I welcome the news that the government is forming an Economic Strategies Council to deal with the problems faced by the country. This is indirectly acknowledging that the economy is stagnant and facing lots of problems. Even though the government has been telling people that the county is having good growth at around 6% , most people in the streets already know that economy is not doing well for the past few years.
The state of the economy directly affects the people.. Whether the people can find jobs, can get good salaries, can be a good provider for the family, can get good bonuses all depend on the health of the economy. As such, as I have repeatedly stressed, we need to put all our brains together to find a way out of this doldrums . We need our brightest and best to tackle the woes. We cannot just depend on the civil servants which at the present moment is mainly from one racial group, limiting the pools of talents that we could have drawn from. The same unhealthy situation exists in the universities and academia. While we are waiting for the government to open up the civil service and the academia to all Malaysians irrespective of race and creed (hopefully this will come before we all go to the next world), we have to adopt a short term solution of getting the best brains together to tackle the economic woes. So it is apt that an Economic council be formed .
As I have mentioned, this council must have the best and the brightest in it. It must do away with the unwritten rule that only people from certain race can be appointed to head sub committess and even the council proper itself. It must set an example for the future.
The members of this council must be drawn from Businessmen, bankers, economists, academicians, civil servants, entrepreneurs, business chambers representatives, NGOs including consumer groups, the professions and finally politicians. To prevent the Council being messed up, politicians must be limited to as few as possible and should be drawn from both sides of the divide.
It must do away with partisan politics and instead concentrate on how to revive the economy and tackle the problems of inflations… not by just merely raising petrol pump prices and giving meagre cash rebate like the last round..
It must not only tackle short term economic woes but must also formulate a long term economic policy that is based on merits, fair distribution and equal opportunities for all. It must o away with the NEP, and instead formulate a economic policy with affirmative action only to the needy, regardless of ethnic origin. The people must be made to understand that the skewed NEP has not only divided the country but it has not successful in providing the necessary fighting skill to do business in this era of globalisation. It has given out clutches, but as long as the people do not do away with the clutches, they will not be able to survive economically in the global era. The people must be taught to stand and walk without clutches, without help, and only then they will be properly equipped to deal with the rapidly changing world.
Lastly, I hope that this is not going to be like so many other announcements that were made but we are still waiting.. The IPCMC is more than 4 yrs in waiting. The there are the MCAC, the Judicial Commission etc…
Dr. Hsu's forum 
Jul 23, 2008 @ 14:31:34
good move. let’s focus our energy into whipping the government to follow through with this plan and do it well, instead of getting ourselves embroiled into the dirty politicking. let’s all call for some boring and dull governance, Prof Farish was right on point here. I sincerely wish the JAC will materialize, with the power transition plan in place hopefully there’ll be less of that inner resistance.
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Jul 23, 2008 @ 15:20:45
Do we sit back and think for one moment..what makes the government response so fast and so much changes for the good…to all Malaysians?
It’s Anwar and People’s Party…they are afraid off.
Yet..time and time again..a leopard will not change it’s spots.
UMNO and PAS talking about Malays future..not Malaysian future….and just go read Toyo speech…101% ultra malay…yet go to talk about Indian temples ……before elections.like a Malaysian.
Gad no one believe in him..and voted him out.
This good for nothing low class dentist…..will have his coming..sooner or later.
Usually such a man…will behave cool and like a good dog for UMNO…as he knows…hi days are numbered and feel happy…that day have not yet come.
He cheated so much…and somehow feel blessed….like Mahathir…no harm done……..but this real…corrupted hypocrite…..with low IQ…does not know…..he is a nobody.
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Jul 23, 2008 @ 15:39:32
WOW!! I f..k Gerakan at Justin Choo’s blog….and Romerz..also gave his piece of mind…f..ing. Gerakan!!!
For once we are 100% agreeable….but in a sinful blog….showing naked female bodies.
I think…it is time….Doc…also talk about the birds and the bees….of yesterdays compared to today.
If one see an old movie..with actress dressed up decently….she is actually more sexy….than one trying to reveal as mush a she ca.and call that sexy.
I have a strange feeling..romerz….is a lover of life….and Doc is a lover of all things free in life.
Tha’ts totally different.
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Jul 23, 2008 @ 17:49:15
Agreed, economic is the most pressing issue now. But, what is the point of setting up such council if its effectiveness is in doubt. I never have faith on such councils in the first place. Look back at history, you will find that most of the projects created by such councils ended up with companies related with council member. So, its just another channel to enlarge the leakages. Pessimistic or not, i have come to this conclusion by looking back at history.
We have seen enough how the country’s resources been raped and stolen by councils such as Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi formed subsequent to financial crisis 1997. The game is just a matter of switching the form of authority from decentralised to centralised. Secondly, look at so many economic councils formed in the past, more than half nof the members are from the cabinet itself. If the cabinet members are so capable, what is the point of setting up a new councils. Why not just set up a advisory tank tank for long term. Thirdly, who will sit on the council. Are they qualified and have real capability, not by virtue of their present position but rather based on logical and creative abilities. Thereafter, how about implementation? Who is tasked to do it and monitoring it? Our half past six government simply does not fit in well.
We have not even found out real strength and work on it. Just look at MSC, Agriculture policy, Automotive policy etc. Don’t u think we are just like blind man search for light in the dark. They are a lot of ideas out there to be tapped on, but our government are blinded by …….??? to find out. Hence, we are where we are.
Anyway, lets hope this new economic council will be different from the previous one.
Doc, you may find the answers of a lot of issues when finish reading the book “Why Worry”. Seek from within but not outside.
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Jul 24, 2008 @ 09:08:41
seemed everybody so exicited n hopeful about this economic body..like another neac set up just for show..( we are working on it..u see..u see..working and seemed to be working are the same..) open 1 hour a day t v live..let there be debates . forums.u questions session..go back to the people// francis yeoh the only malaysian christian could be the right man to lead? heard he has set up 100000 strong christians cell praying around the country..any ideas where they meet? ops ? off tangent here !
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Jul 24, 2008 @ 10:54:14
I wonder whether we need Francis Yeoh and his belief. He can announce his conviction on his belief in all his public interviews which he is so fond of, but not all share his sentiment …..?????
On a more related matter; setting up this and that is easy. Now the problem : who will be the experts? How much autonomy is given? Will the recommendations be accepted, let alone implemented?
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Jul 24, 2008 @ 11:04:46
Out of point accepted.
Trengganu UMNO politicians are saying….go to hell with UMNO leaders in K.L….quite rightly so.
First time…UMNO small fries are telling those in K.L…they can sit helicopters…yacth….big new plane….most expensive Merz..traveling around Malaysia…and those poor guys…have to travel to K.L with low class Proton cars? Double standards are practiced within UMNO.
What more….to all MALAYSIANS?
They are waiting ti be sacked and join Anwar…but you bet….. PM and Najib will forgive and forget…and all those other hypocrites..quiet….like nothing happened.
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Jul 24, 2008 @ 15:31:08
Each time they face a problem they create a council or body to look into it. So far do we see the setting going in the right direction.
Quote:
Lastly, I hope that this is going to be like so many other announcements that were made but we are still waiting.. The IPCMC is more than 4 yrs in waiting. The there are the MCAC, the Judicial Commission etc…
We all are used to it and this council will probably go this way as well or a substantial fund which will be provided for this council ended up in somebody pockets.
Blood-Suckers
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Jul 24, 2008 @ 16:11:06
I mentioned before that Malaysia needs ‘brains’ to be a developed nation, there are no other way to be a progressive country.
Of course, we need brains to be member of this council to tackle the economic problems that we are facing now but the ‘brain’ that ultimately have in this council will not be the ‘best’ (it is still better than ‘lesser’ brains) since many ‘best brains’ already drained out to other countries like Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, USA and so on.
Especially in Singapore, many of the best brains were from Malaysia, and some of them are MPs, Ministers, Government Officers, Chief Justice, Corporate Leaders and so on, you named it, you got it, previously from Malaysia.
So, would you expect that these lost brains still have Malaysia in their hearts when advising their adopted countries in tackling economic problems in their adopted countries? Very likely, they will not as any decision to tackle economic problems is like ‘two edge’ sword. It brings good to one side and not the other.
Example like good economy management will bring strength to a country’s currency. So these ex-Malaysians will contribute to strengthening, say, SGD and will thus increase their net worth in term of RM. So, they will be very to spend their holidays once a year in Malaysia, visiting their old folks and relatives. But, this in turn will result in their adopted countries’ exports less attractive.
Malaysia is indeed need to go back to the very basic of improving its Education, Judiciary, Administration and so on. There is no other way but to base on MERITOCRACY.
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Jul 24, 2008 @ 16:33:15
I read below in Malaysiakini by a Malay named as ‘A Malaysian’. From here, we know Malaysia still have hope, don’t give up…His comment somehow proved that I am ‘quite right’ in my view so far. Hope I am not ‘incorrect’ here.
A Malaysian: I am a Malay professional in my 40s who is sick and tired of all this racist rhetoric so typical of Umno people.
As one who grew up in the 80s, who is a product of the boarding school system, and who is a former JPA scholar, I’ve had my share of BTN camps and Umno-style brainwashing, and once knew by heart the lyrics of that Malay racist anthem ‘Warisan’.
In my youth, I subscribed to the Malay supremacy idea touted by Umno, but having grown up and with the ability to think for myself, I now find it truly abhorrent and counterproductive to nation building.
Unfortunately, my family in the kampung still believes in this, as their sentiments are constantly fanned by local and national Umno leaders.
So please, Khir Toyo and like-minded Umno people, can you please grow up, be more responsible and stop this nonsense now before you bring the country down with you?
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Jul 24, 2008 @ 16:43:42
We still have many non political economists….advocates and solicitors…even man from the streets….all intelligent Malaysians…..advising government……with proven facts and figures…where the government have gone wrong……especially on the so call…Bumiputras status…..exceeding the 30%……and see what happen?
Deny and deny….putting that man in shame….who had to resigned from his job….yet right now…not one UMNO man…feel guilty nor regret.
And Najib is still saying….Bumiputras need alot of help..to reach 30%.
This is one of the ways…to keep getting malay votes…besides race and religion politics.
What else UMNO have?
You see…True Malaysian….that needs real smart brainy people to cook up….so many false reports and false accusations….and conning was at the highest…since Mahathir took over…..and it’s on going.
That’s the smartest man in Malaysia…….able to con the whole country…for 22 years.
Or is it…Malaysians are smarter….tolerate a..until the right time?
So….what is smartness?
It is…do we have a government..for a united country….or want to… divide… to rule?
Enough of those UMNO.. MCA…MIC.
Making life simple..is smartness.
Managing the country with commonsense…..is smartness.
No…we have abundance of them…still in Malaysia.
It is the UMNO who wants idiots to head all Depts…..priority…..100% loyal top UMNO….or else.
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Jul 24, 2008 @ 16:51:31
Don’t worry Monsterball, we can see light at the end of tunnel form this chap named himself as ‘A Malaysian’.
If I have a way, I will encourage him to join us in this Dr. Hsu’s Forum, then maybe he will named himself as ‘ A true Malaysian’ instead of just ‘A Malaysian’.
Your smartest man in Malaysia…for 22 year is to me, not actually so, but a ‘Devil Incarnate’ to many.
You should encourage more Malay friends join in, Monsterball. I trust you are good in this. Am I correct ?
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Jul 24, 2008 @ 17:13:43
Where are we heading? What is our focus? Bread and butter issues among the man in the street. Our government at the central need to put up a visionary ideas taht can be implement and not good in paper only. As I have give my opinions, we need to create jobs for the younger generation without prejudice, bias, race or creed, more allocation for human capital development, encourage internal spending, curb excess profitering among business people, issue more grant for SME industries and continue with Green Book project in the rural area.
As long as someone who is capable, dynamic and inovative, our country will head toward a more prosperous, harmonious and united. We need a clear mind and teamwork no matter without any partisan bias.
It is the right time to include not only academician but also man in the street to gather more information to move our country economy. At time there seem to be inconsistency in our economic implementation. Go back to the basic and be realistic in our economic development.
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Jul 24, 2008 @ 18:45:50
True Malaysian…Since I started blogging ….few years ago…I have met so many new friends……and if I had a hand to convinced them to vote for keDAILan….PAS or DAP….I am contended.
That’s being useful in my own small way.
And if romerz can be convinced to spend his time….being useful……..and not trying so hard to save Gerakan…..then the forces of People’s Party is getting more and more powerful.
But I give up pohwatchdog…as he is a real idiot….trying to be too smart……plus I suspect…his brainwaves are controlled totally by the Lunar(moon}….making him a 100% lunatic……if he does not wake up and ask for help.
Puppy On Heat= POH…real gatal and I suspect is a female.
Watchdog= not muslim….most probably a 18 year old student…do not even own a computer.
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Jul 25, 2008 @ 00:30:44
true Malaysian: The “broom ” giver is a man from Jawa, Indonesia. Why should him have Malaysia’s interest in his grand plan? Just like this sly fox “abu bakar”,an indonesian who export his “jihad” all over Malaysia for personal pleasure.
You probably know that many of these scums are residing in our country with legal documents provided by umnoputra, based on same language n religion.
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Jul 25, 2008 @ 05:42:31
That sickening ex MB of Selangor have a face..that no one can trust….but a real racialist…through and through.
And this is the type…UMNO love to have. That’s why he was an MB…..and decorated with the usual title.
Just read papers and you will note this title….that title…all UMNO politicians…and Malaysians on the street talking…no titles.
I am sure foreigners will first laugh at these jokers..self decorated…with faces like Toyo…and his weird hair style…really look like a monkey.
Go recall how he talked to the Indians ..before election….and his recent remarks….showing so clear he is 100%….a Malay racialist.
Had he spoken like that way..before election……more votes would have gone to Anwar..
But then..UMNO guys are good at low class acting….and finally reveal their true self…….one by one.
Now they are revealing….how cruel and cunning they can be..to hurt Malaysia and Malaysians.
We all need to be strong and alert…and brave.
Hope Doc and True Malaysian can see the real situations and know….it is WAR against UMNO and BN..no joke!!
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Jul 25, 2008 @ 06:31:16
A true Malaysian….I keep reading your 24th 4.51pm message to me.
Are you trying to be too smart and sarcastic to me?
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Jul 25, 2008 @ 10:25:56
Weird hair style and look like a “monkey’, but he is MB ….so what you saying is there is no human being in Malaysia suitable to be head of selangor state? hahaha…. you are quite right , that dude seem like a sicko or child molester in my opinion.
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Jul 26, 2008 @ 07:01:39
PKR, DAP or PAS? Do we believe PAS “welfare state”, PKR ” New Economic Agenda” or DAP “Malaysia Malaysian”? What are we heading actually? The rakyat is fed up with this type of politicking. Maybe monsterball feel the bite from the “watch” dog and watching what antics he is trying to convince. Ha….ha…ha
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Jul 26, 2008 @ 08:03:57
I am enjoying the dog dreaming….biting monsterball.
As long as he can laugh…..his chance to live happily as a nut is good.
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Jul 27, 2008 @ 15:31:38
I mean the dog la….myself……..but sometimes…I also enjoy like doggy….different style..different strokes…but all sincere and no pro this or that….simply for or against…..so simple…clear as crystal….hahahahahahahaha
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Jul 27, 2008 @ 17:42:58
Is there strategic thinking in Malaysia ?
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Aug 02, 2008 @ 17:24:20
The Chinese says, “An infertile female pig whenever and wherever she shifts (her den) remains infertile.”
What happens to the corridors? Complete silence….
Whatever this impotent BN government does, it remains impotent…..and the bottom line remains….the elites benefit….not the majority middle and low income bracket or the very poor.
It’s time for drastic changes….next elections.
monk
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