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This is a sterling contribution initiated by the National Young Lawyers led by my learned friend, Edmund Bon.

It took on the burning issues of the day by referring to the culture of corruption. Corruption, when I left this country in 1989 was already rearing its ugly head but was still "contained" by the culture of shame. However, when I returned in 1999, corruption seemed to be institutionalised.

What was worse was that the culture of shame had apparently disappeared. Shame is an internalised mechanism while guilt is a finding imposed on the wrong party by society through its many machineries such as the Courts of the legal system.

The talks about centred on the Right to Information Act such as India's. Years earlier, in the United Kingdom, there has been enacted the Freedom of Information Act.

It is for all political leaders to realise that the time has come to arrest this gallop of the culture of corruption. It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good in the end. The entire country and its future, the future of the rakyat jelata stands in grave peril unless we wipe our graft and corruption.

As I have said in a much earlier post, while you are in power, you may not want the exercise of power to be transparent. But one does not hold power forever. Without even trying to localise this, just look at King David and Solomon. How many years did they rule? Forty or slightly more. After that, power passed from their hands.

It is from this lesson and that of King Hussein of Jordan that we must learn. King Hussein of Jordan strengthened the institutions of the state to ensure that the checks and balance remain in place when he died.

Do we in Malaysia have the quality of leadership willing to travel on the same path? I have confidence that there are such leaders, but whether they will be given the opportunity to do this depends on how strong they are.

Congratulations to the organisers for holding this event. Young Malaysians are always accused for lack of apathy on issues regarding govt policies, public interests and human rights. The huge turn up with many young Malaysians in the audience, proved otherwise.

I look forward to go to the rest of the series.

The holding of this event couldn't have come at a more timely time! With the Toll concessions being in question and all... This is the first of 4 in this series and I hope that there would be many more to come... I'm sure we all need the wake up call! The world is changing and there is no place for corruption and cronieism (cronyism?) if we want to progress. Awareness of the widespread scale of this nonsense is a good beginning to getting rid of it! Kudos to the organisers and the participants!

All of us, the organisers - NYLC, Y4C and Humanity Library - were overwhelmed by the response, and could not believe the number of participants who attended. We are humbled, and apologise if we took the attitudes of our members and fellow Malaysians for granted by imputing non-participation based on past events. It is very rare to have a full hall (with extra chairs needed) for a public event like this.

Flowing from the first session, the work has yet to end and there are challenges facing our society as articulated by Khalid - this includes pushing a Freedom of Information Bill. We would also need to continue with the "journey" of the NEP with the next session on 18th Jan from the academic perspective, and we hope as many will attend.

We have received many comments on the first session, most of them very encouraging especially on the mix of facts and figures from Lim and the rousing, expressive words from Khalid.

We would like to clarify one matter however (and this was stated in my speech on the 11th): we had indeed invited representatives of the Government with 2 official letters to the D-G of EPU and Minister Dato Effendi Norwawi (NEAC). A few days before the 11th, EPU sent an email saying that it would not be able to participate as they are involved in other official commitments. We have yet to receive any reply from the NEAC.

What comes across clearly from the very high attendance is that there is a burning desire, expecially amongst youth, to speak and discuss these matters which some consider "sensitive". We really need to discuss this more - the gap between rich and poor is growing ever wider in Malaysia, something the NEP was meant to eradicate. Only by having these dicussions can we rectify the shortcomings.

My dear Edmund

That the response was overwhelming bears eloquent testimony to the fact that the series planned by the National Young Lawyers Committee you lead is very topical and relevant for all those who attended. It was an excess capacity crowd which attended the first of the four seminars.

Your clarification that government representatives were invited but could not appear is informative. Their absence may be justified if they really have something important to do. I am sure that had the decision-maker known the glaring significance of the event, they would have nominated someone to represent them.

All said, the decision-makers of the departments concerned not only missed the opportunity to interface with the many attendees but also failed to get the feedback that the Government has always insisted it wanted, especially on issues and policies that will affect the short and mid-term path that the Government is taking.

I wonder whether someone in authority can ensure that the Government is represented in the subsequent seminars of the same series. I can see no reason for their absence since, I am told that even the diplomatic community appears to demonstrate strong interest in the seminars.

For those who were unable to attend the first session, Dr Lim's press release distributed that night is reproduced below:

Press Release for Youth for Change and National Young Lawyers Committee Lecture

In his lecture, Dr. Lim Teck Ghee reviewed the origins, objectives and outcomes of the NEP. He noted that the NEP had resulted in mixed outcomes. Positive outcomes included the uplifting of the socio-economic position of the Malays; building of a Bumiputra business community; and restructuring of society which resulted in race being less identified with economic function in the country. The poverty eradication drive had also achieved success although significant pockets of the poor lacked access to resources and opportunities to improve their lives. On the minus side, he listed the growing sense of disunity; widening gap between rich and poor; increasing corruption, wastage and fraud; loss of economic competitiveness; and sense of disillusionment and disenchantment amongst many young Malaysians.

Dr. Lim pointed out that much of the sense of alienation and discontentment amongst non-Malays stemmed from racially biased or narrowly partisan policies and programs designed and implemented by a dominant Malay civil service that works in bureaucratic isolation and secrecy, and is insensitive or non-responsive to non-Malay legitimate concerns and needs. He added that similar negative views of the civil service were held by the business community, foreign investors and other key stake players and that the time was right to implement measures that would bring about a more representative, transparent and accountable civil service and racially balanced administrative power sharing.

Dr. Lim noted that a representative civil service with enlarged non-Malay participation at all levels had been part of the original NEP objectives. Unfortunately during the time of NEP implementation and in the last 15 years after the NEP ended, this objective was neglected or overlooked. Barisan National non-Malay parties and leaders have not only failed to prioritize this issue but have acquiesced in the deteriorating racially unbalanced system of administrative power sharing.

Since racial considerations are inextricably embedded in public policy decision making in all sectors – economic, social, educational and cultural – Dr. Lim emphasized that it was essential for the country's leaders to act decisively to ensure that the civil service is not the preserve of any one group but is open to all citizens and races equitably. In all modern societies, the civil service is a public resource, not a political prize or instrument for a social class, race or religion. Because of our racial and religious diversity, the civil service - more than in other countries – must provide a model for fairness and non-discrimination. Failure to do this will result in a sense of even greater political marginalization and impede the country's drive towards a less racially and class divided society as set out in the goals of Vision 2020.

Dr. Lim Teck Ghee
Kuala Lumpur

NEP turned M'sia into a 'pussycat'
Bede Hong
Jan 12, 07 6:17pm

The continued existence of the New Economic Policy (NEP) has transformed Malaysia from an Asian tiger into an Asean 'pussycat', said academician Dr Lim Teck Ghee.

Speaking at a public forum in Kuala Lumpur last night, he said the policy has caused the country to lose its competitive edge and is driving away the nation's educated young.

Entitled 'Imagine Malaysia without NEP', the forum was organised by Youth for Change (Y4C) and the National Young Lawyers Committee.

Lim said the policy, crafted in the wake of the 1969 racial riots to reduce the income disparity between the races, must be abolished to halt any further erosion of the country's economy.

He said NEP contributed to a growing sense of disunity, a widening gap between the rich and poor; increased corruption, wastage and fraud, the loss of economic competitiveness and public apathy in the nation's political processes.

"We are a long way from reaching the goals of (Vision) 2020. It is losing out in the race against other countries," he added.

Lim was the former head of the Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute's (Asli) centre for public policy studies.

He resigned from the think-tank last October when Asli retracted a controversial report which claimed that bumiputera corporate equity ownership was around 45 percent instead of the government's figure of 18.9 percent

'Asean pussycat'

Meanwhile, Lim said Malaysia is unable to compete with many of its Asian neighbours due to factors like corruption and the lack of high-skilled labour force.

"With the oil and gas bonanza in the sixties, we should have forged ahead. We should not be with countries that we are currently labelled with. We should be up there with South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. But we have fallen back, and we are starting to lose out to Vietnam and even Indonesia on some accounts.

"We are no longer the Asian tiger. We are very much the Asean pussycat," he added.

He said the business community, foreign investors and other key players have formed negative views about the civil service.

According to him, a representative civil service with enlarged non-Malay participation at all levels had been part of the original NEP objectives but it was not achieved.

During the time of the NEP implementation and in the last 15 years after the NEP ended, this objective was neglected or overlooked, he said.

He blamed non-Umno Barisan Nasional parties for failing to prioritise the issue and to comply with racial based administrative power sharing.

"It is time race-based political parties come to an end," the former World Bank official stressed, adding that the NEP has driven away the nation's best talents.

"There is a sickness in our society, a cancer. I think we need to recognise it and we need to deal with it. Time is not on our side, our resources are depleting. The world moves on. It's not going to wait for us to continue returning to the NEP and revisiting this past policy," he said.

On the same note, Lim conceded that the NEP has helped with national stability and eradicating poverty.

He also blamed BN for pushing the NEP as a political platform despite opposition from non-bumiputeras.

He said Malaysians must demand for the removal of the policy.

"It is important to have room and encourage dissent. All citizens have the right to dissent, to say that the NEP must go, we must not have any kind of keris waving or similar acts to deter us. BN is getting fat, lazy and inefficient. It's time for a change," he said.

"The British in 1957 did not leave us with a screwed up country. They left us with a relatively prosperous country," he added.

High toll rates: Blame it on Malaysia Inc
Bede Hong
Jan 13, 07 5:19pm

A PKR leader has blamed the toll hikes of five highways in the Klang Valley on corrupt practices that went unchecked for many years under the concept of Malaysia Inc.

Party treasurer Khalid Ibrahim said the policy has in fact encouraged political patronage as well as unethical collaborations between government officials, politicians and the private sector.

Malaysia Inc was a concept mooted under former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's administration to speed up development programmes through closer collaboration between the government and private sector.

It has since been criticised for having encouraged corruption at many levels within the government.

Khalid, a former CEO of Guthrie Group Bhd and Permodalan Nasional Bhd, said while the intentions of Malaysia Inc was noble, it created a culture that accepted corrupt practices as a norm.

"The politicians and civil servants and the entrepreneur will have to work together in order to achieve this so called momentum. This is M'sia Inc," he said at a public forum on Thursday.

Entitled 'Imagine Malaysia without NEP', the forum was organised by Youth for Change (Y4C) and the National Young Lawyers Committee and participated by academic Dr Lim Teck Ghee.

"The Malaysia Inc process has got a lot of attraction, because we cut a lot of red tape. Very soon, a very interesting concept, which I call a win-win-win situation began."

He said the natural tendency was that politicians were looking to sustain their political activities while entrepreneurs were looking to increase their profit margin.

"A win from the point of view of the entrepreneur means more profits. The word used is invest, a very nice word. If I invest then I will get the project, then if my return from the project is substantial then my investment is justified. Then I can give donation to politician friends, so that he can win and I can win. It's very logical. It's partnership. It's not called corruption."

He said civil servants are also known to receive gratuitous study trips abroad by private developers who wanted a particular project approved.

"We didn't realise these people who were supposed to lead the people are just as much human as everybody else," said Khalid.

Declassify agreements

He said Malaysia Inc was to blame for projects such as the toll concession agreements that came under recently after the Jan 1 toll hikes in the Klang Valley. Last week, protesters gathered near the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) highway to protest the hikes.

"The challenge today is to change the highway toll agreements as the risk and reward are totally in favour of the entrepreneurs. Even Mahathir admitted there were some stupidity involved in the agreements," he said.

Mahathir had recently said that was negligence on the part of the government in their conduct of those negotiations during his tenure at the country's helm.

But Khalid said any change to the agreements needs to be justified by evidence, much of which is still classified. Contents of the agreement are currently kept away from public scrutiny under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

He blamed the BN government for continuing to deny the public access to the agreements.

"Even the OSA was the relic of the colonial masters, because they don't want you to go tell tales of how the resident general play around with the money," he said.

Khalid said PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should declassify the agreements from the official secrets status as thousands of people have already read the documents, thus compromising its secrecy.

"There is no reason whatsoever to keep it as a secret when hundreds, perhaps thousands of people have read the documents. This is so since the agreements was the basis supporting the toll operators' loan applications from banks. Thus, it is in fact a public document that has been read by bank staffs, including foreign ones."

He added that the toll operators would also have to file the documents with the relevant authorities such as the Securities Commission and the Bursa Kuala Lumpur if they raised capital from the local capital market.

Meanwhile, details of the New Economic Agenda (NEA), an affirmative action-based policy coined by Parti Keadilan Rakyat, will be revealed some time next month.

The former industry captain said the NEA, which PKR claims to be non-racial, would serve as a viable alternative to the ruling government's NEP.

The talk ended with everyone going home peacefully although much crucial and emotionally-stirring thoughts were provoked. I have not experience such degree of 'freedom of expression' until this talk. Both the speakers ought to be saluted for their courage and wisdom, for 'menyahut cabaran diri', all for the sake of the nation's future. One is compelled to ask many questions at the end of the talk :-

(1) why had there been so much 'brain drain' of smart Malaysians to other nations (I have many intellectual friends whom had since migrated)? How long do we want to continue in letting this happen?

(2) how competitive are we Malaysians in facing the future challenges of the world?

(3) if the twisted concept of "WIN - WIN - WIN" (patronage, sycophancy, 'bodekism', favouritism, nepotism, hegemony, corruptions, 'thought-to-be-entitled commissions, golfing, study tours,' leakages, scandals of Little and Big Napoleons) is allowed to be abused continuously, what will happen?

(4) how can we address the problem of increasing racial and religious antagonisms, the 'denial syndrome'?

(5) does Malaysia want to be an economic power of a 'TIGER' or 'PUSSYCAT'?

(6) what do we do with the fear and apathy amongst young Malaysians on our nation's issues? Do we care enough to be concerned about the implications?

(7) how relevant are the Official Secret Act (OSA) and the Internal Security Act (ISA) in today's context? What are the justifications and assurances that these laws are not abused to protect 'cronies', for the wrong reasons? Why do not people see the importance for 'right to information'?

Sincerely hope and pray that we, the younger generations of Malaysia shall not pay for the 'sins of the forefathers'. We need Affirmative Actions on the basis of NEEDS and not RACE. I treasure my friends of all races and do not like to be differentiated because of my skin colour which I cannot choose the moment I was born. Please give all of us a FAIR CHANCE to prove ourselves, to deserve a worthy living, to EARN RESPECT AND TRUST based on our OWN ABILITIES and MERITS.

Indeed, we are all 'in the same boat', so better get our acts together and start rowing, focus on solving problems and NOT creating more problems, fighting amongst ourselves, because the World does not wait for us nor have any mercy in out-doing us in no time.

Do not complain the next time you experience something that irks you (be it bribery, corruption, abuse of power, etc) because you failed to do your small bit (in any way you can think of) to change things for better. So, WAKE UP, MALAYSIANS, BE HEARD NOW…

NYLC hopes large crowd continue to attend the 'Siri Pemikiran Kritis'. The topic in discussion pertains a national policy which is the backbone of many projects of the government. As there are many legal implications in the implementation of the DEB, NYLC sees these lectures/forums as an excellent oppurtunity to interact with members of the public, and gain public opinions on the issue.

Do attend the next lecture on the 18th January 2007.

"With the oil and gas bonanza in the sixties, we should have forged ahead. We should not be with countries that we are currently labelled with. We should be up there with South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. But we have fallen back, and we are starting to lose out to Vietnam and even Indonesia on some accounts. We are no longer the Asian tiger. We are very much the Asean pussycat," he added.

So went the report made by malaysiakini.

With respect, the oil and gas bonanza did not come in the 1960s. It was only in the late 1970s that we had revenue from petroleum, a few years after Tun Razak died in January 1976. Gas came on stream in the 1980s.

Yes, we are no longer one of the Asian tigers because of the distortions in our domestic economy created by seepages that occurred with corruption.

Yes, our competitiveness vis-a-vis other regional countries has been blunted.

And yes, the capitalism that we have to pick lies between the consumerist capitalist of the United States or the crony capitalism of Japan when the consumer, given high wages, nevertheless help fund the grotesquely inefficient distribution network based on cronies.

The reason for the strong participation that you see in this forum/talk about NEP is; in my view' the culmination of years of frustration and ineffectiveness of the current policy in making Malaysia a known economic or socio political force. The brightest and bests are not utilised by the country due to whatever the reason and they leave to seek greener pastures which will in turn come back to haunt us later on. Meritocracy should be the key word... not in the speeches but especially in the implementation of any policy and its people running it!

My dear Kenny Lai

We do not need to strive to be a known socio-political or economic force. All we need to do is to be honest in our interactions with each other as fellow Malaysians.

Any nation-state worth its salt needs:

(1) A police force that must enjoy the trust of the people. For that internal imperative to happen, they must be professional.

(2) An armed forces that stands ready to protect it against outside forces hostile to the nation-state. For that external imperative to be effective, the armed forces, like the police, must be well equipped.

(3) An economy that is so healthy and robust that it can provide the taxes to pay for not just the police and armed forces, but also for basics to the people such as provision of health, education and judicial services. Investment in health services is to maintain the present while the provision for education is to provide for its future manpower needs and the nation-state’s capacity to reproduce itself and the vote for judicial services is to ensure that any dispute is settled without violence.

(4) Of course there are other services that the nation-state can provide at local council levels such as garbage collection, drainage and irrigation, planning approvals for buildings and all other related activities.

For all of the above to happen, we must have a political system that rewards the good and able citizens and punishes the bad and disruptive elements within. Right now, the Malaysian electoral system has shown itself extremely capable of throwing up some bad and disruptive elements. Just observe what was done to the two recent cases of the close-one-eye Member of Parliament and the local councillor who does not pay council rates. They may be isolated cases, but they may well be precursors of things to come.

Once we get our system in order and once we set our priorities right in terms of resource allocation decisions, our march as a nation will certainly attract foreign investors who will put their money here because we have a good political system that is bound to provide the STABILITY and CERTAINTY that investors want during the time that their investments need to bear the returns.

Then we start comparing ourselves, our political, economic and legal system and our achievements with First World nations, and not with third-rated countries, as is the present despicable wont. Are our politicians ready? Are our leaders ready? Can we Malaysians get there?

While some senior lawyers are busy arguing about 'locus standi' in a particular proceeding, there are others especially the younger members of the Bar who feel that there are more important and pressing issues, like NEP and national unity, that require our attention.

To NYLC, kudos.

I so wish that I could have been there. Maybe the NYLC could organise something like this in the future for us Penangites Anyway, good job and looking forward to more reports for the up-coming lectures.

The National Economic Policy should be critically analysed. Open discussion should not be stifled by viewing it in the wrong context. The said policy was meant to bridge the gap between poor and the rich, to create more middle class income earners. It was successful initially, but the people that benefited from this initiative refuses to acknowledge it. Try giving a kid a lollipop and later to snatch it back.

I am in full agreement that the economic pie should be shared and the poor, whatever their race, this group of people should be given priority. But, if the priority is to feed the rich and continue to prosper those that doesn't need any further aid, this policy breeds contempt. We are talking about competitiveness with the global players in light of globalisation but within our country, economic opportunities are only given to the privileged few, here being the rich and powerful.

Can we survive if we continue to be short sighted?

Thanks Dara for the informative writeup on the first talk. I was unable to attend, but it is indeed heartwarming to see the amount of healthy debate it has already generated. I look forward to attending the other talks in this series.

Well done to the organisers! A relevant and stimulating series. May the coming segments be even more stimulating.

Perhaps not only Penang, what about down south? A good effort made to create awareness and allow open discussions regard the NEP.

The session had provided a most suitable forum for a public discussion of the NEP, which some termed as the "Never Ending Policy". In this new millennium, when nations are focusing on wealth creation, Malaysia must not be sidetracked by issues of wealth distribution.

The SPK series demonstrate the maturity of today's youth in tackling tough and sensitive issues affecting the country.

Well done!

Eh. Given the calls from our brethren from the North and South for a reprise of the talk, could we perhaps broadcast the next lecture through web cam?

It is indeed timely the SPK series on the issue of the New Economic Policy took place. Much has been said about the governance, planning, and policies of the government of Malaysia, it is about time a post-mortem be held on what had gone wrong that produced the current state of discontentment and chaos, for problems and issues such as the continuous toll hikes, the red-tape in new foreign set-up, etc which could probably has the point of origin traced back to this NEP.

A salute to the speakers of the SPK, for their time, effort, the analysis and the mind opening, particularly Dr. Lim Teck Ghee, who not only stood on what one believes, but had acted and spoken without fear and favour.

The SPK series is a reflection of what matured thinking can achieve. The SPK series show that with a proper agenda we can all move forward progressively and with a view of improving our socio-economic conditions. This country needs a huge shift in its thinking especially if we are to survive the coming decades. We have been held back far too long and its time all Malaysian took it upon themselves to push for a better Malaysia.

The SPK series is one sure way to go forward.
Well done NYLC!

I was astound by the turn up of the people... at first I was expecting only about 50-60 young people to which our learned friend Mr. Edmund had invited. But, the event was more than just any gathering, it was a communion between the school of thoughts. Various Malaysian that share the same passion in uplifting Malaysia to a high ground in the face of the world. I am amazed by the various crowd, mostly younglings, although some to which you can see experience lies in their eyes. The presentation was great, the talk was fruitful and knowledgable though many who are in the government would not agree... We need to have more of these stimulating talks to promote more awareness of current issues in Malaysia. Lastly, Well Done NYLC.

Obviously there is much interest in the NEP. Look at the number of comments this post is getting.

Well done to the organisers who braved the challenge. I look forward to attending the one on the 25th.

Edmund, perhaps this siri pemikiran kritis should even extend beyond the NEP....

The benefits of the NEP, once given can never be revoked for fear of losing popularity and reprisal from its own community.

This is yet another good example of how a policy which is supposed to brige the gap of income disparity be manipulated and converted to a manifesto to gain popularity and votes causing the country to "purr" with contentment.

It is perhaps very pertinent for one of the later speakers to go into the philosophy and working ethics of the late Tun Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister who propounded the New Economic Policy that has now had a change of name but not of emphasis.

The late Tun was known as a very cautious man. It was never his style to be pompous. He was almost always unassuming, walking very softly with a big stick that he rarely used. Above all, he worked very hard, monitoring the implementation of rural development projects under his portfolio, most times knowing their actual progress better than the civil servants, including the District Officers, on the ground.

That he rewarded hark work can be seen from the number of civil servants who made it into his and subsequent Cabinet. I am sure there are many stories among civil servants about how he never tolerated sloppiness in government service.

Given the above pen portrait of the late Tun, it cannot be that he envisaged the NEP to be a Never Ending Policy. He was aware of the twin-prongs of the policy, one of which was to eradicate poverty. He was also aware that the policy will never be used "to rob Peter to pay Paul," since it was predicated on the growing economic cake.

Yes, the policy was predicated on the growing economic cake. Can we see the policy, as it is being implemented right now, promoting economic growth? Please make your own honest assessment.

That he never envisaged it to last forever can also only be speculated since he was taken away from us in his prime years of 54 in 1976, a year after the NEP was implemented. But with great respect to this great man and his legacy, I do not think that the late Tun expected the policy to be implemented for more than 30 years or one generation.

Of course, flaws in implementation appeared only after the demise of this great patriot when he was no longer around to preside over it.

I just want to concentrate my comments on the impact of NEP against young Malaysian that has caused the sense of disillusioned and disenchantment among many of them. To me NEP alone is not enough to be discussed when we talk about young Malaysians. There are several acts that restrict the intellectual way of thinking among young Malaysians. Take for example the introduction of Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA/AUKU), which curbs the students’ freedom to participate in the political activities, deemed unacceptable by their academic institutions. Much has been said about the government ideas to produce the first class mentality graduate or world class university but it’s funny when the UUCA/AUKU discourage the student to be politically intellectual while other young Malaysian who are working in factory have more freedom! Why deny these bright young students their political rights when everything from petrol prices and toll hikes issues could be considered political! Is this the way of producing the concerned citizen? My conclusion is this; any improvement or even abolishment of NEP must come together with a review of the UUCA/AUKU otherwise young Malaysians will still be living with disillusioned and disenchantment!

I was unable to attend this talk. I now wish that i had. It is absolutely encouraging to know that the turnout was exceptional and the auditorium was packed to capacity.

This augurs well for further dialogue and debate of purported "sensitive issues" which has long been the bogeymen of Malaysian society and its plurality.

The time is ripe for serious discussion. Affirmative action policies for a segment of society can no longer be the order of the day in the wake of globalisation. The world order has changed. From the fall of the Soviet Union, there are no longer blocs (Eastern andWestern) by which a country bases its economic policies to. The byword now is competition. Inability to compete would inevitably mean an inability to survive. Hence, this series of talks are indeed timely.

Well done NYLC for leading the initiative!

SPK on NEP is not about which race being affected and deprived. It is a talk about social and economic issues. It is a talk that will mark our invaded boundary of tolerance of the 'cancer' that is crippling our economy and crumble our society. It is a talk that will ignite our conscience that was surpressed and ignored by most of us for a very long time. Let us be guided by vision and not by race and temptations. All of us play a part in this society, in this nation.

I am glad to see so many speaking up on this particular topic thread. Very exciting indeed!

Discussing sensative issues such as the NEP is worrying especially being a non bumi but the organizers prove me wrong. I met a Malay client who attended the first session with his wife and told me that it was an excellent discussion and also an eye opener to the both of them. From his mouth he says that the NEP is definitely unfair not only to the non malays but to the general well being of the malays as well as it benefit only the selected group for years. Therefore it should be abolished and probably be replaced to something more fair to the people as a whole. Or else it will be a Never Ending Problem. Therefore to the organizers, a job well done. Now whether a road show be a good idea like what Art 11 did?

Continuing the siri pemikiran kritis, I must state that I am very upset with Pak Lah. No no, nothing to do with the DEB, but the manner in which Pak Lah is doing things.

Last night I was particularly upset with Pak Lah when I saw him on TV3 news. Here he was, on the boat, with a few government officials, going around Kota Tinggi, (not Tinggi enough after all). He had had the audacity to wave and smile to the people in their flooded homes when passing by them....

Please, ..... let the waving be left to the royalties and Siti Norhaliza. He is the Prime Minister for heavens sakes. Not some glamourous royalty or pop idol. Even royalties like the Sultan Pahang doesnt wave to the flood victims when visiting them. Tuanku gets knee deep involved, literally.

Pak Lah should have made sure that he went around and spoke to these victims in their homes. He should have given them encouragement and support. Its traumatic and I imagine, although it is a natural disaster, the least he could do was not to be afraid to get his feet wet. He could have gone in the waters. Feel what the rakyat is feeling. Given them some emotional and financial backing. OK so not all may benefit as it is impossible for him to reach out to all of them, but at least those with children who are probably feeling the most pain.

When he arrives at the Flood relief centre, he should have eaten the same food as the victims,a nd not be whisked off to some hotel in JB by helicopter. He spent almost a whole day there yesterday. In the morning he was unveling some educational blueprint. I know he is a very busy man.

Look at todays The Star newspaper, with a photo of the 5 boats accompanying Pak Lah, its like as if, they are so insensitive and actually imagining themselves in Venice. They seem to be enjoying themselves. What Pak Lah did was distasteful. I have all the respect for him, but I think he has lost it all.

NEP has really outlived its usefulness. It was supposed to help the Bumiputras but it has only prospered the Umnoputeras. I believe that we have to be honest with ourselves and think of the future of our country. Imagine Malaysia without racial based parties who only fight for their own races. I behove all the political parties to change their constitution to accept all Malaysians regardless of race. This is the first step to a truly Bangsa Malaysia.

The impression I gather having attended the series so far is that there are a lot of frustrated people out there. Frustrated because as the days and months go by, this country is being engulfed by a general snese of apathy and malaise. Many of the speakers on the night are no longer offering solutions but merely lamenting their frustrations.

I think one way to improve the series in the future is to focus on the alternatives. I have no qualms with the current set up and topics as it is my view that the issues raised by the current speakers must be laid down and dealt with first.

As a suggestion for the future, the focus could be on moving forward and how to deal with issues post NEP or without the NEP. Perhaps, we could start by advocating for the removal of the 7% discount or suggest a mechanism of ensuring only deserving individuals benefit from the 7% discount.

All the same, the SPK is a boon for Malaysians who want a change for the better.

Many thanks