Is Palanivel politically illiterate?

 

"He has been MP here for 18 years and was also a deputy minister in the Rural Development Ministry but he has done nothing for the voters here," a high-ranking local Umno leader told The Malaysian Insider.

According to the Umno leader, Palanivel had no "touch on the ground" and that voters have grown tired of the MIC deputy president's often empty promises.

"They are never fulfilled. I know this because I helped him campaign for three terms," added the local Umno leader.

He also said contrary to popular belief, Palanivel is not even accepted among the local Indian community.

 

Perhaps, Palanivel doesn't read the writings on the wall. Maybe he refuses to. He is after all, the MIC's deputy president. He should be chosen as candidate as befits his party position. Thus, he is seen campaigning as though he is the candidate in Hulu Selangor. He has given out donations to Malaysian Chinese folks in Hulu Selangor. Whose money is that? Is he bribing people?

He has even pleaded to be given another chance. If people are not happy, they can kick him out in the next GE. He has even stated the next GE will be in 2012. Palanivel is a clairvoyant swami.

But here is a more intriguing and beguiling information:-

Surveys by BN and government agencies reveal the Hulu Selangor MIC Youth chief is popular among the Umno members and supporters, who voted in all three BN candidates for the state seats in Election 2008 but were 198 votes short to elect the four-term MP Palanivel then.

Ironically Mugilan was Palanivel's campaign manager then. Another name being tossed is MIC information chief and Putera MIC coordinator P. Kamalanathan, but MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has not confirmed if he had submitted any name apart from Palanivel.

I am intrigued to read of the government and government agency surveys. I hope you are too. Who is doing all these surveys? If they are done by government agencies can they be believed? Pak Lah didn't believe or probably didn't even read the intelligence reports during the last 2008 GE. Everybody was saying it wasn't time to hold general elections, but Pak Lah looked as though he was basing his decision by looking at the moon and stars.

Palanivel is also not reading the surveys which are probably intelligence reports judiciously leaked to the hungry media to form a general public opinion. I for one will not vote for an illiterate candidate which Palanivel is morphing into.

Palanivel is not a good choice and that if he is chosen BN will lose. That is the only consideration really- choosing someone who has a higher chance of winning. And since Palanivel is associated with a possible loss he will not be chosen. Unless he is thick skulled and utterly dense, he knows he will not be chosen despite pleading to be given another chance.

So why is he pushing his cheeks outwards to reinforce his already sharp nose? In BN- who cares about being given another chance?

He is simply applying pressure to the BN who has probably made ups its mind on who the candidate is. It won't be Palanivel. But it's odd and also contrary to Asian culture for one to carry one's own basket. The person who should be applying pressure and making wild statements should be Samy Vely. Now Samy Velu has met the PM and he knows what's going on. He knows Palanivel's name isn't the only one. The PM will not be pushed into selecting someone who will likely contribute to a loss.

It also shows that MIC is not solid as Samy Vely wants it to look like. If Palanivel is not chosen, people will read this as a sign as Samy's eroding and free-falling relevance to MIC. Palanivel is seizing the moment to establish his own credentials as MIC leader by pushing for his own candidacy. And that will certainly irritate Samy Velu who may very well agree with the PM that indeed BN's chances of winning this election are better without Palanivel as candidate.

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Siapa menang di Hulu Selangor?

Saya belum pergi round kat Hulu Selangor lagi secara menyeluruh. Semasa saya berkunjung ke Hulu Bernam tempoh hari, saya melihat parti yang memerintah Selangor sedang giat membuat persiapan. Bendera parti PAS ada di serata tempat.

Saya harap orang UMNO sudah membiasakan diri dengan kesedaran bahawa di negeri Selangor , UMNO ialah parti pembangkang. Jadi bila kita golongan pembangkang, perlakuan kita jangan lah angkuh sangat. Tutur kata kita biar lah berpada. Biar pandai merendah diri. Lagi pun UMNO tidak mampu lagi mengaku bahawa ia mewakili orang Melayu. Semasa PRU 2008, calun UMNO hanya dapat 2 juta lebih undi. Selebih nya, 3.7 juta orang Melayu termasuk ahli UMNO tak sokong calun UMNO.

Selangor negeri yang terkaya di Malaysia di kuasai oleh pembangkang. Kita mesti ingat kerajaan PR tidak memerlukan bantuan kerajaan pusat untuk membangunkan negeri. 'kemerdekaan' yang lahir dari kekuatan ekonomi, membentuk fikiran dan minda yang juga merdeka. Apabila minda rakyat sudah merdeka, cara kempen yang lama, sudah tidak boleh di pakai lagi. Kita tak boleh ugut2, kita tak boleh marah marah.

Apa yang boleh di buat oleh MP2 dari BN dalam negeri Selangor? Jika mereka membawa pembangunan, rakyat akan kata, lihat- kepentingan kita tidak terancam walaupun negeri di kuasai oleh pihak lawan. Makanya, jika mereka terus meyokong parti lawan BN, kemajuan kawasan tidak terjejas. Bahkan mungkin lebih rancak, sebab BN nak bukti bahawa mereka lebih perihatin. Apatah lagi, jika kemenangan di HS kali ini sangat bererti kepada penerimaan rakyat terhadap kepimpinan DS Najib. Kemajuan dan imbuhan akan mengalir betul2 macam ampang pecah.

Jika mereka tidak membawa pembangunan , rakyat akan menolak mereka dalam pilihanraya yang akan datang. Maka nya, sama ada rakyat pilih MP BN atau tidak, bukan lah perhitungan yang sangat penting.

Jadi, sokongan rakyat tidak lagi bergantung kepada cakap membawa kemajuan atau tidak. Tapi sokongan rakyat akan di tentukan oleh siapa, kualiti dan keperibadian calun. Kalau calun tidak tepat, rakyat akan tolak. Walaupun di sokong oleh jentera BN seluruh Negara.

Sebab itu, dalam pilihanraya kecil HS, saya melihat ia sebagai pilihanraya yang mungkin bermasaalah untuk BN.

Ini pilihanraya kecil. Pada saya, perkara menjaga sensiviti parti komponen bukan suatu perkara yang mustahak berbanding dengan perhitungan dalam pilihanraya umum. MIC di bawah Samy Velu bukan lagi parti politik kaum India yang signifiken. Hanya perasaan menjaga sensiviti sahaja menyelamatkan parti MIC. Kepada saya kerana fakta fakta ini, apa yang MIC fikir tidak releven untuk kita buat masa ini. Biar mereka buktikan kerelevenan mereka dahulu. Dia nak meraung ke, Samy Velu nak buka baju ajak kita bertumbuk ke, semua nya tidak releven.

Yang lebih mustahak ialah memenangi pilihanraya kecil ini. Dan suka atau tidak suka, kemenangan kita bergantung kepada calun yang di pilih.

Kita nak cakap mengenai kemajuan? Kemajuan yang di pentingkan oleh rakyat ialah apa yang mereka boleh nikmati secara lansung segera dan secara peribadi. Beri duit RM 100 seorang, Beri hak milik tanah yang ketika masa Mat Taib dan Khir Toyo, amat sukar di perolehi kecuali anda dari Demang Lebar Daun. Ini kepada mereka lebih penting daripada isiu buat atau tak buat university atau buat atau tak buat pusat PERMATA.

Bila MB Selangor beri hak milik kepada mereka yang menduduki tanah, saya tidak heran. Orang UMNO pun tidak perlu heran. Ini perkara yang biasa di lakukan oleh menteri besar dalam negeri2 yang BN memerintah. Jadi kita tidak dapat guna isiu memberi 'imbuhan kerana pilihanraya' sebagai modal kempen. Sebabnya, pihak lawan kita akan guna tektik yang sama. Bahkan bila PM Najib melawat kawasan FELDA dalam kawasan Hulu Selangor, ucapan PM pun di anggap sebagai ucapan yang mengugut.

Kawasan parlimen HS ada 3 DUN- Batang Kali, KKB dan Hulu Bernam- ketiga tiga nya di kuasai oleh UMNO/BN. Diatas kertas, kawasan parlimen HS sepatutnya di menangi oleh BN. Apa yang ada dalam 3 DUN tersebut? Common denominator yang didepan mata kita ialah- ke3 DUN tersebut berwakilrakyatkan orang Melayu. Ini lah common denominator yang membayangkan citarasa pengundi. Arwah Dr Zainal orang Melayu- maka atas dasar ini lah beliau menang dalam pilihanraya 2008 dahulu.

Kenyataan yang tidak dapat di sangkal ialah bahawa suara rakyat HS menuntut ahli parlimen nya juga orang Melayu. Jika kita membelakangkan perhitungan ini, maka sukar sedkit kita meramalkan kemenangan BN sebagai terjamin.

Saya sempat bercakap dengan beberapa orang pengundi dalam HS- mereka mengakui bahawa tidak kenal dengan arwah Dr Zainal ketika dia menawarkan diri sebagai MP kawasan. Dan saya ingin sebut disini bahawa orang2 yang saya jumpa ialah orang UMNO. Tapi mereka undi Dr Zainal sebab dia Melayu dan calun BN ialah Palanivel.

Rakyat menolak Palanivel sebab dia bukan calun Melayu. Sama ada pembaca mahu mengangap ini sebagai kenyataan rasis atau tidak, ianya adalah kenyataan. Takkan saya nak sebut Palanivel Indiaputra?

Itu yang pertama. Kedua, rata rata nya orang beranggapan bahawa Palanivel tidak buat kerja semasa jadi MP HS. Siapa peduli apa awak tulis dalam website? Sesiapa pun boleh tulis dan letak gambar apa apa dalam website. Jika sudah ada 2 perkara mudharat- rakyat tidak hendak dan awak tidak berkerja, macam mana Palanivel mahu menang? Orang India pun akan menolak calun MIC sebab mereka lebih mahu mengajar Samy Velu. Ertinya, orang India ada motivasi yang lain untuk membiarkan calun MIC di kalahkan.

Lihat kepada demografi kawasan HS. Menurut Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya, terdapat 64,500 pengundi berdaftar di HulSel Ini termasuk 799 pengundi pos. Dari jumlah pengundi itu:- 53peratus Melayu, - 26 Cina, - 19 India.- 2 peratus Orang Asli and bangsa lain. Sudah pasti jumlah pengundi inilah yang akan di cumbui oleh BN dan PR

Katalah yang keluar mengundi ialah sebanyak 80% atau lebih kurang 50,000 orang.

Bagaimana rakyat mengundi? Rakyat akan undi mengikut citarasa perkauman.

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  Daripada 50,000, pengundi Melayu sebanyak 26,500. Dari jumlah ini BN munkin hanya dapat 45% iaitu sebanyak 12,000.
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  Dari 50,000 jumlah pengundi cina yang keluar mengundi ialah 13,000 orang. BN mungkin hanya dapat 10% undi orang cina atau sebanyak 1500.
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  Daripada 50,000 tersebut, pengundi India hanya 19% atau 10,000.
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  Berapa pengudni India yang MIC mampu serahkan kepada BN? Paling kuat saya rasa 40% atau hanya 4,000 orang.

Jika kita jumlahkan semua pengundi ini, 12,000+1500+4000= 17,500 sahaja. Diatas kertas, calun BN jika dari parti MIC hanya ada undi asas sebanyak 17-18,000 sahaja.

Apakah faktor yang boleh menambahkan jum;lah 17, 500 kepada jumlah yang memenangkan BN? BN memerlukan 10,000 lagi untuk menang di HS.

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NEM-Prioritizing education imperatives.

Allow me to illustrate. Each year, the Pahang state government sends hundreds of students to universities in the Middle East. The bulk goes to Cairo and some other universities in Saudi Arabia. They study religion. They come back as young ustazs or religious teachers.

There's one problem. Most of them couldn't get jobs. The number of mosques and suraus are finite. The budget allocations and number of religious establishments are not that big. The institutions and the budgets cannot sustain them. The MB's office can absorb a limited number as religious advisers or special officers.

Where do the others go to? Many of them ended up teaching at KAFA classes- that's beginner's classes in the fundamentals of Islam. These highly trained scholars end up teaching what can be done by elementary teachers. It's like forcing a thoroughbred to pull a milk cart.

The rest and there are many of them, ply their trade as religious professionals, independent preachers, haj piligrimage consultants and tour guides and operators.

Tabung Haji should farm out these services to our young ustazs who can speak and know their way around the Middle East countries. Stop farming out to companies formed by your directors and employees. Let's see TH comes out with a concrete plan to do this other than presenting the PM with some perked up business plans.

Pardon that short digression.

I suppose, this is a scene dreaded by many political leaders. Can they create jobs to absorb these graduates? That means creating a robust and vibrant economy. It means also fitting graduates skills with the requirements of the vibrant economy.

Cheaper now, damn expensive later.

In Pahang's case, the decision to send these students is probably dictated by the economics of it. It's cheaper to send them there. Unfortunately, it will become expensive for everyone in the future. Unemployment of the educated becomes of hot bed of social agitation. Unemployed ustazs become fiery sermoners. Malays don't argue with religion and when religion is used by experts they become believable. Most of the time, independent serrmoners don't have anything good to say about how the government runs things.

But the decision may also stem from mistaken prioritizing of education imperatives. For what purpose do we educate our young? Sending students to become ustazs may be driven by the cultural and political imperatives. Chief among these is the overarching need to underscore this government's commitment to Islam. Ok, we have proven we are more Islam than everyone else. We produce thousands of graduates trained in various religious branches. We build special schools for them.

But always, the haunting question, can we find jobs for them? We haven't succeeded right? Because our education imperative is misdirected. We need engineers, technicians, doctors, those trained in the hard sciences, businesses to build up this country. To build up a vibrant economy with which to absorb the army of graduates.

Each year too thousand of Malay graduates come out from our universities. We call them degree mills. They emerged armed with all sorts of degree- sports medicine and the like; they read the soft sciences, liberal arts, literary studies and so forth. We are driven by the political imperatives to produce as many Malay graduates as possible. We easily achieved that agenda but we couldn't give them jobs. So we find many Malay graduates as unemployables because the skills they have, even though at degree levels do not match industry requirements. Industry requires technicians, numeric graduates, accounting, finance, - the harder sciences.

Look again at our ustazs. Other than religious disciplines, most of these couldn't fit into mainstream jobs. They can't get into business disciplines, administration, management, hard sciences etc. I always thought that a good solution is probably getting them into the services- the police notably. With thousands of religious graduates inducted into our police force, who knows, the profile and demeanor of our police force will change for the better. As a rule, religious sanctions would be a natural deterrence for the many grouses the public has against our police force at the moment.

Yes, why not induct them as police cadres so that in 10 years time, religion trained graduates become our top police officers. If a son of an ustaz has failed us, maybe an ustaz will do better. In 10 years let's have a PhD in Islamic studies become the IGP.

In line with the NEM, we have to ask- what's the overriding objective now? Between now and 2020, it's the economy. Raising PCI from USD 7k to USD 15k. That's our main indicator to becoming a high income country. It's another name for being a developed country by 2020. That was the same economic agenda set by Dr Mahathir. In that sense, DR Mahathir sounded most agreeable when he says the NEM fulfills the idea of 1 Malaysia. For Dr. Mahathir 1 Malaysia simply means vision 2020.

Except Dr. Mahathir has different methods to achieve vision 2020 while PM Najib has different strategies. Dr. Mahathir is all for forced entry. PM Najib is all for voluntary cooperation of human endeavors- aka the free market. Dr. Mahathir is all for guided free market which at once elevates the status of decision makers and most notably the PM to that of an omnipotent being. PM Najib said the era of government knows best is over. He says, by adopting a different strategy, he has placed his head on the chopping block.

But he needs to do much more than positioning himself to approach this agenda differently from Dr Mahathir. He must exorcise the ghosts of the past.

There is one area however, where the pragmatism of a clinically trained doctor appears to be more sensible. In terms of education, Dr Mahathir appears to accept that reality of the world, demands Malaysians especially Malays be proficient in language and technical skills. The PM appears to realize this too. In this aspect, they share similarities.

This is the economic imperative of our education agenda. To align the education system so that it can support the quest to become a developed country and a high income economy. This means that we have to teach literacy in English and the mother tongue, technical skills, science and technology. In 10 years, we review the imperative. Perhaps after that it's the cultural imperative and perhaps a common cultural imperative stressing the commonalities.

We don't have the luxury of experimenting with holistic education. Singapore which is a developed country with a small population has that luxury. So, personally, I think we can forego for the time being, this nebulous idea of holistic education agenda. Do what's needed first. From now up to 10 years (2020) our education imperative is economic.

Right now we need more technicians, engineers, scientists per 1000 people than poets, literary experts per 1000 people. To move into the service industry? We need more economists, finance graduates, investment analysts, and accountants per 1000 than dramatists, concert pianists, and actors per 1000 people.

As I have written earlier, education has 3 imperatives- economic, cultural and political. In the heydays of the Cultural Revolution in China, the overriding agenda of education was political. To instill the belief in Mao's brand of peasant based communism. When Deng took over, the imperative was economic as Deng believed that to be rich is glorious.

Our Education Minister may lack the charisma of a Deng- but he can cultivate the same pragmatism and sense of reality of what is needed more at present.

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Education Imperatives and the NEM

The key words in the NEM- high income, sustainable and inclusiveness. These are the cornerstones of the NEM.

And how do we do that? The PM said:

Our answer is to create high wage jobs, give our children the best educational opportunities, and attract the high quality investment that is the driving theme of this important gathering.

Tackle the education system.

We ask this question. What makes for a high income economy? Skilled and trained people who produce high value added services and products for a global world. I add a global world because, unlike China for instance, we don't have the domestic population to absorb the high value added g&s. So, we must be mindful that our skilful workers provide for a borderless world. As a reminder, there's a universal language skills needed here and whether you like it or not, it's that bloody English language.

Then we look at the skills profile of our economy at present. How many technicians have we produced? How many engineers? How many do we plan to produce and is that number supportable by our present education agenda? How have we applied our resources thus far?

Our aim is to double the per capita income in ten years when the growth rate today is half what it was ten years ago when the ringgit was stronger, and we are trying to achieve that "high-income economy" when 80% of the workforce, or 60% of the population, has only an SPM or below. Most probably those 40% mentioned by the PM are made up by these people.

I mentioned above that a language skill is needed for us to break through. Why are we xenophobic about mastering the English language? We should look also at national survival more. We have to be pragmatic. Unless you increase the number of hours pupils stay back in school, increasing the minutes for English means you incur opportunity costs in the learning of other skills. Which means, in the end, knowledge infrastructure the PM spoke of is affected adversely.

Many understand why BM is the medium of instruction. It was returned because the rural students are too far behind to use English. But the urban students can and they should not be sacrificed so that the ministry can have an easier job or UMNO a bugle to blow the trumpet of fantasy. Accept reality that knowledge today needed for high income is delivered in English and the best knowledge infrastructure is of no use if no one can use it for want of being able to tap the world's knowledge out there.

And let those who mindlessly follow the clarion calls of ultra nationalist bodies to later explain why they are still left behind. In the long run, like Keynes said, we are all dead. In 10-15 years, most of the language nationalists are dead. But our young, educated in the prevailing education regime, will have to compete with a borderless world which views out stubbornness to prevail with our language to fulfil the cultural agenda of our education imperative, as a curiosity. But they won't be able to get jobs that can earn them income. Each year, our policy makers are insulating themselves about the job prospects of thousands of school leavers.

When the PM spoke about education, he was also throwing a challenge to our education minister to provide the answers to our high income needs. So we ask- what is our priority now as regards our educational imperatives? In my mind, there are 3 educational imperatives- political, cultural and economic. Which one is given priority at the moment? It seems to me, we are strapping ourselves stubbornly in a straightjacket, to the cultural and political imperatives.

Because of this inclination, it has also produced countervailing response on the ground from those people alienated from such imperatives. In my time, 30 years ago, enrolment into vernacular schools was diminishing. Nowadays, enrolment into vernacular schools especially Chinese medium schools is increasing rapidly to the extent, that in some vernacular schools, there aren't enough places to accommodate parents wanting to send their children there.

We must look into this reaction. Beyond being just a cultural reaction, could it be also a response indicating, that parents objected to our education imperative? In contrast and out of pragmatism, parents place a higher priority on the economic imperative of our education system. The disturbing thing is, they are willing to act and support their decision with their own resources. Parents value an education system that produces children who can find work and income higher than an education system that places political and cultural imperative. In the end, the survival agenda is most important.

Our education system must continue to be re-evaluated and improved to create the workforce of the future, with a commitment to merit-based programmes. These will reward excellence and nurture talented graduates who excel in strategic and creative thinking and entrepreneurial and leadership skills that will drive success in the decades ahead.

Now hearing the PM said these words, pushes us to think- what is the current imperative of our education system? Which one is given priority now?

This is also a challenge to our education system and to our education minister. Not too long ago there was much furore about the reversion of the teaching of maths and science to Bahasa Malaysia. That has taken place and we now asked- for which imperative? Seems to me it's aimed at cultural and political imperative. Now if our students are deficient in language skills, and the world economy is run on language other than BM, where will that place our students?

We are often enamoured with the fine words used by academics- that to create high income, we must elevate the application of science and technology on industry. We forgot that what actually makes the economy tick is sheer hard work and elbow grease. That translates presently into having the skills and the technicals to elbow grease and work. You can't make the economy tick, when by his own admission 80% of our workforce is SPM empowered.

Maybe its time to re-assess our educational imperatives. Because in the end, the critical factor in our agenda to become a high income economy is the quality of our people. If we are lazy, deficient in language and technical skills, how do we compete and how do we conceptualise to produce high value added goods and services? We need a rigorous and sound education system with the right imperative priority must be geared to the needs of the economy first. Then in 5, 10 years, we review the imperative. We leavened it with moderation.

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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.

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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.

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The promises of NEM-1

I have yet to pen my 2^nd part of the NEM, we already hear SP Setia is keen to develop the land mentioned by the PM. Lu orang ingat lu satu orang sahaja tau bikin itu semua? For completeness, wont you be interested in developing the RRI 's land in Sungai Buloh and since the area around Jalan Stonor is also near Kampung Bharu, why not develop Kampung Bhary too. And KTM has plenty of land that can also be developed. Take that too.

So Mr. Amir Sham- will you go to the PM to say lets impose a moratorium- some sort of agreement between gentlemen thieves, the super league construction and developments companies will stay away from government contracts for the next 5 years? Do it my man. Otherwise, the NEM isn't implemented yet, it s already looking like the models of old.

This is the main point really. I have written many times about how we give in and buckle under ascriptive norms and reject achieved norms. We do thing out of habitual and conditioned thinking. We have policy makers and decision framers banking hopes of economic development on groups with ascribed status and qualities. That's probably because the decision makers and policy framers are themselves deficient in the first place. Let's begin by having a first class civil service that believes in dedication, professionalism and capabilities. Wed don't have civil servants in the mold of the late Zain Azrai or Tan Sri Thong Yaw Hong.

Thus we think GLCs, because of what they are, are capable of driving the economy. This is a wrong belief. GLCs have become a refuge for thieves and freeloaders. They have become a sad excuse for people to plunder from the state coffers. Mostly, they are not accountable for anything.

Don't take my word for it. Look at the information below:-

The GLC that is Malaysia's public face- MAS.

Two bailouts of Malaysia Airline System RM7.9 billion. At a time when MAS incurring losses every year, RM1.55 million used to buy three paintings to decorate its chairman's office.

The bailouts of GLCs.

Putra transport system bailout which cost RM4.486 billion STAR-LRT bailout costing RM3.256 billion National Sewerage System bailout costing RM192.54 million Seremban-Port Dickson Highway bailout costing RM142 million Kuching Prison bailout costing RM135 million Kajian Makanan dan Gunaan Orang Islam bailout costing RM8.3 million

Then there are those bloodletting and haemorrhaging projects.

Le Tour de Langkawi bailout costing RM 3.5 Million. Wholesale distribution of tens of millions of shares in Bursa Malaysia under guise of NEP to the Puteras in the Bumiputeras and Ministers worth billions of ringgits. Out of the RM 54 billion, only RM 2 billion is left. It would be interesting if we could do a profiling of the recipients of the RM54 billion.

APs scandal have been going on year-after-year going back for more than three decades, involving tens of billions of ringgits . What has happened to the condemnation of Tun Mahathir on the AP scandal? Since the exit of Rafidah Aziz, this issue has quietened down.

Alienation of tens of thousands of hectares of commercial lands and forestry concessions to children and relatives of BN leaders and Ministers worth tens of billions of ringgits

Look at the wasteful application of public money. Go to Kuala Terengganu to see for yourself how many white elephants like majestic mosques, roads paved with fanciful bricks, designer lamp posts, clock towers, Municipal Council buildings that looks more like Istanas, extravagant places of worship, refurbishment of residences of VIPs, abandoned or under-utilised government sports complexes and buildings, etc! Combined they could easily amount to the hundreds of billions of ringgits!

Where has the PETRONAS money gone?

Since 1997, PETRONAS has handed out a staggering 30 billion ringgit in natural gas subsidies to IPPs who were making huge profits. In addition, there were much wastages and forward trading of PETRONAS oil in the 1990s based on the low price of oil then. Since the accounts of PETRONAS are for the eyes of Prime Minister only, we have absolutely no idea of the amount.

Please take a look at all the GLCs in this country. Most of them are headed by second raters (sorry to be blunt) and those left behind when the first raters joined the private sector or ventured out on their own. We are left behind with non business graduates, who have no inkling about management and businesses but are given authority to do business on UR behalf.

So when the PM is sending signals that GLCs including SOEs (State Owned Enterprise) slowly retreat and let the real boys do business, I hope menteri besars of states in Malaysia will get the cue. Those GLCs on life support machines must be cut off from their misery. Spare us the agony.

Then we also apply the same approach when sizing up individuals. We think we can pick and chose winners. We ascribed to them an extraordinary prowess and capabilities based solely on who they are. The Puteras of the bumiPUTERAS.

By that we mean, we infer a person's capabilities solely on the basis of who she or he is. Hence for example, Mukhriz Mahathir is presumed to be excellent because the father was the previous PM. Somehow; we believe that skills and abilities are transmissible through genes. As another example, we believe that Hishamudin Hussin is good because the father was also at one time, a prime minister and that he is sure to inherit the lineage. This ignores the fact that he is there because he has only one qualification- that of being cousin to the PM. As soon as he opens his mouth, or esteem about him crumbles.

It is also a sign of backward countries and hence by implication low income countries that they move along ascriptive values. Advanced countries move along on achieved principles.

So it is heartening that this PM wants to carry out policies that embrace competitiveness, merits and capabilities. These are values consonant with achieved values.

Advanced countries which are also high income countries develop and expand and prosper on the principles of achieved norms. Those economic agents, leaders are chosen on the basis of what they can do which depend on their acquired skills and expertise.

You build a high income economy on the basis of achieved norms- on what you are capable and able of doing NOT on the basis of presenting yourself as who you are.

You see, the government has to set its house in order first. By that I mean it must regain the trust and confidence of the people. This government is suffering from one malady that many people are afraid of saying it loud and clear. It suffers from a crisis of confidence. The people must be confident that the government will carry out what it pledges. They are less interested in what the usual suspects say immediately following the speech of the PM- whether he/she is the boss of ISIS or any other think thanks.

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