We Have Learned Nothing!
We Have Learned Nothing!
[Initially published in the Sun Weekend Edition, October 7, 2005]
This 2005-06 Federal Budget exposes one glaring reality: we have learned nothing from our experiences. We have yet to rationalize public expenditures and appreciate the proper role of government. We still have that civil-service mindset of solving a problem by throwing money at it.
With all the goodies for them, this budget is indeed by, of, and for civil servants. It reflects the increasing bureaucratization, which is a large factor in Malaysia’s declining competitiveness.
Our leaders repeatedly highlight two major issues: the quality of our human capital and inefficiencies of Government-linked companies (GLCs). Recognizing is only half of the problem; the other is correcting. This budget fails miserably at this.
Less than a quarter of the budget is for development, the rest simply operating expenses, with a huge chunk just for salaries. If one were to analyze the development budget separately, the same allocations prevail, that is, most of the funds are for salaries. Those poor kampong folks who risk their lives every day crossing rickety bridges, continue being careful!
The government has substantial allocations for education. By whatever criteria, Malaysia is already spending generously. Yet we have little to show for it.
As huge as the budget for education is, only slightly over a billion ringgit is for development of higher education. For a global perspective, that is about a quarter of UCLA’s annual budget!
After factoring the inevitable inefficiencies, with contracts doled out to favored contractors as with the schools’ computer projects, very little expansion will actually occur on our campuses.
The National Service gets RM 600M, again, all for operating expenses to feed and house the trainees, and pay their trainers. Get rid of it and use the funds to double the salaries of our professors. We then would likely recruit better professors who in turn would produce employable graduates.
We continue with the dichotomy of private and public education. We have yet to appreciate the immense benefits of complementing one with the other.
We permit private universities and colleges, but we have yet to integrate them in the overall policy. Now we have dangerous racial segregation in our universities. Academically too, there is segregation, with private institutions producing English-literate students and concentrating on marketable courses.
There is no private sector participation in the school system, except for preschool. The government encourages expansion of international schools by letting Malaysians enroll. That is less at increasing opportunities for locals, more on attracting foreigners with their cash, again reflecting the muddled thinking.
Allow private schools, local or foreign. That would relieve some of the burden. I would integrate them with the national policy, meaning, their enrolment must reflect the population, and their students, proficient in Malay. I could not care less if these schools use Swahili, but if they attract a broad spectrum of Malaysians, they must be offering something useful.
Malaysia cannot rid itself of its love affair with GLCs despite the many disappointments and exorbitant costs. This budget spawns many new GLCs. One, with the colossal price tag of RM 2B, will dabble in real estate, others in such risky ventures as biotechnology and agro-business. Since when have bureaucrats learned to farm?
These are merely initial costs; expect future expensive bailouts. GLCs have failed to make profits or prepare Bumiputras for the private sector. I would sell to the highest bidder the government’s stake in all GLCs and use the proceeds to reduce poverty and train and educate Bumiputras. That would be good for the market, economy, and Bumiputras.
There is also a provision in the budget for health tourism! Those private hospitals do not need the help or expertise of civil servants. Similarly, the posting of agricultural counselors abroad will not increase exports anymore than current educational attaches increase the number of foreign students. Those appointments are merely cushy foreign sojourns for civil servants.
The bloat in government continues. The budget does not address this, meaning, the government has yet to acknowledge the problem.
If the government were to focus on doing what are truly its basic functions, and leave the rest to the private sector, then it would learn to do them more effectively and efficiently. That is a simple lesson to learn; more difficult is to implement it.
October 9th, 2005 at 1:44 am
Bro Bakri,
When the budget was announced I, too, had similar apprehension as you did but I took a deep breath and realised that the govt and the stooges would never have it any other way. Not that they did not realise their folly but political expedience and their desire to maintain the tight grip on power take precedence over the right senses.
I wrote earlier that I have lost hope after listening to the budget, not out of desperation but it is generally politicians’ nature to turn deaf ears to anything sensible and bemoaning at their outright and blatant abuse and mismangement would only hurt us, not them. They will be still laughing away at the ignorant and complacent attitude of ordinary folks.
What you have written or have been writing are certainly good pointers but, alas, do they really bother. In the present form I hardly would hope or expect for any change. Cynical I may sound, but and until unless the real knocks come from the outside world, I have literally given up. I am not going to rejoice at such an event occurring but what else an ordinary citizen expect? When they were scrambling to re-introduce English two years ago, there needn’t be a second guess that they were forced to re-evaluate their uncharacterisitic stand until then, when the reality sunk over their blunder.
Yes, we have moved from cekap, amanah dan bersih to another slogan. We have moved 48 years from independence but shocked as I was when I saw literally thousands of flags “rhetorically” flying on govt buildings. Through these changes, the common people have just walked past by, either ignoring the realities or ignorant of any change. For most of them, now is the time to make money and so nothing seems to matter. The few voices who make their views known are drowned by the gigantic tsunami of the complacent majority. To them and the govt, does it really matter as to how much of these policies or decisions would affect our children in the future?
October 9th, 2005 at 3:46 am
Sir, what is a budget?
October 9th, 2005 at 4:19 am
“We permit private universities and colleges, but we have yet to integrate them in the overall policy. Now we have dangerous racial segregation in our universities. Academically too, there is segregation, with private institutions producing English-literate students and concentrating on marketable courses.”
Your are right, Dr. Bakri.
But what is frightening is that racial polarisation has taken a turn for the worse.
Although it is inaccurate to speak of “racial segregation” as being anything like policy, it is not inaccurate to refer to the proliferation of private institutions which de facto “practice” racial segregation. It is time our government officials get off their government arses and do something - like incorporating conditions in the licenses issued. When my son was studying in Taylors College some years ago, he was a victim of racial discrimination. Then he moved to HELP, another school. The teachers there pretty much ignored him and he had to leave. I have friends who refused to send their kids to Kolej Damansara (KDU).
We criticise the government for controlling our schools too much. Here is a case where there is a dire need for control. No license to these private institutions if the school population does not reflect the racial composition of the general population. For every year that it fails to achieve the target, impose a fine which will go towards the provision of grants to needy Malay students.
October 9th, 2005 at 4:34 am
Yes. I am first a Malay. I cannot deny that and I am proud to be one. I am a nationalist in the only sense that one can realistically refer to. Those Ministers in the Cabinet today and those holding party positions in UMNO have betrayed my trust and my confidence.
I wave my keris to all who dare question my loyalty to king and country. I am the modern Hang Tuah you hear about.
October 9th, 2005 at 6:12 am
I didn’t really examine the budget but since RM600m is being planned for the NS program, I have to say it is a good money spinner for some.
I will post a previous letter to Malaysiakini on the NS spending on my blog.
October 9th, 2005 at 7:13 am
Bro MatMoto,
I salute your loyalty, albeit the loud and proclaimed loyalty. I would tend to think that your letter has provided some of the answers you are earnestly searching for. First, you declare you are a Malay, and a proud one at that. And then you proceed to deride private institutions as being overly racial.
The reason (or reasons) why non-malays end up in private institutions is quite obvious - many of them lose out to the discriminative policies of the govt. Surely you are not going to dispute that the very race factor you are referring to has been used to favour Malays in getting places in public universities. When there is such a skewed policy to start with, and most of the Malays either get to enter local public universities or are granted scholarships to study overseas, it is little wonder that the student population in private institutions tend to reflect more of non-malays. You would also note that most of the students attending private universities have to see their own way through financially unlike the pampered lot entering public universities.
Let me deal with the issue of the racial segregation being practised in private institutions. I am surprised that you have your sight that far when the seed for such racial problems have had been sowed when these children have their secondary education at national schools. We are all, as parents, grappling with an imposed dilema. It was only lately that the govt acknowledged that one of the main reasons why racial segregation exist in national school - these schools are run more like religious schools. Surely, this becomes alarming to parents of other religious denomination. The general consensus is that the standard of education has pitifully deteriorated, much to the dismay of all of us.
I have taught my children to see others beyond race and religion. Whatever our beliefs are, they should be confined to our perimeter. I am happy that they have grown up to accept that in a multi-racial country like ours, they should learn to give-and-take. But when they tell me that among the students, Malays (not all) do not want to be friends and they tend to keep to themselves, I find it discomforting. When my children invite them to attend festivities in our house, they decline, unlike the other races. It is not too long after they (my children) got the message.
When we were growing up, we never faced such problems but it is no secret that racial polarisation is part and parcel of our daily life. Why then just point fingers at just private institutions. As long as we, the parents and elderly, go on talking of as Malays, Chinese and Indians, etc and declare to the whole world waving the keris to show whatever you intend to show, then this problem is not going to just disappear - keep it alive by all means but stop grumbling that it is hurting you. What goes around comes around.
October 9th, 2005 at 9:16 am
Hello, since this blog is predominantly Malay- and, well, adult-based, I thought we might have a Chinese teenager give his viewpoint. I should warn you first that I attended a national school, so my viewpoint is obviously biased against Chinese schools.
I’ll confine my attentions to the subject of racial polarisation in primary and secondary school. From my limited observations, I’ve found that Chinese school students have trouble relating with those of other races. Hell, screw that. Almost every race keeps to themselves.
Only those from national schools (and students from Chinese schools who had non-Chinese friends) seem to prevent the racial clique from being the only clique. Us national school students keep mostly to ourselves, avoiding the vernacular school students.
There are two problems I’ve encountered with racial integration in secondary school. The first one is that Chinese school students, for the most part, shun Malays and Indians - especially Indians. In form one, most Chinese school students avoided Indians, while my classmates and I from national schools intentionally drew closer to them because we shared more in common, despite our different races.
Even in form three, the problem persists. Those Chinese who can be bothered to interact with Indians and Malays never form friendships with them. The ostracism is so obvious that pretty much every national school student I know has commented on it. Even every Chinese-educated friend of mine that I’ve dared broach the subject to agrees - Chinese school students have trouble relating with other races. A poll on my blog agrees.
The other problem is that most of the intelligent and mature Malay students are packed off to the junior Malay colleges. I knew many of them in primary school, where there was a real feeling of muhibbah. We were very close, and formed a deep bond - but in secondary school, while us non-Malays went to national secondary school, they went to junior colleges.
This is another case of division. Until these fractures are healed by building a Malaysian education system instead of a Malay & Chinese & Indian education system, we can never unite as a country and as a people.
October 9th, 2005 at 9:44 am
How could the authorities be so oblivious to the subtleties that are taking place right under their noses? National schools are Malay-based where the religion, read Islam, has taken a foothold.
I was a product of an education system that was introduced pre Independence Day when singing the hymns during chapel service at mission schools was encouraged but not forced upon students of different religious beliefs.
I would safely say that the introduction of Islamic studies in the mid-1960s in secondary schools was when religion began to take root in our education system. When the Shah of Iran was overthrown by the exiled Ayotollah in the mid-1970s, the Malays began to embrace Islam like never before.
The sins of their parents were pronounced and renounced in the same breath.
Clothings became an issue. Tight-fitting dresses which our nubile women once wore were considered “haram”. Shorts that we had for games and recreation were frowned upon. Only those that were decreed in the Quran became the desired garments of choice.
In the schools a subtle but steady transformation was taking place, the use of Bahasa Malaysia was enforced. English was cast aside. It became unfashionable to speak English, reminiscent of the days of yore when my Malay brethren in the kampongs would taunt those who spoke “Bahasa Gomen” (English).
Malay nationalism was sperading like wild fire. Teachers of one racial group were mass-produced and sent to schools all over the country. Slowly but surely, the Chinese and Indians were left to pick the pieces. They became strangers in their own country of domicle.
I had tremedous respect for these teachers for it was they who got me started in the first place. After May 13 and once the NEP was introduced it was a different ball game altogether.
Today the culture of one-upmanship of I am-here-you-are there is so entrenched that it is no longer easy to prise them apart. The hon MP of Jerai once told his opposition colleagues that if they disliked what they get they were free to return to their country of origin. When you have numbskulls such as him, why argue?
Why talk of integration through such knee-jerk programme as the National Service when little or no efforts are made at the kindergarden stage?
And now RM600 million has been set aside to resolve this problem. Isn’t that too much too late?
October 9th, 2005 at 12:26 pm
MatMotto, Fair Malaysians, Ibrahim and all other commentators,
The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil; but because of the people who don’t do anything about it. – Albert Einstein
I was pleasantly surprised and still am, when I read of Dr Bakri writings and issues raised in his blogs. Together with the many intellectual discourses amongst his readers, although all his contentions are not all necessary Gospel truth, they are nevertheless based on his personal observations, readings, research, and understanding and not to mention his readers’ feedback.
It is a common phenomenon where, when messengers bring about messages that are contrary to our beliefs, it is the messengers that get attacked. It is not difficult to find many such attacks of him from amongst his readers especially the ones whose interests against which are the core issues of his comments and writings.
The most common attack is his patriotism. Accusation that since he is living outside Malaysia, he is no longer qualified to comment and make suggestions to the general improvement of Malaysians as a whole. On the contrary, I salute Dr Bakri’s patriotism and courage. Courage is grace under pressure – Ernest Hemingway. It is his love and concern for the country, Malaysia that he is voicing his opinions – not simply off the cuff opinions but opinions based on concerted research. I am not sure if I can share the same gumption as he has to raised adversaries with my own community the way he does without fear of be ostracized. Apart from his courage, I see his generosity. These (both his writings and blogging) must have taken up quite some of his personal time and expense. He is a professional earning a living, the rightful earning through his years of education, self-learning and professional self improvement. I understand that his standing in society today is due largely to his own personal perseverance, struggle and not as a result of handouts and privileges accorded to him both in the past and the present. Such attacks should rightly be apportioned to those who have benefited largely from the government assistance and are enjoying their creature comfort both in and outside the country refusing to contribute in return. Most do not even bother to repay their loans and scholarships. For the ones that join the civil service, some continue to benefit from their positions way beyond their trifle contributions to the system that has earlier make it possible for them to be in the positions they are in today.
Dr Bakri has a choice. He does what he sincerely wants to do i.e. for the welfare of Malaysians. I do not think he is expected to be rewarded for his effort. This is one person, amongst others that I have tremendous respect for. We need more of him in Malaysia. I do not know the man personally and my only knowledge of him is through is writings.
I like to make reference to the recent blog comments on the 2006 budget where the word stereotyping is mentioned. As if by default, stereotyping of the Malays was raised. I believe stereotyping applies to all communities. Stereotyping is basically a result of prior conditioning of all individuals. Self image or lack of it has tremendous effect on the way we react to stereotyping. Steven Covey – in this 90/10 principle contents that it is our reaction to an event or incident that is more important and that (our reactions) will eventually influence the success or lack of it in our lives. So if the stereotyping is not justified, prove it. Correct it through reacting positively to it. Basically, stereotyping comes about through lack of knowledge and broader worldviews. Also for better understanding, I would encourage reading Dr Edward de Bono’s books on lateral thinking and creativity. That is exactly the reason why Dr Bakri has been vehemently advocating focusing on ‘well rounded’ education. Not only a ‘well rounded’ education in general would raise the standard of living of Malaysians, it would concurrently encourage better understanding of different communities and does reduce stereotyping which most of the time, become a thorn in the flesh for inter-communal relationship. Society is nothing but huge protoplasm of individuals’ mental make-ups, actions, reactions and counter reactions all interacting within that protoplasm.
As for the preference of Malays, as a community, for civil service as their ultimate career choice, I like to draw reference to the findings of Dr Maxwell Malz, a Canadian-born American plastic surgeon, author of “Psycho-Cybernetics”. The study of law of cybernetics is basically the study goal seeking. Psycho-Cybernetics is the study of the goal seeking behaviour of the mind. Perhaps from young, a typical child in a Malay family is subjected to constant reference of the government as their protector and provider, that when that child grows up he has that reverence for the government and therefore the unintended preference to serve in the civil service. The goal has been set while he/she is young and as a result the mind goal seeking takes over especially when the schools that he/she attends are composed of people of the same mindsets. I again see Dr. Bakri’s beliefs that the schools should be multi-communities based and cannot agree with him more for his vehement contention that the fully residential schools reserved for the Bumiputra be opened to other communities as well. His drawing reference to the American Ivy league Universities is certainly not meant to spike our higher education authorities.
As for Dr Bakri’s cries of desperation for the lack motivation to achieve excellence both in the civil service and the GLC’s especially his contention of the lack of accountability and transparency. Again we can trace inadvertently to our culture and education.
Dr. David McClelland used a term called n-ach – which stands for need for achievement in his research to explain the success of a certain group of people against others. He concluded that people with high n-ach exhibit the following traits prominently:-
1. Consistent personal responsibilities
2. Eagerness for prompt feedback for their effectiveness
3. Seek and set challenging goals
4. Take moderate risks and embark on projects that have a least 50% chance of achieving goals
We perhaps want to check these against our present leadership if these are the common traits amongst them.
Personal responsibilities - everyday we have one a plenty of the problems tormenting our Malaysian societies both from the government especially the local councils and the GLC’s for their lack of deliveries of their promised services to their tax payers and customers. Do we hear of at least one amongst such officials taking personal responsibilities for these problems? The culture of blame is pretty heavy. Exam results not good, blame the teachers. Corporations fail blame the competitions. Highway failures and building collapse blame God.
Prompt Feedback – How many of our people representatives, managers of GLC’s, government officials come forward to solicit for feedback on to fulfill, let alone improve, their services to their taxpayers and customers?
Challenging Goals – not the tallest building and the largest airport. It only takes money –oil money, paying for foreign technologies to achieve those goals. To be fair some of the goals set during the last couple of decades had been challenging. However implementation left lots to be desired.
For us to survive and succeed in this increasingly competitive global community, our schools and institutes of higher learning can do more do inculcate in our next generation such traits which have been extensively researched and tested as being indicators of future success. Again Dr Bakri has touched on some of these required traits or lack of it his books ‘Educational System worthy of Malaysia’ and ‘Malay Dilemma Revisited’, albeit not using the same terms as above.
My two cents worth.
October 9th, 2005 at 4:02 pm
Dear Doctor,
600M for the NS budget is certainly huge. Maybe you guys do not have an idea how big that is- its the eqv of a large ministry yearly budget with the exception of mindef and education to be precise. How the money is spent and to what end- i do not know. Contrary to what you believe, the budget is drawn up by civil servants yes, but the final say is up to the politicians and party politics. ALso contrary to what all of us think, the role of development and running the show is not run by civil servants, our political masters have long taken over that role under the old era. when did last civil servants make independent recommendations and implements it without fear or favour?
October 9th, 2005 at 8:28 pm
To all commentators,
The Budget 2006 is a major disappointment to me, as I said earlier. I am about to finish reading Bimal Jalan (Governor, Reserve Bank of India, 1999-2003)’s book titled “The Future of India: Politics, Economics and Governance” [New Delhi: Viking/ Penguin Books, India, 2005]. It is a very good book about governance in the World’s largest democracy.
His empirically backed views about India for the most part can easily apply to our own country. He said that three important factors impede or delay the realisation of India’s full economic potential. To quote Governor Bimal, these are: ” (1) the deadweight of the past in our economic vision and strategy; (2) fiscal disempowerment largely due to the power of ‘distributional coalitions’; and (3) the growing ‘disjuncture’ between economics and politics in public life” (p.72).
It is interesting that Bimal should say that “[i]t is the power of special interests (big business and politicians) and dominant coalitions (the nexus between politicians and civil servants and their powerful unions) which explains why, in India, policies and programmes that benefit only a small proportion of the poor command such substantial support among all political parties…Over time, the expansion of the government’s salary bill has fiscally disempowered most states (and the centre), leaving them with little capacity to undertake capital expenditure to improve facilities and public services for the vast majority of the people…Their unions are also the most powerful in determining the government’s expenditure priorities”.(p.83).
This is the point, I think, that Dr. Bakri is making in his article. Operating expenditure to run the government in Malaysia for 2006 represents some 74% of its current revenue. It is a reflection that we have a bloated Civil Service. With regard to the Civil Service, Bimal quotes the observation made by Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah (Chairman, National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, 2002) as follows:
“Public servants and institutions are not alive to the basic imperative that they are servants of the people meant to serve them. The dignity of the individual enshrined in the Constitution has remained an unredeemed pledge. There is, thus, a loss of faith in the governments and governance. Citizens see their governments beseiged by uncontrollable events and are losing faith in institutions”(p.83). Is this true in our case? Yes, in my view. To some extent, your comments on this website support my contention.
In his very readble and well written book, Governor Bimal also talks about corruption in India, and its crippling effects on national productitvity and competitiveness, and the dignity and integrity of the Indian people. Attempts to reform the Indian Civil Service have been hampered by the lack of political will, and the power and influence of the civil service unions.
There is also the power of our own Civil Service unions which is preventing the Badawi Administration from taking steps to reform the Civil Service and improve the quality of public service delivery. The Prime Minister, however, thinks by giving civil servants better pay and benefits (including Saturdays off) he can improve their morale and productivity. But what is urgently needed a Civil Service culture change. The political will to make this possible unfortunately lacking. There is too much work, so let us go for the easy option of, in effect, bribing civil servants with goodies for their political support.
Mjam, the civil servants and the politicians in our country are working hand and glove, almost on a “I scratch your back and you scratch my back” basis. Like in India, they are part of the “distributional coalition”which seeks to perpetuate a culture of non-performance. The biggest victims of lacklustre Civil Service performance are our poor Malaysians.
Until we can make our politicians and civil servants accountable to the people and rid our country of rampant corruption and abuses of power, Malaysia cannot realise its full economic potential. Vision 2020 may be delayed because it is dependent on our achieving a real GDP growth of around 7.5 per annum from 2006 to 2020.
Thanks.
October 10th, 2005 at 5:12 am
I lost my job. Because the time for playing devil’s advocate is over. The time for role playing as the Country’s arm chair critics has passed.
We know what is wrong with this country. But what do we do now to stop the rot?
This is the weakest administration ever in the history of this country - headed by a spineless ex-civil service personnel turned politician propped up by self-serving corrupt politicians so long as he does not rock the boat - and for the most part, who is not sure if he is coming or going.
We need leadership. Real leadership.
We need to take the bull by the horns - and stare at “change” in the face. No change ever comes peacefully.
October 10th, 2005 at 6:23 am
Dear Devil’s Advocate,
I am sorry that you have lost your job. The economy is slowing down, and more jobs will be lost in the private sector. If you are civil servant, you are recession proof. You can get your pay and perks on time each month, without even moving a file, and a bonus at the end of the year (sooner as Hari Raya Aidil Fitri is coming). It is our fate that we should slog, and pay our taxes and fines so that the civil servant can be paid his dues.
Change can come peacefully. But it will take time. More and more people are realising this bureaucrat turned politician is not providing the “real leadership”, as you say, that our country needs during these difficult times. It is a matter of time before UMNO members will realise that their President is not up to par. To me, this is an UMNO matter, and we should leave it to them to sort out the leadership matter.
Soon, PM Badawi will have completed 2 years in office. Let us see what the media will say about his performance, short of giving us a series of spins on his achievements. I doubt we will be convinced because we judge our leaders by results, not by their promises.
The alternative is to go on the streets to agitate for change (which you seem to suggest) like what our Indonesian brothers have done after Suharto lost his grip on the economy in 1998. They are back on the streets at this time, even when they have a new capable and dynamic President who was elected by the Indonesian people in an internationally monitored elections. President SBY has an excellent Vice President in Bapak Jusuf Kalla who is trained and educated at the INSEAD (European Business School), and a Cabinet of professionals, a few of whom are known to me personally.
Going into the streets will not produce anything positive. It will only be giving the repressive powers of the state the opportunity to show its strength. That kind of agitation will further undermine public and investor confidence, and so it serves no useful purpose. It will only exacerbate our present condition.
Websites like this one are being monitored by the Government. This website seeks to promote serious discourse, and provides feedback to the Government about what Malaysians think. I personally find it to be very useful as a way of getting our messages across to politicians and policy makers. As long as we remain constructive, we can get our messages through to those who matter. They can only ignore the feedback from the ground at their own peril.
Change is painfully slow as Lao Tzu never ceases to remind me that tiny drops of water persistently hitting the same spot on a huge rock will eventually break it. So I hope, we can make the change in an orderly fashion via the ballot box.
After all, you, others and I must remember that we all voted this ex-bureaucrat into power with a resounding mandate in the 2004 General Elections. He had a great manifesto, and we believed him. He tried to do something, but lacked the political will to implement them. Promises, promises, so says singer Dionne Warwick.
We made the choice, and must now live with it. I am sure he will pay the price in 2008, should he decide to lead the Barisan Nasional in the next General Elections, unless of course we have short memories.
Thanks.
October 10th, 2005 at 7:27 am
If we want change, here is a famous quote for you.
“Revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.”
Che Guevara
October 10th, 2005 at 7:52 am
As I read about the various forms of right-wing ideology, I struggle to classify which end of the spectrum does Malaysia fall – until I come to this passage:
…a right wing ideology …. calls for a spiritual revolution against signs of moral decay such as individualism and materialism, and seeks to purge alien forces and groups that threaten the organic community…. tends to celebrate masculinity, youth… . Often, but not always, it promotes racial superiority doctrines, ethnic persecution …. espouses male supremacy, though sometimes it may also female solidarity and new opportunities for women…
…rejects the principles of class struggle … as threats to national or racial unity… ethnic scapegoating or radical-sounding conspiracy theories… rejects the liberal doctrines of individual autonomy and rights, political pluralism, and representative government, yet it advocates broad popular participation in politics and may use parliamentary channels in its drive to power…
I am not saying the regime that rules Malaysia today actively promotes such concepts.
But Fascism escapes definition.
October 10th, 2005 at 7:56 am
Well, Devil’s Advocate, thanks.
Shaking the apple tree is not always a good option. You see, you have to overcome group of bloodhounds (the police) protecting the apple tree. You must overpower these obstacles before you can have the chance to shake the apple tree. When you shake the tree, you could end up getting over ripe or bad apples!! You, of course, know what happened to Che Guevara, the apple tree shaker, in the jungles of Bolivia.
A revolutionary like Che never knows when to stop. He keeps creating revolutions from one place to another, bringing chaos and death in his wake, until he either exhausts himself, or is killed. Once that happens, his revolution dies with him. Revolutionaries like Mao and Pol Pot too brought death and destruction to their fellow countrymen and women. They are remembered in infamy.
Che Guevara was an anarchist and a romantic. Such men enter the history books as icons, but they have nothing to show for their efforts. We are interested in making our country a better place for all Malaysians, not in revolutionary change. Now you understand where I am coming from.
Lao Tzu is better in my book than your friend, Che.
Thanks.
October 10th, 2005 at 7:58 am
P.S>
please substitute word “actively” for “openly”.
October 10th, 2005 at 8:12 am
Prof Din Merican,
Man (although Eve was really the one ) has committed the Original Sin in the Garden of Eden in Genesis. She took the apple against God’s expressed command and gave it to him.
Apples do not grow in the arid deserts of mesopotamia.
October 10th, 2005 at 8:18 am
Your point??
October 10th, 2005 at 8:53 am
Dear MatMoto,
Our friend, Devil’s Advocate, is not getting my point. He is now talking about the Book of Genesis and Apples. He has become biblical, talking about Adam and Hawa.
I think apples can grow in Israel as the Israelis have irrigated arid lands using the waters of the Jordan River, and biotechnology to produce fruits and juices for global markets. I could be wrong.
Maybe you can help me. BTW Mat, are you in the motor business? Thanks.
October 10th, 2005 at 8:54 am
Sorry, Mat, it is me.
October 10th, 2005 at 10:34 am
Dear Din Merican,
No. Devil’s Advocate got your point. He’s just playing devil’s advocate - referring to Man’s Original Sin and all.
It is his calling card.
October 10th, 2005 at 10:57 am
Yes. En. Din Merican.
I am waiting for comments on the price of oil and its place in the Budget.
I make a living repairing motor bikes. Now that the price of petrol has sky rocketted, less bikers and their minah karan pillion riders are using their motor bikes and as a result my business suffers. I understand you jump into taxis yourself and leave your old Mercedes at home (so you could not be tracked), to listen, among other things, to what the grapevine has to tell you about Mat Badawi and the Gang of Four.
What is the latest in the grapevine? Leave apples alone.
October 10th, 2005 at 11:17 am
Yep. It is not just oil. I have yet to hear concern expressed about the avian flu - and the measures the Badawi Administration is taking to avoid the pandemic. Clearly, the Ministers are only concerned about their feathered friends when their wives are out of town.
October 10th, 2005 at 10:07 pm
Pakcik Din Merican,
>A revolutionary like Che never knows when to stop. He keeps creating >revolutions from one place to another, bringing chaos and death in his >wake, until he either exhausts himself, or is killed. Once that happens, his >revolution dies with him. Revolutionaries like Mao and Pol Pot too brought >death and destruction to their fellow countrymen and women. They are >remembered in infamy.
Apa yang menyentuh perasaan saya tentang Che Guevara ialah kesanggupan dia untuk berkorban(selflessness) untuk apa yang dia fikirkan baik,walaupun mungkin ideologi & caranya silap. Kalau ideologi dan caranya betul, mungkin dia membawa keuntungan kedalam masyarakat mereka.
Dalam konteks Malaysia, saya rasa ramai ahli-ahli politik yang “selfless” tetapi mereka ini kalah dalam politik parti & politik perkauman , kebanyakan yang menang(bukan semua) hanyalah mereka yang mementingkan diri sendiri.
Saya rasa, generasi(20an) saya inginkan perubahan dalam perkara ini. Cuma kami kurang “role model”, kerana kami dibesarkan melihat ahli-ahli politik dan businessman yang tidak “effective”. Dengan adanya orang-orang seperti Pakcik Din Merican dan Pakcik Bakri Musa, kami ada pilihan untuk melihat mereka yang lebih “effective” dan ingin membawa perubahan kepada yang baik, dan saya rasa masih ramai lagi orang-orang seperti Pakcik, diluar sana yang boleh menyumbangkan fikiran mereka. Kita perlukan momentum ini untuk meggerakkan Masyarakat Melayu dan Masyarakat Malaysia secara keseluruhannya.
Terima kasih Pakcik Bakri Musa & Din Merican.
October 10th, 2005 at 10:56 pm
A major part of the budget is a sum of RM 2billion for the government to acquire commercial properties, to ensure there is some presence of bumiputra shops in urban areas.
What had happened is that the Urban Development Authority(UDA), set up in 1971, was there to do that very job. About 5 years ago, a group of senior officers recommended to the government to”privatise” UDA by corporatising this statutory body into a public company. With vastly undervalued assets, the listing was a breeze, and the proponents of the privatisation excercise also built in a mechanism whereby a ‘Management Buyout (MBO) was in place and got the government to allocate a large amount of shares to a company owned by less than 10 senior officers. How this was decided remains a mystery until today and in some circles, this topic is spoken only in whispers. Only about two years after listing, the block of shares was sold and each made a handsome profit. The so called MBO was just a ploy to get the shares, and NON of the officers stayed back to manage the newly incorporated company.
That the government was hoodwinked, is a foregone conclusion, but the cost of the mistake goes beyond words, as RM 2billion is now needed to do the job that UDA had been doing for more than 20 years, all over again.
LJ
October 11th, 2005 at 4:11 am
What happened to UDA proves that some Bumis are just as smart to skim off the cream as anyone else who is put in such a position of opportunity.
Now after they have eaten all the cream and licked the plate off, they start round 2 with this property trust scheme.
I won’t be surprised if that is what happened to Bank Islam that gave some dubious loans to unprofitable projects .
Even Indonesia seems to be taking firmer action to jail errant bankers.
October 11th, 2005 at 5:00 am
Well it does not end there, guys.
Talk about insider trading! Corruption, criminal breach of trust among bankers and white collar senior executives both in the private as well as in public sectors have cost the country millions! Some of these were committed in the name of bumiputra participation and the NEP and national interests etc. Could these have been committed without the involvement and tacit approval of politicians, political masters and politicial godfathers. Could these have been comitted without “independent contractors” who form a convenient conduit for illegal funds to be siphoned away into deep pockets?
Ordinary Malays have had their confidence and trust betrayed numerous times and for far too long - and it would need a Malaysian Che Quevara to make the difference. Nothing less.
UMNO politicians are corrupt to the core.
And all this is because there is no check and balance, no accountability. How many have times have we heard of the maxim’ “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”?
Corruption in Malaysia has become endemic, systemic. Unless stopped the culture of corruption will destroy us all. It is not a question of “what “but of “when”.
It is time to recruit elements of the armed forces, police and social activists, community leaders of all political affiliations to agitate for change. Peaceful change. And if that does not work then “guided change” through extraconstitutional means if necessary. The present Government in condoning corruption has lost its legitimacy. It is time that the people re-take power. We dont need to wait to express our opinion through the ballot box. The electoral process is too corrupt to facilitate the process of change.
We need a Che Quevara. And by that I don’t mean a dead Che Quevara in the jungles of Bolivia.
How else would I suceed in my motor business?
October 11th, 2005 at 6:12 am
>It is time to recruit elements of the armed forces, police and social activists,
>community leaders of all political affiliations to agitate for change. Peaceful
>change. And if that does not work then “guided change” through
>extraconstitutional means if necessary. The present Government in condoning
>corruption has lost its legitimacy. It is time that the people re-take power. We
>dont need to wait to express our opinion through the ballot box. The electoral
>process is too corrupt to facilitate the process of change.
Revolusi seperti begini tidak menyelesaikan masalah rasuah dan sebagainya dalam politik dan kerajaan. Lihat saja kepada negara-negara di Asia Tenggara. Dari satu revolusi ke satu revolusi, tetapi rasuah dalam politik & kerajaan mereka tidak lebih baik dari Malaysia. Tiada revolusi di Singapura tetapi kerajaan mereka antara negara yang terbersih didunia dalam aspek rasuah.
Kita perlu menggerakkan minda rakyat dengan pendidikan, pendapat yang bernas dan debat supaya kita dapat “check and balance” kerajaan, bukan hanya menjadi pak turut kepada ahli politik yang mementingkan diri sendiri dan “corrupt to the bone”. Internet menjadi pemangkin kepada gerakan ini. sebelum internet media kita dikongkong oleh pihak-pihak tertentu supaya pendapat mereka sahaja yang mendapat tempat, tetapi dengan adanya internet, pendapat-pendapat yang radikal boleh disuarakan.
Cuma yang penting pendapat-pendapat yang radikal sekalipun perlulah membawa keuntungan kepada rakyat jelata bukannya pada orang tertentu.
Tentang Che Guevara, dia yang menjadi simbol perjuangan yang tidak mementingkan diri sendiri dan namanya yang kemelayuan (seperti Che Mat, Che Mahmud) menarik perhatian saya. (^_^)
October 11th, 2005 at 6:37 am
MatMoto,
I guessed right, you are in the motor business. It is better to work hard for yourself rather than slog for some GLC. I know business conditions are difficult right now, but I am reminded of a statement by Rev. Robert Schuler: “Tough times don’t last, but Tough guys do”. Be self-reliant. If we have to depend on Badawi, our business will be dead, and so will we.
Che Guevara was one of a kind of a rare but valiant bird like the bow eagle who soars in the high heavens, so to speak. He was a medical doctor who decided to forsake the honorable profession, and damn the establishment in favour of fighting to free his people from dictators and corrupt leaders. But he paid a heavy price, with his life, in fighting revolutionary wars in Latin America and elsewhere. He died at the hands of the Bolivian military. He is my iconic figure. But I am not sure whether we can apply his approach to change in our system.
We can still make change happen. But our problem is our general apathy. There is a huge silent majority, who do not want to be bothered with national politics. They are happy watching ASTRO TV, and having a good time with their wives, kids and girlfriends. Because of this, our politicians and bureaucrats are having a field day.The press and the media are too cheering them on.
Go for the Opposition with aging leaders like Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh? Trust Anwar Ibrahim, or Ustaz Hadi? I hate to see the PAS mullahs in lounge suits who are prepared to abandon their “principles” just to get elected taking over affairs of state. The alternative political parties too are full of hot air and promises, promises ad infinitum. So, for the time being at least, we in a TINA (there is no alternative) situation. Our ultimate answer is a free and independent press, and open society with a very active NGO community.
With regard to corruption, we can start by not giving the cops on our highways money whenever we break traffic rules. That is quite simple: we should observe, not break traffic rules. The next thing we can do is to stop paying under the table money every time we want a civil servant to do something quickly for us. Government servants are paid enough, and we have the right to demand service from them. Do we? No, we condone their attitude and sloppiness.
In a bribe, like any other transaction, there is the giver and taker as there is a buyer and a seller. We don’t give, the taker has no business. As members of the public we are as guilty because we not only condone corrupt practices, but also help to nurture it. So today, we have the “bisa diatur” or “kaotim” syndrome in Malaysia.
Our Chinese businessman brothers are the true champions at this “kaotim” game. If you do not believe me, go to Sandakan, Sabah and talk to the timber tycoons. They will tell you stories over a glass of beer or two and seafood dinner with great humour. If not , how come Osu Sukam, the former Chief Minister can lose millions gambling at the Ritz, London and still walk tall. He enjoys quality sleep with not a care in the world. He has not even been fired from UMNO nor harassed by our toothless Anti-Corruption Agency.
These UMNO guys know how to take care of each other like members of the Ku Klux Klan, but without the hoods except when one of them like Isa Samad threatens the party leadership. When that happens, he will appear before a Kangaroo court to answer charges of money politics. Cynical? You bet.
We don’t need a Che Guevara, just do not be either the giver or the taker. But that will not make you, Matmoto, an AP King, of course. For that, you have to learn how to court our MITI Minister. That is an art which I don’t have. How unfortunate! So I ride the taxi or take the Commuter train or the LRT to Kuala Lumpur every day.
Thanks.
October 11th, 2005 at 7:18 am
Gentlemen, this is the longest-running reality show in Bolehland. Only the rich and the connected are allowed to participate. All are winners reqardless of their performance or non-performance.
It is one show where both judges and players get to take whatever their hearts desire - APs, shares, subsidies, titles, GLCs etc. All for free.
Only the elites are allowed into the auditorium. Balloting is by a show of hands. SMSing is strictly prohibited.
Aspirants are required to report to the nearest Umno branch office to register. Good luck.
October 11th, 2005 at 9:07 am
Bro Din,
I really take my hats-off to you. No, I do not like to “ampu” others, but you are one of a kind. I have even told my children to read what you write. I said once before and I am saying it again - in this land of twisted and half-baked beans, you come by as a really wonderful and well read person. Your replies, even to those steeped on anger and anguish, are a soothing medicine. Continue writing for our sake and for this country’s sake.
Thank you
October 11th, 2005 at 9:37 am
Din Merican,
Your TINA dilemma is one I encountered a long time ago - from the very moment I began learning about the political climate here, I knew there was a TINA dilemma about. The opposition is ineffectual, and the government cannot be counted on. I’ve considered the possibility of a new party, to the extent of plotting crude strategies and tactics for orchestrating its rise. I am still young, with plenty of time to live my life. Unfortunately, from my experiences, the same cannot be said for Malaysia. Unless we undergo a course correction, the path Malaysia is set on is one clearly labeled “disaster”. We need a surgeon such as Dr. Bakri to extract the cancers of corruption, racism, disunity and incompetence from our government and nation. The conundrum we face, alas, is one of time. How much time does Malaysia have left?
October 11th, 2005 at 10:13 am
I have a girlfriend named TINA, a lawyer who lives in Bangsar. She sure is a dilemma.
October 11th, 2005 at 12:39 pm
Will somebody tell me why our Mr. Opposition Mr. Lim Kit Siang has started the “Save Parliament” campaign?? Why save Parliament?
Also he is under the mistaken belief that the Westminster model of Parliamentary democracy subscribes to the doctrine of separation of powers. It doesn’t. It is one of overlapping powers. The leader of the ruling political party duly elected by his constituents to represent them in Parliament, and by party members to be their party leader, automatically becomes the country’s Prime Minister after a successful general elections held once in every five years. He then appoints members of his Cabinet which could include members of the Upper House of Parlament who are appointed by the King i.e. the senate. He also appoints members of the judiciary - the judges, the Chief Justice/Lord President to head the country’s Judiciary. Once appointed he can still sack the Lord President by invoking the relevant Constitutional procedures as laid down in the Federal Constitution.
It makes for inefficient government. Worse, it can pave the way to a usurpation of powers of the Legislative and the Judiciary by the Executive - such as what we have been seeing for the last two or three decades. It in fact gave rise to a tin pot dictator not too long ago.
The time is now ripe for a republic - a system of government which incorporates a much more effective checks and balances.
The dangers of big government are all too obvious. We must keep the government small and preserve and safeguard our fundamental liberties against government intrusion.
October 11th, 2005 at 12:45 pm
P.S.
All appointmens are made in the name of the Agong but with the “advice” of the Prime Minister. We all understand the remifications of that. The Prime Minister appoints.
October 11th, 2005 at 4:36 pm
Fathol Zaman wrote:
“How could the authorities be so oblivious to the subtleties that are taking place right under their noses? National schools are Malay-based where the religion, read Islam, has taken a foothold”
There is a saying “No one is as blind as those who do not want to see.” I don’t know where that came from.
It is good you are watching what goes on in Ipoh, my hometown and based on your writing I guess you are about my age, perhaps a little older.
Just wonder why the PM appears so indecisive about ISA’s position. The people’s mandate appears to have such a hollow ring now.
October 11th, 2005 at 7:07 pm
Not so long ago I pennned the followings at another blog;
“………….. Since May 13 1969 we’ve never failed to do the merry-go-rounds with all parties. AND yet nothing, NOTHING has actually been done to resolve the issues. Apathy, helplessness or plain blurr-sotongness in the part of the ‘nation builders’.
Meanwhile all aspects of the country are sliding down the socio-economic developments ever since 1969. Just imagine prior to 1969 M’sia was at the top of the Asia developments (social & economic) radar. We’re miles ahead of S Korea, S’pore, Taiwan & slightly behind HK. Forwards to present these 4 countries are miles ahead of M’sia. The lessers like Thailand, India, China, Vietnam are catching up fast in all areas of competitiveness.
Very sad for a country that has the blessings of the Nature, with plenty of natural resources & NO natural threats, & yet cannot move ahead of other lesser-blessed countries.
PERHAPS the nature has been playing a balance game. Every country has a natural calamity - in M’sia’s case our blind-spot is the calibre of the people that play host to the nation. I refuse to acept this as this means we as a whole is doomed.
Or does this mean our country has reach the point of great changes, where the undercurrents are going to erupt? Great sufferings before the new beginnings - where everything start from anew….
With 90% of the Malay getting left-overs & supposed to be contend & happy. The remaining 10% Malay getting free-rides on everythings. Yes everything, from AP, free scholarship, housing, top govt employment etc etc. While the rest of the other Malaysian of different ethnic origins are left to fend for themselves with whatever means availble.
……………. The body is rotten to the core, judging from the yearly reports of the Auditor General, the unhappyness of the masses, the ‘transparentcy’ of the administration processes, the cronies symptoms, the abang-adekism throughout the current governing personnel etc..
This nation needs a decisive change. And the change must be made quickly in order for M’sia to be relevant in the coming years.
Do we have the right PERSON to initial the changes?…….”
From what I’ve followed on this thread, it seems that I’m not alone.
Is just the mean thats differ!
So, there are M’sian Intelligentsia of all races, shimmering the thought of change underneath the masquerading calm, out there at all places.
I believe this will matter & changes will come.
But again the urgentcy is there. No true blue M’sian wants to see that this country become a cheap exporter of human labours, as we become uncompetitive & inefficient in the coming decades.
October 11th, 2005 at 7:35 pm
I posted a message yesterday on UDA’s piratisation by it’s own officers. In today’s papers,is is reported that they are doing another number on Tabung Haji! Several MP’s objected to this, but the fact that it has come to parlaiment may mean that it too is a foregone conclusion. Nothing is sacred anymore.
Why officers in this kind of bodies need to have a ‘golden handshake’, I do not understand. It all started with Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim who got a huge chunk of Guthrie upon his retirement fro PNB. His post was taken over by Datuk Helmi, who also got an IT company belonging to PNB , when he too retired. He subsequently listed this company(Heitec Padu). Then we now have Tan Sri Lodin of LTAT who is also getting a chunk of BP’s string of petrol stations which he made LTAT acquire. Now he is getting an extension of service. He is MD of not one, but several companies in the LTAT group.
There does not seem to be any check and balance, but I suspect that the real reason for this malaise is that the decision makers would also be the beneficieries upon their own retirement.
Institutions like Tabung haji and PNB represent rich pickings, because they get choice assets , and these become the natural targets for the predators.
The losers, naturally are the Malays. With this in house corporate raiders, is it any wonder that many Malay managed organistaion are not doing well?
Forget about the govt rep with his golden share, attending meetings (sometimes overseas) and getting meeting and directors’ allowances. They are just there to make up the numbers.
LJ
October 11th, 2005 at 7:55 pm
Don’t know how my post on
“no one being as blind as those who do not want to see” was Anonymous - maybe because I was using another computer in another country.
All those sweetheart deals should be done to benefit the cooperatives etc if the companies want to divest.
Looks as though the concept of creating multi-millionaires ala Halim S of Renong fame still persists. Just to create a towering tycoon with feet of clay!
October 11th, 2005 at 9:14 pm
Dear Fair Malaysian,
I see you can detect the anger and anguish in my writings. Honestly, I tried very hard to conceal that, but I am glad that you did not say that you detected bitterness. Yes, lots of disappointments and frustrations, but no bitterness.
I can still lead my life the way I choose it. There is still freedom in our country, not as much as we would like to enjoy, given that the Ulamaks and their political friends are trying to regulate the moral lives of Muslim Malaysians. Dr. Bakri is very fortunate in this sense.
I will do my bit as I have always done in my 66 years, often at the expense of my personal and family welfare. In the Bodek-Boleh land, people like me are not viewed in favorable light because they probably think I am an “agitator” and they believe that like them I may be promoting some agenda for personal gain. You see, we tend to and can subsconciously judge others by what motivates us. My good friend, Dr. Bakri too is being held in similar light.
Like my favorite icons, Che Guevara, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Tun Dr. Mahathir (I know others will disagree with me here) and others, I will soldier on. I will speak and write calling a spade a spade in the fading hope that one day, hopefully, someone will listen. That is why Lao Tzu is a special human being in my book. Change will come after the chaos. There is hope yet.
Bakri, you, others and I on this website are engaged in the biggest challenge of our lives, which is how do we make Malaysia a better place for our grandchildren and those after them than the one we inherited from our forebears. That smacks of idealism.
Yes, but who said that we should not be driven by ideals or that idealism is outmoded. I happen to disagree with the view that ideals have no place in our lives. They are relevant, more so now, given the many things we see that are wrong with “politics as usual” in our potentially great country.
You are kind to say that I am widely read. In fact, I am very flattered. It is just a habit I developed from young, thanks to my late mom and my dedicated teachers. It is something that we all, especially our young, can acquire. It takes effort, but it can be done. Just do it.
I spend more money on books, magazines and other publications than on food and clothes. I am still learning, will never stop learning and will keep doing it. Here I agree with Jack Welch, the legendary General Electric Chairman and Chief Executive (read his latest book, Winning). You can never learn enough, and that is why learning is scary. The more you learn the more you discover how much you do not know. So ignorance, as the old adage says, is bliss. For me, I prefer knowledge.
Books and ideas, even those that may offend us, should be read and discussed. That’s why I am against the banning of books. My logic is simple: if we don’t know what people see in, and say of us, how can we challenge their arguments and be better as individuals and a people. To your kids and others, I say respect the dignity of difference. In fact embrace it, and you will be the better for it.
I read Karen Armstrong’s Muhammad carefully some time ago and with almost consuming interest, in fact. Here is a former Nun, now a researcher and scholar on comparative religions. She wrote positively about Islam’s Prophet and his monumental achievements. In the book, she criticised Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses which featured the Prophet of Islam pbuh (in his character called Mahound) as a lecherous, warring and immoral person.
You know what happened to Karen’s book. It is banned in our country! Some smart bureaucrats in the Ministry of Home Affairs/Internal Security decided that to curry favour, and the Hon’ble Minister signs the order. And out goes Karen’s book with the stroke of a pen.
History is littered with episodes like Pol Pot’s burning of great Buddhist and western texts (and he killed Cambodian intellectuals and professionals as well) during his Khmer Rouge reign of terror between 1975-1979. Mao did the same thing when he initiated the Cultural Revolution in China. But, of course, we are more sophisticated than these crude and tyrannical guys because we only censor and ban them. I see no difference. Do you, Fair Malaysian?
It is the closing of the Malaysian mind that scares me. The Malaysian media does the same thing when they practise self-censorship. What a shame. We no longer kids. Our own country is 48 years of age. Our Government must accept change and trust Malaysians. Tell me, dear friend, what are our core values? If we have, do we hold them dear to our hearts, and live by them? I leave you guys to figure this out.
Thanks.
P.S. MatMoto, please say hi to TINA for me. Bangsar is a pretty groovy place to be, especially on Saturday nights. I am sure on such days, TINA is with her Mom and Dad, while you have a night’s out with the boys. No wonder, TINA is a dilemma, eh!
October 11th, 2005 at 9:19 pm
>Looks as though the concept of creating multi-millionaires ala Halim S of
>Renong fame still persists. Just to create a towering tycoon with feet of clay!
Mereka yang berkuasa tidak belajar dari kesilapan. Dari seorang ke seorang program cepat kaya diwujudkan, tan sri itu, tan sri ini, yang penting mereka hanyalah “rent seekers”. Tidak membawa “added value” kedalam ekonomi Malaysia dan mereka ini tidak tahu MALU!!!
Daripada mewujudkan projek cepat kaya seperti itu, buka tender secara terbuka dan dapatkan “value for the money spend”, dan gunakan wang yang berlebihan itu untuk mendidik anak felda, kampung diceruk rantau supaya mereka mendapat pendidikan kelas pertama daripada negara maju seluruh dunia. Mereka akan kembali sebagai entrepreneur, manager, engineer, doctor dan sebagainya untuk menggerak ekonomi Malaysia dan bersaing dalam dunia globalisasi. Menjeritkan perkataan Glokal tak menyelesaikan masalah.
Semua cadangan ini telah dikaji dan diterangkan oleh Pakcik Bakri Musa dalam buku-bukunya. Jika saya yang baru keluar universiti boleh faham dengan tulisan itu, mengapa mereka yang menggerakkan, memimpin negara ini tidak boleh faham?
October 11th, 2005 at 10:14 pm
Pakcik Din Merican,
> But, of course, we are more sophisticated than these crude and tyrannical
>guys because we only censor and ban them. I see no difference. Do you, >Fair Malaysian?
Saya rasa, kerajaan kita lebih terbuka dalam menerima kritikan. Seorang ahli ekonomi(http://gao.env.kitakyu-u.ac.jp/yoshihara/CV.htm) di Jepun yang menulis buku tentang masalah “rent seeking” di Asia Tenggara dan mengkritik kerajaan Indonesia dan Malaysia, tidak dibenarkan sekali memasuki Indonesia dan bukunya diharamkan, di Malaysia, dia pernah mengajar di UKM sekitar 2001 . Dalam hal itu negara kita masih terbuka dengan idea-idea yang membina, cuma implementasi yang menjadi masalah.
Tulisan Yoshihara-sensei yang mengkaji ekonomi asia tenggara daripada tahun 70-an banyak membuka mata saya tentang ekonomi, sosio & politik negara kita dan negara jiran. Jika ingin tahu pandangan dari luar yang tidak ada “fear and favor” tentang ekonomi Malaysia saya cadangkan buku Yoshihara-sensei.
October 12th, 2005 at 4:39 am
Ohayo…
Watashiwa Matsumoto desu.
“Like my favorite icons, Che Guevara, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Tun Dr. Mahathir (I know others will disagree with me here) and others..” says Din Merican.
How could you, Din-san put Mahathir in the same category as these leaders of men? And speak of them in the same breath?? If there is anything we learn from Mahathir, it is “Don’t be afraid to speak your mind.” It was all right for him to say so. Because he is the boss. But what happens when you do, and if you happen to disagree with him at the same time? You’d be lucky if he doesnt take it personally. Invariably he does. How do you think he came to be surrounded by “Yes” men when he was PM?? They were afraid and they were feeding him only with information he wanted to hear. Finally, the man believed in the lies he fabricated for others to follow. He no longer knew where the truth lies. Change came but only in his direction.
He has never been known to forgive anybody who stood in his way. Once you lost his trust, it is final. There may be one or two exceptions - like our Badawi for example.
Badawi’s weakness is also his strength - apparently. But that is another matter.
October 12th, 2005 at 4:56 am
P.S.
By the way, some USDLS 3.0 million was paid to a consultancy firm in Washington DC to secure that appointment with President Bush some time ago. Is that what a leader of men does - to promote his own image at tax payers’ expense?
October 12th, 2005 at 7:17 am
Hey guys,
I knew I would get some strong reponse from you at the very mention of Mahathir. You see, I have my own list of iconic figures. So I do not expect to agree with mine.
It seems to me that there are two camps, those who think Mahathir has done a good job in transforming our country, and those who believe that he has deformed our country and destroyed the judiciary, the civil service and other institutions. I have belong to neither group.
What I try to do is to recognise that the man had done some good, some not so good, and some damaging. He has his strengths and weaknesses. Overall, our country was stable (both politically and economically) when he was the captain for 22 years. That is an achievement which even Bush and Blair will be envious of.
I happened to have worked for the man when he was Chairman of FIMA in the mid-1970s. At that time, he was also the Deputy Prime Minister and since that, I have been in touch with him. I have no problems to see him, if I needed to. All I have to do is to ring his secretary, and I am on my way. But I will never see him unprepared.
Recently a friend met him for I hour in his Petronas Office.They chatted for I hour about business prospects in the Malaysian Oil & Gas industry. My friend said that the former Prime Minister was sharp and up to date on developments about the industry. Here is a remarkable man, I thought.
He is also a friend of my family since the days when we were in Alor Setar, Kedah in the 1950s. To many of us in Kedah in those days, he was a role model. In my conversations with him over the years, I found him to be open to ideas. He is a good debater. I am in awe of his considerable intellect and knowledge, as he is widely read, thinks laterally, and travels around the world with his eyes open and camera clicking. I was never a yes man to him, or any one else.
It is true that he does not suffer fools easily, so when you see him you have to know your stuff. He also has a mind of his own and when he makes up his mind, there is no stopping him from taking action. But I have always found him to be very polite and courteous. At the same time, he is a good decision maker. But he is combative when it comes to criticisms about our country.
That is right, “once you lost his trust, it is final”. I am no different. I cannot work with someone who I cannot trust. It is not unusual, certainly not peculiar to Tun Mahathir. Being a former corporate executive, I feel that once a subordinate cannot be trusted, I will not want him in my team. I just “lock him up” in a nice room, and supply him with plenty of papers and magazines to read each day, until he gets the message and resigns.
In fairness to Tun Mahathir, he never claimed to be a democratic leader, a consensus builder, or a populist. He just leads. So in my view, he is a unique Malaysian Prime Minister, and has served our country well. This is something I cannot say about our present Prime Minister. You are welcome to give Badawi more time. Two years may not be enough for some of you to judge him.
Matsumoto, where did you get the information that he paid to see George Bush? Ask our Auditor-General/Juru Odit Negara if this is true.
Thanks.
October 12th, 2005 at 7:30 am
Dear Matsumoto-san,
With 18 years of education in Malay and 8 years education in Japanese I’ll try my best to express my thought in English . Please bare with my English, I think my Japanese is better than my English.
Mahathir is among the great leader that Malaysia had. He has the courage to talk what he think that is right for Malaysia, ignore the noise around him and implement what he think the best for our nation. He do not care what the others say about him. what matters to him is, the best thing for the nation. Yes, he had don’ t lots of mistakes but I think he had also done lot of good things to our country. What our leader have to do is learn from Mahathir’s mistake and bring our nation to the next level of development. our Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is good leader ,but he has problem with the implementation and he has to do something about it.
We can blame what leader have done to our country. but the best thing to do is to learn from the mistake that he made and do the best for our country.
Deha-Oyasuminasai Matsumoto-san. I it almost 23:30 here in Japan and I need a good rest .
October 12th, 2005 at 10:56 am
Din-san,
It was in the papers. USDLS 3.0 million passed hands through an intermediary to a lobbyist in Washington DC to secure that appointment with President Bush after 9/11. There was an attempt to investigate this in the wake of another case involving illegal campaign funds involving a Chinese national. Funds came from a Malaysian intermediary, a consultant - according to media reports, with ties to the Prime Minister.
I can understand why you hero worship the guy. I can understand why non-Malays in their 20s today look up to him as being a Prime Minister who did a lot of good for his country. These kids knew nothing different. They will not hesitate to point to the Twin Towers, KLIA, MSC, LRT, Proton etc. They will tell you how fair he has been to the Chinese, how honest he is in his views when he criticised the Malays, how vocal he has been on the world stage, and daring even when he spoke against actions by the world’s only super power, the United States.
But talk to the Chinese, now in their 50s and 60s, who remember how he was branded as an “ultra” by them in the years leading up to his sacking by our beloved first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, how his book the “Malay Dilemma” written in the wake of the racial riots of 1969 influenced the thinking of the extremists among the Malays, caused the extreme right of UMNO to stage a silent coup in the early 70s paving the way to the setting up of the Operations Council - and later to the resignation of the “happiest Prime Minister in the world”.
They will tell you a different story.
The better informed among Malaysians know better.
In his final years at the helm, Mahathir took steps to protect his legacy. But for some two decades earlier, he ruled Malaysia with an iron fist earning himself the title of “tin pot dictator” - a title given to him by those working within the U.S. Department of State.
Do not be in a hurry to judge the man. Let history be the judge of that - and let’s not usurp that role. But right now the Country is still reeling from the after effects of the “achievements” of this man.
October 12th, 2005 at 11:44 am
P.S.
Din-san,
Allow me to re-phrase what I said earlier: “Once you lose his trust, it is final.” to “Once you get on the wrong side of him for whatever reason, disagreeing with his views, for example - though the objective is the same - it is final. He cannot take criticsm. He views all criticism as being personal.” So if you have an opinion, make sure it serves to confirm his - or else you would do well to shut up. The problem when you surround yourself with “yes” men is that you would never know when you go wrong - until it is too late. I would look at the “yes” men around me with great suspicion as to their performance - and their loyalty in times of personal crisis.
I remember Sanusi Junid reminding Mahathir at the UMNO general assembly some time ago, how he was the only one who visited him at his residence when it looked like he lost the party election to Razaleigh and Musa. A man who surrounds himself with “yes” men can become isolated and very lonely in times of crisis.
I am not sure who did more damage, more injustice to the country -Mahathir or those individuals including professionals who should have advised him against going into projects like Perwaja, Proton etc. Maybe I am wrong. They are all corrupted and plunged headlong and seemingly “recklessly” into such projects in any case to make millions for themselves. The media was used as a marketing tool. Public opinion was never a problem. Among those who do not share his opinion about the viability of such projects were the Japanese themselves. How do I know? Some of them were were honest enough to confide in me. Japanese participation in “loss” making projects was bought by fat and lucrative projects dished out by Petronas. It was a win-win situation for individuals involved - with the country losing billions of USDLS.
October 12th, 2005 at 11:53 am
Khairuddin-san,
You sound very young to me. Are you being trained by a foreign financial institution?
How is Shinjuku?
October 12th, 2005 at 5:46 pm
Yes, a reported sum of USD3 million was spent to get an agency to lobby for Mahathir’s visit to the White House in 2003. This report was carried in Malaysiakini early this year. Pak Din, you can confirm this with them.
Even the venerated MGG Pillai made reference to TM’s indiscretion.
So, he paid to have an audience with the evil Bush at our expense!
October 12th, 2005 at 7:32 pm
Matsumoto-san,
I appreciate your comments. Allow me to respond.
In my experience, good people with guts to speak their minds are an asset. They are rare, in fact a diminishing tribe, not just in Malaysia. You need them because they get things done. But you must empower them and have checks and balances in place, of course. When they perform, you must reward them. As a good manager, you must lead and motivate them. Be an enabler.
After all, management boils down to getting things done through people. Styles may be defer. I, for example, set high standards and live by them. I would work extremely hard at my job which was essentially leading and rallying the troops to accomplish objectives. But, as I said earlier, you have to trust; this is the foundation of true delegation.
In politics, you have to be both “a lion and a fox”, to quote to the 16th century Florentine Diplomat Niccolo Machiavelli. You have to ensure that you have the upper hand against your enemies and rivals. You never know what can happen when the stakes (power) are high. In politics, there are no permanent enemies, only common interests. Politics, by definition, is about who gets what, how, how much, and when. A good politician is a master of power play.
The problem occurs when the distinction between politics and business is blurred. You cannot make business decisions on the basis of your politics alone. The criteria are different. But there is business politics in corporate games since it is about power and status. That is another matter.
Professionals are, in theory at least, expected to provide sound advice and must have the guts to “stick to their guns”. The consequences can be dire on one’s family and one’s own career. So, the choice is invariably a personal one. Some people I know made their stand, as true blue blood professionals, with the former Prime Minister and paid the ultimate price (humiliation and no job). There are others I know who decided to play the game since it is a soft option, and a rewarding one at that.
Tun Mahathir respects those who stick to their guns, although he may not like to hear what they say. This is because he is a strong personality with definite views. At the same time, he knows that those “yes men” around him are useful as tools to serve his politics. He knows that they must be maintained, and fed. But their loyalty is suspect. They are what I call “Al-Katakis” (the leaping frogs). You can talk to Mr. Ibrahim Ali, and he will tell you more about this phenomenon.
Professionals are at fault. That is why when professionals and the politicians (as special interest group) are working hand and glove, the country and its people suffer. You need to understand public choice theory (Buchanan, Tullock and Mancur Olson) to appreciate the concept of “distributional coalitions” (Mancur Olson).
You mentioned Proton. I was a Proton Director from 1988-1990. It was difficult period for the company. Let me tell you that working with Mitsubishi Motor Corporation (MMC) was not easy. Their representatives on the Proton Board always sought to protect the interest of MMC. They kept telling me and other Malaysian directors that everything should be done “step by step” including technology transfer (engine design, development, and production).
You know why? MMC was supplying the engines and gear boxes at that time. The first generation Proton, the Saga, was mainly Japanese and Proton was essentially an assembler. It was also a constant battle for access to overseas markets. MMC representatives kept telling us “Proton is not ready. Quality.”
Despite our criticisms, Proton made considerable progress. I would submit that this is because MMC was no longer around. I think it would great if we can for once acknowledge that Proton has opened Malaysian eyes to possibilities in design, engineering, technological development and production for the local motor industry. The company is a trail blazer.
The debate about Proton should, therefore, end and we should use the energy to help the company to move forward. So, my Japanese friend, I await the new National Automotive Policy which should include a revamp of the AP system (this has been a burden on our national car, no matter what the MITI Minister may think).
Japanese corporations are not angels, Matsumoto-san. They can be bought. They too understand the concept of linkage (practised by Henry Kissinger aka Heinz who was Nixon’s National Security and also Secretary of State). They traded with Petronas and our Government, one good project in exchange for undertaking social (and not so profitable) project. I doubt the Japanese lost money. On the contrary, they made lots and lots of it.
I do not know what period you are referring to. If it is the post 1985 Plaza Accord (The Endaka), then I can say that Japanese corporations like National and Sony, and sogoshosas like MMC, Sumitomo and Marubeni were desperate to find new locations where they could invest their Yen. They chose Southeast Asia, and Malaysia was a good place to invest. They did not come to my country because they have special affection for us.
In fact, during the Second World War when they occupied then Malaya (1942-1945), they killed many of my relatives and friends. They still have difficulty today to say “sorry” for what they did to us. They came to Malaysia in the 1980s because it was profitable for them to do so, that is, to invest in a politically stable and open trading nation, and to have access to cheap labour and land, and good infrastructure to strengthen their global competitive position against the US and Europe.
So you might care to check with your compatriots again before you point an accusing finger at Malaysia. For all its faults and failings, Malaysia is my country where I grew up, was educated, and worked. I am critical because I know we can be better, do better, and grow faster.
Thanks.
October 12th, 2005 at 8:43 pm
Dear Matsumoto-san,
I can understand why you hero worship the guy. I can understand why
non-Malays in their 20s today look up to him as being a Prime Minister who
did a lot of good for his country. These kids knew nothing different. They will
not hesitate to point to the Twin Towers, KLIA, MSC, LRT, Proton etc. They
will tell you how fair he has been to the Chinese, how honest he….
We young Malaysians regardless of races are not that stupid. Yes, you are right that I will point to KLIA , LRT, PLUS etc , but that’s infrastructure that we need to grow further. The number of middle classes Malays also grows during Mahathir’s tenure, and that provides some stability to the nation.
By the way Matsumoto-san, are you really Japanese? No Japanese had ever asked me about Shinjuku because it is some sort of Red Light District. The only people who asked me about Shinjuku is people with scarce knowledge of Japan, and Shinjuku is the only name that they know.
Thanks
October 13th, 2005 at 6:00 am
Din-san,
It is obvious that I am not Japanese. The closest I came to being Japanese is when I almost married one.
Talking about the Japanese, allow me to correct you. Mistsubishi Motor (MMC) is not a sogososha. Mitsubishi Trading is – along with Nissho Iwai, Marubeni and a few others who make money from trading based on volumes and a very small profit margin. Malaysia at one time was looking to duplicate the success of these unique organizations but failed miserably. The Japanese sogososha is unique in the way they operate and are managed. Although Sime Darby and to a lesser extent Pernas Trading may claim to be sogososha of sorts, we never came close to duplicating the Japanese experience. The environment crucial to their success, like the presence of small scale industrie, was just not there. As a result, we have no equivalent of the sogososha to boast about despite the Look East Policy.
The Look East Policy was essentially a clever business ploy among other things, which incidentally secured a job for one of Mahathir’s son who studied in Japan briefly in the early ‘80s and who returned to take his position in a Japanese company with a branch in Kuala Lumpur. Nobody knew how much his salary was because it was paid in USDLS and in an offshore account. (There must be “loopholes” in the way Bank Negara implemented its foreign exchange regulations). He was also an absentee employee with a senior rank who operated his own company “dealing in tourism” – and maintained a very low profile. No journalist has ever written about the activities of this son. I wonder why.
The Look East Policy was an offshoot so to speak of Mahathir’s “Buy Last Policy” with Great Britain. You must remember that Mahathir never got over his mistreatment at the hands of the “orang puteh” wherever he went – Australia included. And this influenced his policies throughout the two decades or so that he was Prime Minister.
Mahathir was an astute politician – a great manipulator. The Look East Policy was in fact a clever ploy to get the Japanese to look his way and get them to do his bidding when he first became prime minister.
The Japanese were unsure of what it meant for them at first and were understandably apprehensive. If it failed they knew too well it would have led to an increase in anti-Japanese feeling in Malaysia. They were fully aware of the post-war resentment against them in all of South East Asia - especially Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore where they have huge investments to protect. With Malaysia’s embrace of a policy like anything approaching the Look East Policy, the floodgates are opened. They tried at first to discourage and dissuade Malay politicians and leaders with business interests to protect, and convince them that copying the Japanese way of doing business is very difficult, that only the Japanese can understand and do. It was until later that they learned to accept and cope with it.
You mentioned quite erroneously that the Japanese economic involvement in this Country had their beginnings in the early ‘80s. In the ‘60s they were already entrenched economically with huge investments in Malaysia - FDIs included. They were already into manufacturing of steel rods etc – in joint venture with the MoF. Our experimentation with heavy industries started with Malayawata and our government was made to bear huge losses for more than twenty years. This was during Tunku’s time. Their involvement in automobile assemblying in Malaysia is legendary. But then we Malays have a bias in favour of European models. My first car was an Opel Manta, then later Chrysler, Volvo, Honda followed by BMW and later a second hand Mercedes (the smallest in its category) bought from a senior UMNO politician who has the AP to import it. You and I could be excused for not knowing the Japanese models- like the Toyotas and Datsuns. Honda was still doing motorcycles. This is not to mention their ventures into electrical appliances, textile and chemicals. Ajinomoto was a household brand even then.
All these were before our Prime Minister even heard of Mitsubishi Motor Corporation. He was after all running one obscure clinic in one corner of Alor Star as a medical practitioner. Mitsubishi had earlier taken the world by storm in the making of aircraft engines for their zero fighters during the War. Mitsubishi first started in heavy industries and ventured into automobile engineering only later.
The purpose here is not to chide anybody but merely to say that there are more then meets the eye here. During his premiership, Mahathir has mortgaged the integrity of the Malays when he (along with many others in UMNO) accumulated great wealth for himself and his family at the expense of the ordinary Malays. I am not saying that Anwar is less corrupt. But how could anybody have acquired such massive wealth in so short a time unless the methods used are “less than honest”. Some call it “corruption”. I call it betrayal.
October 13th, 2005 at 6:36 am
Abang Din
TINA kirim salam.
October 13th, 2005 at 10:36 am
Im just wondering, when you mention that politicians work and glove with civil servants, how many civil servants and politicians actually get punished when they crossed the line? Civil Servants would always have the ACA and the Police behind their backs, how bout politicans? the Party’s Supreme Council? Its a joke really because they are really two different standards here. The Council hands down a “suspension” sentence. BIG DEAL- end of political career- so to speak. Let me hand down a bigger question here- how many politicians actually was found guilty of corruption and served the sentence? ( You steal RM 5000, you are a criminal, but when you steal RM10,000,000 - eh mai la sikit- hahahaha) Cant we pay the police a bit more so that they are not tempted to ask for kickbacks? Do we actually care and knows how much a police constable makes and how tempting for him to actually take a dive in some instances?
Im referring to both- the ruling politicians and the opposition too, as well as the opposition controlled states civil servants as well. Our “loyal opposition” too is not all spick and span- so to speak. While they may not share the big spotlight, i wonder how do they get by. Politicans get donations streaming through their office (we dont know where they came from, but funds never seem to dry out), but when civil servants get handouts and bonuses, it becomes a big deal, unjustifable- a waste of taxpayers money.
Populist politics has always been about the little people, as so is the role of the government, to protect and serve the interest of the public- rich and poor. But when you start getting recruits from both sides politics and government who replied back to you with a grin on his face on why he decided to join/work, and said, ” boleh dapat projek, buleh masyuk sikit jadi la, ada jalan bang buleh cari makan” and all these sorts of shocking answers, what are you going to do? Niat masuk politik dan niat kerja gomen pun dah salah, macam mana……………………………………….
Its nice to know that there are still good and uncorrupted intellectuals among us to discuus these issues. Still, a critical mass is needed for to effect change for the better.
October 13th, 2005 at 1:17 pm
To: Kairuddin Khalid
You wrote (to quote you):
“Mahathir is among the great leader that Malaysia had. He has the courage to talk what he think that is right for Malaysia, ignore the noise around him and implement what he think the best for our nation”.
Ignore the noise around him? What noise??
“He do not care what the others say about him. what matters to him is, the best thing for the nation. Yes, he had don’ t lots of mistakes but I think he had also done lot of good things to our country”.
Apparently, one of his mistakes is when he sent a group of Malaysian students to study in schools, colleges and universities in Japan – to learn in Japanese. These unfortunate students are now returning to their own country only to find that the emphasis is now on learning in English. Barely able to speak and write proper English these students find themselves seriously handicapped and unable to compete against their counterparts who are smart enough to have opted for tertiary education in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and U.K. They may find themselves unemployable - except perhaps with the Japanese factories in Malaysia. (Even the Japanese do not really need their Malaysian staff to be able to speak Japanese. In fact they don’t trust them since they are able to read communications between them and their head offices in Japan).
Sadly, you are one of those casualties of Mahathir’s Look East Policy. As anyone can see, you cannot express yourself in English properly – spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, wrong choice of words etc. What is worse is that your education in Japan is paid for by Malaysian tax payers.
The Japanese find it hard to master anything but their own language. They would marvel at our ability to speak English so well. With the Look East Policy, we have Malays and Malaysians who speak and write bad English and bad Japanese instead of good English and no Japanese at all. Believe me. They look down on the former but look up on the latter. So one word of advice: study English.
From that brief passage you wrote, it would not be entirely inaccurate to say that you have difficulty in thinking clearly, independently, critically or engaged in an intelligent discourse without being dogmatic about issues.
October 13th, 2005 at 6:52 pm
Matsumoto-san,
Thanks for your correction, but I hope my message about Japanese business and its ethics is not lost.
The Mitsubishi Group is not a Sogoshosa, but it is a huge conglomerate, one of those that General Douglas MacArthur tried to break up when he was the “American Emperor” in post-WW2 Japan.
October 13th, 2005 at 7:33 pm
Dear Devil’s Advocate,
You made a very valid point on the Westminster Parliamentary Democracy model. There is huge difference between theory and practice. Everything is great at the theoretical and even the philosophical level.
The Prime Minister controls the entire process (not this Prime Minister. In his case, he allows his Ministers, the barons and baronesses like the MITI Minister in his Cabinet, to get out of control). He is, in fact, the most powerful man in our country when his party controls Dewan Rakyat. The Senate, with due respects to our Hon’ble Senators, is irrelevant. It is just an intermediate step before His Majesty The Yang Dipertuan Agong’s assent to turn a bill into a law (but even His Majesty cannot delay his Royal Assent indefinitely?).
Look at our backbenchers today. Except for Dato’ Shahrir Samad who is very astute and tactical in his comments, the rest are not allowed to make comments which are critical of the government. In fact, they are penalised. The gag order, I understand, is intended to prevent them from making unhelpful remarks. I wonder whether they represent us or the government.
I would recommend you read Lord Chris Patten’s latest book, “Not Quite a Diplomat”, for some interesting and useful insights into the workings of the British and European “democratic” politics in their Parliaments (London and Strasbourg). It is a wonder how things get done there.
If you don’t have the time to read Patten, just watch Eddie Murphy’s satirical movie on how business is done in the US Senate and the House of Representatives and the involvement of lobbists in the legislative process.
Thanks.
October 13th, 2005 at 7:55 pm
Dear Observer,
You wrote “Sadly, you are one of those casualties of Mahathir’s Look East Policy. As anyone can see, you cannot express yourself in English properly – spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, wrong choice of words etc. What is worse is that your education in Japan is paid for by Malaysian tax payers.”
You are right that I am on of the casualties of Mahathir’s Look East Policy. It was a bad policy, so what’s next? Blame me for my bad English? Yes, you can blame me for my bad English, but that do not do good to our country. The best thing to do is learn from the mistake made. I was educated in Japan but I am against the policy of sending too many student to Japan.
You wrote:”They may find themselves unemployable”
You are wrong that we are unemployable. I am employed here in Japan and I don’t have problem to compete with Japanese and any other nasionalities.
You wrote:”it would not be entirely inaccurate to say that you have difficulty in thinking clearly, independently, critically or engaged in an intelligent discourse without being dogmatic about issues.”
I just understand it. What do you have against me? We are not talking about me here. We are talking about what is the best for our country.
I am learning and will not stop learning and also my bad English wouldn’t stop me from writing my opinion.
Thanks
October 13th, 2005 at 7:57 pm
Dear MatMoto,
Thanks. I see your TINA is still talking to you. Maybe you are now forgiven because of Bulan Ramadhan for your Bangsa escapades. I am joking.
Get her some nice clothes, or a great gift for Hari Raya. She must be a very nice lady. Selamat Berpuasa and Id-Mubarak. Pak Din.
October 13th, 2005 at 8:03 pm
TYPO:
I just understand it. What do you have against me? -> I just don’t understand it. What do you have against me?
October 13th, 2005 at 8:28 pm
Dear Observer,
Let us not get too personal here. We should be encouraging Khairuddin in Japan to write more often in English, and speak it. He will improve over time and confidence. He knows his English language skills limitations. I see him as someone with great potential. Studying in Japan is not a walkover. The Japanese are very competitive. Try to get into “Todai” (Tokyo University)!!
In my view, we should send our students everywhere in the world for the experience and benefit of living in different cultures, to compete and excel, and to be strong, organised, and independent. We should also encourage our young to speak as many languages (German, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Urdu, Mandarin, English, French, Russian, etc) as they can, or wish.
It is not a disadvantage to be multilingual. We must stop dreaming like our Malay Language nationalists (lDato Dr. Nik Safiah Karim and the Dewan Bahasa crowd) that Malay is going to be the global lingua franca. We must, of course, respect our national language, but it is wrong to think that we make it to be a replacement for English. Even the Germans (and hopefully the French too) are creating special schools where English is used and spoken exclusively. This is because German educationists believe German can be spoken at home as it is the responsibility of parents.
Khairuddin, please read a lot of books, articles, journals, and novels to improve your English language skills. It is not too late, but start now and never stop reading and improving yourself each day. You will make it I know.
Selamat Berpuasa and Id Mubarak. Pak Din.
October 13th, 2005 at 11:05 pm
Come on Khairuddin, take criticisms in your stride. Don’t let your poor command of the English language be a stumbling block. You tend to speak your mind out. That in itself is a good sign.
The current education system does not encourage students to think critically. When rote learning is the rule rather than the exception, you get nerds not scholars. In the West a student is an all-rounder, be it sport or academic but over here one is being spoon-fed right from a tender age until they are adults. That’s why many find it difficult to adjust themselves when entering the job market.
I will not dwell furher on the mentality of the Malays, the subject has been discussed at length.
We do not become proficient in English overnight but took years to master the language. I have my late father to thank for it was him that made me what I am today.
This blog will be a good platform to test your mettle. Keep your comments coming. I like it, so do the rest.
Cheers.
October 14th, 2005 at 10:49 pm
Fathol Zaman,
How right you are. Khairuddin should take Observer’s remarks as a challenge and keep thinking, reading and writing. One can only get better by the day.
We were fortunate. We had our parents and dedicated Che Gu’s. At the time when we were growing up we did not have the likes of Prof. Dato Dr. Nik Safiah Karim around. She was then a teenager like me. In fact, Nik Safiah was my contemporary at the University of Malaya in the 1960s. She did Malay Studies. a subject I avoided.
Khairuddin should write to this Prof. Emeritus at Universiti Malaya, Pantai Valley, and tell her about how short-sighted and myopic she was. I avoid using the word “irresponsible” in her case. You should note that I made a distinction between University of Malaya (Ungku Aziz era), and Universiti Malaya (2005).
Thanks.
October 15th, 2005 at 3:45 am
Fathrol Zaman,
Your advices for Khairuddin touched me and have no choice but to join in and throw in my two cents worth here too.
Saudara Din,
I have been reading your comments on this blog with great interest and admiration. Obviously your years of experience in society and voracious reading habit forged such uncanny wisdom. Watching the growing numbers of commentators on Dr Bakri’s blog and am encouraged to propose the relevancy of Frank Outlaw quote here:–
Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words; they become your actions. Watch your actions; they become your habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character for it will become your destiny
Your words together with Dr Bakri writings interacting with the increasing number of participative commentators certainly provoke insightful thoughts. I believe all these (words) would eventually stimulate appropriate actions cumulating into collective habits for the Malaysians marching towards a meaningful destiny for this nation. And that’s why I think Keris_Always should reconsider riding his tattered pony, lembu, bison or whatever it may be into the sunset. There’s hope yet for Malaysia.
Khairuddin Khalid and observer,
Gold is tried by fire, brave men by adversity - Seneca
English is by default a global language. With their mastery of the language, Saudara Din, Chez1978 and others have attracted increasingly wider audience in this blog, provoked thinking process and hopefully actions.
Heed Saudara Din’s advice, learn English earnestly. There is so much reading material available in English both on paper and electronics that no other languages could match. Why choose to be without this tremendous advantage. Unfortunately, the educational system for the past two decades had ignored this to the detriment of the present and future generation leaving them unprepared for the onslaught of the globalizing world.
I like to share my experience with the language. I myself started learning English way past the comfortable age of language learning, at the age of 12. I was in senior middle two of a Chinese School when I started to learn English, mind you, on my own without the help of a teacher. I could not even complete the recitation of the alphabets nor could understand the meaning of the word ‘was’. Through self learning, wearing out the English-Chinese dictionary, listening to English radio, devouring English dialog in cartoon strips and believe it or not English newspaper used for wrapping of groceries. I prevailed.
Now, coming to the national language policies of the seventies and eighties. I was one of the fortunate non-bumi to benefit from the Affirmative action of the early seventies. I had my secondary education in semi-rural schools where there was no proper laboratory much less a science stream or qualified teachers to teach additional mathematics. With only a general science and additional general science, thanks to my dedicated science teacher, I was admitted into sixth form science stream. It was hell trying to catch up with my urban schoolmates who already had two years exposure to additional mathematics in addition to physics, chemistry and biology. Imagine me practically froze in the lab watching my class mates tinkering with test tubes, distilling flasks and of course having not even seen a fume chamber before that. I eventually graduated from University of Malaya with a degree in physics with the help of affirmative action where my rural background was considered for the university admission then. Now you understand why I am a keen supporter of affirmative action.
As a graduate teacher, I was caught in the middle of a fervent implementation of the national language. Principles of physics were already such difficult concepts to grasp (given there were only less than 30 physics graduate in my batch at the University of Malaya) combined with the raw implementation of the national language, I struggled everyday to explain the concepts to my students in the national language. It did not take long for me to give up for the sake of my sanity and that of the students lest I make a mess of myself and my students. In fact less than a handful of my U mates are in Malaysia now. Of course in another of my comments here I mentioned about a few had gone to Singapore to the benefit of our neighbour.
There was and still is a lot of push to learn mandarin due to the MIC (made in China) factor. During my business visits to China, my conversation with many mainland Chinese revealed an interesting trend. English teachers, especially the American ones, flock to China to provide an explosive upsurge of demand for the learning of English language. Why are we doing the opposite?
Today, I have already long given up quantum mechanics, thermal dynamics and plasma physics for practical management practices. Of course if you think corruption is the preoccupation of the civil service, till you try to sell something to the private sector. For that, I would have to leave it for comments at another time.
Cheers to all the commentators in this blog and of course thank you Dr Bakri for providing the platform for us to do so.
October 15th, 2005 at 10:12 am
Halellujah!
October 15th, 2005 at 10:30 am
Chez,
There’s a lot we as Malaysians can learn and benefit from your experience.
About fasting.
I would like to correct the misconception that only Muslims fast and that fasting is about being Muslims. Fasting as a way to cleanse ourselves of sin and t