Reading this article makes me feel sad about current state of Malaysia.
10th Malaysian Plan
Remember that 43% of the GDP comes from Petroleum money, and that 30% of the GDP comes from "haram" activity taxes, such as gambling, cigarette and alcohol taxes and such. Which leaves only 27% of our GDP from actual hard work. What kind of a pathetic economy is this?
By Michael Chick
Malaysia is less exotic than Thailand, less developed than Singapore and more expensive than Indonesia. A Senior Politician once said, "..We are failing because we are not Democratic...". So true, for a country run under Autocratic rule, of the race-based paraplegic party called the Barisan Nasional for the past half century.
Overshadowed by corruption, it comes as no surprise that most Foreign Investor bypass Malaysia and make a bee-line directly to either China or India. In fact, despite being a self-declared Islamic country (we all know that it is not, as it has a Constitution which is alive and well...), Malaysia was abandoned by the Arabs, who recently decided to build a US$10 billion World-Class University on it's tiny neighbor, Singapore. Struggling to compete in the Asian continent, it's time that Malaysia adopts the urgently needed 10th Malaysian Plan. It is therefore outlined as follows:
The 10th Malaysian Plan
1) Catalytic Government
The Government shall redefine it's role as a catalyst and facilitator. It shall adopt the role of defining problems and assembling of resources for others to use in resolving those problems.
Additionally, the government shall provide:
a) seed money
b) equity investments
c) voluntary associations
d) co-production or self-help
e) quid pro quos
f) demand management
g) sale, exchange, or use of property
h) restructuring the market
2) Community Owned Government
The government shall greatly reduce the 3million civil servants. They are mostly redundant, counter-productive and cause unnecessary bureaucratic red-tape which slows down the process of good governance. Malaysia has the highest civil servant- civilian ratio in the world. And that is not something to be proud of.
With all the clumsiness removed out of the government, it can now perform its role. The previously displaced civil servants can now pursue a more active role in the private sector, where, to begin with, will enjoy an immediate, much higher salary than before. Second, due to working in a commercial sector, the individuals will now be forced to be much much more productive, or face termination. This brings about a positive change to the economy of the country. Special concessions will still be made for the physically challenged individuals. In fact, a quota should be set for them, even in the private sector.
Citizens shall now be empowered through Participatory Democracy.
3) New Economic Policy
The NEP shall apply, BUT without the word "race" in it. But for God's sake, give it a new name. The current name leaves a horrible bitter-after-taste in everyone's mouth. In fact, any Government employee who uses the word "race" in any from should be terminated from employment with immediate effect. ie: Chinese New Year should be called The Lunar New Year, and so on. All immigration forms, Mykad's and documents should have the "race" category removed. MCA and MIC and UMNO (again) should be de-registered. Segregation by "race" has no place in the New Malaysia.
4) Competitive Government
The most obvious advantage of competition is the greater efficiency. Competition forces the public and private sector to respond to the needs of their customers. Competition rewards innovation. Monopolies stifle it. Competition boosts the pride and morale of civil servants.
Our civil servants need to learn to compete, or stagnate. Run annual performance appraisals. And then fire the unproductive ones. Pay increment by merit, not by seniority.
5) Mission-Driven Government
Never tell the people "how to do things". Tell them what needs to be achieved, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.
Mission Driven Governments are:
a) more efficient than rule-driven governments.
b) more effective than rule-driven governments.
c) more innovative than rule-driven governments.
d) more flexible than rule-driven governments.
e) more highly moralled than rule-driven governments.
Mission Driven Governments:
a) give every employee an incentive to save money.
b) free up resources to test new ideas.
c) give managers the autonomy they need to respond to changing circumstances.
d) create a predictable environment.
e) simplify the process enormously.
f) save billions by not having to stay bureaucratic and wasteful.
g) free up unnecessary legislatures to focus on more important issues.
6) Results-Orientated Government
Civil servants need to behave like servants. Not like Lords. Where is the public appraisal/ feedback? With enough complaints against an individual/ department, it needs to rehire a completely new set of employees. The Government needs to work a little beyond 5:01pm.
Rule #1 If you can't see success, you can't reward it.
Rule #2 If you can't reward success, you're probably rewarding failure.
Rule #3 If you can't recognize failure, you can't correct it.
Rule #4 If you can't demonstrate results, you need to be fired.
7) Public-Driven Government
The sole purpose of the Government employees is meeting the needs of the People; NOT the Bureaucracy. Getting close to the people does not involve cutting ribbons or attending over-priced dinners and events. It involves getting your hands dirty. Being on the ground-level with the people. Remember the role of a servant. In short, the People did not elect their leaders to be taken advantaged of, nor to be Lorded over. Remember who voted you in can also vote you out. And remember that those who hired you are voted in. They'd rather fire you than risk not being voted in again. So, shape up, or ship out.
8) Enterprising Government
Earn more than you spend. Turning the profit motive to public use, and making sure that the people receive this money. Be it in various forms; - subsidies, toll-free roads and such. Privatization is not the answer for projects or services that Governments should be providing in the first place.
Remember that 43% of the GDP comes from Petroleum money, and that 30% of the GDP comes from "haram" activity taxes, such as gambling, cigarette and alcohol taxes and such. Which leaves only 27% of our GDP from actual hard work. What kind of a pathetic economy is this?
9) Anticipatory Government
Prevention is better than cure.
The government needs to be a problem-solver rather than a"service-provider".
In the past, we were told to worship our ancestors, for they had more knowledge than we do. However,in this accelerated information age, we might need to worship our FUTURE descendants, for they will possess far greater knowledge than all our ancestors put together. I call this "Forward Thinking", and you can quote me on this.
10) Decentralized Government
Depart from the hierarchical system to a participatory one involving teamwork. All Malaysians are Malaysians. Including those from Borneo and the Peninsular. No longer will citizens of Borneo be treated as second class. They will in fact, be a part of all important decision-making processes. Jointly benefiting as well as taking the blame when things do not turn out as planned.
Summary:
What I'm suggesting is a complete paradigm shift from the traditional government run in Malaysia. The current system is archaic and riddled with loopholes for corrupt practices which many individuals have been profiteering from. While I am fully aware that it takes time for this new reality to materialize, it would be wise to start afresh with goals which are attainable in the immediate future.
The rest are but just details of these 10 points for the 10th Malaysian Plan.
Well, "Good Luck and Goodnite".
Michael Chick is a Graduate of The Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University, USA.
