A few days ago, I received an email of an article, purportedly written by a Malaysian bumiputra, that raised some of the reasons that have made Singapore highly successful, as compared to Malaysia. Upon reading the article, I note a lot of sense in the article, and it is for this reason that I wish to share with the readers the issues discussed, and for the readers to make their own judgment.
This article comes at a time when our leaders and politicians alike are in a quandary as to how to resolve the myriad of issues affecting the country today i.e. from party squabbles to economic, political and social woes that is likely to affect the country any time soon. The salient issues discussed in the article are as under:
1. Practises corrupt-free meritocracy and attracts the best brains of the country, as leaders.
2. Singapore’s politicians, and especially its cabinet ministers consists of incorruptible, dedicated and highly intelligent technocrats.
3. Any significant achievement in development comes without fanfare and self praise.
4. Actions taken by the government is targeted for the well being of the people, and is not meant to satisfy a few.
5. Instruments of government are not politicised. Politisation if any, is guided by national interest, and not self interest.
6. Able to eliminate corruption and lackadaisical attitude towards work.
7. Established correct priorities in its pursuit to achieve what is best for its people. Have the best universities in the region, excellent health care, sparkling clean environment and an efficient public transport system.
1. Malaysia’s affirmative action had only caused considerable brain drain.
2. Politicians too preoccupied with its ‘Melayuness’ and the illusory ‘Ketuanan Melayu’.
3. Engross in useless mega iconic projects that does not bring real social and economic development, and that has no direct benefit to the masses. The various ‘development corridors’ launched by the government recently are example.
4. Political parties embroiled themselves in racial politics and with UMNO’s paranoia at losing political power.
5. Wealth is distributed to a selected few. Cronyism and nepotism is obvious and rampant.
6. Corruption, the root of all evil, is prevalent right up the highest level of government. Recent arrest of high level government officials are cases in point. This includes recent allegation of corrupt practises by top level politicians and ministers.
7. Has one of the most unwieldy cabinet and the quality of parliamentary debates speaks of the level of intelligence of its parliamentarians.
8. UMNO’s vested interest only benefitted a few and not the whole nation. Political patronage is a norm if one is to be successful in securing government contracts.
9. Development projects are aimed at enriching cronies.
Readers may agree or disagree with the above, but the fact remains that we have been left behind by our neighbour in all aspects of our daily lives. The question now is, can our new leaders of the post Abdullah Badawi era make changes that can narrow the gap between us and our closest neighbour? To this, we all have to wait and see.
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Posted at 7.15 am on Oct 18,2008