The general consensus is that the New Economic Model announced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak pledging long-promised economic reforms is singularly short of details as to convince Malaysians that there is the political will to match words with deeds.
Even more serious, Najib’s unveiling of the New Economic Model has not been able to come out of the long shadow cast by the Perkasa inaugural congress spouting neo-NEP Malay communalism as it was attended by several Umno Deputy Ministers.
DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng asked yesterday why RM52 billion worth of shares of public-listed companies allocated for bumiputeras under the New Economic Policy were no longer in their hands.
Raja Petra Kamaruddin has estimated in his portal Malaysia-Today that the real cost of the New Economic Policy may be the colossal figure of RM500 billion, saying that this could be a low estimate.
Unless there is a political will to admit that the chief cause why Malaysia has become internationally uncompetitive, plagued by multiple problems such as brain drain, galloping corruption, falling FDIs and crisis of confidence in key national institutions as compared to neighbouring countries is the NEP – its abuses and in particular its perpetuation after 1990 – nobody believes that the Najib administration has the political will to craft and implement a New Economic Model fundamentally different from the NEP.
For instance, “Zero tolerance for corruption” is among the highlights of the measures in the New Economic Model announced by Najib to propel Malaysia to developed nation status by 2020.
There would be greater credibility in such a measure and in the New Economic Model if Malaysians can see greater seriousness in the fight against corruption in the first year of the Najib premiership but this is not the case.
In fact, Malaysia had never fallen as low as the present in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index annual ranking, where Malaysia is placed in the 56th placing last November – lowest ever in 15 years since 1995 when Malaysia was ranked No. 23.
In this context of worsening corruption, any talk of “zero tolerance for corruption” only highlights the utter lack of reality or seriousness of the New Economic Model.
For this reason, the biggest problem faced by Najib’s New Economic Model is the same faced by his 1Malaysia concept – whether he is prepared to walk the talk.
For a start, is Najib prepared to demonstrate seriousness in far-reaching reforms of national institutions starting with appointing new heads for the three key institutions in the country most in need of restoring national and international confidence – Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General and the Chief Justice?
#1 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 4:25 pm
Basically, Najib’s idea is pussy-foot around the NEP and try to get a few of things done. The issue is does that make sense?
Does it make sense when key institutions – police, judiciary, MACC, and the schools are all broken? Does it make sense if UMNO/BN system is kept feudal to keep it in power?
Its clear it does not make a lot of sense. And NOT making a lot of sense means absolutely nothing or even less for MOST of us. It may work for a few people and even some smart people but for everyone else, it means nothing or worst.
There is no pussy footing around the NEM – either do it or it won’t fly..
#2 by dagen on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 4:52 pm
Hey. Only 4000 out of 10000 invitees attended the inaugural perkasa general meeting. And only a few deputy ministers attended. So what scared. Perkasa is only an annoying little chi hua hua. Barking all the time. Cant you see that jib?
#3 by limkamput on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 5:10 pm
The PM should sack the deputy ministers who attended the Perkasa meeting. If they are so brave, they should have the balls to quit their government positions. Don’t they have any shame – their salary and perks have come from the contributions of all Malaysians, not just Malays or UMNO. Why talk so big when they are actually pariahs and beggars.
#4 by artemisios on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 5:30 pm
“zero tolerance for corruption”… well thanks for another nice one-liner that many will perceive as “another empty slogan”.
hey you know what?
I think after a few years the rakyat will AGAIN get tired and frustrated of the NEM, the nation’s riches continues to get sucked away by a small group of thugs (of course they will rename the theft of the nation’s billions as “protecting Malay rights”), the nation continues to lose out to the rest of Asia….
Voila! They’ll give us another slogan! Maybe something that sounds like
“Complete Corruption Crackdown” – CCC
“Total Elimination of Corruption”
“Zero Corruption Framework”
“Blueprint to Clean Governance”,
etc etc etc……….zzzz
oops, did i just gave those crooks ideas to extend the NEP (a.k.a. Givethosebillionstoumnoputrasorelse) for another 20 years?
#5 by k1980 on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 5:32 pm
Wake up and get real. Jib’s NEM is not to create high-income rakyat, but rather high-income perkosaputras, just as his 1malaysia is not to unite the people, but to unite his perkosaputras
#6 by Joker on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 5:41 pm
same content, different packaging
no target = no deadline for the policy
#7 by HJ Angus on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 6:03 pm
I agree with bigjoe:
We need a major rehab of the Judiciary and the PDRM even before we THINK of changing the economic policies. No one will want to invest when these 2 systems are broken.
#8 by PRU13 @ pollkad.com on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 6:08 pm
agreed with joker. short but right.
main concept – m’sia as an ATM machine remain. 1msia pollkad.
You make some deposits – I then withdraws them for good.
God bless.
#9 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 6:08 pm
///“It is encouraging that the government is moving along in the divestment process, but we were disappointed that there was no concrete timeframe for some of the reforms,” said Standard Chartered economist Alvin Liew.///
///Some political analysts doubt Najib, backed by an ailing coalition that has ruled Malaysia for 52 years, will be able to carry out his inclusive social policies at a time when the country has become polarised over race and religious issues.///
The above are comments on Najib’s New Economic Model. Najib has a big job to convince the economists, political analysts, diplomats, foreign investors and the rakyat that he has the capability and political will to bring the New Economic Model to pass.
#10 by Ramesh Laxman on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 6:38 pm
Y.B.Lim,
No more strength to comment. I leave my future and that of my children in the ruling class, your hands and GOD.
#11 by ktteokt on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 6:47 pm
Ever heard of the story about “The Goose which laid Golden Eggs”? This is a true to life example during the NEP period! These people, despite given such a goose, could not wait for the next egg to be laid. They had to slaughter the goose and take out the last egg!!!!
#12 by boh-liao on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 7:25 pm
Reinventing d wheel 2 legitimately siphon new money into pockets of Umnoputras
Anyway, where NR got time 2 generate wealth 4 d masses
Eager 2 hv a chit chat with CSL, president 2 president, heart 2 heart talk
Exchange murder n sexcapade details, so as not 2 b caught with d pants down again
#13 by Loh on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 8:07 pm
///There is a perception that the non Bumiputera have not benefitted from the progress made to date although facts and figures show otherwise./// –Najib
The above was from para 41 of Najib’s speech. The NEM says that the new affirmative program will be need based, and yet this statement about race creeps in. It is disappointing that Najib has still not realised that equality should be based on the process rather than the outcome. Najib has certainly not measured what sort of efforts put into staying alive by non-bumiputras compared to the beneficiaries of NEP. It is easy to say that some mistakes were made when there is no need to take responsibility for the errors. Hence the discriminatory policy of NEP which was to last for 20 years gets extended to 40. Are we to clap hands now that the assistance is concentrated among the lowest 40% income class? That should have been the criterion all those 40 years. Yet the race quota is not removed.
When the 30% equity served only as a bench mark to end NEP, the government now is talking about other measure of wealth as criteria. That statement means that the government will still play god, and the races are not equal. The race questions should have ceased 20 years ago. Now, the race is still the dividing factor. Should non-Malays feel happy just because Najib claims that NEM is less discriminatory?
#14 by pulau_sibu on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 8:09 pm
We don’t need Najiv and BN. Just hire APCO to run the country
#15 by kpt99 on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 8:39 pm
Malaysia losing talents and the education system has failed to deliver the required talents-NEAC reports.Who are the minsters in Ministry of Eduction for the past years ?.
#16 by monsterball on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 10:03 pm
No race and religion…. no divide to rule..no corruptions…UMNO BARU boleh mati.
So… no matter how much Najib talk or promise….they are all worthless…..useless promises and wayang kulit stuff.
#17 by HJ Angus on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 - 10:32 pm
Maybe LKS is giving too much importance to Perkasa.
After all the Selangor Sultan declined and top corporate CEOs were too busy.
The NEM document makes interesting reading and we should suggest how the goals can be achieved….
http://malaysiawatch4.blogspot.com/2010/03/malaysias-nem-good-enough-to-win-next.html
#18 by sheriff singh on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 1:08 am
New Easy Money.
#19 by chengho on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 3:38 am
NEP or NEM still we can find AliBaba , still we can control the commerce , control the economy .
Hindraf and now Perkasa all seasonal issue ,day by day its will dissappear .
#20 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 3:56 am
UmnoB n Perkasa – sama punya mould, both moldy n decaying
#21 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 4:13 am
Hulu Selangor buy election – yummy yummy time here again
Is this another golden opportunity 4 a potential toad 2 b erected as PR MP n then 2 jump ship 2 enjoy d fruits of NEM
Methinks many fr this blog want 2 b d candidate 2 hv a chance 2 earn RM25 million
Hee hee ha ha, hee hee hor hor
#22 by waterfrontcoolie on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 6:25 am
I used to wonder as to when would the Gomen do something without the need to amplify it too much? By creating all the pompous occasion, those bent on politicizing it will ride on it; just like the PERKASA group. The involvement of the Mamak and son is aiming towards the later’s bid from the Umno Youth post is quite obvious. KJ will be seen as ta’dak MARUAH in this perception. Instead of finding solution as leaders of the nation, they are bent on just grabbing what’s left on the table. If the Petronas’ discovery were to be true, then the stake will be much higher.
The only option for the people is the 13thGE!
#23 by Bigjoe on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 8:11 am
As details come out, its beginning to be clearer what are the possibilities of change. The first thing is the tender of big contracts. The issue is what is ‘big’? If the contracts affected are only those in the billions, it will change the games among the top corporates. Not many. But if ‘big’ means also those in tens of millions also, then it will be huge impact – because it goes to heart feeding the patronage system of UMNO/BN.
At most Najib will confine the tender change to those in many hundreds of millions. Anything smaller and it will create backlash too strong that he will not survive.
There will not be any change in police, judiciary, schools which means that the whole exercise means absolutely NOTHING to most of us. Its a start that Najib hope to spin like crazy to stay in power. What for? If change is necessary, lets change the govt. PR shown it can govern. What Najib is proposing is still not better than a PR govt. Its clear our vote has forced unwanted change on UMNO/BN. UMNO?BN has just stated that PR vision is the future we must have. Why chose the reluctant follower – Lets choose the original and get change quicker..
#24 by pulau_sibu on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 9:03 am
I think we should not deny the Jewish state. In this world, can you work with some one by excluding Jewish, just like excluding Chinese? While Pakatan does not exclude Chinese, it should accept Jewish.
The issue with Najiv should not be with Israel, but with Najiv hiring a company to draft the policy for his government. Why Malysia is afraid of Israel? I think Israel would be afraid of Malaysia, possibly leaking the information to the terrorists.
Malaysia is now managed by foreigners, a company called APCO, but not by Najiv.
#25 by k1980 on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 11:16 am
Why Malysia is afraid of Israel?
It is just trying to show the Arabs that it is more “holy” than the Arab “holy warriors” which are terrorizing the Jews
#26 by HJ Angus on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 11:55 am
The NEM will take months before we see the finer details but this is one thing that the government can do NOW if it is truly serious about helping the very poor Malaysians.
All FIRST-TIME buyers of property in Malaysia who buy a house costing less than RM120k will be given a 5% discount by the developers and the standard BUMI discount is discontinued.
If you have owned a property before, you do not qualify.
#27 by DCLXVI on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 12:28 pm
Ali Baba??
Just don’t forget about the forty (or many more) thieves who are waiting lay their grubby hands on a good part of the rakyat’s money for their personal wealth…
#28 by ekompute on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 1:24 pm
I just read the Metro papers today. It says: “Antara intipati Model Ekonomi Baru (MEB): Pendapatan per kapita rakyat Malaysia dijangka meningkat daripada RM23,2040 kepada RM49,800 menjelang 2020.”
More than double within 10 years? But it didn’t say whether it is real income per capita or nominal income per capita. But looking at UMNO’s performance, it is quite obvious which is which. Just let inflation run high and devalue the ringgit, and you can even get 10 times more than the projected RM49,800. The value of the ringgit is moving further and further away from the Singapore dollar towards its brother country, the rupiah.
#29 by cinaindiamelayubersatu on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 1:35 pm
jangan biarkan bunga berbagai warna yang indah melayu akibat api kebencian…
#30 by frankyapp on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 2:12 pm
#17 Hj Angus,yeap agreed but how to suggest to this bunch of greedy guys who hid away the creams (details) of the cake (NEM) from us (rakyat) ? Even CNBC news mentioned about NR was hiding pretty lots of details when he luanched the NEP. He refused to give further details when even being pressed by both local and foreign news reporters.This gave an impression that he (NR) is not sincere about the Umno/Bn’s NEM. Why is he afraid of the truth ? Now everyone in the world is sceptical of NR’s NEP. I think the truth of the matter is the CREAM in the NEM is still meant for the malays but will ended up in the hands of the Umnoputras and cronies once again.
#31 by Godfather on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 - 3:18 pm
They say one thing, and they do something else. This has been the modus operandi of UMNO for the past 30 years. Don’t worry, we will be transparent. Then they award contracts to their cronies or to their investment companies like MRCB and Realmild, with instructions to these companies to subcontract to smaller companies controlled by fellow cronies.
Ibrahim Katak is absolutely right. To go for open transparent tenders is to sound the death knell for UMNO.
#32 by johnnypok on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 3:11 pm
“Wang Malaysia” is a better slogan, and more appropriate, since we are all preoccupied with money, money and more money.
#33 by Callum on Thursday, 1 April 2010 - 8:41 pm
Ibrahim Ali is talking “Sh*t” again. What is he trying to do ? Behave like Pejuang ??? The same ol tactic to win Malays support over the past 50 years.
If Chinese and Indians are not classified as second class citizen, why are we not treated the same for receiving education for Chinese/Indian Schools the same as Malays?
#34 by johnnypok on Saturday, 3 April 2010 - 12:38 am
If IA is not happy he can get the hell out of Malaysia.
Malaya is only 1/3 of Malaysia
Sabah and Sarawak own 2/3 of Malaysia