Ucapan Teresa Kok, Ahli Parlimen Seputeh Dalam Perbahasan Rancangan Malaysia Ke-9 di Dewan Rakyat Pada 7 Julai 2008
Impak Kenaikan Harga Minyak
Kajian separuh penggal Rancangan Malaysia Ke-9 dibentangkan pada waktu di mana harga petrol di negara kita dinaikkan sebanyak 42%. Kenaikan harga petrol ini secara tidak langsung akan merosakkan kesemua rancangan dan ramalan yang termaktub dalam RMK-9. Ia juga bermaksud teras dan strategi kerajaan dalam Kajian Separuh Penggal Rancangan Malaysia Ke-9, seperti strategi untuk meningkatkan produktiviti dan daya saingan negara, membesarkan pasaran bagi barang dan perkhidmatan negara, menurunkan kadar kemiskinan di negara kita akan menghadapi halangan yang besar.
Datuk yang diPertua, semasa kita berusaha untuk menarik pelaburan asing ke Malaysia, adalah penting bagi kita untuk memberi perlindungan dan bantuan kepada peniaga tempatan kerana 90% daripada tenaga kerja tempatan ataupun 11 juta orang digaji oleh syarikat tempatan. Sekiranya kita memperlindungi kepentingan syarikat tempatan, maka kita juga menjamin kestabilan pendapatan bank tempatan dan kerajaan.
Memulihkan Kadar Diesel, Gas & Bekalan Eletrik Yang Lama
Ini bermaksud adalah penting bagi kerajaan untuk memulihkan subsidi gas industri dan diesel pada harga lama supaya IKS dan perniagaan tempatan boleh terus beroperasi dan terus menjadi kompetitif, dan lebih warga Malaysia boleh terus mempunyai peluang pekerjaan dan memperolehi pendapatan yang mantap.
Mengurangkan Cukai Atas Bahan Pembinaan Yang Diimport
Datuk yang diPertua, kenaikan harga petrol telah menyebabkan kos pembinaan melambung naik. Sekiranya daya pembelian rakyat menurunkan lagi, maka mungkin berlakunya lebih projek perumahan ataupun bangunan terbengkalai dalam masa yang akan datang. Jadi, pihak kerajaan haruslah fikir macam mana kerajaan boleh membantu para pemaju untuk menurunkan kos pembinaan, di samping mengalihkan cukai ataupun tariff daripada bahan pembinaan kepada bidang yang lain. Salah satu cara ialah mengurangkan ataupun menghapuskan tariff ke atas bahan pembinaan seperti tiles, gelas dan sebagainya.
Sehubungan dengan itu, kerajaan haruslah menggalakkan pemaju untuk menggunakan bahan pembinaan yang menjimatkan tenaga ataupun eletrik dalam pembinaan rumah, misalnya menggunakan gelas yang menjimatkan tenaga seperti “low emissible glass” dalam pembinaan rumah ataupun bangunan. Kerajaan sepatutnya mengecualikan tariff yang dikenakan ke atas bahan pembinaan yang menjimat tenaga seperti ini ataupun menggalakkan industry tempatan untuk mengeluarkan bahan pembinaan menjimatkan tenaga secara besar-besaran. Sebaliknya, memandangkan kilang pengeluaran besi/keluli menggunakan aliran eletrik yang diberi subsidi untuk mengeksport besi keluli, kerajaan sepatutnya mengenakan cukai eksport terhadap besi keluli yang dieksport dari Malaysia.
Masalah Kekurangan Gas Kegunaan Industri Menjejaskan Kemasukan Pelabur Asing
Datuk yang diPertua, negara kita mengeluarkan petrol dan gas, tetapi anihnya, ramai pelabur asing dan pelabur tempatan menghadapi masalah kekurangan gas industri, sehingga terdapatnya beberapa pelabur asing dan syarikat tempatan terpaksa menarik keluar pelaburan mereka ke tempat lain. Soalan kita ialah, negara kita merupakan pengeluar gas, apa yang berlaku pada pembekalan gas di negara kita? Kenapakah krisis pengurangan gas yang begitu kritikal ini tidak diambil serius oleh Petronas dan pihak kerajaan? Banyak pelabur sudi membayar gas dengan harga pasaran antarabangsa tetapi permintaan mereka ini tidak dihirau oleh pihak berkenaan. Saya minta pihak kerajaan memberi satu penjelasan kepada Dewan yang mulia ini tentang rancangan kerajaan untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini.
Kes Ladyjuta Sdn Bhd
Datuk yang diPertua, pada minggu yang lepas, seorang pengarah daripada syarikat Ladyjuta Sdn Bhd datang ke Parlimen untuk berjumpa dengan sesiapa menteri dan Ahli Parlimen yang boleh membantu beliau. Beliau berkata beliau diberi lesen eksais untuk mengilang rokok Texas 5 pada tahun 2004, tetapi setelah beliau membeli tanah dan mendirikan kilang yang memakan kos hampir RM20 juta, beliau terima surat daripada pihak kastam yang mengatakan lesennya ditarik balik atas keputusan Jemaah Menteri tanpa memberi apa-apa alasan. Walaupun beliau pernah membuat rayuan kepada beberapa bekas timbalan menteri dan lawatan tapak juga telah diadakan oleh salah seorang bekas timbalan menteri di JPM, tetapi Ladyjuta Sdn Bhd masih ditegah daripada menjalankan pengilangan rokok Texas 5.
Di sini, saya ingin minta Menteri Kewangan untuk memberi penjelasan kepada Dewan yang mulia ini tentang sebab-musebab Kementerian menarik balik lesen yang diberikan kepada Ladyjuta Sdn Bhd? Saya juga ingin tanya, apakah ini cara Kementerian Kewangan melayan pelabur kita di mana lesen boleh ditarik balik pada bila-bila masa tanpa memberi apa-apa alasan?
Pencantuman Kuasa Di Antara Tentera dan Polis
Datuk yang diPertua, ramai orang merasa bimbang terhadap pengumuman Ketua Polis Negara bahawa pasukan polis akan bekerjasama dengan pasukan tentera untuk mengekalkan keamanan. Semalam, bila Pakatan Rakyat di Selangor ingin mengadakan perhimpunan beramai-ramai untuk membantah kenaikan harga petrol, kita lihat selain daripada pemeriksaan polis diadakan di banyak tempat yang menyebabkan kesesakan trafik di banyak tempat, tetapi saya juga terlihat trak tentera berhenti di tempat berdekatan dengan Jalan Duta. Kekhuatiran orang ramai ialah, apakah pihak polis perlu menggunakan pasukan tentera untuk menyekat kebebasan orang ramai berhimpun? Selain itu, ramai orang juga bimbang bahawa pencantuman kuasa di antara dua pasukan ini akan mendorong negara kita untuk menuju ke arah pentadbiran militari, dan seterusnya mengubah corak pentadbiran negara kita yang bebas daripada campurtangan militari.
Soalan kita ialah, negara kita ialah negara yang mengamalkan prinsip demokrasi, kenapakah polis menghalang orang ramai untuk berhimpun secara aman untuk isu tertentu? Apakah perlunya polis mengadakan pemeriksaan jalan dan malah meminjam kakitangan daripada pihak tentera untuk membangkitkan kekhuatiran dan mewujudkan atmosfera ketakutan di kalangan orang ramai? Kenapakah pihak polis tidak menumpukan kuasa mereka dari segi siasatan jenayah tetapi membazirkan begitu banyak tenaga dan masa untuk menahan dan menghalau orang yang berhimpun secara aman di sesuatu tempat?
Menambahbaikkan Sistem Pengangkutan di Lembah Klang – Memulihkan Perkhidmatan Bas Mini
Kenaikan harga petrol sebanyak 42% juga bermaksud rakyat seharusnya mengurangkan penggunaan petrol dan menggunakan pengangkutan awam. Sebenarnya ramai warga Malaysia membeli kereta adalah kerana sistem pengangkutan kita adalah jauh daripada memuaskan, rangkaian LRT dan bas awam selalunya tidak masuk ke kawasan kediaman yang padat di kawasan Lembah Klang. Keadaan ini menyebabkan orang ramai terpaksa membeli kereta kerana mereka tiada pilihan yang lain. Bila kerajaan menambahkan 30 sen kepada harga petrol pada dua tahun yang lepas, kita diberitahu bahawa kerajaan akan menyalurkan subsidi minyak ini kepada pembinaan sistem LRT. Penduduk di Lembah Klang telah lama mendengar pengumuman kerajaan untuk membesarkan rangkaian LRT untuk menular masuk ke lebih tempat kediaman, tetapi malangnya pengumuman tersebut masih belum ditunaikan sehingga hari ini. Saya sebagai wakil rakyat di Kuala Lumpur dan Kinrara, Puchong, saya selalu ditanya-tanya oleh penduduk di kawasan saya bilakah sistem LRT akan mula dibina oleh pihak kerajaan.
Di sini saya juga ingin tanya kepada pihak kerajaan, bilakah LRT akan dibina oleh kerajaan, khususnya rangkaian ke kawasan Puchong? Selain itu, saya juga ingin tanya di manakah “Urban Transport Authority” yang sepatutnya ditubuhkan untuk menyelesaikan masalah pengangkutan di Lembah Klang yang dilaung-laungkan oleh bekas Menteri Pengangkutan pada beberapa tahun yang lepas? Selepas kerajaan menaikkan harga petrol, apakah kerajaan telah mengadakan pelan yang konkrit untuk mengatasi masalah kesesakan jalan raya dan masalah kekurangan pengangkutan awam untuk menyelesaikan kesemua masalah tersebut? Saya rasa kesal untuk membaca keputusan kerajaan untuk memotong subsidi yang diberi kepada Rapid KL, dan saya juga rasa kesal di mana perkhidmatan Rapid KL masih kurang memuaskan kerana bas Rapid KL tidak masuk ke banyak kawasan kediaman. Dalam tahun 80-an yang terdapat banyak bas mini yang memasuki tempat-tempat kediaman di seluruh Lembah Klang, saya mencadangkan supaya kerajaan memulihkan perkhidmatan bas mini seperti apa yang berlaku di tahun 80-an.
Pelan Draf KL Adalah Amat Mustahil Dan Seharusnya Digantungkan
Datuk yang diPertua, sejak DBKL membentangkan Pelan Draf KL, banyak pertubuhan bukan kerajaan telahpun menyuarakan ketidakpuasan mereka terhadap pelan draf ini. Sebab utama kebanyakan NGO membantah pelan draf KL adalah kerana banyak pihak mendapati pelan draf ini tidak melalui proses perundingan dengan NGO-NGO tempatan sebelum ia dibentangkan, di samping itu, pelan draf ini juga mempunyai banyak masalah teknikal yang boleh dielakkan sekiranya pihak pelan draf mengadakan rundingan dengan wakil persatuan penduduk dan NGO-NGO di Lembah Klang, dan mengadakan kajian teliti terhadap pelan di banyak tempat. Selain itu, saya mendapati banyak isu dan masalah yang saya pernah bangkitkan semasa pendengaran Pelan Struktur Kuala Lumpur 2020, tetapi bantahan dan cadangan saya tidak dipeduli oleh syarikat konsultan, khususnya isu berkenaan dengan pembinaan beberapa stesen LRT di kawasan Parlimen Seputeh. Oleh itu, masalah yang sama masih wujud dalam Pelan Draf Kuala Lumpur tersebut.
Datuk yang diPertua, di antara pendirian yang dikemukakan oleh konsultan Pelan Draf Kuala Lumpur ialah mereka bercadang supaya kepadatan penduduk di Kuala Lumpur ditambahkan daripada 6,840 orang per sq km ataupun 1.6 juta pada tahun 2005 kepada 2.2 juta ataupun 9,577 orang per sq km pada tahun 2020. Tetapi anihnya, konsultan tersebut juga mencadangkan supaya tempat letak kereta di pusat bandar Kuala Lumpur dikurangkan dengan alasan untuk memaksa orang ramai untuk menggunakan pengangkutan awam. Cadangan tersebut adalah amat tidak masuk akal, kerana lebih penduduk bermastautin di Kuala Lumpur bermaksud lebih kesesakan di jalan raya kita. Memandangkan pengangkutan awam tidak terletak dalam tangan DBKL, adalah tidak mungkin bagi kesesakan jalan raya diredakan dengan adanya dasar penambahan kepadatan penduduk di Kuala Lumpur kerana kerajaan memang tidak ada kehendak politik untuk menyelesaikan masalah kesesakan trafik di Kuala Lumpur.
Jadi, berdasarkan alasan tersebut, saya ingin mencadangkan supaya Pelan Draf Kuala Lumpur digantungkan dan dikaji semula oleh masyarakat sivil dan pakar konsultan yang lain sebelum ia diluluskan dan diwartakan.
DBKL Harus Menghentikan Perletakan Meter Letak Kereta Autopay di Kuala Lumpur Sebelum Sistem Pengangkutan ditambahbaikkan
Datuk yang diPertua, sehubungan dengan isu kesesakan jalan raya di Kuala Lumpur, penduduk di Kuala Lumpur kini mengadakan tunjuk perasaan hampir tiap-tiap hari untuk membantah perlaksanaan meter letak kereta di seluruh Kuala Lumpur. Saya merasa kesal dengan cara DBKL mengenakan caj letak kereta di merata-rata tempat sebelum sistem pengangkutan awam diperbaiki. Bukankah tindakan DBKL yang terburu-buru ini menyusahkan rakyat?
Cara terburu-buru DBKL untuk melaksanakan meter letak kereta autopay ini juga telah wujud banyak kesilapan. Misalnya, dua Mesin letak kereta di Jalan Kuchai Maju 1 menunjukkan waktu dan hari pengutipan yang berlainan, unit mesin letak kereta di hadapan Simply White Restourant menunjukkan pengutipan fi letak kereta daripada Isnin ke Jumaat daripada 7 pagi ke 6 petang, manakala unit mesin yang terletak di sebelahnya menunjukkan daripada 7.30 pagi sehingga 6 petang daripada Isnin ke Sabtu. DBKL memang telah melaksanakan pengenaan caj perletakan kereta di merata-rata tempat pada waktu yang salah, selain daripada alasan sistem pengangkutan di Kuala Lumpur adalah amat tidak memuaskan, kehidupan rakyat juga telah terhimpit oleh masalah kenaikan harga minyak. Saya menyeru pihak DBKL supaya menggantungkan perlaksanaan pengenaan caj letak kereta ini.
Kontrak Perhentian Bas & Teksi di Kuala Lumpur
Datuk yang diPertua, saya terbaca dari suratkhabar bahawa Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan akan membina 310 perhentian bas dan teksi di Kuala Lumpur. Di sini saya ingin tanya pihak kementerian berapakah jumlah kos pembinaan 310 perhentian bas dan teksi ini, apakah kementerian memanggil tender atas pembinaan bas dan teksi ini, berapa syarikat telah menghantar tender mereka dan kenapakah projek ini diberi kepada syarikat Ritz Outdoor Worldwide?
Masalah Tentang Commission on Buildings (COB)
Datuk yang diPertua, dalam ucapan YAB Perdana Menteri dalam pembentangan RMK-9, beliau berkata bahawa salah satu pencapaian dalam 2 tahun yang lepas ialah “meningkatkan keberkesanan system penyampaian sector awam, termasuklah menggantikan Certificate of Fitness for Occupation (CFO) yang dikeluarkan oleh pihak kerajaan tempatan dengan Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) “. Di sini, saya ingin menyampaikan masalah tentang Commission on Buildings (COB) yang sepatutnya membantu pembeli rumah dan pemaju untuk menyelesaikan masalah di antara mereka. Banyak PBT tidak ingin mengambil tanggungjawab untuk menjadi COB kerana kerja ini amat membebankan mereka. Oleh kerana kekurangan kaki tangan di bahagian COB, banyak kes pertelingkahan di antara pemaju dan pembeli rumah pun ditangguhkan. Saya mengiktiraf COB adalah amat diperlukan di banyak kawasan bandar yang selalunya menghadapi masalah perumahan.
Di sini saya ingin mencadangkan supaya pihak Kementerian Perumahan Kerajaan Tempatan untuk memulihkan fungsi “strata title board” dengan menjemput profesional dan sukarelawan yang mempunyai latar-belakang dalam bidang perumahan dan undang-undang untuk menjadi anggota dalam COB untuk mengendalikan kesemua aduan tertunggak yang berkaitan dengan perumahan tersebut. Sehubungan dengan itu, saya juga ingin tanya apakah Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan mempunyai “kehendak politik” atau “political will” dan rancangan untuk menangani masalah projek terbengkalai ataupun memulihkan projek terbengkalai di seluruh negara, supaya lebih pembeli projek dan rumah boleh dibantu oleh pihak kerajaan? Sekian, terima kasih.
Teresa Kok
Due to their lack of economic foresight and possibly poor management, the BN leaders now find themselves facing many insurmountable problems. Your many constructive suggestions for tax relief, price cut and appeals on behalf of the people to the government probably won’t goad the government into actioon, given the turmoils in the country plus the global gloomy economic outlook caused by oil price surge. There’s nothing much the BN can do, that’s to be expected. Should tell the government to pool all the resources in the country to focus on solving the people’s economic plight, whether they are dealing with BN or PR-controlled states. If possible, please drive home to the government that Penang’s monorail and PORR projects are in fact projects to boost the nation’s economy, not merely prestigious projects for the comfort of us Penangites. I won’t blame you if you have no time. Ask Guan Eng or the other 10 Opposition MPs to do so. Alas, my Bukit Gelugor MP (YB Karpal Singh) deals mostly with legal, law and human rights issues only.
it is high time that the government look at opening government tenders to all Malaysians. It would drive cost down.
it will be a bitter pill to swallow for a lot of people. sure, helping bumiputra is one thing but if this noble gesture is hijacked and create excessive wastage and inefficiency, might as well cut them off, save tax payers’ money and re-direct money to something else.
For example, if a non-bumi contractor can quote X amount lower than the bumi contractor, then the administration can take the non-bumi fella & can take the X amount and put into some funds to train bumi contractors or provide finances to bumi contractors. Heck, face with real competition but with adequate training and cheaper financing, then get the bumi contractor to compete in open market.
Radical? You bet. After more than 3 decades of same old formula, does the administration dare to up the challenge for the bumi? No pain, no gain, no growing up. This is for the long run, let our bumi businessmen to compete in international arena because the Malaysian economic cake will not grow very fast and very big
lee wee tak,
Sorry, I beg to differ. I think it is easier said than done. Train bumi contractors? Haven’t they been trained while they were at Mara colleges, universities,etc? I think business acmen or shrewdness can’t be acquired through learning in colleges or universities. Colleges and universities can train students up to a certain level only. The success or failure of a contractor,or any occupation for that matter, depends on how he applies the knowledge he or she has acquired. It is something we call ‘inate capability ‘ There are also Chinese people who can’t do business and fit to work as labourers or general workers only. But it doesn’t mean that they are not as important as lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc. Everyone of us is a functioning part of society.
What the government should do is exercising meritocracy among bumi contractors. If the government can be so stringent when it came to selecting the two astronauts, when can’t they do the same when selecting suitable contractors? There are many qualified and capable bumi contractors out there. The problem is that their talents and capabilities have not been stretched to the fullest mainly because of the government’s policy of favouring them in jobs, etc, thus they have been devoid of competition.
It is an endless story why our beloved country still have a long way to go …….
You got your point but what I wrote had accomodated some political realities in Malaysia. We can’t have much too fast. LGE is doing something right by letting all bumis compete among themselves and let hope they can take the next step to compete with other Malaysians.
I was proposing to take away from something wrong and putting it back within the bumi pool. Local unis do not teach technical stuff…but the money can be put into a revamped Mara that offers techinical courses. Mara needs a big revamp. Maybe with the money thrown in, they need to emply trainers base on meritocracy, take off the kiddies glove and set high and demanding passing grade.
Anyway, I really feel for the Indians and DAP is making political/PR relationship by not having a publicised and actual programmes to help them. I posted at Kula’s blog and see no ripple. The least I can do is to eat more at Indian restaurants…..
I missed out 1 word..should be “political/RR mistake”
Opening up the government tender process would be akin to opening the veritable Pandora’s box of political consequences. The recent Malay Unity seminar is already indicative enough of the mood of an UMNO trying to consolidate its position after its losses in the last general election. The opposition must do its part by also consolidating its position by being good models of governance. Sure, there would be a lot of disgruntled party members who are so sure that they would be given councillors but at the end of the day, good governance is the only thing people would remember.
As for the raising of the petrol prices, I am actually not against the rise of it at all given the finite nature of the natural resource but the rise could have been done when our problems with the public transportation system should have been rectified and improved upon. All this talk about using public transportation is useless unless there is a credible system in place.
30 years is a long time and many mistakes have been done in the noble aim of nation building but the time has come for the government to reassess many of the issues that has arisen of late. The question of why are there still many structures in place that seem to favour the Malays is a question that needs to be directed at the very issue of whether what was the social contract that the ruling party is constantly reminding us of when it comes to racial relations. We want to be a world leader but sorry to say, our political system remains immature and indicative of a race that still refuses to accept an equitable society. Indeed, one can hurl abuses at the US for all its mistakes but the reality of it, they are about to elect a black president and we are still wondering whether a Chinese or an Indian can be the speaker of Parliament. I dream of a day when I can be judged on my merits and not the colour of my skin, a day when I can proudly call myself a Malaysian. That’s nation building.
I understand how you feel for the Indians in this country. Share with you my views later.
ok, look forward to it.
by the way, I am not an Indian.
🙂
*The 2 million Malaysians Indians are made up of Tamils, Ceylonese, Punjabis, North Indians, Gujeratis, etc.
*MIC members are mostly Tamils
*Many well-educated Tamils and most of the non-Tamils have deserted the MIC and joined other parties like the DAP, PKR, Gerakan, PPP.
*The issue of mother tongue education among Tamils in the MIC is not as strong as it is among the Chinese in the MCA. The Tamils are aware that the Tamil language is not of much commercial value while to the Chinese they are well aware of the rising status of Mandarin internationally.
*Politically the Indians suffer a disadvantage in that none of the 222 Parliamentary constituencies has a majority of Indian voters. They have to depend on voters of other races for support in order to enter Parliament.
*The not-so-successful story of MAICA Holdings, a company linked to the MIC, and the enormous power accorded to the MIC president and thus resulting in allegation of power abuse by the top leader could have been the cause for MIC’s failure to effectively help the community.
*The prejudice against Indians has more or less affected the community’s success in various fields.
*The Indians lack the spirit of self-reliance as compared with the Chinese, and the demand by the MIC president to the government for a certain percentage of the nation’s economic cake has further eroded their spirit of self-reliance.
*Indian members in the DAP are the educated and well-off group. So, when it comes to helping their community they are often found wanting. Besides, the DAP doesn’t encourage race politics, so much so that the DAP Indian MPs and State Assemblymen sometimes even tell Indians that they don’t represent Indians. Hope that the appointment of Prof. Ramasamy as Deputy CM 2 of Penang would dispel this wrong perception among Indians.
*For Malaysian Indian community to progress, they have to (1) continuallly cultivate the spirit of self-reliance, (2) enhance their image by always showing their honesty and sincerity in dealing with others “(make no mistake, I’m not saying Indians are… what I mean is showing these good qualities more openly), (3) try to discard the bad habit of drinking, and instill in themselves the virtue of hard work.
The above are my personal views only. Frankly, we Chinese also have many bad habits and undesirable qualities. Chief among these bad habits is gambling, which has prevented our community and the country from progressing further.
I have spoken enough, and hope that nobody is offended. Just laugh it off should there be any……
Leguan,
you speak from your heart and how can the decent and the reasonable to be offended by the sad truth that you bring forward?
You left out Hindraf, Bala and Bala’s poor doggies….
Does the caste system/mentality offer some form of latent/mild resistance to progress of the mind, soul and body of the Indian people?
Leguan has mentioned that it’s his personal views, as an indian i accept it, but why are you(leguan/lee wee tak) seperating us as an indian in your comments when we should be promoting “We are Malaysians First!!!”
You should be sad, that there are some malaysians being left “out”.
maxwellsim – Hats off to you for – I dream of a day when I can be judged on my merits and not the colour of my skin, a day when I can proudly call myself a Malaysian. That’s nation building.
I can see your point but when I say we should help Indians I did not say we don’t help others.
Indians have been neglected. That is a fact so why can’t I say “help Indians”?
What’s wrong with coming out plans to help Indians when they have their own set of problems?
If to solve Indians’ problems we need specific approach what’s wrong as long as we have other plans to help other Malaysians?
I am a China A-Pek so if I say “help Indians” doesn’t it seems that I am crossing racial barrier?
Don’t fall into the racial politics trap. This is not a zero sum game where many politicians here like to play. Give scholarship to another race and my race lost out. Nonsense.
p.s. I even mention Bala’s dogs…so I also cross human species barrier
🙂
Coming out with Plans to help indians is a good thing but eating more at indian restaurants to help indians is another…
😀
hahaha….with my personal limited resources, that’ 1 thing I can do…banana leaf rice is best!
🙂
Saytitasitis
It was just the exchange of opinions between lee wee tak and me (leguan) only regarding the state of our fellow Malaysian Indians. I expressed my opinions from the view of a bystander, not as a Chinese Malaysian. I’m just a straight-talking person, never have prejudiced views of Indian Malaysians or other Malaysians. We (about 27 million of us) are all in the same boat.
Regards
lee wee tak / Sayitasitis:
My email add: [email protected]
Leguan,
Thank you and yes, We (about 27 million of us) are all in the same boat.
Regards.
oh leguan
from your earlier post, I thought you were an Indian given your thoughtful and in depth analysis
well, if the Chinese do feel for the Indians, that’s good.
it is pointless to have one race getting one better over the other. South Africa was like that and we can look at the old regime there and reflect on what our country wants to be in days and years to come. SA has changed for the better and we can learn good points from their experience.
Mention modern South Africa we inevitably remember Nelson Mandela. I read the book written by Mandela “Long Walk To Freedom” more than 10 years back. For many in Malaysia, it’s the “Long Wait For Democratic Reform”
Saytitasitis,
I’m glad to say that most of us Malaysians share a common dream of living in a truly democratic and prosperous nation, where opportunities are available to all irrespective of race. I’m optimistic. Do you know what ‘leguan’ means in Chinese? Optimistic.
Leguan
Now i know..tqvm
Regards,
Leguan
you added and extra t on my username and lucky you didn’t put an extra s in between the t and the a
😀
Lol…. well, we will definitely see change. It is only how slow or fast is it. Those who are at power want to slow it down while those without seek to accelerate it.
History has proven that and we will see it again soon. It can’t be avoided….the change we want is coming.
Lol wee tak….interspecies…
Quote” eating more at indian restaurants to help indians is another…”
Lol, we can help businesses grow xD.
Quote 2 “you added and extra t on my username and lucky you didn’t put an extra s in between the t and the a”
LOL…..
Anyway, we the most important thing is that we all care for each other not as Malays, Chinese, not even Malaysians but human beings ^^.
PS: I m a Chinese but I got a Sikh and Indian as my best friends. And they call me the ‘Lost Chinese’ Lmao….Malaysia for the win!
sayitasitis,
well spotted…darn farnie
This Prof he predicted in about 2020-2025 China and Vietnam GDP per capita will overtake Malaysia.
The Brain Gain’s Poster Boy Wants Out
By MARTHA ANN OVERLAND
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Rajah Rasiah once considered himself a fortunate man. At the age of 45 he was a full professor at United Nations University, in Maastricht, the Netherlands, earning more than $150,000 a year, tax-free.
A popular conference speaker and prolific author of papers on new technologies, the economist was often jetting around to the world’s capitals. With a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, his children in an elite private school, and two Mercedes-Benzes in the garage, he was about as far away as he could get from his impoverished childhood in Malaysia, where a knife wound had left him blind in one eye.
Despite his comfortable position in Europe, Mr. Rasiah was intrigued when the government of Malaysia began courting him. He was exactly the kind of dynamic academic that the government’s Brain Gain scheme hoped to lure home to infuse new life into its university programs.
With aging parents back in Kuala Lumpur and his wife unhappy living so far from home, he thought perhaps it was time to move back permanently. Considering how eager education officials were for him to return, even though their ethnic policies had once prevented a Tamil Indian like himself from advancing, Mr. Rasiah believed the university environment would be a place where he could thrive.
He had no idea how wrong he could be. “I should have never come back,” says Mr. Rasiah, who accepted a teaching job at the University of Malaya in 2004 at one-fifth the salary he was previously earning.
Barely a Pulse
Few of the benefits that the Brain Gain scheme had promised materialized. Though he was told he wouldn’t pay income tax during his first two years here, when he went to file his taxes the authorities said they had never heard of the Brain Gain program. While waiting for hours in lines to register his cars, Mr. Rasiah met other academics who were getting the run-around from government bureaucracies.
“People were already regretting moving back here,” he says.
Indeed, most people who returned under the programs have left. According to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, the first Brain Gain program, begun in 1995 and run until 2000, attracted just 94 scientists, only one of whom remains in Malaysia. A second Brain Gain scheme that ran from 2001 to 2004 was intended to attract 5,000 “extraordinary world talents” a year. Fewer than 200 took advantage of the offer. Today Mr. Rasiah is one of the few known to remain in the country.
Money never was the issue, says Mr. Rasiah, who supplements his professor’s salary with consulting jobs at the World Bank. But he has been shocked at how unprofessional the universities are, and how difficult it is to work here.
The research environment barely registers a pulse, he says. There is little emphasis on publishing, let alone teaching. What matters is pledging fealty to the university administration, which is appointed by the government. “Malaysian universities are structured on the feudal system,” says Mr. Rasiah. “If you want to hold senior positions you have to hold the party line.”
With his elderly parents to care for, Mr. Rasiah will stay in Malaysia for the time being. But he is not happy about it. For a country that so badly wants skilled professionals to come home, he says, “they certainly don’t make it easy for people