I read with incredulity the recent 2011 budget announcement made by PM Najib Razak. So much money will be allocated to several mega projects e.g. 100 storey tower, new LRT lines, 1Malaysia Malls in Vietnam and China (how is this project going to create jobs for Malaysians?) and several others.
Yesterday, he announced several key projects at the PWTC. I got several calls from reporters/journalists asking my take on his announcement. The sheer amount mentioned is mouth watering but can Malaysia really become a high income nation and a competitive economy is something the government has yet to convince us.
The projects are:
* Germany’s LFoundry will invest a total of RM1.9bil to set up five wafer fabrication plants in Kulim Hi-Tech, Kedah. The initial investment is RM214mil.
* St Regis will build a six-star hotel and residence worth RM1.2bil in KL Sentral. The 208-room hotel and 160-unit residence will be built on a 0.88ha plot.
* Mydin is investing RM1bil to open 14 new branches and assisting the Government in its sundry shop transformation programme.
* Schlumberger has invested RM300mil to establish a new Global Financial Hub and shared services in Bandar Utama, Selangor. This is part of the Greater KL New Key Economic Area to attract 100 multinational corporations to relocate to Kuala Lumpur by 2020.
* Premium Renewable Energy will set up a RM124mil bio-oil plant in Lahad Datu, Sabah. It is also investing in 29 bio-oil plants by 2020 as part of the Palm Oil NKEA to commercialise second-generation biofuel using oil palm biomass.
* Mubadala of Abu Dhabi is investing in the RM26bil KL International Financial District on a 34-ha plot near Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur.
* Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd had awarded a 25-year concession to WCT Bhd to build a RM486mil integrated complex at KLIA 2, the upcoming low-cost carrier terminal in Sepang.
* Asia e-University has been picked as the gateway university for international education in distance and on-line learning. It is expected to generate gross national income of RM100mil.
* Genting is investing RM150mil to build Johor Premium Outlets in Genting Indahpura.
Most of these projects are construction/property development related. It is sad that the Malaysian government is still having the build-and-attract mindset. It hopes to build mega industrial zones, regional development zones and mega towers and try to attract multinational companies to relocate to Malaysia.
It is not the question of space availability. It is all about the availability of skilled workers, a proactive government policy which supports the growth of private sector, liberalisation, good education system, credible judiciary, low corruption, efficiency, productivity, good transportation system and other KPIs. KPI minister Idris Jala should be well versed in these KPIs.
The government keeps spending and building as though we have had all these elements in our closet and we are ready to draw them out when asked by potential investors.
Any relevant government cannot continue to endorse and spend multibillion dollars without correcting the processes, systemic failure, wastage and weaknesses of past projects. Do we need to remind this government about the monster of all failures, the PKFZ? The government must be accountable for the lack of success of Cyberjaya and Putrajaya. The new federal territory remains a ghost town at night.
Why rush into building new lines of LRT system when there is no comprehensive blueprint on public transport system? Did the government conduct any study to correct the current weaknesses and identify the best ways to satisfy the public transportation requirements and needs? The current LRT systems do not even connect! It is a shame to travel to cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Paris, New York and others to find out how inefficient and ridiculous our LRT systems are. Where in the world an LRT station needs a huge carpark to accommodate for private cars? It is because we do not have a proper feeder bus system. We do not even have a proper public bus system!
The same problem - of malaise, mediocrity and inefficiency - is repeated in all sectors e.g. education, healthcare, civil service etc.
This government must be building castle in the air if they think we can be fooled that Malaysia is ready to become a fully developed nation by 2020. Again, which government of the day would spend RM1 billion to build a new palace for the royalty? The government could easily provide 10,000 new homes for Malaysians. It is ridiculous for the government to suggest a two-generation loan or 70 years loan period to buy new homes.
This is classic Malaysian mentality. What we cannot solve we avoid or find another short cut.
What is Economic Transformation Plan if the government speaks nothing about socio-economic reforms to empower Malaysians especially the Malays and indigenous people? There is only a 'commitment' to open tender by the PM and his KPI Minister contradicted him by saying that negotiated contracts can be good. So now, is the government really serious about reforms? Transparency, accountability and good governance are important criteria to attract more investors to Malaysia not new buildings or new industrial zones.
No wonder is certain towns in Johor many SME industrial zones have turned into swiftlet farms due to lack of industrial activities. Maybe the 100 storey Warisan Merdeka could become the biggest swiftlet farm in the world - a new Malaysia Boleh record!
Back to the opposition, their response is equally disappointing. Apart from raining criticism on Barisan Nasional initiatives and budget plan, did the opposition come out with their own alternative plans and budget? Nothing. It shows that there is a lack of thinking activity in the newly minted coalition.
Pakatan is still hoping to coat tail on Umno/Barisan failure and weaknesses to win the government. Most Pakatan controlled states are still working on ad-hoc basis. There is no real coalition framework for parties to work together to contribute to state development. Worse, it is not yet know how these parties are going to work together at the federal level. What is the shadow cabinet doing? Or is it doing nothing since it was formed nearly 6 months ago?
Malaysia is clearly in a dilemma. I do sympathize with those who are choosing to migrate rather than hoping for this country to change. It may or may not happen in our life time.
18 comments:
Khoo
i think its quite clear that it will not change in your lifetime and maybe not your children's lifetime.
This country those who stay will just ignore the system and let it rot or corrupt like everyone else.
Many choose to leave despite the the chances of pakatan forming government is good. Even then more uncertainty will arise
Malaysian's i am sorry to say doesnt have the will of change.
They just sunk in it
Accountability. It should be the key word. When the government of the day has no accountability, or does not feel the need to account for their actions, then it will start to cook up all those ridiculous and non-feasible projects. This is much like a cheating man who tries to bed his lady by promising her the world, and without having to bear the consequences, hence no need to account for his actions!
It is evident from the rhetorics that the Chinese and Indians are unwanted here. It is more obvious when the DPM announced HIstory subject is mandatory to pass in the SPM examination. The current History is so distorted and expect more distortion of facts. Grave threat was also delivered during the recent UMNO AGM by one who is suppose to protect the citizens. This threat is not surprsing because Mahatir endorses dictatorship in his recent speech.
This government never had been prudent after 1980s. It is MEGA Wastage of public funds. The inconvenient truth is the majority race never seemed to question this wastage and they indirectly encourage corruption, inefficiency, laze and all unproductive features.
I think you miss the account statements of Pakatan state governments. You can start by asking Kelantan's.
Of course you won't find them in the MSM that only publishes news like 'itu haram ini haram', 'DAP menindas Melayu', the Chinese needs 70% non-bumi housing quota in Kedah etc.
Mega projects are back! Dr.M's cure-all medicine to cover BN's defects and deficiences.Make the pie bigger by magic and everyone gets a larger slice. Actually the rakyat are the ones suffering while crony contractors grinning from ear to ear.
Like what Sdr.Khalid Samad asked ,how can a 100 storey tower create a high income earning nation? If it does we should have already achieved this status years ago with the building of KL Tower,Dayabumi,Maybank HQ and KLCC.
The fact is we still have not improve our earning capacity.
To BN, it's all about the hardware (intrastructures) and nothing about software (human capital).Splash a few billions here and there and M'sia achieved Vision 2020 like magic. M'sia is cursed with weak leadership. Wait for the oil wells to dry up then we see how those goons cope.Hopefully before this happens the people (especially the rural folks) wise up and remove BN.
If not many more will flee the nation for greener pastures.
You may say what you like but I would prefer to give Pakatan a chance at Putrajaya.
BN has failed us miserably. It spends as though money grow on trees.
The Judiciary is in shambles. The police is completely lawless. The MACC is itself corrupted.
The civil service is lazy and inefficient. Just look at the AG's Report.
Only the wise will leave this country for good. Only the poor like us remain. But let our children go elsehere.
If you look at our per capita income, it is only about RM22k+, but if you look at the 2011 budget emoluments it was a whopping RM45.6bil and with 1.1mil civil servants, this translate to RM42k p.a. average, so this how Najib is going to turn Malaysia into high income nation by enriching themselves to pull the stats up.
Also there have been studies by few professors that for Malaysia to become a high income nation would be very difficult because, Malaysia is locked with those FDIs of low level industrial/technology.
Look at Cyberjaya, very good idea to attract those high level industrial/technology but the problem is that Malaysia is not capable to produce sufficient skilled workforce to attract them.
Why? Look at how UMNO run M'sia and with the current unfair quota for University admission, you can bet what kind of quality workforce to be produced by our local University.
How to compete with our neighbouring countries?
So these professors already predicted that if Malaysia do not change this underlying factors, we will not be a developed nation in 2030 so don't talk about 2020.
Again back to the enriching themselves, you bet that they are siphoning all the money and place them elsewhere outside Malaysia and when Malaysia is declared bankrupt just like Iceland, Greece & etc, these bunch of UMNO will just leave the countries and left us to rot as poor dying rats... So this of the ETP is going help us or just the UMNOs???!!!
Truth be told - ALL the mega projects will employ cheapest foreigners,cheapest China-made cement/materials but expensive expats consultants: how do we Malaysians benefit much ah? The best Malaysian to benefit most is probably the road side mamak stall put up to sell roti canai and tehtarik to these thousands workers at all mega sites.
Warisam Merdeka may become the biggest swiftlet farm in the world-this may be true if you will know that there is this swiftlet farm in Segamat(Johore) that was housed in the tallest building(I think it is 25 storey high)of the town. Initially this building was supposed to be for offices but do not know how it ended as a swiftlet farm house.
Khoo,
Can I ask u a rhetoric question because Im not so genius and intelect like u.. let say u were married..and somehow u have this perfect picture of your wife..beautiful, brilliant, funny etc..but in the real world..as long your wife faithfull to you, love u till the end of her life althou she is not Angeline Jolie like.. I be more thankful...u have this big picture of your becoming a new Eisten or something.. but the fact he is just ordinary boy, hardworking, friendly and work ordinary job with only RM3K permonth,,I will be more thankful to God!! As long they are not unfaithfull to you, robbing other people money, slander other people, stealing etc.. than I think this world will be much better eventhou not that perfect.. liken this to PAKATAN and BN..and I disagree with u..u finally have a choice finally after 53 years of independent!!
1-Billions and more billions are being spent. Where do we get the money? more loans etc and borrowings which makes us even worthof!
2-What we can do now is to vote BN out in GE13, make PR the new gov. Lets see how the run, if they too are bad then 5 years is enough for them. Otherwise we can choose back BN
What is 5 years vs 53 terrible ones?
for once, we dont need to shout out about achieving Vision 2020 etc when the poor are still aplenty in this country..
Khoo,
If no mega projects, how to keep the large civil service occupied? How to get the necessary $$$$ to line the pockets??? This is more important than becoming a develop country in 2020.By the way, Najib should learn from MB Malacca on how to be a developed state!!!!
Agree with Anon 11.09pm.
For more than half a century BN had led our country down the slippery path of a failed state. Now we are at the fork in the road.
As Robert Frost said:-
"Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Malaysians who love their country should not leave, but stay to be the agent of change. And change, we must for the better. The country has come to a critical juncture to determine its future. A wrong move by the voters will alter the history of the nation forever. All voters and potential voters must stand up for their rights to a government they deserve.
We must honestly ask ourselves whether we want the present BN or the potential Pakatan. The Acedemics have projected a good competition between the political divide. A two-party system could be ushered in during the GE13.
Ignore the threats , warnings, and impending mega-projects promised by BN, but vote for the best side that really carry out a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Lubang lubang everywhere !
Lubang on the roads are not repaired !
Those needed to be filled are not filled up !
But lubang elsewhere are made good !
Those need not to be filled are all full up !
Hey mind you all...........
ALL ministers were saying that it is people-centric budget!!
They forgot to add "A FEW" in front of 'people-centric budget'.
Khoo you seriously think this country can be saved ?
Many who left thinks it is beyond repair
mechanic
Post a Comment