Sabtu, 2 Oktober 2010

Philosophy Politics Economics

Philosophy Politics Economics


ETP: Success or Failure Depends on Najib

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 10:35 PM PDT

ETP projects all in Idris' 'dream', say analysts and politicians
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal and Boo-Su Lyn October 01, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1— Datuk Seri Idris Jala's insistence that the Economic Transformation Programme's (ETP) mega projects will spur growth towards Vision 2020 has not completely convinced analysts and politicians.

They are doubtful as to whether the government's ETP, which promises a heavy commitment from the private sector, would be able to transform Malaysia towards a high-income economy by the year 2020.

[...]

Surprisingly, DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua praised Idris over his role in the ETP, saying the Cabinet minister had done his job.

"He is not your typical BN man where you are just looking at largesse," Pua told The Malaysian Insider.

"Idris Jala has done his part, which was to find areas for Malaysia to grow. Now, it's for the prime minister to commit to the necessary reforms to take the country forward and to achieve the goals stated in the ETP," Pua said.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP dismissed the need for the government to fill in the details of the ETP, but stressed instead that its main role was to explain why the private sector should invest in the planned projects.

"The ETP is not going to be detailed because we are not going to be a government-driven economy. The underlying question that needs to be addressed is really why should people invest," said Pua.

He pointed out that Datuk Seri Najib Razak had to convince the private sector by addressing concerns on a lack of institutional reforms, perceived unfair treatment based on affirmative action policies, and a civil bloated service.

Pua, however, expressed doubt about Najib's support of Idris' various economic proposals such as the earlier Government Transformation Programme.

"From what I can tell he is not getting full support from the prime minister. The problem isn't so much what the Idris team is doing, but the Cabinet as a whole led by the prime minister that is unwilling to take the proposals full-blown," he said.

Currently in Malaysia, only 28 per cent of the total workforce is employed in the high-skill job bracket, reflecting the low level of educational attainment among a large segment of the workforce.

Dr M's "Spend, Spend, Spend" Policy Will Bankrupt Us

Posted: 01 Oct 2010 05:23 PM PDT

Dr M's wealth prescription will bankrupt Malaysia, say analysts, politicians
By Boo Su-Lyn October 01, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's prescription of growth and wealth to avoid race relations problems plaguing Malaysia will bankrupt the nation if followed by Datuk Seri Najib Razak, analysts and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders said.

They pointed out that the former premier's own advice had failed during his administration which showed a trend of declining race relations amid ballooning government expenditure.

"Najib will be crazy to follow Dr Mahathir's prescription for it'll only bankrupt the country and worsen race relations, especially when the root causes of deteriorating race relations are not first addressed," DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua told The Malaysian Insider.

"Race relations were getting worse by the day between 2005 and 2009 despite record government expenditure and budget, and a record-breaking number of projects," he said.

Dr Mahathir said on Wednesday he had formulated the Bangsa Malaysia concept under his Vision 2020 plan based on the premise that thriving economic growth would ease race relations.

Pua, however, pointed out that after Dr Mahathir's administration, the government budget had expanded from RM128 billion in 2004 to a hefty RM200 billion last year.

"Yet race relations had been increasingly worse in those past five years compared to the years before," said the Petaling Jaya Utara MP, citing incidents of Umno leaders waving the keris, a traditional Malay dagger, during annual general meetings.

In 2005, then-Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein sparked an uproar when he wielded the keris at the party annual general meeting, which was criticised as a symbol of Malay supremacy.

Recently, there has been a spike in racial tension, such as the incident of two school principals accused of uttering racial slurs, the furore surrounding a Chinese MP's visit to a surau, and a National Civics Bureau (BTN) senior official who allegedly referred to the Chinese and Indian communities as "si mata sepet" and "si botol" at a closed-door Puteri Umno function on Monday.

[...]

Pua dismissed the former Umno president's spending strategy to ease racial tension as "unsustainable" and irresponsible.

"Looking forward, it's unsustainable. The country does not have the money to keep spending the way Dr Mahathir wants us to spend," he said, pointing out that the national debt had increased from 40 per cent of the GDP to 52 per cent today at RM363 billion.

"We cannot keep spending irresponsibly," stressed Pua.

The lawmaker pointed out that the abuse of affirmative action policies was the underlying factor of race relations problems, but not a stagnant economy as claimed by Dr Mahathir.

"It is NEP (New Economic Policy) abuses — the 'bastardisation' as described by Nazir Razak — where they benefited a minority few," said Pua, referring to CIMB group CEO Datuk Seri Nazir Razak who is Najib's younger brother.

Recently, Nazir had lambasted the policy for being "bastardised" over the decades since its inception in 1971 for deviating from its goal of eradicating poverty.

For the full article, click here.

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