PM: Time to help capable bumiputra companies instead off handing out shares

"Najib, who touched on the topic when opening the Pagoh Umno delegates meeting here Sunday, elicited laughter when he pointed that those who received shares were not ordinary folk but mostly influential people who sat in the front rows at functions such as Tan Sris and Datuk Seris".

>> PM must not forget the small and medium enterprises as well.

PM's Key Result Areas

Dato' Seri Najib has identified key areas of interest in rejuvenating public confidence. The National Key Result Areas such as crime rate reduction and public transportation improvement reflect PM's acknowledgement to the grouses of the people including Sabahans and Sarawakians who do not enjoy basic amenities.

The expansion plan for LRT has yet to reappear in the news. Building new expressways to do not ease traffic congestion. The only solution is to increase the coverage of trains to the city center.

Crime rate hike has been alarming. Snatch thefts and break-ins are rampant, a clear indication of recession. What is the best short-term solution? Maybe the Home Minister could study the use of RELA to aid PDRM in patrolling housing areas and city centers. Housing communities should also get organized and procure security services.

For major infrastructural projects, the problem lies with the execution and co-ordination by multiple agencies and ministries and perhaps money to finance these monumental endeavors. The government would have to figure out how to funds these without putting pressure on money supply and inviting inflation, especially during these troubling times.

Perhaps our very first nuclear power plant could be installed in Sabah/Sarawak.

Great Start with Cabinet - Now Some Tough Work

Now that the cabinet has been assembled, it's time to get some government work done. The main issues of interest to me and colleagues alike:

FINANCE! No surprise there with Dato' Najib still holding on to the most crucial portfolio in our trying times. Where is our second Fortune 500 to kick in more revenue for the country? We cannot be dependent on oil as the main revenue stream forever. What is our stand on continuing fuel subsidy? Should we scout around for great acquisition opportunities overseas, i.e. GM, GE? The new wave of GLC bosses would definitely determine whether Dato' Najib's ambition to put us back on track would materialize. How about reactivating vital economic projects, i.e. Bridge to Singapore? Shelf the second bridge project in Penang, is it really a necessity now? What of our bad investments via CTRM in the US and such? Hmmmm Tenaga made some big losses there last year, what's your plan sir?

Home: Dato' Hisham will face the enormous task of lowering crime figures, studying the ISA to be more "acceptable" to the general public, cracking down on the increase of foreign labors. As much as we want this to be a free country for press and media, hate groups such as Hindraf should be banned and locked up for good. Need to increase the number of cops and their salary. ISA is a required component of national security.

Defence: Dato' Zahid, please get our radars up and running, attempt to reach the impossible level of getting a 1:1 ratio of pilots to planes, define a defence doctrine, cease irrational procurements, increase the number of soldiers and their salary. Please cease the usage of military assets for NGO use. Perhaps getting our Navy in more engaging roles internationally like the recent escort mission in Gulf of Aden. RMC new campus and IB program still on?

Transport: What of the government's promise to add a perpendicular line to the current LRT track? The greatest challenge is overcoming bureaucratic hurdles of coordinating with multiples agencies and government bodies to get this going. I hope Labu airport is off the table for good. what of the national physical plan?

MITI: Mainly to finalize the FTA with the US, obviously to ensure that our interests are protected against giant congolomerates eating up mom & pop setups, regardless of what they say about how rewarding capitalism is. Malaysia Kitchen project should be continued and expanded. Need to boost our exports before it really hurts us dramatically, source for new emerging markets in South America and Middle East. What of APs and the national automotive policy? When are these being phased out?

MOSTI: Please don't send another space tourist, purchase exorbitant space suits and capsules. Continue to strengthen MDeC and Biotech Corp in facilitating home grown companies to capture a better slice in the market overseas. MOSTI has been busting their budgets for years. Need to be able to manage their finances better.

Sports: Please don't over-promise and under-deliver. For this one term, focus on a few projects, please do not use public funds to procure facilities overseas. If the football team makes it somewhere regionally or globally, it'll be a good enough term/KPI. Avoid being too ambitious. Study viability of getting more involved in increasingly popular sporting events among youths, i.e. paintball, futsal.

Foreign Affairs: The continuous battle to settle border disputes must continue full steam ahead. Study the possibility of retaking Pulau Batu Putih at all cost to boost political morale! Bridge to Singapore?

Rural Development: Since a Sabahan is leading this ministry, we should not hear any more complaints about not having water and electricity in schools and homes. Sabah is one of the biggest recipients of federal funds and now one of three vice presidents of UMNO is the minister of rural development. So, let's see some work done.

Agro: OK, now that Agro bank has been 'commercialized', why is it still difficult to extract loans for small & medium farmers? Easy for the big congolomerates to say, they're getting the juicy stuff. Should study Yunus' microcredit program in Bangladesh. The target for this ministry should be 'self-sufficiency' for food supply.

Energy, Green Tech & Water: Is Peter Chin up to it to assess the viability of alternative energy and fuel replacement initiative? What is the commercial viability of biofuel, wind farms, nuclear, geothermal and such for the country? Wasn't nuclear discussed at some point of time last year?

Plantation and Commodities: How is it that our island neighbor has the biggest asset base in palm oil but we've got all the land?

Above all, Dato' Najib has stressed on minimizing formalities. No more red carpets, trips to Disneyland, RM100k watches for anniversary, tonnes of billboards with minister's face next to PM and TPM, etc. Watch your budgets like a hawk. Study the auditor-general's latest report and fix the flaws pronto. These are robust KPIs to monitor. Kick out ministers resting on their laurels.

New Cabinet
Marina's take
Datuk Kadir Jasin's view

Syabas Dato Najib!

Tanpa membazir masa, Dato' Seri Najib, Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang ke-enam telah mengumumkan bahawa beliau akan melepaskan 13 tahanan ISA dan memberi semula kebenaran cetak kepada dua akhbar yang telah digantung lesen mereka. Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri itu juga akan dikaji semula supaya mekanismanya lebih relevan dengan perkembangan masa.

Ini menunjukkan 'signal' yang nyata bahawa DS Najib komited untuk memenangi semula kepercayaan rakyat terhadap kerajaan Barisan Nasional. Langkah seterus DS Najib ialah untuk membentuk kabinetnya yang baru, termasuk hasrat Dato Seri PM untuk menyelaraskan beberapa kementerian supaya lebih efektif dalam mentadbir negara. Justeru bilangan menteri akan berkurangan dan Dato Najib akan diperhati semua akan pilihannya untuk mengisi kekosongan kabinet. Ramai yang tertanya siapa yang akan dikekalkan dan siapa akan dilepaskan. Itu lumrah apabila pertukaran kepimpinanan berlaku. Kita berdoa agar Dato' Najib membuat pilihan yang mantap dan menyingkir pemimpin2 yang kotor dan tidak berkeupayaan.

Jawatan Menteri ini sepatutnya tidak dianggap sebagai sagu hati kepada sesiapa yang telah memenangi jawatan2 dalam parti tetapi harus diberi kepada mereka yang mempunyai kaliber untuk menerajui kementerian tertentu. Banyak isu yang telah timbul sejak kebelakangan ini terutamanya dalam konteks kestabilan politik, ekonomi, projek2 yang diluluskan dan selepas itu dibatalkan kerana desakan ramai, kehilangan pulau kepada jiran dan sebagainya. Oleh itu, pilihan sebagai Menteri lebih penting diberikan kepada mereka yang akan menjalankan tanggungjawab dengan sempurna, bukan sekadar memberi 'reward' kerana setia kepada parti atau telah menang apa2 jawatan.

Tahniah Dato' Seri Najib! Now.... the hard part.

First of all, congratulations are in order for Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak for getting enough nominations to win the post of UMNO president without contest. Now that it's over, Dato' Seri Najib (DSNR) has probably begun planting strategies and getting prepared mentally for the post of UMNO president and Malaysia's 6th Prime Minister.

The first thing on the list would be of no surprise, which is to spur the economy due to the massive global financial system meltdown. Capital injections are making headlines in the US and Europe, including rescue packages from IMF for those in need of some moolah. I reckon more money should be channeled to small and medium enterprises to reinvigorate the retail business in the country. I disagree with the proposal to reduce the EPF monthly reduction so that people would have more money in their pocket. Reducing your bird's nest for retirement is not the answer, especially when that money is not even enough! For the poor and the needy, I wonder where we could get data of zakat money distribution in KL and Selangor. Selangor earlier reported of a collection close to a couple of hundred million ringgit. I wonder if zakat collection centers have some sort of an audited report of their yearly distribution. These funds should be able to help out (there is a distinct difference between the poor and the needy, both of which are entitled for zakat).

Urban folks in KL and Penang have not forgotten about the plans to expand the LRT network, increase the number of coaches and feeder buses. This should be implemented immediately and covered in main stream media extensively. Otherwise, this would be the silver bullet in the next general election. The savings from reduced subsidies were planned to be channeled here. The funds utilized in this area should be transparent so that it won't create a ruckus in Parliament and in public forums.

The next agenda should be energy. Malaysia is set to become a net-importer of oil in a couple of years and a clear blue print and implementation of strategies should be set in stone. Whether it's nuclear, biodiesel, electric cars or wind farms, the public should be kept informed (this is a more substantial cover story, rather than covering stories of MPs swearing and calling each other monkeys, who would want to read about that???). Subsidies are not the way to go and it would deprive the Government from channeling that money for better usage. Subsidies blatantly create complacency and lack of competition (isn't that what MCA wants!).

To be continued...

The Lesser of Two Evils (Update 1)

21/9: DSKT's campaign slogan "Pemuda berani" (Courageous Youth). Datuk Zahidi's slogan "Pemuda untuk semua" (Youth for all).

"It is by far the longest general election in the history of Malaysia" as how a friend of mine eloquently puts it. We have cast our ballots in March and we were hotly reviewing the prospects of members of parliaments jumping ships by Sept 16th (DSAI did not mention what year). It was covered extensively in our favorite dailies. Forums and blogs had a plethora of issues and virtues to comprehend and debate. That day passed and life went on for everyone. DSAI had deceived Malaysians yet again. As if it were an adaptation from V-for-Vendetta, he had a date, the masks, the followers, the anticipation, the anxiety, the thrill......but no bomb. Did the summer camp in Taiwan for agriculture enthusiasts do its trick or it was not meant to be?

Perhaps many were hoping for this day because of the disgusts in UMNO politicians as apparent in the so called alternative media (no longer alternative i suppose!). The stereotype is still saturated in their minds. UMNO is still dubbed as the path for the lust of power and money. Election analysis concluded that many young Malaysians voted against the current regime. The keris and the broom made huge impacts on posters and banners. 5 states and 1 territory decided it was time to change.

The question that is begged to be asked is whether it has made any difference in those 5 states. Have the efficiency and 'transparency' increased in the state managements? Have you felt a sudden burst of change in your constituency that it constitutes an absolute gift from heaven itself? Or are your wakil rakyat embroiled in taking over the country by defection of BN MPs and nitpicking previous administration's foil and follies. Some are definitely rookies with zero experience in politics. Has it been better for you? Come 2013, will you pick an inexperienced rookie with a clean slate or a seasoned politician with questionable financial status? Should the rookie be retained for the next 5 terms, would he eventually morph into that seasoned politician we once despised?

The race for all posts including the UMNO presidency is now the hot topic. Beginning 9th Oct, all 192 divisions will commence their meetings to nominate their candidates of choice from top to bottom. Many have labeled the current PM as weak and ineffective as commander-in-chief, others hail him as the champion of liberty and reforms. There are quarters questioning DS Najib's potential and capabilities if he were to become PM despite his vast experience since the late Tun Razak passed away. A branch in Pekan Division had earlier presented their proposal to the division to nominate DS Najib as numero uno. In the end, it would be up to the delegates to decide. Some may say that delegates do not represent the taste and will of the majority of 3 million strong memberships. Then again, these delegates will be elected, so it would be the wish of the majority, some what.

Let's now analyze the race for Ketua Pemuda Malaysia. Dato' Mukhriz had a good start with his direct comments about the current presidency. Many young professionals outside of UMNO admire his guts and wish for change, thus his motto "Berani Berubah" (to be courageous for change). Added to his resume is his father's direct influence, the political immortal Tun Dr Mahathir. He garnered the highest votes during last election for the Exco seat.

KJ, the next candidate, needs no introduction. As PM's son in law, he is both controversial and aggresive. He is also gaining significant support within the ranks. His oratory skills and confidence level are widely known strengths, backed by a legion of high performing young professionals. His campaign buzz word is "Setiakawan" (Loyalty among friends).

Enter the next candidate, DS Khir Toyo, former Selangor Menteri Besar. Has been in gear 7 in campaigning. For him, it boils down to simple, plain, practical, good ol' Malay politics. He has, by far, the widest experience among the 3 strong candidates. There is no motto for this veteran, just hard campaigning to woo the young delegates. Some loyalists said vote for him if you don't want the other candidates. His Achilles's heel will be the loss of the state to the hands of the Opposition but he is no doubt ready with an answer and it's tough to beat that answer. His blog has breached the 1-million mark. Who said he's not popular?

In national politics 6 months ago, it was about choosing rookie candidates and not BN. In the upcoming UMNO election, it will be the test of choosing the lesser of two evils. I could be wrong.

Oh, forgot to mention the 4th candidate.