Has Najib’s New Economic Model been hijacked by Neo-NEP Umnoputras like Perkasa forcing another delay in its announcement?


The assurance by the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that no Malaysian would be sidelined in the New Economic Model (NEM) is not convincing when from all indications, the NEM has been hijacked by Neo-NEP Umnoputras like Perkasa, forcing another delay in its announcement.

When Datuk Seri Najib Razak became Prime Minister last April, he announced that the government would introduce a new economic model for the country to ensure that Malaysia makes a quantum leap to escape the middle-income trap to become a high-income country through greater emphasis on innovation, creativity and competitiveness.

In May last year, the Second Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said the new economic model would be announced in the second half of the year.

Time is clearly of the critical essence to launch a new economic model as Husni subsequently admitted in a very frank speech in December that the country had lost a decade in economic stagnation.

In actual fact, Malaysia had lost not only one decade in economic stagnation but four decades in failing to fully realize the economic potential of the rich natural and human resources of the country, resulting in Malaysia losing out not only to other countries including Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea but at risk of being overtaken by an increasing list of other countries like Vietnam, Thailand and even Indonesia.

However, the time-line for the announcement of the new economic model has been repeatedly deferred, from last year to the beginning of this year, then to this month to coincide with the completion of Najib as Prime Minister and now to June when the 10th Malaysia Plan will be presented to Parliament.

The disruption of the plan to announce the new economic model to commemorate Najib’s first year as Prime Minister is a setback for Najib’s 1Malaysia as well as a competitive and innovative new economic model and a success for the plethora of Neo-NEP Umnoputra NGOs and NGIs to whom have been outsourced the agenda of Umno’s NEP-putras.

Malaysians and the world are wondering what new economic model of greater innovation, creativity and competitiveness could be formulated by Najib against the backdrop of reactionary and extremist pressures with irresponsible and baseless alarms like “the Chinese community will take over the country in the next general elections” and that Article 153 of the Constitution would be trampled upon with Malay interests (when they mean Neo-NEP Umnoputra interests) sidelined.

I call on the Cabinet tomorrow to make a bold policy decision to make public the draft New Economic Model and invite public consultation and input and not to allow irresponsible interest groups inimical to the 1Malaysia concept and vision to hijack and monopolise the formulation of the New Economic Model.

  1. #1 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 2:41 pm

    I am going to keep saying. The economic model is NOT NEW. Firstly, the idea long implemented by the likes of Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Secondly, we have TRIED it before once – remember Multimedia SuperCorridor, Bio-Valley? – They were started with the same idea and goals.

    And that is what gets to me more than anything else. We tried it, failed, and know how hard it is to do including problems unique to us. YET the current plan does not deal with the key problem – this thing cannot be done while NEP and corruption is still around. It simply can’t be done. There just is no room for it.

    Yet there is no plan to deal with the likes of Perkasa or corruption. What they think was going to happen? They can do this and fool Perkasa into just following? They can quietly attack corruption without major surgery to the agencies that do it?

    In actuality the so called NEM is just spin the idea, buy time, spend money from higher oil prices and higher taxes and keep the finger cross – that is the real plan. When the money runs out, then the poor bastards who never had a chance is left hanging again.

    Its nonsense. all of it. There is no New anything. Its Regurgitated Economic Model is what it is..

  2. #2 by k1980 on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 3:00 pm

    Whatever economic model umno is coming up with, it will just be an extension of the nep. And already I can hear Koh TK, Samy and OTK clapping and cheering for it to squeeze the pendatangs even more.

  3. #3 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 3:09 pm

    Najib’s new economic model may well turn out to be old wine in a new bottle albeit with some window dressing. The Malaysian economy is destined to go down the drain with bumi unwilling to let go the nep.

    Vote for PR in the 13th GE is the sensible thing to do.

  4. #4 by Dap man on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 3:17 pm

    If 60% Malays can be taken over by 25% Chinese, then there must be something wrong with the Malays. Something very very wrong. Either they must be really dumb or totally an invalid community.
    More so when the Malays control the government, the civil service, the police, the macc, the arm, the judiciary and the palaces.

    It is like an elephant being afraid of the mouse.

    Will Perkasa, please tell us how the Chinese will take over Malay rule.
    Perkasa thinks the Malays are real stupid and will be taken in by these fears. Do they want the Malays to live in fear of the Chinese all their lives.

    Go on fight the shadows. You will get no where.

    Malays are where, they are today, economically because of UMNO’s failure over 52 years. That’s why we have Mat Rempits, drug addicts and snatch thieves.
    That’s why they are unemployable.

    Ibrahim Ali, why then have you to seek out a Chinese to repair your car, your TV, computer, air-con or even your handphone.
    Blame UMNO stupid!

  5. #5 by sheriff singh on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 3:30 pm

    Looking at recent developments in the country, ask yourself:

    Who is controlling and determining the future direction of this country?

  6. #6 by johnnypok on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 3:42 pm

    Breaking News … BSKL under attack today, and if the trend continues tomorrow, with no position sign of recovery, just say ‘good-by’ to the economy.

  7. #7 by Godfather on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 3:45 pm

    Each time you mention the word “model”, Najib twitches in his chair.

  8. #8 by Dap man on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 4:16 pm

    Johnnypok,
    BSKL Under attack? It’s down only 7.25 points. How can this be an attack?
    In any case, if you are still holding stocks in Bursa Malaysia, then you must be a damn fool. You deserve to have your fingers burnt.

    Buy foreign currency or park your money elsewhere. This country is doomed. Can’t you see?
    UMNO + Perkasa = Malaysia Doom

  9. #9 by Godfather on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 4:45 pm

    Perkasa says globalisation is a threat to the Malays. Withdrawing subsidies is a threat to the Malays. Removal of AP system is a threat to the Malays. Competitive tender is a threat to the Malays.

    Helloooooooo….can we close our doors to the world like Myanmar ? How about learning from Mugabe and seize the assets of the pendatangs ?

  10. #10 by johnnypok on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 4:54 pm

    Normally, a new employee is put under 3 months probation, which may be extended for another 3 months, before being terminated.
    A smart person will learn within 3 days, and climb the ladder of success withina short period of time.
    How do we explain the fate of three generations of bolehlanders who have been spoon-fed for more than 50 years, and still crying for more help. Either they are too lazy to learn, or they are real stupid.

  11. #11 by jus legitimum on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 5:39 pm

    They are the real idiots who think that the minority of 25% can control the civil service,the police,the armed forces,the universities,the GLCs,the royalty,the cabinet,etc etc all under the 65% majority race.So It is high time silly and racial statements made by Perkasa and the like to be totally banned to show the sincerity of the 1 Malaysia idea.

  12. #12 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 6:47 pm

    Any leader who wants to tinker with and water down the NEP (with which many all around have narcotized for many years with vested interests in) and substitute with a new economic model to ensure that the country “makes a quantum leap to escape the middle-income trap to become a high-income country through greater emphasis on innovation, creativity and competitiveness” must meet the basic prerequisites of (1) genuinely not being “racist” in mindset (2) genuinely believe that the NEP implemented in the present form will take us surely down the road to low-income trap (3) genuinely prepared, even in face of all political pressures against, to do what is right for the country than just what’s favourable to only coterie of politically connected/privileged (4) genuinely prepared to lead and blaze the right way even if his constituency is trailing behind and pressuring not to forge ahead (5) is himself politically secure in his own position, with a solid team at the top backing him, and has no baggage that political rivals could leverage/exploit to bring down and also (6) a force of personality, authority and power to withstand opposition whether from own party’s warlords or bureaucrats or NGOs/lobbies outside against his programmes. Are these prerequisites present?

    .

  13. #13 by HJ Angus on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 6:53 pm

    I don’t believe the BN government can do away with the NEP for they have found the goose that lays the golden eggs. NEM is simply a makeover – maybe some goons will get richer twice as fast.
    Just watch Najib’s take on the 1Malaysia concept…..”We need people to MIGRATE….etc” maybe that is a sublimal message to all the young Malaysians?

  14. #14 by kpt99 on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 6:54 pm

    Perkasaians,dont blame other races for your lagged behind economy and educations,the corrupted UMNO-BN had failed the nation and majority of the Malays as a whole.While others without given such privileges can be successful,why can’t you,change your mentality,work harder,don;t scare of competitions throw away the tongkats and stand strongly by yourself and progress well like others.You will made laughing stocks in the world being classed as 1st citizens of the country,yet you blame others for your failures.Nobody get better treatments like you in this country.UITM,Asai sains,matriculations and many others are only for you.Remember what Mahatir said as PM for 22yrs,THE GREATEST REGRETS WAS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE THE MALAYS IN THE COUNTRY,children too dependent on family wealth for future livings seem to laziest than those who has nothing.Dare all our fellows friends learn to be NOT too dependent on governments. Cheers

  15. #15 by ktteokt on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 7:07 pm

    What NEW ECONOMIC MODEL? Just another NEP wrapped in X’mas wrappers, that’s all! Open it, and you will find the same old SH*T!

  16. #16 by dagen on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 7:10 pm

    Umno and perkumnoputras are trapped by choice in a prison of their own creation. Sadly the keys to the prison doors have all gone missing with the passage of time. They were trapped for so long that they are now completely decoupled from reality and the real world outside. They have all turned schizophrenic! Look at BTN and the imaginary foes those idiots thought they have to counter and fight. Schizophrenics (esp those with violent tendency) are known to attack and harm even close family members. Without intending to belittle schizophrenic sufferers generally (my sincere apology to them), I would like to observe that umno and perkumnoputras are quite dangerous indeed (if not positively harmful) to both the security and the future of this country. This is my personal view of course. And needless to say, I may be alone in this viewpoint. Pressing on nonetheless. The overall calmness and disinterest shown by the common malays in the allah issue (a fact which I am extremely proud of) which umno attempted to escalate is the clearest indication that malays in general are rather sane and sensible in nature and character; and more importantly, they are peace loving people, very much unlike those beserk phantom fighting perkumnoputras. The allah issue also serves to illustrate one other important fact, and it is this: Perkumnoputras’ judgment of their own race (i.e. those outside the umno prison) is clearly erroneous and wholly unreliable. Hence any decision they formulate based on their perception and understanding of the common malays could potentially have disastrous effects and may not even be accepted by the malays. The fear which they are now spreading – that chinese will take over and rule the country after ge13 would likewise, I believe, receive little if at all, attention.

    What do we do with umno then? The 26% chinese in the country, by themselves, surely cannot move umno. They cant do it without the help of the malays and the indians and the kadazans and the ibans and the rest. So come on everyone. Chip in a bit of our strenghts for ge13 shall we all.

  17. #17 by Lee Wang Yen on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 8:01 pm

    In his interview with Malaysiakini, Ibrahim Ali denies that his view is racist, and claims that the real racists are those who make multicultural appeal, since their appeal is against the constitution.

    This guy is seriously confused. IF there is a constitution whose undisputed interpretation clashes with multiculturalism, any reasonable person will say that the constitution rather than the advocate of multiculturalism is racist.

    This guy has made a lot of irrational and fanatic claims.

  18. #18 by frankyapp on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 8:09 pm

    The problem with people like Ibraham Ali and Perkasa is that they never ever wanted to learn to fish but only always wanted to be given fish for the past 50 years.They now realized the hardship due to globalisation,now wanted more fish to be given and the Umno/Bn has sucked away so much wealth,are now almost unable to give enough fish to the malays and to protect its own skin,put the blame on chinese and Indian.Frankly,the real culprits are Umnoputras.

  19. #19 by Godfather on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 8:12 pm

    He is not confused at all, Lee Wang Yen. He was brought up in the Mamakthir era where you grab whatever you can by making the Chinese the bogeyman. He is certainly no economist. He proclaims that a market economy is bad for the Malays, and he says that globalisation is bad for the Malays. Deep inside, what he wants is the chance to own a Bentley without having to work hard for it. He is nothing but an opportunist who knows of only one way to get something.

  20. #20 by chengho on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 8:52 pm

    What Hong Kong, Taiwan , Singapore and South Korea have in common; strong leadership and no nonsense approach, like what Jacky Chan said 1 yr ago. Najib need to rule like mahathir wisdom and LKY no nonsense approach. we have too many racist call another person a racist .

  21. #21 by Winston on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 8:57 pm

    Another cock & bull tale?

  22. #22 by johnnypok on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 9:05 pm

    Blame it on the Father of Corruption who also acted like God, but was a real devil, and had robbed billions.

  23. #23 by Godfather on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 9:27 pm

    “Mahathir wisdom and LKY no nonsense approach”

    What Mamakthir taught UMNOputras to do is to take what really belongs to the rakyat and if you object, he would put you in jail or under the ISA.

    What Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea have in common is the use of chopsticks, so all UMNOputras should start to learn how to use chopsticks.

  24. #24 by k1980 on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 9:30 pm

    Anwar needs to write a book, “I No Eat Saiful’s Taufu”, and send a complemenary copy to the mamak

  25. #25 by undertaker888 on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 9:32 pm

    these mamak wh0res are nothing but a bunch of loud mouth willing to sacrifice race and religion for a quick buck here and there.

    where are pdrm to stop the ceramah? TNB..when PR speaks these bunch of good for nothing cow dung are so quick to stop them. even more effecient than stopping a robbery or crime. all gaji buta.

    soon divine justice will be all over them.

  26. #27 by cseng on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 11:04 pm

    Whatever model that is? It will be within the boundary or racial and protectionism. For the past decades the Malaysian politic, the economy, the education, … does not progress far from political propaganda of race and religion. We do not what to expect from Najib’s New Economic Model just like his 1 Malaysia empty slogan. If it has to be 1 Malaysia economic model then Umno need something like perkasa to outsource the NEP.. to survive. Umno has to outsource the racial propaganda to Perkasa due to 1 Malaysia slogan.
    I don’t think people can expect much from Umno’s new economic model. The reasonable expectation should be like just don’t spoil the country for our future generation, don’t try something risky because the only skill sets you guys have is racial and money politics, and that is detrimental to our future. Just stay put until you were replaced!

  27. #28 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 - 11:48 pm

    I don’t see any economist of note championing the NEM. Of course, there is Ibrahim Ali who knows as much about Economics as a 2-year old knows about rocket science. This is why “a little learning is a dangeropus thing”, incontestable wisdom since Alexander Pope’s Essay on Criticism. But then would u even expect Ibrahim Ali to know anything about this. he often speaks like a clanging cymbal and an empty gong….strangely, his rantings and ravings has an audience amongst Utusan malaysia readers and his ilk. Sad, isn’t it that a not-so-clever man can hold court becos he has this gift of the gab that’s as wide and as toxic as the klang river.

  28. #29 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 - 12:12 am

    Now a former judge thinks some serving judges are par-iah judges becos of their perverted sense of justice; same with NEM, a perversion of market-driven econmics which Ibrahim Ali would never be able to understand for the life of him.

    YB LKS, can u serialise NH Chan’s articles for wider readership:
    Judges can fly in the face of rule 137 of the Federal Court Rules (Part 2) — NH Chan (loyarburok.com)

  29. #30 by Black Arrow on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 - 1:01 am

    NEM is not new. It is the same old NEP except for the change of the last alphabet from P to M.

    Don’t expect anything from this as it is just going to be another empty talk just like KPI, NKRA, GTP and what not. These buzzwords are just to con the rakyat into feeling good.

  30. #31 by ablastine on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 - 1:03 am

    Chinese taking over Malaysia from the Malays. What a joke. The Perkasa idiots and UMNO morons better hope that the Chinese and Indians don’t run away too fast from the country because they are the ones who pay the bulk of the taxes. The taukes are the ones who open big companies and run them viably so that employment of locals can continue. You chase away Robert Kuok, Ananda, YTL and the likes because they are not Malay you will be in serious trouble. It is incredible that the group of blinking retards in Perkasa, after more than 50 years of free lunches and leeching around still wake up everyday to think that the world owe them a living. Hell what hope is there left for Malaysia with such people at the helm.

    I really don’t see any point in looking forward to Najis economic model. Whatever model he proposes nothing is going to change. Malaysia will still find itself in the shithole it is destined for in time to come.

  31. #32 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 - 5:28 am

    Najib is trying to do something positive with 1 Malaysia and the NEM (no doubt with input from his advisers including CIMB’s Nazir) to improve BN’s political prospects in next election but is facing fierce resistance and relentless counter pressure from his own party’s war lords, chieftains and rivals and other reactionaries defending the status quo underpinned by ethno-supremacist policies of ‘ketuanan”, the very pivot of the Mahathir’s Legacy.

    The latter are no doubt given patroange and encouragement by the former PM, TDM, wanting to preserve his legacy if possible, for the next 1000 years and keep the PMs after him in check: if they do anything that remotely evinces promise of undermining that legacy, they would face the peril of being forced off their helmsmanship and stewardship of the country, like the way Pak Lah was sidelined, and Najib too, if he neglects to uphold these right wingers’ version of the Malay Agenda.

    Of course it is an exercise in futility to try reasoning logically with reactionaries whether it concerns what the constitution or NEM/economy/Globalisation is about. All they’re interested in is to defend the status quo of NEP in which they have vested interests. The very failure of the NEP to create genuine bumiputera entrepreneurs and uplift the country on the value added scale has been skewed as a justification for its perpetuation than dismantling. In other words NEM is not acceptable unless it is different from the NEP only in the alphabet “M”, so to speak.

    Many right minded Malaysians are opposed to the direction to which these reactionaries are pushing the country but in the market and competition of ideas in the discourse space of the country, the ground is not level at all if the authorities, in complicity with or deference to powerful politicians, side instead with those who stoke the flames of racial tension and polarisation but seek to blame it instead on their detractors by lodging official complaints.

    One notes everything is so quiet regarding the arson attempts on the churches or the desecration of the mosques by wild boars’ heads. Surely it is hard to believe the authorities could not investigate trace and identify who these people and their master minds were by now. But has the directive come from the top to proceed???

    Some have alluded/speculated the rise of right wing ethnocentric lobbies like Perkasa to the current PM’s playing good cop (by his 1 Malaysia/NEM) and bad cop (Perkasa & rest) in order to get the best of both worlds – ie Non malays support from good cop role and Malays support from bad cop role. It is hard to think why he or his advisors should think such dual role has any strategic political value when more likely jhe would get the worse of both worlds from opposing sides measuring him by his own professed benchmarks.

    More likely these ‘bad cops’ are lobby groups sponsored/patronized and supported by his other own party’s war lords, chieftains and rivals and other reactionaries defending the status quo which have mushgroomed to pressure him not to effect change and reform except for the most cosmetic. It is doubtful he has the prerequisites to resist successfully their combined pressure against his taking tentative steps to re-invent/reform UMNO. It is doubtful that any PM could do so as long as the former strongman is still around doing his bit to ensure that his legacy is not dismantled.

  32. #33 by k1980 on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 - 8:10 am

    Is Jib facing fierce resistance and relentless counter pressure from his own party’s war lords, chieftains and rivals and other reactionaries defending the status quo?

    Then he should launch a Mao-styled “Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution” and purge those “war lords, chieftains and rivals and other reactionaries”. Then only can his 1malaysia dream become reality

  33. #34 by dagen on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 - 9:04 am

    Bujang Valley, Kedah, archeological finds:

    “Artifacts in the form of broken pieces of foreign ceramic were among the important proofs of the existence of Sungai Mas as an ancient port. Chinese ceramics, such as stoneware, seldom and porcelain, from the Tang Dynasty era (618-906 A.D.) and the Sung dynasty era (960-1279 A.D.), were among the foreign ceramics most prevalent. Besides these, there were 800 A.D. to 1000 A.D. ceramics from West Asia, which were either blue or green, and broken Islamic glass of various colours.”

    Source: http://www.mykedah2.com/e_10heritage/e101_2.html

  34. #35 by PSM on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 - 9:50 am

    Perkasa is the “brain-child” of UMNO lah! There is no hijacking here. The NEM is the NEP (never Ending Policy) with a different spelling!

  35. #36 by sheriff singh on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 - 10:47 am

    In business, it is called “outsourcing”.

    Perkasar is a SPV, a “special purpose vehicle”. Unfortunately, this vehicle like Toyota, has got clutch, brake and steering problems and is now fast running amok. And the drivers have also got “kopi O” licences obtained in Kelate and elsewhere.

    Watch out.

  36. #37 by a2a on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 - 11:53 am

    Are there anyone can run an Audit check on Perkasa members?

    Are there some of the Perkasa members are indonesian immigrants DECENDANT?

    All MALAYSIANs want to know.

  37. #38 by Godfather on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 - 12:36 pm

    Today’s papers talk of the tragedy in Seberang Perai where 3 kids were killed in a fire that engulfed their wooden house.

    Ibrahim Katak, are you listening ? There are still non-Malays living in wooden houses. These are the people who deserve assistance under whatever new economic model. Shame on those UMNOputras who worry about when they get their next Porsche or Bentley.

  38. #39 by frankyapp on Thursday, 11 March 2010 - 1:24 am

    Pekasa is Umno’s hit boy and NEP wine is sold in new bottle under the MEM trade mark.

  39. #40 by frankyapp on Thursday, 11 March 2010 - 1:27 am

    Sorry it should read NEM and not MEM

  40. #41 by DCLXVI on Thursday, 11 March 2010 - 2:32 am

    chengho: “What Hong Kong, Taiwan , Singapore and South Korea have in common; strong leadership and no nonsense approach, like what Jacky Chan said 1 yr ago.”

    Economics wise, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea have a free-er and more level playing field market than Malaysia.

    chengho: “Najib need to rule like mahathir wisdom and LKY no nonsense approach.”

    May be it’s easier to change the leadership and the administration (via the ballot box)…

    chengho: “we have too many racist call another person a racist .”

    We have more racists exposing themselves by making / supporting racist remarks…

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