Creating a level playing field (Better be ready or else.......!)

The Nut Graph, 24 Mar 10 : 8.00AM

By Ding Jo-Ann
dingjoann@thenutgraph.com

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is all set to role out a new economic model for growth in Malaysia. The indications are that the subsidy regime and price controls will be abolished once the new economic model is in place. This would be in line with Najib's other efforts to promote competition and achieve "high-income" status. In April 2009, for example, the government abolished bumiputera quotas for 27 service sub-sectors. Two months later, it scrapped the 30% bumiputera equity ownership requirement in public listed companies.

These economic reforms, however, have rung alarm bells in certain quarters, who believe the reforms signal an end to preferential treatment for bumiputera established under the New Economic Policy. Member of Parliament Datuk Ibrahim Ali, for example, told Malaysiakini that Malay Malaysians were still "amateurs" compared to the premier-league Chinese Malaysian community. Therefore, according to Ibrahim, subsidies and government assistance for Malay Malaysians should continue until they have caught up.

But are Ibrahim's assumptions correct? Are all Malay Malaysians still lagging behind their fellow citizens economically? And is the continuing of subsidies the best way to help those who have less opportunities to improve their economic status?

With a limping worldwide economy, widening budget deficit, and increasing competition from our Asian neighbours, can Malaysia even afford to continue distorting the market economy through ethnicity-determined government handouts?

Learning to compete

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia economist Professor Dr Ragayah Mat Zin, who is with the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (Ikmas), disagrees with the assertion that Malay Malaysians are not ready to compete. "Not all Malay [Malaysians] are poor," she says. "That's the problem. Whenever we talk about subsidies for Malay [Malaysians], whether it's scholarships or affirmative action, it's not the poor Malay [Malaysians] who benefit, it's more often the rich ones.

"We should 'give fish' only to those who cannot fish. For those who can, they must be made to fish. They cannot sit back and wait for government handouts. If we don't work for it, we'll not be able to improve and become a high-income nation," she says in a phone interview.

"We have to learn to compete," says Datuk Dr Jenison Jayasooria, principal research fellow at UKM's Institute of Ethnic Studies. He says that opposing liberalisation would only disadvantage Malay Malaysians. "If people really want Malay [Malaysians] to benefit, they need to help them build capacity and empower them to face competition in the open market. Don't assist them by isolating them."

Competing worldwide

Denison points out that the "enemy" is not within the country. "It is outside," he says, noting that Malaysia is already finding it difficult to compete with countries like Indonesia and Thailand, more so with bigger economies like China and India.

He argues that while the government can control the distribution of resources within the country, foreign investments are not beholden in any way, and will move on if our economy is no longer competitive. "Then what do we do?" he asks. "We have to enable positive competition. If not, we're going to see negative growth."

Ratings Agency Malaysia chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng agrees, saying we should no longer be fixated on distributing economic wealth within the country. "Instead, we should concentrate on attracting businesses through good government policies and regulations. This would help create jobs, enhance employees' skills, and result in positive spillover effects to suppliers and service providers. Only through growth and empowerment can we have sustainable distribution.

"By focusing on [internal] distribution, we may actually be missing the point and killing the goose that laid the golden egg," argues Yeah. "If the government sets the wrong rules, businesses and capital will migrate.

The government must ensure we have an economy that is dynamic and continues to sustain growth and create jobs."

Benefiting the poor

Yeah adds that promoting market forces helps to bring out the best in people, so that every person's potential can be maximised. However, he says, enhancing greater market efficiency is not incompatible with assisting the poor and disadvantaged.

"Economics is not heartless. While we promote market forces and efficiency, we note that there are different inherent abilities and endowments.

"So there is a place for affirmative policies for the needy and disadvantaged. This is widely practised [worldwide], mainly to assist minorities and disadvantaged groups who do not have equal access to opportunities."

Ragayah, whose research interests include development economics and income distribution, says international statistics show that liberalisation is actually good for the poor. "When demand is stimulated, there is a multiplier effect which will benefit everyone. This will actually lift the income of the absolute poor," she says, adding that the poor would also benefit from cheaper imported goods.

Liberalisation would also lead to increased production in areas where Malaysia has a comparative advantage, she notes. This would lead to a more efficient use of resources, hence making us more attractive as an investments destination.

She says helping the poor doesn't necessarily mean implementing subsidies that distort the market, which is ultimately expensive and unsustainable. "In Malaysia, we subsidise everybody, the rich and the poor. Subsidies [for items such as toll and petrol] in fact tend to benefit the rich more than the poor, because they consume more."

Ragayah says that as the population increases, paying out huge subsidies is not sustainable and would be counter-productive. She says the government needs to target assistance at the poor, otherwise government expenditure would balloon. "We should just target the poor, regardless of ethnicity. If there is marginalisation, then affirmative action is needed."

She adds that the government should assist groups, such as poor farmers, to compete by helping them be more efficient in production and take advantage of the increased opportunities provided by liberalisation.

Indeed, liberalisation will not result in opportunities lessening, says Denison, who adds that the only people who should fear liberalisation are those who are unable to run businesses competently.

Cerita yang wajar dicontohi! Selamat Datang ke Falsafah Politik Baru Abad 3,000

Selamat Datang ke Dunia Politik yang serba baru. Inilah yang sebenarnya seharusnya berlaku. Bukannya kacau – bilau, bergaduh tak tentu pasal.

Bila berkempen dalam pilihanraya, kita semestinya akan berbeza pendapat. Bila keputusan diumumkan, maka wajar yang kalah menyokong yang menang. Tambahan pula yang menang itu, akan memberikan perkhidmatannya yang terbaik kepada kita, samada kita suka beliau ataupun tidak.

Jadi berubahlah. Cukup – cukuplah bergaduh!

Sila baca cerita dibawah.
__________________________________________________________________________

Columnists: Down 2 Earth - Terence Fernandez ( Every Tuesday & Friday )
For the common good, The Sun, 29 Jan 2010

TODAY, I’d like to bring you a feel good story of how two people despite their political differences can work together for the common good.

She is the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) assemblywoman for Rawang, while he is a long-serving Umno member and local community leader.

During the election campaign, they worked tirelessly for their respective parties but when the results came through and she won, Gan Pei Nei and Mohd Saufi Shafie set aside their differences to work together for the benefit of the constituents.

When I met them a week ago in Rawang, they were marshalling efforts to save one school site from encroachment by housing developers, and land meant for a mosque from being taken over by a hypermarket.

These two issues will be reported in the next few days).

Whether I like it or not, she is now my boss. So as a community leader it is my job to assist her in resolving the people’s problems," said Mohd Saufi, who is the chairman of the Zone 19 Joint Action Committee.

Due to her petite size and youth, Mohd Saufi said he had his doubts that Gan would be up to the job, as her only claim to fame before the elections was campaigning against high-tension cables.

"But I have a lot of respect for her as she is a hard worker and as I have a responsibility to the people in my area, I must work with her," he told me over lunch courtesy of Gan at their favourite nasi campur shop.

Mohd Saufi is a rare breed indeed as instead of playing petty party politics and sabotaging Gan’s efforts he gives her credit where it is due: "For four years we had no street lights. I met with previous representatives to fix the problem but to no avail.

"When I complained to YB, she got it done in two weeks. Did I hide that fact? No! I brought her to meet the people and tell them that she is the reason why we got the street lights."

Gan, meanwhile, said there is no such thing as Umno or PKR when it comes to serving her constituents and regards Mohd Saufi as among her most trusted allies but adds: "Make no mistake! He is still a strong Umno man but he is first and foremost a community leader who puts the people first."

People like Gan and Mohd Saufi are part of a huge network of local folk in Rawang who are trying to make their neighbourhood a better place to call home. Idle land, stalled projects, indiscriminate development, poor roads and infrastructure were among reasons cited for folks here giving their vote to a greenhorn like Gan.

Those who have been around longer like Mohd Saufi have taken her under their wing in helping her to get things done – be it quarrelling with the local authorities, drafting letters, convincing his party superiors that he is not a "traitor" but merely looking into the best interest of the people and introducing Gan to those sceptical or suspicious of her motives.

I suppose stories such as these though rare are not unique. Nationwide – even in the Parliament canteen and MPs’ lounge – it is common to see those from both sides of the political divide breaking bread together or catching up over teh tarik to discuss issues of common interest; and at the ground level working together to get things done.

Of course in Gan and Mohd Saufi’s case there may be no such thing as being bound by the whip. They are perhaps only motivated by their conscience.

But is it not this trait that is sorely lacking among many of our leaders these days – when doing what is right is bound by the rigidity of partisan politics.

Contrary to popular belief Terence does not like "to simply whack only". He prefers to be the bearer of good news. He can be reached at terence@thesundaily.com

Semua Boleh Hilang di Malaysia, Jangan Risau!

Di Malaysia, apa sahaja boleh hilang. Orang boleh hilang dan tidak dijumpai semula. Barang yang besar – besar pun akan hilang di depan mata. Yang paling bestnya ialah tiada siapa pun yang pun yang nampak apa – apa.

Jika di tahun – tahun 60 an – 70an, barang yang paling banyak hilang ialah kayu balak. Macamana kayu balak ini boleh bergerak ke sana dan kemari tiada siapa pun yang pasti. Kemungkinannya ialah mendapat bantuan dari Hantu Raya dan Puntianak Jadi – Jadian. Dahlah hilang dari hutan simpan yang kononnya terjaga rapi, sampai hari ni pun tak dapat lagi siapa yang mengambilnya. Tetapi yang lebih pelik lagi ialah Malaysia mengistiharkan bahawa tiada pembalakkan haram disini. Wohhhhhhhhhhhh……..

Membawa ke era 90an pula, benda yang banyak hilang ialah pasir di Sungai – Sungai. Pun begitu, kononnya terjaga dengan rapi, tetapi tidak nampak siapa pula yang mengambilnya. Mungkin mengorek pasir ini menggunakan batang mancis, pasal tu la tak nampak langsung. Yang nampak ialah kawasan tebing sungai yang dikorek pasirnya. Terkedu semua orang. Tentulah hebat aktiviti yang dilaksanakan secara halimunan oleh Langsuir dan Serigala Jadi – Jadian.

Kini di alaf baru, enjin pesawat pemintas F-5E milik Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia disedari hilang pada 2007. Tetapi sebenarnya bukanlah hilang sebab telah diketahui ianya telah telah dijual kepada sebuah syarikat antarabangsa dari sebuah negara yang berpangkalan di Amerika Selatan, kata Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Cumanya yang belum pasti ialah siapakah yang mencurinya? Mungkin melibatkan Hantu Pocong dan juga Harimau Jadi – Jadian.

Bila semua insiden – insiden hilang ini berlaku, semua pihak akan berkata – kata dan berjanji macam – macam. Tetapi akhirnya kelak tiada apa – apa tindakan, aktiviti susulan yang akan berlaku. Jangan risau, sebab lepas ini akan ada kehilangan yang lain pula.

Ohhhhh, rupanya Malaysia ini sebenarnya berada di dalam Bermuda Triangle (Jadi – Jadian) yang sentiasa menghilangkan apa sahaja. Jadi kalau ada lain yang hilang lepas ini jangan gusar, sebabnya kita berada di dalam Bermuda Triangle (Jadi – Jadian).

Menurut Falsafah Baru Abad 3,000, lagi naik kurun lagi sofistikated la barang – barang yang bakal hilang. Ini menunjukkan betapa tingginya ketamadunan Malaysia. Jangan la risau!

Betapa Tinggikah EGO yang perlu dibelai manja menjelang Abad Baru Tahun 3,000 ini!

Tinggi sungguh EGO bagi sebuah Negara bernama Malaysia. Ya begitu tinggi. Kini kita mahu membina satu lagi pencakar langit setinggi 100 tingkat bernilai lebih daripada RM1 billion. Malahan setelah adanya Menara Berkembar Petronas setinggi 88 tingkat X 2, masih tidak cukup untuk mengisi EGO yang sedia ada.

Kena ingat bahawa, Dubai juga begitu tinggi EGOnya, tetapi kini terkulai layu akibat krisis kewangan yang melanda.

Saya pasti masyarakat Malaysia tidak perlukan satu lagi pencakar langit yang begitu tinggi hanya untuk mengisi EGO. Kita sudah pasti mahukan kemudahan – kemudahan kesihatan, pendidikan, infastruktur yang lebih baik, jalur lebar kelajuan tinggi, jaminan keamanan, keselamatan dan lain – lain lagi.

Jika kita sebenarnya ada wang yang sebegitu banyak untuk membina pencakar langit bagi mengisi EGO, sewajarnya urusan – urusan berkaitan keperluan rakyat perlu lebih diutamakan dan disegerakan. Bukannya asyik berkata peruntukkan tidak cukup, bajet Negara defisit, kerajaan telah berbelanja banyak untuk subsidi, dan pelbagai madah – madah indah untuk mewajarkan tindakan Kerajaan.

Jika Kerajaan atau agensi – agensinya yang sedang berfikir – fikir melaksanakan aktiviti meningkat EGO, sewajarnya hentikanlah. Dengan lebihan wang yang sedia ada, adalah wajar dibelanjakan semula untuk kesejahteraan rakyat. Rakyat sekarang semakin rimas dan tertekan dengan taraf hidup yang tidak meningkat naik, cemas dengan keadaan yang tidak aman serta selamat, menerima pelbagai perkhidmatan yang serba lembap dan tidak membantu rakyat seperti jalur lebar yang lebih lambat dari kura – kura berjalan, tetapi harganya ala berstatus 5 bintang 3 suku.

Jadi, terimalah pandang rakyat!

Jangan nanti rakyat memberikan slogan baru, sebab kami tidak diutamakan, maka nyahlah kamu!

Makanan Kegemaran Ala Serigala Jadian Abad 3,000! Fuhhhh........................................

Caviar? Golden cake? The world’s 11 most extravagant meals

SINGAPORE, Dec 9 — The finest ingredients and top chefs are key components to the best dining experiences, but it can be the added extras that make meals or venues memorable.

Forbes.com has compiled a list of 11 of the world's most extravagant meals (http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/03/most-extravagant-meals-lifesty le-travel-dining-travel-channel.html). Reuters has not endorsed this list:

1. Daniel Boulud's Caviar — New York City: At US$205 (RM697), Daniel's tasting menu is a relative bargain compared to other high-end Manhattan eateries but care for some Champagne and caviar in the lounge before dinner? Fifty grams of Boulud's private-label Caspian Sea Golden Ossetra caviar goes for US$860.

2. The French Laundry — Napa Valley: Even the wiliest concierges have trouble scoring reservations at Chef Thomas Keller's The French Laundry. Each day Keller and his staff create two nine-course US$240 menus — a chef's "tasting" menu and a "vegetable" menu — promising not to repeat a single ingredient on either menu.

3. US$1,000 Sultan's Golden Cake — Istanbul: Upon request the pastry chef at hotel the Ciragan Palace Kempinski will prepare a "golden cake" that has been flavoured with fruits marinated for years in Jamaican rum, vanilla beans from French Polynesia and French wheat. But what makes this the ultimate bakery bling is the dusting of 24-karat edible gold.

4. White Truffle Dinner at Les Amis — Singapore: For special clients, Les Amis, the elegant French restaurant in Singapore, can arrange a top-to-bottom white truffle menu that starts at US$800 per person, not including wine.

5. US$5,000 Fleur Burger — Las Vegas: Created by Fleur de Lys chef Hubert Keller, the man behind Burger Bar in the Mandalay Bay hotel, this burger contains kobe beef, truffles and foie gras. The real cost comes with the concoction's accompaniment — a bottle of 1995 Chateau Petrus from Bordeaux.

6. Nino's Bellissima Pizza — New York: There's nothing special about the sauce or the crust. This pizza earns its US$1,000 price tag with its toppings. Nino's in New York loads down this pie with caviar and fresh Maine lobster. There's also some salmon roe and a little wasabi.

7. Dinner In The Sky:"People were getting bored with just going to the same old restaurants," says David Ghysels, the Belgian entrepreneur who created this movable restaurant suspended by a crane. If you've got the cash, Ghysels will bring his portable dining room anywhere he's got clearance. Bringing a star chef and his suspended restaurant to a US locale could cost between US$50,000 and US$100,000.

8. Picnic on Macaroni Beach, Mustique Island: Barbecued chicken, mango and avocado salad, couscous with vegetables and rum punch sounds like standard picnic fare. Unless, of course, your picnic is on Macaroni Beach, on the exclusive Mustique island in the West Indies. The private island is open only to guests who own or rent some of its stunning villas, all of which come with their own kitchen staff.

9. Chef's Table at L'Espadon —Paris: This restaurant, complete with a climbing lilac tree in the middle of the opulent dining room, serves up dishes like roast rib of milk-fed veal in a hay-infused stock and filet de boeuf Rossini with "cappuccino-style" mashed potatoes (with truffles and cocoa). Occasionally, Executive Chef Michel Roth invites guests to dine at the chef's table, offering a ringside seat to the choreography of the Ritz's mythical kitchens.

10. Private Dinner at Chef Louis Pous: For diners who aren't into travelling, Little Palm Island resort chef Louis Pous has started making house calls. For US$10,000 (for up to 10 people) plus travel costs, the chef and his staff of two will fly anywhere in the United States to prepare a private meal. The package, which must be reserved 30 days in advance, does not include wines, china or stemware.

11. Dinner at Three on the Bund — Shanghai: This small domed dining room capping Three on the Bund, Shanghai's upmarket shopping and dining complex, is so intimate it can only squeeze in two diners and a butler. While taking in the panoramic views of Shanghai, you can feast on food from any of the restaurants in the complex including Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Jean Georges, Laris or Whampoa Club, for about US$500 for two. — Reuters

Falsafah Baru Abad 3,000: Bersediakah anda menjadi Hantu Raya + Jembalang Tanah yang Gemilang?

Dia:
"Apa yang sanggup anda lakukan untuk menjadi Hantu Raya + Jembalang Tanah yang Gemilang? Apa? Apa? dan Apa?"

Dia lagi:
"Anda bersedia untuk menghadiahkan diri serta jiwa raga anda kepada orang yang bersedia memberikan apa yang anda mahu? Buat apa sahaja yang diperintahkan. Hasilnya nanti akan membolehkan anda menjadi Hantu Raya + Jembalang Tanah yang Gemilang. Tak faham? atau buat – buat tak mahu faham akan maksudnya? Ya apa sahaja! Ya apa sahaja! Apa sahaja! Aduhhh tak faham lagi ke?"

La....Dia lagi:
"Padanlah anda bukannya Hantu Raya + Jembalang Tanah yang Gemilang tersebut.

Bengap!"

Saya:
"Saya sudah tentu ingin menjadi Hantu Raya + Jembalang Tanah yang Gemilang tersebut, tetapi saya tidak sanggup melaksanakan apa yang diperlukan!

Padanlah muka saya!"

Dia kata lagi:
"Jadi sebab dah isytihar tidak sanggup maka sila duduk diam – diam dan jangan bising lagi. Bukankah anda kata tadi anda tidak sanggup? Enhhhhh sudah sanggup pulak? Apalah anda ini?

Sekejap sanggup, sekejap tidak sanggup, kemudiaan sanggup semula, anda ini apa?

Jadi sanggup ke atau tidak sanggup?"

Saya pula:
"Tidak sanggup kut?"

Dia cakap lagi:
"Mana ada kut – kut? Jadi sanggup ke atau tidak sanggup?

Buat kali yang terakhir, sanggup ke atau tidak sanggup?"

Pertanyaan itu untuk ANDA. Jawaplah cepat, sanggup atau tidak sanggup?

JANGAN BIAR SERIGALA JADIAN TERSEBUT MENUNGGU LAMA, SEBAB ADA RAMAI YANG SANGGUP!

Kecerdikan Politik Baru…………………Berkait Lagi dengan Falsafah Baru Abad 3,000

Tahniah PAS! (kali beberapa jumlah yang anda sendiri fikirkan bersesuaian).

Melalui Seminar Politik PAS yang dianjurkan pada Sabtu lepas, telah membawa dua pemerhati dan pengkritik tersohor politik Malaysia. Malahan bukan itu sahaja, salah seorang panel tersebut ialah Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari yang telah memberi pandangannya di Sinar Harian serta Malaysiakini yang mengkritik pedas kepemimpinan YB TG Abdul Hadi yang telah menimbulkan pelbagai reaksi.

Jadi sebenarnya PAS ini amat berani. Individu yang telah mengkritik kepimpinannya dijemput pula untuk mempertahankan kesnya di Seminar yang dianjurkan olehnya. Belum dengar lagi ada parti politik lain yang berbuat perkara yang sama.

Besar sungguh jiwa PAS dan begitu terbuka dalam menerima kritikkan. Jika ada yang marah – marah dan tidak dapat menerimanya, itu perkara biasa.

Inilah parti yang kita hendak lihat berkembang pesat. Berhujah dalam menegakkan sebarang pendapat dan ditepis juga melalui hujah jika tidak bersetuju dengan sebarang hujah yang telah dikemukan.

Pandangan yang kemudiannya diberikan oleh Prof Madya Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah turut dilihat selari dengan keadaan yang berlaku dalam PAS kini.

Jadi parti – parti politik lain di Malaysia bagaimana? Adakah anda akan seberani PAS? Atau anda Cuma berkata – kata sahaja bahawa anda berani tetapi anda sebenarnya penakut? Atau anda sebenarnya lebih takut dari ketakutan itu sendiri?

Inilah dia kecerdikan politik baru. Nampak gayanya, aras yang ditunjukkan oleh PAS ini begitu tinggi untuk diikuti oleh segolongan parti politik yang lain.

Soalannya ini ISO yang mana?

Harga Peragaan bagi Menjadi & Menjaga Imej Hantu Raya ~ ENTRY LEVEL…….!

– Inilah dia harga bagi Falsafah Baru Abad 3000,
Lebih tinggi level,
lebihlah yang perlu dipertontonkan,
lebihlah berbelanja~~~~~~

~ Bajunya berharga RM350++

(fabric & negara dibuat tidak pasti. Sudah tentu tailor made)

~ Seluarnya berharga RM400++

(fabric & negara dibuat tidak pasti. Sudah tentu tailor made)

~ Tali Pinggangnya berharga RM1,000++

(jenama terkenal diinspirasikan dari sebuah Gunung) (Camanalah rasanya???)

~ Cuff Link pula berharga lingkungan RM1,000++

(hello, kalau butang baju plastic, no class ok!)

~ Jam Tangan berharga RM5,000++

(original ok, bukan jualan mana – mana street tiruan punya)

~ Kasut berjenama RM3,000++

(bukan Bata ye tetapi dari kulit anak lembu yang lembut. Bila pakai kaki pun
wangi)

~ Mobile phone jenama terbaru X 2. RM4,500++ kedua – duanya.
(Syaitan pun akan dapat telefon & bercakap dengan dia, bila perlu).

Ini belum lagi dikira walletnya, pen yang tersangkut dibajunya, cermin mata serta bingkainya, sapu tangan dan …………… yang lainnya.

Bersedia???? Saya sudah!

Cumanya saya bukan Hantu Raya…..!