Murray Hunter, Lim Teck Ghee and Carolyn Khor
The first is the
disclosure by PMX of our education. According to Anwar, “If we look at the bare
facts, some of these are concerning. Let us refer to the latest Pisa report,
which is a compelling case (of the country's) level of success.
"Out of 81
countries selected in the analysis, we are number 51 particularly in Science,
Mathematics and English language. Even among seven Asean countries,we are the
worst of all."
The second is by
the World Bank which, in its most recent report, stated what has been evident
but which the politically correct institution for the longest time ever has
refrained from emphasising in its reports during the previous decades.
"Malaysia
is another country which has underachieved. It has tremendous potential and
should not be satisfied with the growth rate we are seeing.
"It is a
country which has continued to restrict competition especially in the services
sector.
"Its
skilled people choose to leave and work in Singapore. Malaysia's challenge is
to generate that virtual cycle between creating human capacity and encouraging
new opportunities for Malaysians within Malaysia".
The policy
malaise and failures of politicians and the policy makers and implementers in
the civil service are much worse than that officially acknowledged.
For half a
century now, Malaysia has experienced the stutifying effects of the NEP and its
successor policy frameworks. West
Malaysian-dominated political elites and policymakers have attempted to appease
racial and crony interests by designing and implementing a raft of policies
that have brought some economic growth.
This has been at
great cost to the nation’s development, its human resources and its capacity to
equitably share within the country and keep up with the rest of Asean, Asia and
the world in productivity.
It is not only
Pisa and world universities rankings that we need to be concerned about. In
2000, we stood at 61 out of 174 countries in UNDP’s human development index.
Today we stand at 62 out of 191 countries. In 2010 we ranked 10th in world
competitiveness. The latest International Institute for Management Development
(IMD) World Competitiveness ranking places Malaysia at a dismal number 27.
Over the last
six years, Malaysia has seen several changes in government. However, no change
of government has led to substantive policy change that has brought fairness
and equality to all citizens and induced our brightest and most talented to
remain in Malaysia.
Leakage and
corruption, under performance, mismanagement, wrong priorities - these have
hobbled and continue to hobble our economy and society. In the next phase of
the nation’s development, they may be the strait jackets that can bring
Malaysia to its knees - and worse.
This scenario could well develop
as the two main engines of growth for the nation’s economy during the last half
century begin to falter.
Diminishing oil and gas revenues
combined with the structural decline of the fossil fuel industry and the
country’s loss of attraction to investment from abroad and what is retained
domestically point to a fiscal and economic crisis that is just around the
corner as the political situation of instability and policy ineffectiveness
deepens.
The intrinsic changes than can make a difference
For the sake of
Malaysia, there needs to be a radical change in mindset and practice, and the
development of empathy to connect with the people the government serves. It is
not just policy, but the intrinsic changes that will make the difference.
Thus, the most
important impetus of any government led by an East Malaysian element is the
stance that would make way for a new culture and ideology within the government
and bureaucracy. People and our children can then wake up each morning with
excitement about what is happening in Malaysia and come onboard the journey.
Those who have visited the seats
of government in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu will have some understanding of the
changes in perspective that such a government could make. This could
potentially realign the bureaucracy back towards inclusion and pluralism, where
decisions are made with consideration for merit and worthiness, and with social
justice, irrespective of race or religion, also taken into account.
Back to inclusive grass roots government
Due to the
strong sense of community in Sabah and Sarawak, ministers turun ke padang or go down to the ground to look at problems and
issues with a sense of solving them to the stakeholders’ satisfaction.
Ministers in Sabah and Sarawak are usually well-versed in their respective
portfolios and spend a lot of time dealing with citizens’ issues in their local
constituencies. Some in West Malaysia do
similarly but partisan race and religious political agendas and a Malay
dominant bureaucratic apparatus have undermined the impact and sidelined
minorities. For example, the issue of vernacular education continues to fester
and poison in West Malaysian when it is a non issue in Sabah and Sarawak.
Taking a wider perspective of MA63
It is time to
bury old hantus (ghosts). The MA63 has been a bone of contention in East-West
Malaysian relations for too long. Many East Malaysians feel colonised due to
Putrajaya’s lip service to the agreement over the decades. For instance, the 20
per cent oil royalty has not yet come to fruition even though it was one of the
promises made before the general election.
There is also
renewed talk of secession on both sides of East Malaysia. The failure to meet
expectations of the MA63 and the continuing advance towards Islamization the
nation is taking has dismayed many in Sabah and Sarawak, making cession a
talking point of late. The recent outpouring of hate in the KK Super Mart sock
issue may look like political wayang in the peninsula, but it has potentially
calamitous repercussions for nationhood in Sabah and Sarawak.
These are
symptoms of a much bigger problem. A snatch of power has been going on for
years in Putrajaya. It has produced not
just the marginalization of Sabah and
Sarawak, but of all the states. It is time to shift the balance of power back
to the states through decentralisation, with a completely new look at how
federal-state relations are conducted.
This should
become the new template that the government in Malaysia would operate upon. No
more top-down decision-making. More power of the states to run their own
governments. What we need are leaders from
political and civil service sectors with qualities that inspire change
and growth. Serving the people must
be the mantra in everyday practice and not just as rhetoric or as a slogan.
Reinstating local elections
This delineation
of power philosophy must run down to local government. Local government must be
re-empowered through the reintroduction of local elections. Being a councillor
should not be a reward for political hacks. Councillors should be representatives
of the people to solve people’s problems at the local level.
Local government
should be a nurturing field for future leaders. This is very important as a
source of new blood in Malaysia’s political leadership.
Financial management
After the hefty
spending during the Covid-19 pandemic, and building a public debt of up to RM
1.5 trillion, a period of prudence is required in budget management. Balanced
budgets are needed and surpluses would be even better. It is time to make
Malaysia a financially responsible and self sustaining nation.
This means
cutting back on government wastage and leakages. This means introducing
zero-based budgeting and program-based budgeting to prune down costs.
Inefficiencies within the civil service must be tackled immediately and over
the next decade to obtain an efficient administration. Corruption at all levels
must be tackled head-on, including at the lower and middle levels of the
service. Procuring must be transparent. Punishment for corruption and money
laundering must be made much more severe to be a real deterrent.
These actions
could potentially trim 30 per cent or more from government spending. New taxes
on the T20 would help lift revenues. Together with eliminating inefficiencies
these budgetary measures would make Malaysia one of the more fiscally
responsible nations in the region.
Affirmative action has reached its used-by date
The most robust
development comes from fiscal policies which are needs-based, rather than based
upon any form of affirmative action. Affirmative action has created an
‘assistance-reliant culture’, and a sense of entitlement, which has eroded the
‘hunger’ inside our economy and the competitive drive that brings innovation.
This drive can be clearly seen in our neighbouring countries of Thailand,
Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Projects should not be created and sponsored
by the government, which are biased to benefit corporations or parties; but in
effect are rent seeking and have little economic justification or social
utility.
New values,
philosophies and ideology will go a long way in creating a Malaysia for all
citizens. An East Malaysian-led government implementing the above proposals
could break the nexus of favouritism, privilege and entitlement in favour of an
egalitarian and communitarian vision for the nation.
If the above
could be the nature of a new government, then it must have the people who can
make it happen. Part 3 will consider this issue.
●
Second of a three part. The first can be viewed at
LIM TECK GHEE is a former senior official
with the United Nations and World Bank.
MURRAY HUNTER is an independent researcher
and former professor at the Prince of Songkla University and Universiti Perlis.
CAROLYN KHOR is a former ministerial press
secretary, a former United Nations Volunteer and an independent
researcher/writer.