The Member of Parliament of Selayang, YB William Leong exemplifies what a good people's representative should be.
On weekends, he spends time visiting his constituency to understand the nature of the complaints. Often, the complaints are because of the local council's failure to act.
With the help of his assistants, some of these complaints are being attended to with greater urgency. It is shameful that after 52 years of Independence, living conditions of Malaysians have not improved.
While the Government spends millions of Ringgit on some mega projects, the village folks are still not enjoying modern facilities.
On this visit to Kundang and Kuang, the honorable MP met up with residents who were delighted at his presence.
If you wish to follow YB William on his rounds, you may contact his assistant, Chan Foo Chuen (Mobile 016-247 6182). Visit his blog to find out what makes him tick: http://wileong.org/
这项木屋区重新安置计划是在1986年由前朝国阵政府开始策划和执行，以建造新屋子安顿武吉波打木屋区的2300户家庭，不过却在1992年及2005年两度搁置和恢复动工，并在2008年由民联政府决定终止。它总共历经4任国阵大臣阿末拉查里（Ahmad Razali Mohd Ali）、莫哈末泰益、阿布哈山，以及基尔。
Isnin, 16 November 2009 | Ruangan: Berita http://www.selangorkini.com.my/my/berita/7362
SHAH ALAM, 16 Nov - Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid hari ini mendedahkan satu lagi dokumen di bawah Akta Rahsia Rasmi 1972, membongkar kegagalan Kerajaan Barisan Nasional menyelesaikan masalah setinggan di Bukit Botak, Selayang sejak 1986 lagi.
Matlamat utama mengatasi masalah limpahan penduduk setinggan yang mendiami Bukit Botak tersasar apabila projek penempatan semula ini gagal menyiapkan kediaman kepada 2,300 keluarga terbabit.
Seluas 201 ekar tanah dikenal pasti terlibat dalam perancangan penyusunan dan penempatan semula setinggan Bukit Botak yang ketika itu, Datuk Ahmad Razali Mohd Ali selaku Menteri Besar Selangor.
Rancangan ini bertukar tangan dan diteruskan apabila Menteri Besar yang baharu, Tan Sri Muhammad Taib meluluskan pelantikan Shah Alam Properties (SAP) sebagai Pengurus Pembangunan Projek malah mereka juga diberi wang pendahuluan sebanyak 17 juta ringgit bagi kerja-kerja pembangunan dan rancangan perbekalan air, elektrik dan lampu jalan.
Bagaimanapun akibat masalah teknikal SAP gagal meneruskan projek tersebut malah terbengkalai pada 1992.
Setelah beberapa tahun kemudian, Delpuri Corporation Sdn Bhd (DCSB) pula diberi kepercayaan untuk meneruskan projek tersebut pada 1996, membabitkan 1,367 rumah berkembar seluas 32.99 ekar.
Pada ketika itu, Datuk Abu Hassan Omar merupakan Menteri Besar Selangor.
Bagaimanapun, tidak lama selepas itu DCSB juga gagal menyiapkan rancangan penempatan tersebut, antaranya gagal membuat bayaran premium tanah, tidak menyiapkan rumah transit setinggan terbabit, tidak memperuntukkan wang subsidi sewa sebanyak 300 ringgit, menyiapkan hanya 82 lot rumah berkembar, 52 hak milik digadaikan bank dan gagal menyiapkan projek pemindahan setinggan kos rendah seluas 32 ekar diberi milik.
Umno-BN mengulangi kesilapannya pada pemerintahan Datuk Seri Khir Toyo apabila mengarahkan Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) mengambil alih pembinaan 1,367 unit rumah berkembar.
Kemusykilan timbul apabila PKNS melantik DCSB semula sebagai kontraktornya untuk membangunkan 592 unit walhal mereka ternyata gagal pada projek lalu.
Akibatnya PKNS sudah menanggung kos projek sebanyak 48 juta ringgit bagi bayaran kontrak, yuran professional, subsidi sewa, saguhati pemindahan dan kos penamatan kontrak malah jika projek ini diteruskan, PKNS bakal menanggung kerugian 136.4 juta ringgit.
Setelah Pakatan Rakyat memerintah Selangor di bawah pentadbiran Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, satu jawatankuasa khas ditubuhkan untuk menyiasat seberang penyelewengan atau penipuan berlaku dalam pemberian tanah kepada bekas penduduk setinggan Bukit Botak.
Malah PKNS juga diarahkan menamatkan semua kontrak pembinaan di Bukit Botak bagi mengelakkan kerugian bertambah lagi. - MOHD SAHRULNIZAM MOHD ZAIN
RAWANG – Pembangunan Surau al Firdaus di Jalan GU 3/9, Taman Garing Utama yang merangkumi tiga fasa pembinaannya memerlukan kos sekitar RM700,000.
Bagaimanapun, sehing ga berakhir 13 Oktober lalu, sumbangan orang ramai berjaya dikumpulkan untuk pembangunan surau berkeluasan 0.24 hektar itu sebanyak kira-kira RM300,000.
Pengerusi surau berkenaan yang juga Nazir Masjid Nurul Iman, Ilham Akhbar Harun berkata, untuk itu Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Surau terba bit masih lagi berusaha mengumpulkan dana sekitar RM400,000 bagi melengkapkan pembinaan keseluruhan fasa.
“Dengan kos yang ada buat masa ini, kita akan memulakan fasa I iaitu kerja tambakan tanah sekitar Disember ini dan fasa II membina Blok A iaitu bangunan utama dijangka bermula Januari 2010.
“Bagi fasa III iaitu pembinaan Blok B dan Menara, ia adalah perancangan akan datang tertakluk kepada kemampuan kewangan. Jadi, kepada mereka yang ikhlas menyumbang melengkapkan keseluruhan fasa amat digalakkan,” katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian selepas Majlis Perasmian Gotong-royong Permulaan Awal Pembinaan Surau al-Firdaus dirasmikan Timba lan Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais), Rasni Ali Ahmad.
Hadir sama, Ahli Parlimen Selayang, William Leong Jee Keen, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Rawang, Gan Pei Nei dan Ahli Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) Zon 16, Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji serta wakil Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS).
Dalam pada itu, Ilham berkata, penderma sumbangan boleh membayar terus ke dalam akaun nama surau atas nama Tabung Pembangunan Surau al-Firdaus dengan nombor akaun Maybank al-Wadiah, 5620 1200 2735.
Mengulas kepentingan mendirikan surau itu menurutnya, selain bagi menampung keperluan pendu duk pada masa sekarang dan akan datang, kemudahan itu juga akan dimohon kebenaran mendirikan solat Jumaat.
Ilham berkata, ini memandangkan masjid terde kat berada sejauh kira-kira tujuh kilometer dari surau itu yang satu-satunya institusi mengadakan aktiviti keagamaan dan sosial bagi masyarakat Islam setempat.
“Pada masa ini, surau beroperasi sementara melalui sewaan rumah teres setingkat ‘corner lot’ yang hanya mampu menampung 100 jemaah. Manakala purata kos sewaan kira-kira RM500 sumbangan ditampung dengan sumba ngan orang ramai,” katanya.
Difahamkan, surau baru di blok A nanti akan menem patkan dewan solat utama dan ruang legar yang boleh menampung 380 jemaah, manakala blok B mempunyai bilik kuliah, bilik mesyuarat, pejabat, bilik jenazah dan utiliti asas.
Terdahulu, William yang sempat melawat isu infrastruktur setempat di perumahan terbabit dan bertemu penduduk selepas majlis itu selain turut menyumbang RM1,000 untuk pembinaan surau terbabit.
Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan menyatakan bahawa jumlah sisa pepejal yang dihasilkan di seluruh Negara bagi tahun 2005 adalah 19,100 tan sehari dan adalah dijangka akan meningkat ke 30,000 menjelang 2020. Pada saat ini, pihak berkuasa tempatan menghabiskan 50% hingga 100% daripada pendapatan mereka dalam pengurusan sampah dan pembersihan. Ini adalah salah satu alasan bahawa pihak berkuasa temptan di Negara ini tidak dapat memberikan tahap perkhidmatan yang diharapkan oleh masyarakat sebagai lebih daripada setengah dan dalam beberapa kes, keseluruhan pendapatan digunakan untuk pembuangan sisa.
Kementerian menyatakan bahawa ia masih menggunakan teknologi lama 'tipping' dan 'terbakar' serta membuang sampah di ‘landfill’. Terdapat jumlah 178 tapak pelupusan sampah di negara ini. Kerajaan bercadang untuk membina 9 buah lagi dan untuk mempertingkatkan 42 ‘landfill’ yang lain. Kerajaan telah membina 5 insinerator, tidak satu pun yang masa ini beroperasi. Ia mencadangkan untuk membina 5 i nsinerator mini lain di Labuan, Langkawi, Pangkor, Tioman dan Cameron Highlands.
Jumlah kos untuk pembuangan sisa adalah RM1.7 bilion setahun, daripada RM1 bilion adalah kini di bawah anggaran bajet Persekutuan dan RM700 juta oleh pihak-pihak berkuasa tempatan. Dianggarkan bahawa usulan privatisasi Persekutuan berkenaan pembuangan sisa akan berjumlah RM3.8 bilion setahun. Hal ini adalah berdasarkan 'tipping' dan 'terbakar' teknologi masa kini. Kos ini tidak termasuk pembangunan, penyelenggaraan dan penutupan bagi setiap ‘landfill’ dan persekitaran serta kerosakan alam sekitar yang timbul daripada ‘landfill’ seperti bahaya atau pencemaran kepada sumber air dan emisi gas rumah hijau.
Kementerian telah menyatakan bahawa ada teknologi alternatif seperti, bahan kemudahan pemulihan (MRF) dan menolak proses ‘refuse-derived fuel’ (RDF). Saya menyeru kepada Kementerian untuk meninjau sistem sekarang yang tidak mesra alam dan mahal serta untuk mempertimbangkan kegunaan teknologi alternatif yang sedia ada. Di Semenyih, Kerajaan Selangor telah mula mengendalikan sebuah kilang RDF dan pada tahun pertama operasi, ia sudah menjimatkan Pihak-pihak Berkuasa Tempatan Kajang sebanyak RM16 juta dan RM20 juta pada tahun kedua.
Tidak ada apa-apa alasan bagi Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk mengambil alih pengurusan pembuangan dan pembersihan sisa pepejal daripada pihak berkuasa tempatan dan Kerajaan-kerajaan Negeri dengan membayar sebanyak RM3.8 bilion dan menggunakan teknologi yang sudah ketinggalan zaman berbandingkan teknologi yang lebih murah dan lebih cekap yang sedia ada serta boleh dikendalikan oleh pihak berkuasa tempatan dan Negeri sendiri.
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government states that the total volume of waste generated in the country for 2005 was 19,100 tons a day and is expected to increase to 30,000 by 2020. Presently, the local authorities spend 50% to 100% of their revenues in waste management and cleaning. This is one of the reasons that the local authorities in the country are not able to provide the level of service expected by the public as more than half and in some cases, the entire revenue is spent on the disposal of waste.
The Ministry states that it is still using the old technology of ‘tipping’ and ‘burning’ and dumping the waste in landfills. There are a total of 178 landfills in the country. The Government plans to build another 9 and to upgrade 42 other landfills. The Government has built 5 incinerators, none of which are presently operating. It proposes to build another 5 mini incinerators in Labuan, Langkawi, Pangkor, Tioman and Cameron Highlands.
The total fees for waste disposal is RM1.7 billion per year of which RM1 billion is under the current Federal budget and RM700 million by the local authorities. It is estimated that the proposed Federal privatization of waste disposal would be RM3.8 billion a year. This is based on the present ‘tipping’ and ‘burning’ technology. This cost does not include the construction, maintenance and closure of each of the landfills and the environmental and ecological damage arising from the landfill such as the danger or pollution to the water resources and the emission of greenhouse gas.
The Ministry has stated that there are alternative technologies such as, material recovery facilities (MRF) and refuse derive fuel process (RDF). I call on the Ministry to review the present system which is environmental unfriendly and costly and to consider using the available alternative technologies. In Semenyih, the Selangor Government has started to operate an RDF plant and in the first year of operation, it has saved the Kajang Local Authority, RM16 million and RM20 million in the second year.
There is no reason for the Federal Government to take over the management of waste disposal and cleaning from the local authorities and the State Governments only to pay RM3.8 billion using outdated technologies where cheaper and more efficient technologies are available and which can be operated by the local authorities and the State.
1 Saya mengucapkan terima kasih diberi peluang untuk membahas Bajet 2010.
Cadangan Bercanggah
2 Terdapat beberapa cadangan dalam bajet ini yang bercanggah dan menyebabkan bajet ini menjadi tanpa haluan (dengan izinnya ‘directionless’).
3 Contoh :
3.1 Cadangan mengenakan cukai perkhidmatan lima puluh ringgit ke atas setiap kad kredit dan dua puluh lima ringgit ke atas setiap kad tambahan akan menggalakkan rakyat membatalkan kad kredit mereka dan dengan itu, mengurangkan perbelanjaan mereka. Ini bercanggah dengan tujuan pakej ransangan ekonomi yang berjumlah enam puluh tujuh billion ringgit kerana dengan pengurangan perbelanjaan, ekonomi tidak akan dapat dipulih.
3.2 Cadangan untuk mengenakan cukai atas keuntungan pelupusan hartanah akan mengurangkan keazaman rakyat untuk menjual rumah yang sediada dan membeli rumah baru. Ini bercanggah dengan tujuan untuk meningkatkan sektor perumahan dan pembinaan.
4 Saya berharap Kerajaan mengkaji semula cadangan-cadangan dalam Bajet ini supaya tidak ada percanggahan dan Kerajaan dapat mengikut satu haluan yang ketara.
Kad Kredit
5 Cadangan untuk mengenakan cukai perkhidmatan ke atas kad kredit harus dikaji semula dengan tujuan untuk dibatalkan.
5.1 Cukai ini telah dicuba pada 1997 dan dimansuhkan pada tahun 2001 kerana tidak dapat mencapai matlamatnya untuk mengurangkan kegunaan kad kredit. Pada 1997, cukai telah diadakan. Pada 1998, jumlah kad turun sebanyak 90,000 tetapi kembali sebanyak 296,000 untuk tahun 1999 dan terus naik selepas itu. Saya bertanya Yang Berhormat Menteri mengapa dengan pengalaman di mana dasar ini telah gagal Kerajaan mencadangkan untuk mengadakan cukai ini.
5.2 Cadangan ini akan membebankan pemegang kad kredit sebab kebanyakan mereka hanya membayar jumlah minima setiap bulan dan tidak dapat membatalkan kad kredit kerana tidak akan mampu menjelaskan jumlah tertunggak sekaligus. Jikalau Kerajaan hendak mengawal pinjaman melalui kad kredit, Kerajaan seharusnya membuat peraturan ke atas bank-bank dan syarikat kad kredit tentang jumlah yang boleh dipinjam atau kelayakan kegunaan dan bukan membebankan pengguna dengan caj RM50 ini.
5.3 Cadangan ini tidak mengambilkira bahawa seseorang memerlukan lebih daripada satu kad kredit kerana kad kredit telah menjadi satu keperluan dalam zaman moden dengan masyarakat ‘tanpa menggunakan wang tunai’ dengan izinnya, ‘cashless society’. Pembayaran dengan cara elektronik sudah menjadi medium pembayaran biasa.
5.3.1 Tanpa kad kredit seseorang tidak akan mendapat menempah hotel di negara seperti Amerika Syarikat dan Europa kerana mereka beramalkan sistem tanpa wang tunai.
5.3.2 Pembayaran di laman web adalah dengan kad kredit.
5.3.3 Kegunaan kad kredit telah lama dianggap sebagai cara kehidupan moden. Ini telah dimaklumkan oleh Time Magazine sejak September 22, 1958. Jikalau negara kami tidak menggalakkan kegunaan kad kredit, ini bermakna masyarakat kami berundur ke zaman dahulu:
5.3.3.1 Di mana penduduk kami hendak berulang alik dengan beg penuh berisi wang tunai seperti seorang bekas Menteri Besar dahulu yang mengangkut beg penuh dengan wang tunai ke Australia; dan
5.3.3.2 Baru-baru ini seorang wakil dari Sabah telah ditahan oleh ICAC Hong Kong dengan beg berisi wang tunai sebanyak enambelas juta ringgit.
Pembayaran dengan kad kredit lebih selamat berbanding dengan kewajipan membawa wang tunai, orang biasa mungkin tidak akan ditahan oleh polis Australia seperti bekas Menteri Besar atau ditahan oleh ICAC Hong Kong seperti wakil Sabah, tetapi orang biasa akan ditahan dan dirompak oleh penyamun memandangkan keadaan yang kurang selamat di dalam Negara kita ini.
5.3.4 Mengikut laporan Bank Negara Malaysia bertajuk “Financial Stability and Payment Systems Report 2008”, pinjaman bermasalah (NPL) untuk pinjaman rumah, kereta dan kad kredit hanya meningkat dari 0.1% kepada 4.2% dan tidak merupakan sesuatu perkara yang merunsingkan. Kadar ini dibawah kadar NPL untuk sektor bank komersil berjumlah 4.4%.
Mengikut dasar Bank Negara Malaysia, semenjak tahun 2006, transaksi kegunaan kad kredit lebih daripada jumlah kegunaan cek sebagai medium pembayaran. Mengapa kita hendak undur kepada pembayaran secara lama?
5.4 Saya meminta Kerajaan memberikan statistiks untuk menunjukkan bahawa kegunaan kad kredit telah menjadi satu masalah yang begitu besar yang mewajibkan satu pemulihan dengan mengenakan caj cukai perkhidmatan.
5.5 Saya juga meminta Yang Berhormat Menteri-menteri menunjukkan kepimpinan melalui teladan dan memberi deklarasi bahawa mereka akan membatalkan kad-kad kredit mereka.
RPGT
6 Cadangan cukai 5% ke atas keuntungan pelupusan hartanah hendaklah dibatalkan.
6.1 Cadangan ini tidak wajar diadakan dalam keadaan kemelesatan ekonomi yang masih dialami di Negara ini.
6.2 Cukai ke atas keuntungan pelupusan hartanah diadakan untuk tujuan mengawal harga spekulasi perumahan semasa ekonomi berkembang pesat.
6.3 Cukai ini telah dimansuhkan sejak 1 April 2007 dan tidak harus dikuatkuasakan semula kerana keadaan ekonomi masih belum pulih.
6.3 Cadangan cukai ini akan menyukarkan rakyat kerana cukai ini dikenakan tanpa masa terhad. Kadar cukai RPGT dahulu mengurangkan secara berperingkat mengikut tempoh jualan dan tiada cukai dikenakan selepas tahun kelima. Cadangan baru adalah lebih menyusahkan rakyat dan tidak adil.
MENINGKATKAN PELABURAN SWASTA
7 Cadangan dan strategi untuk meningkatkan pelaburan swasta tidak begitu menyakinkan kerana kelemahan-kelemahan Negara kita yang dibentangkan dalam Laporan Daya Saing Global Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) bagi 2009-2010 tidak diutarakan dalam Bajet ini.
7.1 Rangking daya saing global Malaysia jatuh tiga takuk ke kedudukan ke-24;
7.2 Kerajaan seharusnya meneliti dengan serius syor-syor yang dicadangkan oleh World Economic Forum untuk meningkatkan daya persaingan negara kita dengan memperkukuhkan dua belas jenis penilaian dimensi persaingan tersebut.
7.3 Saya meminta Yang Berhormat Menteri memberi penjelasan tentang tindakan yang dirancangkan untuk membetulkan kelemahan setiap dua belas penilaian dimensi atau dengan izinnya, “The Twelve Pillars of Competitiveness”.
INSTITUSI KEHAKIMAN
8 Salah satu kelemahan penting yang menjejaskan daya persaingan negara kita ialah kelemahan institusi kehakiman dan kedaulatan undang-undang.
8.1 Peristiwa kes politik seperti perintah membubarkan UMNO sehingga mewujudkan UMNO Baru dan Semangat 46 mengakibatkan orang awam semakin hilang keyakinan terhadap kehakiman.
8.2 Peristiwa kes pemecatan Ketua Hakim Tun Salleh Abbas dan lima hakim yang lain juga adalah satu punca kekurangan keyakinan terhadap institusi kehakiman. Pembayaran ex-gratia kepada hakim-hakim baru ini hanya membetulkan kes peribadi hakim-hakim tersebut. Sehingga hari ini, kerosakan kepada institusi kehakiman belum dipulihkan.
8.3 Keputusan kes Dewan Undangan Perak yang mana hakim tidak mengikut Perkara 72 Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang begitu ketara juga menimbulkan satu persepsi kepada orang awam bahawa kegagalan kehakiman untuk memberi penghakiman mengikut kedaulatan undang-undang.
8.4 Keputusan Peguam Negara dalam enggan mendakwa mereka yang telah didapati melanggar undang-undang dan melakukan jenayah oleh Suruhanjaya Diraja dalam video V K Lingam juga telah memusnahkan keyakinan rakyat terhadap institusi undang-undang.
9 Cadangan untuk membina lebih bangunan Mahkamah tidak akan dapat menangani masalah. Ini adalah seperti seorang yang tidak tahu menari menyalahkan lantai. Masalah kekurangan keyakinan terhadap institusi kehakiman bukan kerana bangunan Mahkamah rosak tetapi hakim-hakim tertentu yang rosak.
10 Untuk memulihkan keadaan, mereka yang didapati membuat penghakiman dengan tidak mengikut prinsip undang-undang yang ketara hendaklah dipecat dan mereka yang telah melakukan kesalahan hendaklah disiasat, diheret ke Mahkamah dan diberikan hukuman sewajarnya.
11 Akhirnya, saya mencadang bajet ditambah kepada pihak Kehakiman supaya gaji-gaji dinaikkan sehingga taraf yang dapat mempelawa peguam-peguam yang berpengalaman tinggi, berwibawa, yang bijaksana dan berpegang teguh pada keadilan dan kebebasan fikiran untuk menjadi hakim.
MALAYSIAN RESOURCE CURSE / KUTUKAN SUMBER DAYA ALAM MALAYSIA
12 Salah satu lagi kelemahan daya persaingan Negara kita adalah kerana negara kita dijangkiti Penyakit Belanda atau dengan izinnya, “Dutch Resource Disease”.
13 Pertumbuhan ekonomi Malaysia adalah disebabkan perbelanjaan sektor awam yang besar sehingga 27% KDNK. Ini adalah terbesar di rantau Asia. Ini adalah sebab Kerajaan mendapatkan pendapatan besar sejumlah 40% daripada minyak Petronas.
14 Kemudahan sumber minyak ini mewujudkan sikap pembaziran dan leka (complacent) sehingga kebanyakan projek kerajaan mengalami kerugian yang besar dan tidak mencapai matlamat untuk memberi manfaat kepada sasaran, terutamanya, matlamat untuk membasmi kemiskinan dan meningkatkan taraf hidup kaum bumiputra.
15 Kesan buruk kutukan sumber daya alam juga mewujudkan masalah rasuah dan dengan izinnya, “rent-seeking behavior” di mana hanya individu-individu tertentu dapat menikmati keuntungan besar manakala golongan miskin bertambah miskin.
16 Cara yang terbaik untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini adalah mewujudkan satu dana Petroleum supaya hasil keuntungan daripada Petronas dilaburkan semula untuk memberi satu pulangan kekal/berlanjutan seperti “Government Pension Fund” di Norway, “Stabilization Fund of the Russian Federation” atau “State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan” atau “the Future Generations Fund” di Kuwait yang diperbadankan sejak 1976.
17 Saya meminta Menteri memberikan penjelasan mengapa Malaysia tidak mewujudkan dana seperti ini yang telah dinasihatkan antaranya, oleh IMF dan WorldBank dan diamalkan oleh Kerajaan negara yang berperihatin kepada kehidupan masa hadapan rakyat.
PENGAJIAN TINGGI
18 Pada masa ini, Malaysia mempunyai kadar pengangguran graduan yang tertinggi daripada 15.2% di tahun 2000 kepada 25.1% di tahun 2007. 42% pengusaha Malaysia menyatakan bahawa kekurangan tenaga kerja berkemahiran adalah sekatan perniagaan yang paling utama, berbanding dengan kadar 37% di Asia Timur dan 35% di dunia. Ini bermakna negara kita mengalami dua kelemahan iaitu, kekurangan pekerja yang berkemahiran dan kemahiran yang tidak seimbang dengan keperluan industri.
19 Saya merujuk kepada laporan yang telah disediakan oleh World Bank bersama dengan Kerajaan Malaysia bertajuk “Malaysia and the Knowledge Economy Building a World Class Higher Education System” yang diterbitkan dalam bulan Mac 2007.
20 Mengikut laporan ini, IPTA ada beberapa factor kelemahan dalam prospek pembangunan dan beberapa syor-syor telah diberikan seperti berikut:
(a) IPTA seharusnya diberi keupayaan untuk memilih pelajar yang terbaik dan bukan dipilih oleh pusat;
(b) Kuasa untuk menawarkan gaji dan pakej yang menarik kepada pensyarah-pensyarah yang terbaik di dunia berbanding pakej yang sedia ada yang kurang memuaskan;
(c) Kuasa untuk memilih para pemimpin universiti yang berkualiti berdasarkan proses carian terbuka yang dipimpin oleh Majlis Universiti, iaitu, rektor dan dekan dan bukannnya dilantik oleh Kerajaan.
21 Saya meminta penjelasan daripada kerajaan mengapa selepas dua tahun daripada tarikh laporan World Bank ini, Kerajaan belum mengambil tindakan untuk melaksanakan syor-syor yang telah dicadangkan.
LAPORAN KETUA AUDIT
22 Saya merujuk kepada laporan Ketua Audit di mana beliau telah membentangkan peristiwa pembaziran wang dan kemungkinan kes penyelewengan yang melibatkan beribu-ribu juta wang rakyat.
23 Di antara kes-kes yang dibentangkan adalah projek landasan berkembar elektrik antara Rawang dan Ipoh. Sejumlah RM4.34 bilion diperuntukkan untuk projek ini dan dilaksanakan melalui dua pakej, iaitu, pakej infrastruktur oleh DRB-Hicom dan pakej sistem oleh Mitsui-MTS Konsortium. Selain daripada kerugian tinggi yang hendak ditanggung oleh Kerajaan sebanyak RM1.14 bilion, objektif projek ini untuk mengadakan keretapi kelajuan 160 km sejam dengan mengadakan 16 trip sehari kemudiannya ditambahkan ke 32 trip sehari tidak dapat dicapai.
24 Objektif projek yang membelanjakan wang yang banyak untuk membina landasan elektrik ini tidak dapat dicapai kerana KTMB masih menggunakan tren disel dan bukan tren elektrik.
25 Saya meminta Yang Berhormat Menteri memberikan jawapan mengapa Kerajaan tidak membeli tren elektrik walaupun membelanjakan wang yang banyak untuk mengadakan landasan elektrik.
KEBUDAYAAN PEMBAZIRAN
26 Tiap-tiap Tahun, Jabatan Audit Negara membentangkan pembaziran yang bukan sahaja mengecewakan tetapi menyakitkan hati semua rakyat.
27 Walaupun kesalahan-kesalahan ini didedahkan setiap tahun, masalah ini masih berlanjutan dan jumlah pembaziran wang semakin meningkat.
28 Saya meminta penjelasan daripada setiap Menteri di mana pembaziran telah dilaporkan dan tindakan yang akan diambil terhadap mereka yang terlibat.
29 Saya mendapati perkara ini berlanjutan kerana tidak adanya sikap bertanggungjawab atau dengan izinnya, ‘accountability’.
30 Di Australia, baru-baru ini Menteri Pertahanan, Joel Fitzgibbon meletakkan jawatan apabila berita didedahkan bahawa beliau menggunakan pengaruh untuk memihak adiknya. Perdana Menteri Australia, Kevin Rudd memaklumkan ia adalah penting untuk kerajaannya mengekalkan standard akauntabiliti yang tinggi dan kesalahan dalam perihal akauntabiliti yang tinggi dan oleh itu, Menteri tersebut terpaksa meletak jawatan.
31 Di Korea Selatan pula, bekas Presiden Roh Moh-hyun membunuh diri selepas tuduhan rasuah telah dikemukakan. Beliau mempaparkan perasaan malu kerana merasa tidak boleh bersemuka dengan rakyat kerana telah mengecewakan rakyat dengan tindakan rasuahnya. Tindakan ini seperti tindakan Menteri Australia menunjukkan para pemimpin-pemimpin negara berpegang teguh kepada standard akauntabiliti yang tinggi.
32 Sekiranya kita serius untuk menangani rasuah dan kebudayaan pembaziran oleh kakitangan Kerajaan, kita harus mengikut contoh standard yang diamalkan di negara-negara seperti yang dikatakan. Sebenarnya, kebudayaan kita adalah sama seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh Kevin Rudd dan bekas Presiden Korea kerana kita bah kata pepatah “kalau kepala ikan sudah busuk, ekor pun jadi ikut membusuk”.
33 Jangan kita mengadakan hidung seperti tukang ikan di pasar sehingga bau busuk menjadi kebiasaan. Kita tahu bau busuknya tetapi kita tidak melakukan apa-apa terhadap hal itu sehingga kita sudah mengganggap hal tersebut telah menjadi hal yang biasa.
KESIMPULAN
34 Kita harap pemimpin-pemimpin Kerajaan menunjukkan mereka tidak berhidung seperti tukang ikan di pasar dan mengambil tindakan dengan segera untuk membetulkan keadaan yang rumit ini dan membersihkan bau busuk yang mencemari Negara kita.
How can we describe Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak’s maiden budget?
This budget reminds me of the song “Me and You and a Dog name Boo”. Those of my generation will recall that it’s a song by a band called “Middle of the Road”. It is a ‘middle of the road kind of budget’. It is like the story in Aesop’s fables of the man, his son and his donkey.In trying to please everyone he ended up pleasing no one.
The budget contains contradictions and incongruity.We will just look at 2 of the proposals, the RM50 credit card charge and the 5% real property gains tax and the contradictions in this Budget will be obvious.
Consumption/Credit card charge
The people are suffering from the global financial crisis. RM67 billion is to be spent as a financial stimulus to get the economy going.This is by stimulating local demand and consumption. In order to stimulate demand, there must be consumption.In order for there to be consumption, the people must have the means to spend.The government is trying to get the people to spend and buy things so that it stimulates the manufacturers to produce. By imposing the RM50 charge, its immediate effect is to force the people to cancel their credit cards and therefore their only available credit lines.
It penalizes the people who do not cancel their extra credit cards by imposing a RM50 charge on each credit card and RM25 for a supplementary. Without the extra credit from the credit cards how are the people to buy and spend? This contradicts the aim to stimulate the economy.The other effect is that if the cardholders are to cancel their credit cards, they must repay the outstanding loans. Many of the cardholders survive by repaying the monthly minimum.We have a workforce on low wages.This is one of negative effects of the Barisan Nasional flawed policy of keeping the costs of doing business low.It is almost impossible for many to settle the outstanding amount in one lump sum.Therefore, the real practical effect is that the RM50 charge creates a heavy and unnecessary burden on the people during an already difficult economic time.
Property Industry/ RPGT
The government wants the property industry to be an engine of growth. It should be because it provides business to 155 other trades and industries that are linked to the property development industry, the building construction and building material manufacturing industry. However, Dato’ Seri Najib has decided to bring back a 5% real property gains tax. The RPGT was imposed in the days of the housing boom to discourage property price speculation. It has no place in a situation where there is a slump when the developers are having problems in selling.The government in the proposed budget says, it wants to stimulate property sales and to revive the property, building and construction industry. This cannot be done when in the very same budget, it imposes a penalty to discourage the buying and selling of property.This is why I say it is directionless.Does Dato’ Seri Najib wants to stimulate the building and construction sector or to curb it?I think this is where Najib’s donkey fell into the river.
Economic Recovery
The 2010 Budget has many facets.As I said, it tries to be everything to everyone and ends up pleasing no one. I wish to focus on only one issue, that is, economic recovery. This is the foremost concern of all Malaysians because it is a rice bowl issue.
Dato’ Seri Najib has now finally confirmed on 23 October 2009 what the people on the ground already knew long ago because they are actually suffering and paying the price of the Barisan Nasional’s earlier denial syndrome.
·Exports fell by 23.4% in first half of 2009 compared with a gain of 15.5% in 2008.
·IndustrialProductivity Index fell 12.7% from a positive 3.3% 2008.
·The net foreign direct investment fell to RM3.6 billion compared to RM19.7 billion in 2008.
·The private sector that used to contribute 30% of the GDP prior to the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997/98 is now reduced to 10% of the GDP. The domestic direct investment fell from RM72 billion in 1997 to RM56 Billion in 2008.
Falling FDI
The Opposition has raised the concern of falling FDI since 2007 but each time the Barisan Nasional government has denied that there was any need to be concerned and that FDI was healthy. There was a consistent denial and refusal to acknowledge the problem. The Barisan Nasional was in denial mode. Now, the Prime Minister finally admits that there is a problem and that the countries in the region have attracted foreign investments away from us. He has proposed several measures but I fear that they fail to hit the target.I agree with the comments given by many of my Pakatan colleagues that Dato’ Seri Najib has correctly diagnosed the problems but has failed to prescribe the correct medicine. This is because as we all know the good medicine is always a bitter pill to swallow.It takes political will and courage to take the medicine which sadly have not been shown to exist.
I will only refer to two points to show how the 2010 budget has missed the targets to revive our economy.
The first is the failure of this Budget to address and remedy the deficiencies pointed out in The Global Competiveness Report 2009-2010: World Economic Report.
The second is the fact that Malaysia has been infected by the ‘Dutch Resource Curse’.
Malaysia: 24th
Malaysia is ranked 24th in the Global Competitive Report 2009-2010.It is prepared by the World Economic Forum.Malaysia has dropped three positions. According to the report, Malaysia’s drop is due essentially as a result of a much poorer assessment of its institutional framework. In this area, every indicator has been exhibiting a downward trend since 2007, causing Malaysia to tumble from 17th to 43rd position in this area in just two years.
The report quoted that security is of particular concern, 85th down 25 ranks. According to the business community, the potential of terrorism (97th) and crime (95th) both impose significant business costs.
Also of concern is the business deficit, which increased in 2008, amounting to almost 5% of Malaysia’s GDP. Yet in most other dimensions, it scores high, particularly, in those factors at the top end of the value chain, namely, impressive 7% growth per year between 1990 and 2000 and a healthy 5% since then. Mirroring this economic success, Malaysia has featured prominently in the competiveness rankings ever since its first inclusion in the 1994. Indeed, it remains the most competitive Stage 2 (efficiency-driven) country.
The report recommended that to maintain its competitive edge, Malaysia now needs to prepare its conversion into a knowledge-based innovation driven economy. Improving both the quantity and quality of higher education (41st), boosting technological readiness (37th) particularly ICT penetration would be required.
It would have been expected that the Barisan Nasional Government under Najib Tun Razak will address the deficiencies leading to the drop in the competitiveness ranking in our countries pointed out by the World Economic Forum.Unfortunately, we do not see this being done in this Budget.If this is not done, then is improbable that we can achieve the announced target of moving up to a higher competitive level.
Another way of putting it is whether Najib has the political will and the political capital to force the warlords to change where Badawi and even Mahathir had failed. In order to appreciate the findings of the World Economic Forum, let us look at the Global Competitiveness Report.
The 12 Pillars of Competitiveness
The World Economic Forum looks at 12 areas in measuring competitiveness.
The determinants of competiveness are many and complex. Economists have longed tried to understand what determines the wealth of nations. This attempt has ranged from Adam Smith’s focus on specialization and the division of labor to neoclassical economists’ emphasis on investment in physical capital and infra-structure and more recently, to interest in other mechanism such as education and training, the rule of law, transparent and well functioning institutions, firm sophistication, demand conditions, market size and many others. There are 12th Pillars of competitiveness, they are:
·First Pillar : Institutions
·Second Pillar :Infrastructure
·Third Pillar:Macroeconomic stability
·Fourth Pillar:Health and primary education
·Fifth Pillar:Higher education and training
·Sixth Pillar:Goods and market efficiency
·Seven Pillar:Labour market efficiency
·Eighth Pillar:Financial market sophistication
·Ninth Pillar:Technological readiness
·Tenth Pillar:Market size
·Eleventh Pillar:Business sophistication
·Twelfth Pillar:Innovation.
I will only refer to two major pillars and a short commentary on four others.
1st Pillar: Institutions
The institutional environment is determined by legal and administrative framework within which individuals, firms and governments interact to generate income and wealth in the economy. The importance of a solid institutional environment has become even more apparent during the present current global financial crisis, given the increasing role played by the state in the economy of many countries.
The quality of institution has a strong bearing on competiveness and growth. It influences investment decision and the organization of production and plays a central role in the ways in which societies distribute benefits and bear the costs of development strategies and policies. For example; the owners of land, corporate shares, or intellectual property are unwilling to invest in the improvement and upkeep of their property if their rights as owners are insecure.
The role of institutions goes beyond the legal framework. The Government attitudes toward markets and freedoms, and the efficiency of its operations, are also important: excessive bureaucracy and red tape, over regulation, corruption, dishonesty in dealing with public contracts, lack of transparency and trustworthiness, and the political dependence of judicial system impose significant economic costs to businesses and slow the process of economic development. Proper management of the public finances is also critical to ensuring trusts in the national business environment. The quality of government management of the public finances to complement the measures of macroeconomic stability is an important element and is captured by pillar 3.
Although the economic literature has mainly focused on public institutions, private institutions are also an important element in the process of wealth creation. The recent global financial crisis, along with numerous corporate scandals, has highlighted the relevance of accounting and reporting standards and transparency for preventing fraud and mismanagement, ensuring good governance. An economy is well served by businesses that are run honestly, where managers abide by strong ethical practices in their dealings with the government, other firms, and the public. The private sector transparency is indispensable to business, and can be brought about through the use of standards, as well as auditing and accounting practices that ensure access to information in a timely manner.
Our institutions are in a terrible state of disrepair.
Judiciary:
In the 1980s, Malaysia attracted FDI because our workforce was conversant in the English language.English is the international language of business.The second attraction is the legacy of our system of law applying the British common law tradition where there is certainty of law and justice and the confidence of those that have to appear before the Courts that decisions will be made without fear or favour.The importance of the application of the common law is that litigants from England, Australia and from the Commonwealth and those who are familiar with the common law knows with certainty how to conduct their business and how their disputes would be decided if they should bring their disputes to the Malaysian Courts.
All these were demolished in the past 26 years.
It started with the Court ordered dissolution of UMNO because of phantom voters.This order was not the one sought by Tengku Razaleigh.He wanted the phantom votes to be cancelled and only the valid votes counted. If this was done, he would have won and be the President of UMNO and Prime Minister of Malaysia.Instead of making an order not to count the phantom votes, the Court made the surprising decision to declare UMNO illegal thereby allowing Mahathir to continue to be the President of a newly formed UMNO Baru and casting Tengku Razaleigh into the wilderness called Semangat 46.
The sacking of the Lord President and 5 Supreme Court Judges saw the rot setting in. The recent ex-gratia payment to the sacked Judges is a compensation to remedy the wrong done to them personally but no action has been taken to remedy the wrong done to the institution and to restore public confidence.
The recent Attorney General’s decision not to prosecute the perpetrators in the judge fixing scandal according to the findings of the Royal Commission on the VK Lingam Video on the basis that the Attorney General was satisfied no offences had been committed, shows that the institution of the Rule of Law has been replaced by the Rule of Man and Malaysia to lawlessness.
The Perak power grab and the failure by the judges to give effect to the clear wordings of Article 72 of the Federal Constitution that the proceedings in the State Assembly cannot be questioned by the Courts confirms what NH Chan had said that ‘All is not well in the House of Denmark’ in referring to our Courts. This judicial rot continues to haunt our nation.The question in Hamlet where NH Chan took the quote “to be or not to be” for Malaysia must be “not to be”.
The disqualification of Wee Choo Keong as the Member of Parliament in Bukit Bintang and the Court appointing the Barisan Nasional candidate as the Member of Parliament for Bukit Bintang when he did not obtained the majority support of the voters in that constituency was another example of the perception by the people of political interference in the judiciary. As quoted in the Global Competitiveness Report, one of the problems that erodes competitiveness is where these problems are political dependence by the ruling party on the judiciary to maintain its rule.This decision eroded public confidence.
We now see history repeating itself in the sentence of six months imprisonment and RM3,000.00 fine of Tian Chua the Keadilan MP for Batu.The newspaper reports that the Magistrate found Tian Chua guilty because he preferred the evidence of the constable to that of the member of parliament flies in the face of established legal principles that it is for the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime and it is never the burden for the accused to prove he is innocent.Further, no one can be called to prove a negative.How can Tian Chua be expected to prove that he did not bite the constable especially when the constable admitted to punching the MP?There is no law in the world that allows the police to assault persons when effecting arrest?
The erosion in the judiciary in cases relating to the government and political cases spread to commercial cases.The cases of Ayer Molek, Adorna, Asean Paper Pulp are well known.How do you expect the businessmen whether local or foreign to expect justice in our courts?What has been shown by the recent decisions is that if you have a legal problem, it is not necessary to find a lawyer who knows the law but it is more important to find a lawyer who knows how to say “correct, correct, correct”.
The budget proposed to address the problem of our institutions by building more courts.The problem cannot be resolved by building more court houses. The rot is not in the building but in the persons sitting as judges and the interference by the executive in the judiciary to prolong the political rule of the Barisan Nasional.There is no proposal to address the real problems in our institutions.
2nd Pillar: Infrastructure
Extensive and efficient infrastructure is an essential driver. It is critical for ensuring the effective functioning of the economy, as it is an important factor in determining the location of economic activity and the kinds of activities or sectors that can develop in a particular economy. Well developed infrastructure reduces the effect of distance between regions, with the result of truly integrating the national market and connecting it at low costs to markets in other countries and regions. The quality and extensiveness of infrastructure networks significantly impact economic growth and reduce income inequalities and poverty in a variety of ways. These include telecommunications, broadband and internet penetration.The Prime Minister has confirmed in his speech that Malaysia has a 25% internet penetration compared with 95% in Republic of Korea, 88% in Singapore, 64% in Japan and 60% in USA.
It is now announced in the Budget that RM11.3 billion high speed broadband 10 megabytes per second in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor will be installed by end March 2010 and then to other parts 2012.
We cannot expect to be competitive when our competitors are in the process sof upgrading to the 2nd or 3rd generation capabilities while we have not even installed the 1st generation capability.
There is much to be done in this area.
3rd Pillar: Macroeconomics stability
The stability of the macroeconomic environment is important for business and therefore is important for the overall competitiveness of a country. The government cannot provide services efficiently if it has to make high interest payments on its past debts. Running fiscal deficits limits the government future ability to react to business cycles. Firms cannot operate efficiently when inflation rates are out of hand.
We see a start in this Budget to reduce the deficit.In 60 years we have only a surplus budget between 1993 and 1997.It will be noted that these were the years when Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the Finance Minister.Before and after him, the Government ran a budget deficit even during the good times.
5th Pillar: Higher education and training
Quality higher education and training is crucial for economies that want to move up the value chain beyond the simple production processes and products. In particular today’s globalizing economy requires economies to nurture pools of well educated workers who are able to adapt rapidly to their changing environment. This pillar measures secondary and tertiary enrollment rates as well as the quality of education as assesses by the business community. The extent of staff training is also taken into consideration because of vocational and continuous on the job training which is neglected in many economies, for ensuring a constant upgrading of workers skills to the changing needs of the evolving economy.
In 2008, Malaysian universities have fallen out of the radar screen of the top 200 universities in the World.The QS World University Ranking for 2009 has shown that there is an improvement the ranking to 180 but it is still outside the top 100. University of Tokyo ranks 22, University of Hong Kong ranks 24 and National University of Singapore is 30 in the world.
There has been an underperformance in our education standards.At 28.6% gross tertiary enrolment ratio and 15% completion ratio, Malaysia is 7% and 6% respectively lower than the average economies with similar level of GDP per capital.This means Malaysia is having a tertiary skills shortage.This point to Malaysia lacking the necessary skills and knowledge in our human capital that is necessary to move the Malaysian economy up the value chain.
We have an increasing proportion of unemployed graduates.This group has risen from 15.2% in 2000 to 25.1% in 2007.This means that there is a skills mismatch.It means our universities are churning out graduates with skills that are not needed in our modern industries.Every 10 years, with modern technology, new jobs requiring new skills are created.Our universities are still following old syllabuses teaching old skills.Unless our universities change the mismatch in skills, this will hamper our competitiveness.
UNEMPLOYED GRADUATES*
In 2004, there were 4,594 unemployed graduates of which 163 were Chinese, 207 were Indians and 4,060 were Malays;
In 2005, there were 2,413 unemployed graduates of which 31 were Chinese, 70 were Indians and 2,186 were Malays;
In 2006, there were 56,750 unemployed graduates of which 1,110 were Chinese, 1,346 were Indians and 50,594 were Malays.
In 2007, there were 56,322 unemployed graduates of which 1,348 were Chinese, 1,401 were Indians and 49,075 were Malays.
In 2008 (as of June) there were 47,910 unemployed graduates of which 1,403 Chinese, 1,569 Indians and 49,075 were Malays.
*Government response to Question by me in Parliament recently
6th Pillar: Goods market efficiency
Countries with efficient goods markets are well positioned to produce the right mix of products and services given supply and demand conditions, as well as to ensure that these goods can be most effectively traded in the economy. Healthy market competition, both domestic and foreign, is important in driving market efficiency and thus business productivity, by ensuring that the most efficient firms, are producing goods demanded by the market are those that thrive. For example competitiveness is hindered by distortionary or burdensome taxes and by restrictive and discriminatory rules on foreign direct investment (FDI)-limiting foreign ownership-as well as on international trade.
The NEP and its ill effects have been stated so often, I do not need to repeat it.The liberalization of the 27 sub-sectors in the service industry is a step in the right direction but it is too little too late.Much has to be done in this area but until racial politics is removed there is no possibility of Malaysia becoming competitive.
7th Pillar: Labor market efficiency
The efficiency and flexibility of the labour market is critical for ensuring that workers are allocated to their most efficient use in the economy and provided with incentives to give their best effort in their job.Labour market must therefore have the flexibility to shift workers from one economic activity to another rapidly and at low costs and to allow for wage fluctuation without much social disruption.
The present policies have imposed glass ceilings and driven away our best and brightest.
Efficient labour markets must also ensure a clear relationship between worker incentives and their efforts as well as the best use of available talent.
42% of Malaysian businessmen have rated the unavailability of skilled labour as the most severe business constraint compared to 37% in East Asia and 35% globally.
In the past decades, Malaysia has shown its efficiency in the labour market by shifting from Filipinos to Indonesians and then to Bangladeshis and now to see those from Myanmar.The low wages and poor working conditions have driven away our Malaysian workers.There is no upward movement for the labour force.It is only a lateral shift.Malaysians workforce does not feature in this.
The Barisan Nasional Government has deliberately sacrificed our local skilled workforce on the altar of their racial politics.
The Dutch Disease
Malaysia has exhibited the classical symptom of the Dutch Disease or the Resource Curse. Global investors are not going to put money into the country if the Government does not address the Malaysian Resource Curse. The Dutch Disease is the phenomenal of the resource rich economies performing worse than those without such natural resources.
Malaysia three legged growth model
·Manufacturing Trade
·Commodity Trade
·Public sector economy
Petrol and natural resources provide 40% of Malaysian Government revenues.This supports the largest public sector economy in Asia with 27% of the GDP.
Natural resource sector revenues allowed Government to sustain economic growth through government spending and unprofitable and unsuccessful affirmative action projects.
Political corruption
One of the negative effects of the Dutch Disease is that it is often easier for a natural resource rich government to maintain authority through allocating resources to favour constituents than through growth-oriented economic policies and a level, well regulated playing field.This is the rise of the political corruption.
Rent seeking behavior
Another negative effect is the creation of rent-seeking behavior.Rent-seeking behavior is distinguished from profit-seeking behavior in that the profit-seeking behavior, entities seek to extract values by engaging in mutually beneficial transactions.
On the other hand, in rent-seeking behavior, entities seek to extract uncompensated value from others without making any contribution to productivity through manipulation and exploitation, such as by gaining control of land and other pre-existing natural resource or by imposing burdensome regulations or other governmental decisions that may affect consumers or businesses.
The clear examples are the regulations and issuance of licences and concessions to selected individuals: APs, the creation of monopolies such as highway concessions, water concessions, independent power producers and electricity generation concessions, even rubbish and waste have been privatized.The Malaysian public are paying to rent seekers.
Prescription
Malaysia no doubt is affected by the global financial crisis but its problems have a deeper underlying cause. It is this underlying cause that has to be addressed. The Malaysia Resource Curse must be exorcised. There are many resource rich countries that have escaped and avoided the disease.
The key is governance. Well governed countries find ways to insulate their economies from the down side of commodities and natural resources trade. Resource rich countries such as Norway has shown that this can be done by adopting straight forward economic fundamentals, sound monetary policies, and having open trading and investment regimes.The enforcement of laws against corruption is a basic requirement. The strengthening of political and economic institutions by giving effect to the democratic institutions and constitutional guaranteed fundamental liberties is another. Investing in education and infrastructure will increase competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. Sadly these have been ignored by the Prime Minister in the 2010 Budget.
A global investor said that if Najib and Barisan Nasional do not recognize the Malaysian Resource Curse and do not have the political will to address it, neither he nor any other investor is going to put money into Malaysia. Without the structural reforms, pouring RM1 billion a month into the rent seeking economy is just pouring good money down the drain. How long can the Malaysian public continue to suffer in silence?
Conclusion
I wish to end by quoting not from the speeches by the Opposition Pakatan MPs but from someone in the Barisan establishment.
“There are lots of things to be fixed.The roof is not leaking; we do not need a plumber.It is the foundation of the house and probably the whole house that needs to be rebuilt.The transformation requires concerted efforts.”
Datuk Zainal Aznan Yusof
National Economic Action
Council Member
It does not appear to me that the Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak will be able to gather the concerted effort required to re-build the whole house.Since Barisan Nasional cannot, there is only one other alternative.This alternative has been shown to be able to change as seen by the 4 star ranking given by Auditor General on the audit of the Pakatan Selangor and Penang Government.
William Leong Jee Keen
Member of Parliament Selayang
ment of Selayang, YB William Leong exemplifies what a good people's representative should be.
er 52 years of Independence, living conditions of Malaysians have not improved.
