NEM- Pledges and Promises-2

NEM: Pledges and Promises.

First we are even going to say this is a not new economic model. It is essentially a collection of highlighted parts of a bigger development Plan such as RMK10. I think this is why the PM says, the model will be structured into two parts, the second being part of the 10^th Malaysia Plan. He has also said, these are proposals to be incorporated in the 10^th Malaysia Plan.

How do you actually create a higher cash come economy? Where people can earn as much as USD15 K per month? You have to generate super fast growth in what economic segments? What kind of products and services? What kind of industries command high value added? What are the skills required? What are the economic regimes needed? What kind of social environment? You think this isn't important? Imagine if foreign investors lived under threat from moral hit squads that invade private lives? How will the government reconcile that with its own affinity with official Islam?

But more important, a fuller embrace of the free market system would require a sea change in attitude especially from powerful sections of Malays accustomed to rent seeking mentality. Yes, those championed and articulated for by the Ibrahim Alis, and even by DR Mahathir who seems to have reneged on his own personal agenda to change the mindset of Malays. Didn't we remember that he scolded, prayed and even cried beseeching Malays to change their mindset and we also saw many of those who have benefited from the privileged conferring strategies also shed crocodile tears? These were the same people who exited PWTC later in the 7 series beemers, X5s, Hummers and Jags. This PM has to contend with this kind of people.

Here is a starting point. We have heard- and this has been said over many weeks now- that all of us have to adopt a new thinking. Ubah gaya hidup. Leave behind the old ways. Meaning eschew the NEPish way of doing things and adopt competition, free market, meritocracy based advancements etc. but once you are willing to abandon all that, what kind of guarantees and social regime will the government set in place that fosters overall confidence? You have to give assurance to a people who have been accustomed to protection and benefaction in all sort of guises, that they have something to live by with and to survive with?

Unfortunately the signals in this department aren't clear. They are not even clear to UMNO people who can be seen in droves attending the Perkasa inaugural convention. This means the PM has still to contend with his own people to make them believe in his cause. Then again, if he can identify these people who are doubting his cause to re-engineer the economic models that have been practised thus far, he can have the reasons later to leave them out from government appointments. What the PM needs is a team of unified and determined people to carry his economic reforms through.

And when it comes to disseminating information and knowledge about what the PM intends to do, I have to question what the ancient relic presiding the Ministry of Information is doing other than being suffocated in his own artful articulation of whatever fancies him at any point in time? Apo kona jang oi Rais?

I am certain, reading through the details, affirmative action of some sort will be there but its affirmative action grounded on principles of open competition, hard work and meritocracy. There are good Malays and there are bad Malays. Malays are disillusioned when other Malays pass them by because of who they are and not because of what they can do and contribute. Malays must learn that there will no longer be free lunches and that they have to adapt to a regime, where the lunch they want will have to be qualified with willingness to work, to improve themselves, using the material between the ears, on what they can do to improve themselves first.

Between this prime minister and his father who started the NEP, there is no contradiction really. The original NEP was thought of by Tun Razak as an interim measure to infuse Malays with the required values that can propel them farther. This current minister has the opportunity to make things right.

So what do we now offer those whom we are calling upon to abandon the old ways? The answer seems, once all those historical baggage are jettisoned off, we must have in place a reaffirmed commitment to the rule of law. Rights are protected by law and not violated with abandon. This presupposes of course all those institutions related to the remittance of justice and implementing the laws must be sterilized. We all know what this means- the judiciary must be staffed with first rate judges, lawyers and other practitioners of the law. The institutions responsible for maintaining public safety must also be spotlessly clean. You inspire public confidence when you have these and make people feel compensated after having to abandon the protective yoke which they have been enjoying under a paternalistic government.