Pledges and Promises of NEM-3

I wrote about instilling confidence being the sine qua non of having this new economic plan. Managing this economy is not just about having elegant and elaborate plans. Even when talking about economic plans, doing so at macro level and broad brushing does not mean, they are accomplishable at the micro level. We haven't seen it done at the micro level. Its implementation will be done by the same people schooled in the old ways. That's the worrying part for the PM.

But more than all that, it's also about telling the people a compelling story persuading and influencing people, especially about their future. To tell a compelling story, you need to have credibility and natural inclination towards principles. Such as the rule of law.

There must be a system in which the best among us, want to contribute and his contribution appreciated in a becoming manner. That's how your release hidden talent in the first place. You abandon the old ways; you must put in place a system. What basic system? Invariably and unavoidably a system that makes hard work and good education rewarding. This system recognizes that because people are made of different talents and temperaments, which make uniformity something undemocratic. No one will find a system that rewards people on the basis of who they are without much more, as inspiring confidence. You will find people cutting corners shouting this and that as of right. You make people who fought hard, word hard, studied hard lose morale.

Let me repeat once more something which I have always believed- a right is something you fought for, struggled for and earned by qualifying yourself. How do you qualify yourself? By getting good education, skill sets, hard work. These must be rewarded.

As I have written long time ago, I find a system that legislates rights and rewards without inducing the recipient to reciprocate by hard work and education is very debasing. Unless you are an invalid, an infirmed, the aged and old, these are the people who are entitled to the safety net the PM is talking about. But able bodied people?

One of the ways I mentioned was about the determination to replace the status quo ex ante with a system accessible and fair to all. The judiciary and the law implementing agencies, the police must be sterilized and free from the perception of being corruptible. Controversial judges and police must be let off. It's not only public confidence that is affected; the morale of those in the respective vocations is also affected.

The PM mentioned zero tolerance to corruption. Much more than just stating it as a pledge, people want to see action.

Take action against the blatantly visible financial scandals, the RM 12 billion PKFZ scandal which caused those who championed its exposure in MCA to lose. As an aside, can we infer  the rejection of MCA members to come to terms that in fact, many of its MCA leaders were involved in the RM 12 billion- scandal, that financial corruption, wheeling and dealing are part of the MCA cultural psyche? That because of this, MCA members don't find anything wrong or strange in electing leaders who have done wrong? That any form of corruption, elbow greasing are all part of MCA culture and habit? It would then be impossible for any MCA man, however righteous and upright to challenge the in-built corrupting culture of MCA Chinese?

Let's just say it- a corrupt culture supports a corrupt leadership.

Make the pledge of zero tolerance on corruption a visible manifestation. To show Malaysians and the world, that he is serious about zerorizing corruption, order investigation on the following:-

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  Explain to the public how and why Bank Negara lost RM 30 billion engaging in foreign exchange hedging. Since the person connected with that losses recently gained notoriety because his POLSEC was caught red handed with millions in cash, he can't escape being spluttered with the mud. His position in a cabinet of a PM who says there must be zero tolerance of corruption cannot be tenable.
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  Investigate and explain the more than USD800 million losses incurred by PERWAJA under the stewardship of Eric Chia.
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  Explain the rationale of using RM10 billion EPF money for Valuecap Sdn Bhd to mop up shares in the share market. This becomes pertinent as EPF has also come into the limelight when the PM says, EPF money will be used to invest in the economy. We don't want a repeat of a Valuecap job.
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  Investigate the RM 700 million losses in Bank Islam. How can a bank built on moral and religious sanctions and whose operations also come under the purview of Islamic scholars, bank incur losses? Was it due to mismanagement? If it was, let it be explained to the people.
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  Explain to us in full how has the oil royalty received by Terengganu totalling more than RM 7 billion been applied? Where has the money actually gone to?
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  Please explain how we can justify using RM 500 million for the Philharmonic Orchestra over a period of 10 years? Why are we sustaining this elite pastime with PETRONAS's money? Once in a while inviting SM Salim or Siti NUrhaliza to sing cannot hide the astronomical sums paid out.
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  The government has spent a total of RM3.2 billion in teaching Maths and Science in English over the past five years. Out of the amount, the government paid RM2.21 billion for the purchase of information and computer technology (ICT) equipments which it is unable to give a breakdown.
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  The government must come clean about the "commission' paid for purchase of jets and submarines to two private companies Perimekar Sdn Bhd and IMT Defence Sdn Bhd amounted to RM910 million. The current defence Minister says no commission were paid by the government. He may be technically correct, but that doesn't excuse him from having to tell us of the circumstances enabling people to get RM 500 million for being procuring agents. He would have to tell the public fast as more revelations will come out in the open, when partners to the RM500 million-windfall will be going to courts accusing each other of reneging on their promises. The government can't explain away the channelling of huge amounts of money in such cavalier fashion.
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  Explain to the public why RM300 million was paid as compensation to Gerbang Perdana when it didn't complete the RM1.1 billion "Crooked Scenic Half-Bridge". Samy velu was adamant and insistent the government wouldn't pay even a smaller amount but ended paying anyway. Explain further the RM1.3 billion that now appears to be wasted building the white elephant Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities on cancellation of the Malaysia-Singapore scenic bridge

We can go on and on listing down what can only be described as the government's irresolute handling of these financial scandals and easily demonstrate that the pledge to have zero level on corruption and shadowy practices is just a PR exercise.

In order to show seriousness, the PM must ensure his resolve is seen. Start by bringing to book the people involved in the RM12bilion PKFZ scandal and bring to book any former chief minister or ministers who can't explain their sudden Croesus- like accumulation of wealth.