60-Day Countdown to 13GE – When will Najib make a statement whether Malaysia can ever catch up with South Korea or at least begin to close the yawning chasm between the two countries?


On the occasion of Korean pop superstar Psy’s Gangnam Style performance at the Prime Minister’s CNY Open House in Penang tomorrow, will Datuk Seri Najib Razak make a statement whether Malaysia can ever catch up with South Korea or at least begin to close the yawning chasm between the two countries?

A Cabinet Minister said Psy’s appearance will make Penang world-famous but it is more important that Penang and Malaysia become world-famous because of our own achievements in all fields of human endeavour.

Sixteen years ago, when we proclaimed the Multimedia Super Corridor as “a gift to the world”, Malaysia and South Korea were on the same level embarking on the IT journey.

Today, MSC and Malaysia have faded away from the world radar screen as an international IT hot spot, while South Korea has powered ahead to become the first country in the world to become a broadband society as well as the land of fastest internet in the world – with an average internet speed in 2012 of 14.7 Mpbs, 650% higher than the average 2.2 Mpbs registered in Malaysia.

In fact, Malaysia is ranked among the world’s worst nations in internet speed – even slower than Thailand’s average internet speed of 2.9 Mpbs for 2012.

In good governance, Malaysia trails behind South Korea especially in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index in the past five years, where Malaysia is perceived as more corrupt, ranging No. 47 to 60 in world ranking in contrast to South Korea’s ranking from 39 to 45.

In the latest 2002 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters Without Borders), Malaysia hit a historic low in ranking at No. 145 while South Korea is ranked No. 50.

Recently, the 2011 Trends in Mathematics and Science Survey (TIMSS) highlights that Malaysia is the country which suffered the biggest drop in scores among all participating countries for both mathematics and science, while confirming the continuing pattern of domination by a group of Asian education systems – South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong – in these two critical subjects.

Malaysia woefully lags behind South Korea in educational excellence. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2012-2013, four South Korean Universities are listed among the World Top 200 Universities while six in the World Top 400 Universities – but not a single one from Malaysia.

Has Najib any answer to the question why Malaysia is lagging so far behind South Korea in all fields of human endeavour, when 56 years ago when Malaysia achieved Merdeka, South Korea was poorer and more backward but is now two or three times richer than Malaysia?

  1. #1 by yhsiew on Sunday, 10 February 2013 - 6:57 pm

    The lack of quality BN leadership is to blame for Malaysia’s continued falling behind countries which were less developed than us in the sixties.

  2. #2 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Sunday, 10 February 2013 - 7:40 pm

    Can’t imagine how small minds like Ng Yen Yen can do and say the right things!

    We had Mohd Ali and a string of big names that have visited Malaysia.
    Mohd Ali’s visit/fight in KL almost bankruptd Bank Rakyat, if I recall correctly.

    Psy would, I guess, bankrupt BN Penang, if they pay for it themselves. If some corporate entity pays for it, then who are they? Would they ask for some concessions or contracts later?

    Anyway, ex-polsec of Mahathir seeking to find relevance on new political topography shows both ignorance of Shakespeare’s Caesar with silly little analogies and strenuous attempts to make a small analysis. Abysmal! Frankly, this little know-all is getting a little too far of himself and his importance.

  3. #3 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 10 February 2013 - 7:42 pm

    I though Sdr. LKS would mention that Mahathir when from ‘gift to the world’ to now relook at internet censorship. Its classic Mahathir backtracking to worst than where he start which will be also THE FAITH OF THE NATION if we continue with his ideas.

    Mahathir also said that he did not understand power of the internet when he promised not to censor it. The truth what he DON’T UNDERSTAND IS the power of free-will, power of democracy and likely MANY MANY MORE THINGS such as a independent judicial system, an accountable law enforcement agencies, ills of corruption, mixing religion and politics, and many many more things…

  4. #4 by rjbeee on Sunday, 10 February 2013 - 8:44 pm

    Old Dog mamak kutty from kerala is peeing in his pants..suggesting to revoke citizenship of Ambiga.. First they should revoke his and put him inside ….Dog has made his money now talking big..maybe his end is near…..Asking to give Barisan mandate ..for what Bumi not enough……

  5. #5 by rjbeee on Sunday, 10 February 2013 - 8:46 pm

    Hope some one shuts the old dog fast…and ask to go and make his bread….semua mahu ..what about the other in this country

  6. #6 by sheriff singh on Sunday, 10 February 2013 - 9:16 pm

    Whilst other countries are making big progress, Najib just wants to ‘horse’ around. No wonder he cannot succeed.

    But really you should compare Malaysia with China.

    In the 1970s, China was the sick man of Asia, one of the poorest country around. Its citizens were so poor that they had to ask its Malaysian relatives to bring basic goods for them when they visit. Many Malaysians brought simple goods like household utensils, bicycles etc etc and bought foreign currency coupons when they visit. Man, they were really, really poor then. They only had US$ 2 BILLION reserves in 1977.

    Then came Deng Xiao Ping who brought China into the modern world such that by 2000, one generation, the country was a major power on all fronts.

    In 2002 China had foreign reserves of US$ 280 BILLION and just 10 years later in 2012, this had ballooned to US$ 3.2 TRILLION, or about a US$ 300 BILLION increase per annum.

    Today, China is the second largest economy in the world, barely 40 years on. It is investing everywhere even in Malaysia, and in Penang. It gives loans to the Malaysian government and companies. It is a modern country now, much better in many aspects than 1Malaysia.

    So you should make a comparison between Najib’s father’s time and now Najib the son’s time. And you will see the very, very stark difference. Malaysia now goes to beg from China.

  7. #7 by chengho on Sunday, 10 February 2013 - 11:33 pm

    south Korea not multi racial nation , diff way of doing things eh

  8. #8 by waterfrontcoolie on Sunday, 10 February 2013 - 11:51 pm

    ChengHo, as far as the application of financial resources to education is concerned, it is practical mono-racial and yet we have results that have kept the nation dropping from the radar of competition! Why don’t you pick nations that allow multiracial equitable and fair practices? Even our northern neighbour has left us on the wayside. If this nation with another couple of percentage of brain like yours, there is no doubt we will at the BOTTOM of the ASEAN Parade! To me, if the Majority of your type keeps listening to people like you, I am not really nor bothered, in fact life will be a lot easier for others and the rest of the world to compete!

  9. #9 by jus legitimum on Sunday, 10 February 2013 - 11:56 pm

    Only idiots and those still living ‘under the coconut shell’ do not know that bad governance during the past 56 years has put Malaysia very far behind many other countries now.One stark symbol of our backwardness is exemplified by our 60 years never change rail transport which is painfully slow,obsolete,inconvenient and inadequate.Wake up folks.

  10. #10 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Monday, 11 February 2013 - 4:54 am

    http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/proud-to-be-a-chinese-indonesian-woman-aimee-dawis/:

    Muhyiddin, probably of Indonesian-Malay stock, should read this:

    “When I presented my paper at the China-ASEAN symposium, mainland Chinese members of my audience were also perplexed when I told them that the connecting thread among the inspiring Chinese-Indonesian women in my book was that they all regarded themselves as Indonesian first and Chinese second.

    Women such as Mari Elka Pangestu, Indonesia’s tourism and creative economy minister, and Susi Susanti, arguably Indonesia’s finest female badminton player, firmly asserted this viewpoint during my interviews with them.”

    Shame on you, Muhyiddin for trying to be a racist in modern times.

  11. #11 by Loh on Monday, 11 February 2013 - 7:43 am

    Mahathir’s views as reported in Malaysian Insider
    [Dr M : Struggle for PM post dividing Malays empowering minorities UPDATED @ 05 14 23 PM 09-02-2013 By Zurairi AR February 09 2013 KUALA LUMPUR Feb 9 — ///–Malaysian Insider]

    ///Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today likened the Malay politicians in both Barisan Nasional BN and Pakatan Rakyat PR to “political beggars” saying their scramble to be prime minister has led them to plead for support from the country’s minority races.///– The author

    It would appear that only the person who was not Malay but pretended to be one was entitled to be Prime Minister to make his family billionaire many times over, and other Malays including that of Bugis descent are political beggars if they offer to serve the country. Politicians plead for support from the citizens for their policies. It is only a racist would think about asking of the support only from the race he is said to be identified with. It is the racist of the worst kind who had made the statement to the effect that the interest of person not identified with him should be ignored, and worse still the people from the minority groups, implying that they are weak numerically, should be bullied. Had this been said by an unknown human, he might be thought to be stupid; but as a person who had served as Prime Minister, he is worst than dictator. He shows that he has no sense of civility, fairness, righteousness, and decency of a human. There exists the Seditious Act which forbids Malaysians making hurtful remarks to incite racial hatred among Malaysians and yet this person openly calls for racial confrontation with impunity.

    ///The influential Umno veteran pointed out that while these minority groups become more politically powerful the Malays were becoming increasingly divided by fighting among themselves “The majority is split into three we’re fighting among ourselves ” the former prime minister said “Umno PAS PKR all have become beggars ” He likened the situation to the strife between the Islamic sects of Sunnis and Shiites in the Arabic world which has resulted in violence and killings .///–the author

    Nowhere else in the world do we hear politicians calling for the people to group together by race or religion to gain political power with the sole intention of denying the minority their legitimate right for fair treatment and assistance from the state except in Malaysia. It is most astonishing to the world that the person making such pleas comes from a former Prime Minister. It only shows he had practiced rule by law to suits his whim and fancies in a government which acted more like a gang of robbers.

    Dr Mahathir also compared the disunity to how the Malays were united when they were fighting against the British rule “Back then when we were fighting the British we had political strength The Malays were united under Umno “.The British became so afraid seeing Malays united that they had to drop the Malayan Union ”

    The British did not offer Independent until Tunku led a multiracial delegation to negotiate independence for Malaya.

    ///The former prime minister then insisted that he was not being racist but conceded that the Malays have yet to catch up in both economic and political fields I want to see if we re able to distribute our country s riches and powers fairly not that we want to grab others rights but we should get what is rightfully ours he told the crowd.///–the author

    There are many billionaires who claim that they are Malays. Mamakthir maybe right that true Malays have not caught up and those pseudoMalays who masquerade as Malays have succeeded in economic fields. Indeed when a few tens of Malays who are billionaires many times over, such as Mamakthir’s son owning San Miguel brewery in the Philippines said to be worth 29 billion ringgit, other Malays really need to catch up with them. Malaysia has been practicing two-systems by race in social economic spheres since 1957 for Malays to catch up. 56 years later, only a few tens of so-called Malays jumped so high that other Malays have real problem catching up. Sadly, most of the highly successful NEWMalays are Mamaks rather than P. Ramlee type of Malays.

    If Mamakthir had not changed the world-wide practice of government procurement through public tender to his negotiated contracts, his family members and cronies would not be so rich and other Malays so poor. Maybe there were insufficient Malays who can be said to be poor that he had to engineer the citizenship-for-vote scheme in Sabah. The NewMalay immigrants not only helped Mamakthir stole the election, they also make up the number of bumiputras who need help. That too forms the basis when Mamakthir talks about Malays having to catch up in economic field. Which Malays?

    ///Dr Mahathir repeated his calls for Malaysians to give BN a new mandate by handing a two-thirds majority to the ruling coalition in the next elections to ensure a strong government He had earlier suggested that if any citizen wishes to revoke the citizenship of any dissident parties in Malaysia they can only do so by amending the constitution. However the constitution can only be amended when two-thirds or more of the Parliament agree to the changes. If you want to amend the constitution then you need two-thirds majority.///–the author

    The above shows clearly that Mamakthir believes only in parliamentary dictatorship. He needs two-third majority to silence any support and voices calling for true democracy to be practiced in the country. With that Mamakthir will have his son installed as Ayatollah PM in the country.

    ///Furthermore without the majority we would have a weak government which will be pushed over by the opposition leading to inappropriate decisions he told reporters.///–Mamakthir

    Najib has belatedly projected an image that he cared about the living conditions of non-Malays and that must be the inappropriate decision resulting from weak government. Mamakthir wants Najib to be as discriminatory against non-Malays as he has been. Mamakthir said that Najib would lose his position if the election results for UMNO were not better than previously. Mamakthir is calling for UMNO members to put pressure on Najib to revert to UMNO racist stand which would make sure that Indians and Chinese would not support BN, and thus BN would have a reduced majority so that his son will smell the DPM position.

    ///Last month Dr Mahathir warned Malaysians against voting for change arguing that it will result in a weak government that will hinder economic progress He also claimed that the current government headed by Datuk Seri Najib Razak was considered weaker than previous ones.///–the Author

    If the “previous one” refers to Abdullah AB who was considered useless and deserving to be replaced, then Najib being worse than AAB is due to be sacked even before he called for election. That is calling UMNO members to revolt. Najib knows now how AAB truly felt in the days when he decided not to defend his Presidency. AAB is at least a human. Why did Najib accept Mamakthir back to UMNO?
    /// A weak government will in turn have to resort to meeting demands and delivering handouts in order to satisfy all parties he said When you see a government that is weak that has only a small majority then all sorts of criticism and demands will be made against them.[he said ] If there is a strong government with a two-thirds majority the government can expect full support from the parliament and from the people as well.///–Mamakthir
    Mamakthir claims as always that silence is consent; whether that silence is forced onto the person does not matter. When there is two-third majority in parliament the dictator can be as corrupt as what we have seen. The people who are too scared of rule by law could only wish that the dictator would die sooner, and continue wishing the former dictator would die soon so that the country can recover sooner.

  12. #12 by Ray9393 on Monday, 11 February 2013 - 8:01 am

    Yesterday met some friends who are now Singaporean. Was told that new graduate are pay S$2,500 upwards with cream even S$8,000.00 and food are not expensive with S$3.00 per meal possible. Over in Malaysia, new graduate if lucky employed with RM1,800.00 or go on internship for 6 months for those unemployed. Obviously rotting and if we don’t change fast, we fail as Malaysian, who truly love Malaysia.

  13. #13 by waterfrontcoolie on Monday, 11 February 2013 - 8:31 am

    Umno and the other components are bent on destroying the future of this nation by purposely applying the current policy of divide and rule. Using NEP, they created a comfort zone for the Malays, by lowering the education standard for them while deliberately keep out the Non-Malays from really participating in the process so that A’s can be freely graded to the Malays to ‘shiok sendiri’ while they find themselves unable to compete in the market place. So they are given jobs in a bloated civic service upon whom they can even frighten to vote for them! Over the past 30 years, we all witness Malaysia’s advantage and competitive being eroded while the PM alone controls the revenues from Petronas and divide its resources among it cronies and ex=PMs’ families! If there are still Malaysians, especially those who can read, still believe in the propaganda by the OFFICIAL Printed Toilet Papers, then they will be held accountable by their children and their children’s children. We have to tell those rational BN leaders that they owe it to the nation to renew their agenda FOR THE NATION AND NOT FOR THEMSELVES! We will give them 5 years to renew their plan, i.e. if PR fails to deliver as ALL Malaysians expected.

  14. #14 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Monday, 11 February 2013 - 9:24 am

    Richard Lovelace’s famous lines:

    “Stone walls do not a prison make
    Nor iron bars a cage. ”

    Mahathir, Najib and Muhyiddin should give their assurances individually that there will be a peaceful transiton of power after GE-13.

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