A Grassroots Democracy (2)

In some recent articles that I wrote, I questioned whether the Malays are ready to accept full blown capitalism. Read it here and here and here. I take that to mean submission to the market economy, free competition and rule of law. My doubts follow from our PM's declaration that the age of a government knows best is over. Did this statement mean (a) the government will disengage itself from excessive intervention in the market economy? (b) As particular aspect of disengaging itself, the Malays will be left out to fend for themselves?

Are we serious? In effect it just means the days of big government are over. This is the same theme that was declared by successive American presidents for example. What became reality was each time the government grew bigger. There were more intrusion into the workings of the market economy, more direct involvement in the economy and daily lives of people, more flesh to the bones of the bureaucracy, more squatting on us by the little and big Napoleons and gauleiters.

Maybe, this was what Khir Toyo meant when he hoped that government does not promise what is difficult for them to achieve.

My contention is that the pious wish by the PM is a moot point. It is achievable if certain conditions are established either before or during the process of disengaging. Chief among these as I pointed out are (a) good leadership must be established at all levels of those involved in governing. That would include the political and non political elite. (b) Levels of education are raised so as to empower people with consciousness.

My reticence in accepting wholesale, the declaration of the PM is premised on these requirements. These two issues were not debated extensively and vigorously by readers. That is regrettable.

The articles I mentioned drew many comments. I am afraid many were more prominent in their voluble dazzle than convincing in their arguments. There were several comments opposing such hesitancy citing as the reason among others, just a stubborn refusal on my part to give the PM space to operate his plans. There were also comments saying I am betraying our 'cause' and by that I take to mean the cause to establish group dominance. There was also one comment that said that by belittling the capacity and ability of my own race, I am furthering the cause of the elders of Zion. That of course refers to the cause of Israel!

I hope readers will recognise the shallowness and absurdity in the thinking behind such comments. First, the articles were not meant to underestimate the PM's ability to achieve this aim. I was merely cautioning that it is achievable under certain set of conditions. It is an aim that must be supported. Nor were the articles intended to belittle the capacity and ability of the Malays to self progress. There were stern counter assertions that we have the all-round wherewithal to self propel. If I am proven wrong, I shall be most happy as I have been advancing the idea of progress induced from within. If Malays are ready, that would be a reason to compete openly without handicaps.

But we know these frolickers in my blog will be the first to fly off the handle at suggestions to downsize the government. Hence I consider their objections to my reservations as just mere arguments for the sake of arguing.

I am merely stating things as they are. This pious wish of the PM has great implications and certainly not made to evoke unbounded optimism. But the optimism must also be subjected to a continuous reality check. The idea of abandoning the concept of a government knows best in is fact a call for a smaller government. It has far ranging institutional implications. It is bigger than a particular institution.

Consider the growing public disquiet arising from the government's decision to scrap the MECD and incorporate all their functions under the charge of other ministries. Imagine how the scraping off of a particular institution has aroused public uneasiness. This 'disapproval' will no doubt be amplified in days to come by those who have arrogated to themselves the role as the voice of the would- be marginalised.

If a change in a particular institution has aroused such vehemence and vociferous objections we can certainly expect more maelstrom to greet a grander idea such as disengaging the government. If not handled properly, this idea will suck in the ruling party and along with it the PM.

Better to commit resources to empowering Malays economically in more assertive ways by providing leadership and raising the level of education fast. Stay away from such esoteric idea of reducing big government. Better to find ways to make government serve us better. Stay away from the idea of a Jamahiriyyah Malaysia. Just give us good leadership.