He was conversant in Bahasa Indonesia which he learned at the Foreign Service School, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
He sounded to me like a typical EHM (Economic Hit Man as in John Perkins’ book “Confessions of Economic Hit Man”). Let me explain first what an EHM does. Basically, he is an economic spy. According to Perkins, “[W]e EHMs are crafty; we learned from history.Today we do not carry swords. We do not wear armour or clothes that set us apart. In countries like Ecuador, Nigeria and Indonesia, we dress like local school teachers and shop owners. In Washington and Paris, we look like government bureaucrats and bankers. We appear humble, normal…We profess altruism, talk with local papers about the wonderful humanitarian things we are doing. We cover the conference tables of government committees with our spreadsheets and financial projections, and we lecture at the Harvard Business School about the miracles of macroeconomics. We are on the record, in the open. Or so we portray ourselves and so are we accepted. It is how the system works…the system itself is built on subterfuge…”
In short, EHMs could be from the Singapore Intelligence, Mossad (Israeli Intelligence) or the CIA working in corporations like Halliburton, Bechtel and Brown & Root, the multilateral agencies like the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO and private consultancies like the RAND Corporation and other think tanks. They work for the Empire, that indispensible nation called the United States of America, and its allies. It is a network of smart and dedicated individuals. They are what we call “Mr Fix-Its”.
The American I met was an accomplished wind surfer. From him, I learned a few things which we do not normally read in our papers, and I thought I should share them with you. But I would like to say from the outset that I have no means of verifying his views.
The following are what I was able to obtain from our conversations over a period of 1 week, during which I gave him a local tour of Penang Island including some night spots. He was a seasoned drinker of Chivas and Jack Daniels, and a great salsa dancer:
1. People of Sabah and Sarawak feel that the Badawi Government is neglecting them. He has allowed local politicians from his UMNO Party under a Mr. Musa Aman a free hand in the exploitation of rich natural resources. These politicos work in cahoots with the Chinese Timber tycoons and the forest rangers. Promises of balanced regional developments remain promises.
2. The rivalry between Federal Officers and state civil servants is intense and the politicians are exploiting the situation for their advantage.
3. The remote areas of both Sabah and Sarawak do not have access to clean water, proper sanitation, heath services, and electricity. I am wondering what the Ministry of Rural Development under a Badawi crony, Dato Aziz Samsuddin, is doing!!
4. Mr. Badawi is surrounded by a cabal of relatives, friends and associates, and a couterie of hanger-ons. He is also building a family dynasty with interlocking interests. His own brother who is in the food business has a huge contract to supply Malaysia Airlines System and other airlines. His politically ambitious son-in-law is an important player in a boutique merchant bank, ECM Libra, which is controlled a Singapore agent, Kallimullah Hassan, and his associates.
5. Mr Hassan is also the Group Chief Editor of The New Straits and close strategic advisor (like Karl Rove is to George W. Bush) to Mr. Badawi. Minister.
5. ECM Libra is the financial advisor to Temasik Group, an investment arm of the Singapore Government on takeovers. Temasik is caught in the present tussle over Southern Bank which is the target of a takeover by the CIMB Group, a GLC (Government Linked