NEM- Najib’s Economic Policies
As far as economic policies to deal with Malays are concerned, thus far, Najib's policies are invisible. We don't see specifics beyond the stylized phrase- market friendly affirmative action.
Tun Razak was a focused man. He was PM. He thought hard about Malay economics. He was connected. In Najib's case, we get a different picture. He hasn't got that connection. I don't know who advises him on economic policies. Maybe it's the NEAC. Or maybe its McKinsey Consulting group. Maybe its Omar Ong and associates who has earned big money to buy himself a bachelor pad worth RM 15 million. Who knows?
The recent carnival-like show, with PowerPoint shots and copious flow of refreshments and energized emceeing ala Jobs or Tom Peters, bear the hallmarks of typical business school presentations. In that sense, Najib has abdicated thought leadership. he wasn't there, preferring the economic plans to be crafted by consultants and presented by the most junior minister.
I would have thought, an economic plan of this magnitude must near the personal imprimatur of the PM himself. It should be the PM himself acting as chief coach the other day. But then maybe it's all part of his strategy- to have the ability to disown aspects of the ETP if they proved to be unpalatable to the public. Belum muktamad.
The new economic model is the alternative approved by Dato Najib to supplant the NEP-like policies. NEP-like policies are policy instruments and not economic theories. We need to recognize these. Tun Razak the architect of the NEP recognized the limitations of unbridled free market economy, with respect to the circumstances by which Malays find themselves in. By circumstances we mean, the overall social, cultural and even political enabling environment that shape the Malay mind and his actions.
These were probably what Tun Razak discovered when he started the NEP. The Malay has the same maximizing postulates but with different emphasis. Let's say, for convenient sake, the Malay values graceful living more. By that we mean, he will not go overboard so as to sacrifice personal comfort for that extra income. If he can earn sufficient to keep body and soul intact, he will not overextend to make the body satisfied at the expense of the soul's discomfort.
Let us further say, even though we don't fault the Malay for having this mindset, we feel its not right and supportive of our desire to build a prosperous country. For that we need a precocious, acquisitive and aggressive spirit. We want to cultivate the willingness to sacrifice personal comfort, adopting a philosophy of wanting to. Wanting more, wanting better, wanting bigger. Always improving on the existing order of things.
How do we re-engineer the conventional Malay mindset? Has the PM applied his mind to address this particular issue? If he doesn't, he is dangerously close to abandoning Tun Razak's legacy?
7 comments:
Dear Sakmongkol
“How do we re-engineer the conventional Malay mindset? Has the PM applied his mind to address this particular issue?”
In this short essay you have asked a most important question, a question that to my mind goes to the very heart of our economic future.
At a philosophical level the Malay’s preference for “graceful living” as you put it, is not wrong, but indeed wise. Why attain more physical goods or wealth than you need or can usefully spend? Unrestrained greed – extreme levels – is actually bad, and certainly brings out the worst qualities in people. Unfortunately, striking the right balance between work and leisure, pursuit of wealth and the cultivation of the soul, is very hard to do. Competition forces most of us to extremes. And the pressures of modern life and the need to keep up with the Jones do not allow us to sit on our laurels or while away our time under the swaying coconut tree. We are on a constantly moving treadmill.
This is how the typical Chinese sees life – a constant “struggle” to do more and to do better. In Malaysia he is driven to succeed by fear and greed, greed being quite a natural human instinct, and fear because he needs wealth to compensate for an uncertain political future. This applies to all ethnic Chinese in Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines or elsewhere. Perhaps it applies as well to Indians, Jews and any minority group. The Chinese are certainly not alone.
Now, the question for the Malay is: shall he keep to his “graceful” ways meaning to settle for lesser material wealth, or does he join the rat race? The answer affects both the Malays as well as the non-Malays. Why? Because if the Malays opt out and gets left behind economically, sooner or later political pressure will build for affirmative action programmes, which then screws things up for everyone. Further, we compete as a nation against other nations. If the the non-Malays (minority) work 100% but the Malays (majority) contribute only say 80%, we will not be competitive in the international arena. So it is better if he changes his mind-set and joins the race – and enjoys doing it. There actually is no option in this modern world. But this does not mean he needs to spend his entire day doing so. By compartmentalising his day between work and leisure or religion he can have the best of both worlds. The Malays need a charismatic leader to show them the way. Where is he?
The ETP with the prescribed n ordained EPPs are merely gifts to the chosen few wrapped up in the gobbledygook of consultant geek-speak.
If the PM thinks everyone should compete please do the following ;
1>remove all subsidies to INDUSTRY i.e electricity,gas,petroleum products,sugar,flour
2>remove all APs,import restrictions and all "protectionism" import duties.
3>Impose RM 300 /month on all foreign labour except for maids
4>Revoke all LOIs direct nego contracts
5>Make public direct nego contract rates/terms including for double tracking,Penang Bridge
6>Allow public to witness all tender openings (if they so wish)
7>Full disclosure on the history of the Setia Abdullah Hukum project
8>BLACKLIST any parties involved in profiteering activities over last 15 years i.e THEY HAVE MADE ENUFF.So..YTL,Gamuda,MMC,Setia etc..go n find biz outside the country cos ur competitive enuff
Sorry Dato..I was just dreaming.
I just feel so depressed being called a BUMI..one who only knows how to beg and wants to be protected forever.
Actually...who are the PROTECTED?and PRIVILEGED?
15 mil condo?wow..
No doubt the late TAR had the best intentions to help the Malays throught the NEP but 40 years later, we can clearly see how the best intentions and plans can (as one commentator wrote) produce the worst results. At best you can call it gross incompetence in execution (for which UMNO as the leader in BN must take prime responsibilty). At worse, you can say the noble intentions have been hijacked by personal interests. Having spent billions on 'grand' projects and >RM50b (as said by PM) on Bumiputra alloacations, we still take about eliminating 'poverty'. Why do we even have poverty today when a fraction of the billions spent would or should have taken care of this problem? Why do we still have the 40% you keep talking on about? I can only conclude that it is to the interest of UMNO that the poor remain poor to justify their continued position of power. After all if there were no longer any poor then what would be the basis of their remaining in power? So the greatest enemy to Malays are not the non Malays. As one of your commnetators wrote, Marco (+ suharto) was Phillipino but that does not mean he helped his own people.
Dato',
You asked "How do we re-engineer the conventional Malay mindset?".
It's rather elementary, my dear Dato. Just start with telling the truth to the Malays that the NEP/NEM has outlived it's course and it's high time to accept the fact that if the Malays do not totally discard the NEP and face the global challenges on a level playing field, there will not be any ketuanan to shout or slogan over. There is no shortcut to SUSTAINABLE success but honest and competent harwork.
I agree with OneMalaysian who commented "Because if the Malays opt out and gets left behind economically, sooner or later political pressure will build for affirmative action programmes, which then screws things up for everyone. Further, we compete as a nation against other nations. If the the non-Malays (minority) work 100% but the Malays (majority) contribute only say 80%, we will not be competitive in the international arena. So it is better if he changes his mind-set and joins the race – and enjoys doing it. There actually is no option in this modern world. But this does not mean he needs to spend his entire day doing so. By compartmentalising his day between work and leisure or religion he can have the best of both worlds. The Malays need a charismatic leader to show them the way. Where is he?"
Please-lah, given a chance (& chance a plenty for the umnoputras), what u said about the ‘philosophical level (of) the Malay’s preference for “graceful living” ‘ is a syok-sendiri myth!
Remember khir’s palace? The AP kings’ opulent living standard, built on Joe M’sian’s hard earned money? Don’t even forget about that space tourist, too!
Wait - isn’t it the kaya belum, bini dua lagi kereta mewah the norms of the newly minted Malay contract securers?
Then there r these constant craving for the longest(?), biggest(?) whatever on the that M’sian Guinness book of record. & who r the creators & promoters of these events, just to built a syok-sendiri jaguh bangsa?
It’s a cultural thingy, iff one really look deep inside.
The 40+ yrs of positive discrimination policy cant change that attitude, need another 100 yrs? Better still make it perpetual, in the name of bumi right!
Real pariah to the nth power.
>>>The Malays need a charismatic leader to show them the way. Where is he?
he has long been made obsolete by NEP.
With NEP, you no need charismatic leader. You spoon speed them!!
Najib's NEM is all a bunch of projects put together?
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