Roadmap to a better Malaysia in 2015

Here is a possible checklist that will get Malaysia on track to becoming a nation ruled by ethics and value.

COMMENT

By J D Lovrenciear

The year has begun. How will we plough through the twelve months ahead of us? Will Malaysia squander another year and end up no better than 2014, come December 31, 2015?

As a nation of people, leaders and rulers included, we must take responsibility from the start of 2015 if we want to correct our mistakes, omissions and sins against citizens, rulers and nation.

Here is a possible checklist that will get us tackling the vital 20 per cent of our shortcomings in order to yield 80 per cent in results rather than wallow in a muddled pool of 80 per cent ills and score 20 per cent results, come end 2015.

First, we need to have the courage to think and act decisively to undo our worn out political scaffoldings that are racially structured. We can no longer continue with an outdated and increasingly incapable framework for transforming the nation. Let us undo the exhausted UMNO-MCA-MIC. In place, let us have a unified and singular Barisan National that works for all Malaysians. The same too goes for the opposition parties (better seen as the alternative political party), too. The ‘coalition’ concept is not going to work as we have seen too many times these past years.

Second, the media must play an objective and collaborative role without sacrificing media ethics. It must uphold its duty to inform as much as the reader has the right to know.

Third, the judiciary must demonstrate in words and deeds that it has not compromised justice as the result of its allegiance to political parties. It must prove it is impartial.

Fourth, it is time to let professionals and qualified individuals provide leadership and direct key ministries like Education, Finance and Healthcare. Politicians with mere grass-root support and popularity through rural constituency vote wins should not be the heads of these critical ministries. Likewise, the prime minister cannot be the Finance Minister unless he is a financial wizard or has been schooled in this discipline.

Fifth, it is time we stopped all logging activities for one full year and get the timber barons to do national service, i.e. rehabilitating our forests. Arguments like, “we need to sell timber to earn revenue for the country” is flawed. The amount of money that goes into fighting floods and caring for the environment far outweigh the revenue earned from logging.

Sixth, leave religion to religious leaders. Politicians must draw a clear line and stay out. The government’s role must be restricted to ensuring extremism of any sort is checked decisively and without coloured blinkers, fear or favour. After all we have the rulers as heads of Islam in their respective territories and our revered monarchy can be the binding factor as far as Islam is concerned.

Seventh, given a precarious global economic and financial outlook in 2015, stop approving any new mega developments. Instead, get local developers to revive the scores of abandoned housing and building projects. To make it financially rewarding, the government must provide attractive incentives to builders.

Eight, refocus on flood mitigation plans. The weather won’t improve in ensuing years given the changes in climate in the region. Blaming the moon and trying to lump everything on God’s lap is totally unacceptable. Thank God instead that we do not have earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. A comprehensive environmental management development plan is urgently needed and demands concerted commitment and will from both private and public sectors , including royalty, to help spearhead flood preparedness. It calls for a total stop to logging and cutting down of mountains and hills in the name of so called development.

Ninth, it is time to stop this unhealthy over reliance on a legal and illegal immigrant workforce. The government must take a serious re-look at the inventory of young and able youth who do not have what it takes to get into institutions of higher education. With the right incentives and long term human resource development agendas, Malaysia can be self-reliant in various sectors. That is the way to go if we envisage a 70 million population in the decades to come.

Tenth, we should bar all politicians from getting involved in business. If a politician is sincerely pledged to serve the rakyat and crown, there is no room for profiteering along the way using power and control to land lucrative business deals on the sidelines. And in that context, the government too must have the muscle to go after all those politicians who come in with empty wallets but leave with a long line of business empires under their arm. That money and those opportunities belong to the citizens and the nation.

If we can resolve to use the above ten parameters as a possible road map in the months ahead of us, we can be confident of ending 2015 on a more promising note. It will also ensure that corruption is dealt a severe and decisive blow.

The way ahead is one that should be ruled by ethics and values. Not greed. Not power and control. It should certainly not be paved with politicking. And the immediate challenge is how many of our home grown media (especially the mainstream media) will have the courage to live up to it.

J D Lovrenciear is an FMT reader