Inside the Guv'nor's Folder

2007-01-22T17:07:00.000-08:00

2007-01-19T01:00:00.000-08:00

2007-01-19T00:27:00.000-08:00

2007-01-19T00:24:00.000-08:00

2007-01-19T00:21:00.000-08:00

2007-01-19T00:19:00.000-08:00

2007-01-16T23:37:00.000-08:00

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2007-01-16T21:54:00.000-08:00

2007-01-11T23:22:00.000-08:00

2006-10-13T00:27:00.000-07:00

List of the past entries in GAB's blog

DECEMBER 2005

1. My Firstliner

Hi guys,

I have surfed through many blogs before and am amazed with some of them. They are very creative, intelligent, honest.... really do make their personalities show.

But, too bad... certain quarters are just merely adding numbers to the crowd. To me, it's.....more

JANUARY 2006

1. Year Opener

My first day in office for the year 2006... Hours ago, my wife and I attended to our youngest kid, EDRIN, at his sekolah agama. By the way, he's 9 this year. By then SAM 12, was already in school (Sekolah Kebangsaan). He'll be in sekolah agama only in the evening after Sekolah Kebangsaan whilst the sister, FARA, 14 was also in school.......more

2. Sunset

It is so nice to see the sunset from my office. I always enjoy watching when it dips as much as I do enjoy watching it rises during the dawn. It really makes me feel so small watching the creation of God as the story tells from the beauty and marvel of the sun. My office in.....more

3. Pencil And Me

My childhood days are all heartbreaking to look back at, even until these very days, it has left me deep scars. Unlucky I was, after father passed away when I was only 2 years old, I had been an object to be passed around from one caretaker to another......more

4. I Found These Lines Are Very Interesting

If I had my child to raise all over again :
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting......more

5. Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha

.....more

6. Another Day In Paradise

As a matter of fact, I have no idea whatsoever with the topic I wrote above. It just happened to come out in my mind the moment I started writing. It must be an impromptu and I do believe the unplanned words or thoughts are always the most honest we can get without prior thinking......more

7. Beautiful Prayer

I asked Allah to take away my habit.
Allah said, No.It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked Allah to make my handicapped child whole.
Allah said, No.His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.....more

8. The Lightning Strikes The Bridge

One of the books that I enjoy reading, PSYCHO-CYBERNETIC by Donna Sommers. The book has taught me something. It is first published in 1960's. The book has been improvised by a student of hers titled PSYCHO-CYBERNETIC 2000. .....more

9. The Ship

I was in my bedroom, an apartment located at 42nd Street. The apartment was on the southern part of the university campus, a few blocks away from main street, Hampton Boulevard. It was winter time. Snow had been falling since early morning......more

10. My Favourite Hangout Places

One of the places that I love to hang out when I want to be with myself is The Dome, KLCC. I just love sitting there sipping a cup of Cappuccino, watching the fountain, people around, the sorrounding buildings. At times I'd go after......more

MARCH 2006

1. Just Love The Machine

.....more

APRIL 2006

1. Shopping

New Husband Store. A store that sells new husbands has just opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates: You may visit this store ONLY ONCE!.....more

2. Cost Of Living In Malaysia... Terlalu Tinggi?

The argument in this thread from day one is the cost of living in each country (especially UK and Europe based on what you earn in the respective country and whether the standards are higher than in Malaysia. I tried to point out that.....more

JUNE 2006

1. Monkey Business

My goodness, it has been a while I have not written in my blog. I even had a hard time to remember the password. After number of tries, I managed to get it right. Well many things passed by since the last time I wrote.....more

2. FIFA World Cup Germany

I am not so much of a soccer lunatic. I do not really spend time watching ball games. But when it comes to World Cup, I am a little bit on my feet. I am a technical minded person. Looking at soccer, I'd prefer to look at the tactical part of it instead.....more

JULY 2006

1. Terkenang

GAB ni anak zaman komputer belum wujud. Masa duduk kat kampung hanyalah sampai darjah 6. Lepas dari tu tak pernah le GAB merasa hidup kat kampung.Bila dah dewasa ni, sesekali teringat masa kecik dulu, main macam2 permainan tradisi.....more

2. A Place To Eat

I used to write in January 2006 about one of my favourite hangout places, the Dome, KLCC. I did enjoy my time there. I liked the ambience of the place as much as I loved the food & drinks. Rather unfortunate… I came across friends experienced otherwise. Let’s look at what Faei has to say about it.....more

3. Snake Bite

Today is Friday. Come Friday, I always feel good. I feel like; this is the day for me to wrap up the week. The night before I watched TV until it was very late of which I always get caught with TV program over ASTRO on this particular night.....more

4. Management Skills

Today’s Saturday. It’s not a working day but my practice for years; I’ll make a point to be by myself working things out (if any) or just simply do what I like doing. As far as official work is concerned, Friday has called for a close already.....more

5. So Then... We Are Dealing With KATAK

I used to train hundreds of trainers and give presentations to thousands of audience, but, the presentations I am about to give to the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications bring chills to my spines. May be this is due to my hope that the presentations will go without glitch.....more

6. Nothing Much To Say...

Let the pic above speaks for itself.....more

7. Another Siti And 1 Day Too Late

It is a talk of nation on the upcoming wedding of Siti Nurhaliza, a popular female pop artiste of the country with Dato’ K; coined to be the wedding-of-the-year. It is scheduled to be on 21st August 2006. The craze is as such until the never-seen-before local TV stations racing neck-to-neck.....more

AUGUST 2006]

1. Attention Bloggers

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Prime Minister has issued a warning – those who spread untruths and slander on the Internet will face the law.....more

2. Moments Before I Sat Down

This morning I had my breakfast at a restaurant on the ground floor of my office building. That is the closest place for me to eat. It is just some 20 meters away after coming out from the elevator. The walkway of the section for the restaurant is elevated by one foot high......more

3. You Watch And You Are Watched

People are around you. They are all strangers to you. They carry similar expressions in their faces. You will be lucky if you can have eye contacts for more than a second before either you or they look somewhere else. All seems to know where they are going.....more

4. Wrapped In A Flag

True to the form as a patriotic person, I would feel almost sinful if I do not write a line or two to honor the coming national day. I allege myself to be a nationalist, patriotic and loyal to the country as much as it has to be as her citizen. The country has done a lot to me. I am in some way a product of its system......more

SEPTEMBER 2006

1. Leader Of The Pack

The Prime Minister was coming to town. It was just a matter of days now.Haji Malik. He was the busiest person in that kampong for having the responsibility to bring 20 busloads of supporters during the PM’s visit. Armed with cash provided by a disclosed source.....more

2. Just A Hiccup In The Office

We are in the virtual business. A part of our corporate direction is to build a sustainable content business for the country. You can consider us as a Content Provider, if you like. But only a fraction of it though.....more

3. It May Happen To Anyone

Plenty of embarrassing moments happened to us during our lifetime. One or two of the occurrences would make us smile when thinking about it even after years passed. Whereas some of the incidence, we may just lock them up deep in our hearts.....more

4. 911

Yesterday was the 5th Anniversary of the twin towers of World Trade Center (WTC) tragedy in New York – better known as 911. On this particular day 5 years ago, I was in Indonesia, setting up a business over there together with two Malaysian friends and one Indonesian partner......more

5. Recession: A Night To Remember

According to the definition, recession is when a period of general economic decline; specifically, a decline in GDP for two or more consecutive quarters. This is where the amount of business activity in the economy by looking at things like employment.....more

6. The Children Of My Life

Childhood is such a precious, yet trenchant part of life. We all have memories of our days as children along with stories of lessons learned. Childhood is reflected by most as being a time of bliss and enlightenment.....more

2006-10-01T21:32:00.000-07:00

BACK

Look at the way the Americans fabricate the story about OSAMA BEN LADEN. You'll be a fool if you really believe what it's reported.

GAB

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Al Qaeda was founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden to consolidate the international network he established during the Afghan war. Its goals were the advancement of Islamic revolutions throughout the Muslim world and repelling foreign intervention in the Middle East.

Bin Laden, son of a billionaire Saudi businessman, became involved in the fight against the Soviet Union’s invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, which lasted from 1979 to 1988 and ended with a Soviet defeat at the hands of international militias of Muslim fighters backed by the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Together with Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood leader, Abdullah Azzam, bin Laden ran one of seven main militias involved in the fighting. They established military training bases in Afghanistan and founded Maktab Al Khidamat, or Services Office, a support network that provided recruits and money through worldwide centers, including in the U.S.

Bin Laden and Azzam had different visions for what to do with the network they had established. Bin Laden decided to found Al Qaeda, based on personal affiliations created during the fighting in Afghanistan as well as on his own international network, reputation and access to large sums of money. The following year Azzam was assassinated. After the war ended, the Afghan-Arabs, as the mostly non-Afghan volunteers who fought the Soviets came to be known, either returned to their countries of origin or joined conflicts in Somalia, the Balkans and Chechnya. This benefited Al Qaeda’s global reach and later helped cultivate the second and third generations of Al Qaeda terrorists.

Following the first Gulf War, Al Qaeda shifted its focus to fighting the growing U.S. presence in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s most sacred shrines. Al Qaeda vociferously opposed the stationing of U.S. troops on what it considered the holiest of Islamic lands and waged an extended campaign of terrorism against the Saudi rulers, whom bin Laden deemed to be false Muslims. The ultimate goal of this campaign was to depose the Saudi royal family and install an Islamic regime on the Arabian peninsula. The Saudi regime subsequently deported bin Laden in 1992 and revoked his citizenship in 1994.

In 1991 bin Laden moved to Sudan, where he operated until 1996. During this period, Al Qaeda established connections with other terror organizations with the help of its Sudanese hosts and Iran. While in Sudan, Al Qaeda was involved in several terror attacks and guerrillaactions carried out by other organizations. In May 1996, following U.S. pressure on the Sudanese government, bin Laden moved to Afghanistan where he allied himself with the ruling Taliban.

Between 1991 and 1996, Al Qaeda took part in several major terror attacks. Al Qaeda was involved in the bombing of two hotels in Aden, Yemen, which targeted American troops en route to Somalia on a humanitarian and peacekeeping mission. It also gave massive assistance to Somali militias, whose efforts brought the eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces in 1994. Bin Laden was also involved in an assassination attempt against Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in Ethiopia in June 1995. Two major terrorist actions against the U.S. military in Saudi Arabia, a November 1995 attack in Riyadh and the June 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, also fit Al Qaeda’s strategy at the time, but their connection to Al Qaeda is not entirely clear. There is little evidence to suggest a significant connection between bin Laden and the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993.

After moving to Afghanistan, bin Laden escalated his anti-American rhetoric. In an interview with the Independent in July 1996, bin Laden praised the Riyadh and Dhahram attacks on U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia, saying it marked “the beginning of war between Muslims and the United States.” He did not take responsibility for the attacks, but said that “not long ago, I gave advice to the Americans to withdraw their troops from Saudi Arabia.” On August 23, 1996, bin Laden issued Al Qaeda’s first “declaration of war” against America, his “Message from Osama bin Laden to his Muslim brothers in the whole world and especially in the Arabian Peninsula: declaration of jihad against the Americans occupying the Land of the Two Holy Mosques (Saudi Arabia); expel the heretics from the Arabian Peninsula.”

In February 1998 bin Laden and several leading Muslim militants declared the formation of a coalition called the International Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and Crusaders to fight the U.S. Member organizations included Al Qaeda, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad led by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Egyptian Islamic Group, and organizations engaged in Kashmir and Bangladesh. Bin Laden was appointed to head the Front’s council (shura). The militants signed a fatwa (religious opinion) outlining the Front’s ideology and goals. The fatwa was published in a London-based Arabic paper, Al Quds Al Arabi; it called on all Muslims to “kill the Americans and their allies - civilians and military,” wherever they may be.

Subsequently, Al Qaeda escalated its war against the U.S. In August 1998, Al Qaeda bombed two U.S. embassies in East Africa (Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) killing more than 200 people, including 12 Americans. In retaliation, the U.S. attacked targets in Sudan and Afghanistan. In October 2000, Al Qaeda bombed the U.S.S. Cole, an American guided-missile destroyer at Aden, Yemen, killing 17 American servicemen. It committed its most devastating attack on September 11, 2001, when 19 Al Qaeda operatives hijacked four passenger planes and drove two into the Twin Towers in New York City and one into the Pentagon; a fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attack.

BACK

2006-10-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

http://gabenor.blogspot.com

RESEARCH METHODS

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A. QUALITATIVE - DESCRIPTIVE

Survey Research

- A common method used in business, sociological and government. Surveys are used to describe the incidence, frequency, and distribution of certain characteristics in a population.
- Purpose is to explore and describe

Developmental research

- An observational-descriptive type of research that either compares people in different age groups (a cross-sectional study) or follows a particular group over a lengthy period of time (a longitudinal study). Such studies are particularly appropriate for looking at developmental trends.
- includes longitudinal studies (goes forward in time) such as trend (from general population), cohort (random from a group of people) and panel studies (from same selected samples)
- Documentary analysis, and follow-up studies (goes back in time)

Case Studies

- A type of qualitative research in which in-depth data are gathered relative to a single individual, program, or event, for the purpose of learning more about an unknown or poorly understood situation.
- involves direct observation or interviews

Ethnography

- A type of qualitative inquiry that involves an in-depth study of an intact cultural group in a natural setting
- The scientific description and classification of the various cultural and racial groups of humankind. The study of observed behaviour in a natural context

Historical Research

- An attempt to solve certain problems arising out of a historical context through the gathering and examining relevant data- deals with the past, from informations recorded in the past, in order to draw conclusions about the past and past events.
- Deals with Critical and Interpretive Sciences, and draws conclusions about the past

Philosophical Research

- Ask value questions
- Deals with Critical and Interpretive Sciences.

Action Research

- A type of applied research that focuses on finding a solution to a local problem in a local setting. For example, a teacher investigates whether a new spelling program she has adopted leads to improvement in her student’s achievement scores.
- A deliberate, solution-oriented investigation that is group or personally owned and conducted. The process through which practitioners study their own practice to solve their personal practical problems.
- Characterized by spiraling cycles of problem identification, systematic data collection, reflection, analysis, data-driven action taken, and, finally, problem redefinition.

Content analysis

- A detailed and systematic examination of the contents of a particular body of material (e.g., television shows, advertisements, textbooks) for the purpose of identifying patterns, themes, or biases within that material.

Grounded theory research

- A type of qualitative research aimed at deriving theory through the use of multiple stages of data collection and interpretation.Observational study
- A type of quantitative research in which a particular aspect of behavior is observed systematically and with as much objectivity as possible.Phenomenological research
- A qualitative method that attempts to understand participant’s perspectives and views of social realities

B. QUANTITATIVE

Correlational research

- A statistical investigation of the relationship between two or more variables. Correlation research looks at surface relationships but does not necessarily probe for causal reasons underlying them. For example, a researcher might investigate the relationships amongst high school seniors’ achievements test scores and their grade point average a year later when they are first-year college students.
- Compares two or more different characteristics from the same group of people
- Shows how two characteristics vary together (explain), and how well one can be predicted (predict) from knowledge of the other
* Two types:- Current correlational studies
* Predictive correlational studies

Experimental Research

- A study in which participants are randomly assigned to groups that undergo various researcher
- imposed treatments or interventions, followed by observations or measurements to access the effects of the treatments.
- Purpose is to probe cause and effects (“if/then”), establish casualty; its purpose is to control
- Research deliberately manipulates a treatment (independent variables) to see if it causes a change in the dependent variables (effects).
- Two types:
* True experiment research
* Quasi-experimental research

Ex post facto (relational / associational)

- An approach in which one looks at conditions that have already occurred and then collects data to investigate a possible relationship between these conditions and subsequent characteristics or behaviors- a relational study (explain/predict) which substitute for an experimental study
- Look for natural “cause” without researcher manipulation of the independent variables (treatments)
- A method similar to experimental research but without random assignment to groups.

BACK

2006-10-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

http://gabenor.blogspot.com

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Full Text of the 9MP by the PM - 31 March 2006

SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER YAB DATO’ SERI ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI AT THE TABLING OF THE MOTION ON THE NINTH MALAYSIA PLAN, 2006-2010 DEWAN RAKYAT, 31 MARCH 2006

BUILDING A CIVILISATION TO ELEVATE THE NATION’S DIGNITY

1. With great pleasure I stand in this august House to table a motion as follows:
“That this House, acknowledges the healthy economic growth and socioeconomic progress achieved during the implementation of the Eighth Malaysia Plan despite the challenging global environment; endorses the Government’s efforts to implement the National Mission as the framework for the planning and implementation of the country’s developmental policies towards achieving the goals of Vision 2020; approves the Ninth Malaysia Plan which encompasses the strategies, programmes and allocation designed to realise the National Mission, thereby advancing Malaysia towards becoming a more developed, just and united nation as set out in the Order Paper CMD. 1 of Year 2006.
That in approving the Ninth Malaysia Plan, this august House calls upon all Malaysians to work together with the Government, with full intent and determination, in building a prosperous, progressive, just, resilient and competitive nation.”

2. With the permission of the Speaker, I table the Ninth Malaysia Plan for the period 2006-2010, together with the National Mission, to be debated by the Honourable Members of this august House.

INTRODUCTION

3. Praise be to Allah s.w.t. for by His grace and generosity, I am able to present you with the Ninth Malaysia Plan. Truly, Allah s.w.t commands humankind to prosper as in His firman: Translation: “He brought you forth from the Earth and hath made you husband it” (Surah Hud 11:61)

4. In the context of building our prosperity, the Ninth Malaysia Plan represents one of the most significant Malaysia Plans in our country’s history, as the nation is currently at the mid-point of the journey towards the year 2020. We have just undergone the first fifteen-year phase of Vision 2020. During that period, we faced a multitude of obstacles and challenges. The strong growth of the 1990s was interrupted by the Asian financial crisis. Our country was in the process of recovering by the year 2000, but the events of September 11, 2001 presented us with fresh challenges. Various other events have affected our country and the region, including the outbreak of SARS and avian flu, earthquakes and the tsunami.

Back to the Guv

5. Alhamdulillah, the country’s leaders have been resolute and the Malaysian people have been diligent – we have succeeded in working together to achieve a rate of economic growth and social progress that we can be proud of. Despite the various challenges faced in the last fifteen years, the country generated an average GDP growth of 6.2 percent per annum from 1991 to 2005. This growth more than doubled average household income from RM1, 169 per month in 1990 to RM3,249 a month in 2004. All economic sectors showed strong growth, including the germination of new economic sectors such as the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. As a result of this growth, the country’s exports grew at a rate of 13.5 percent a year in the period 1991-2005, making the country the 18th biggest trading nation in the world.

6. The country also continued to show social progress. The poverty rate declined from 22.8 percent in 1990 to 5.7 percent in 2004. The provision of basic amenities such as health services, education and housing increased, as did the provision of other infrastructure and utilities.

7. Although we have navigated the last fifteen years successfully, we must change our mindset to face the next fifteen years. I see this second phase as a period that is even more challenging. The world is and will continue to be very different from what we have experienced in the past. No one has been spared the effects of rising world oil prices. Competition for investment and job opportunities has become more intense. In addition to competition from China and India, other Asian developing countries are also assertively developing their economies. As an open economy, Malaysia is not insulated from this competitive environment, particularly in the era of ICT.

8. At the same time, there are challenges on the domestic front. The structure of Malaysian society has changed. A large proportion of the population now resides in urban areas. With increased education levels, the middle class has expanded. The quality of life enjoyed by Malaysians has improved. Nevertheless, great disparities in income and wealth still exist especially between ethnic groups and between rural and urban areas. Ethnic polarisation is still prevalent in schools, work places and in society.

9. Malaysia must overcome these myriad challenges astutely and effectively. We need to determine the means to meet these challenges in order to achieve Vision 2020. We have no time to lose. Only fifteen years remain between now and the year 2020. These fifteen years must be our most productive years, our best years, so that we may stand tall in the year 2020 and declare that our vision has been realised.

THE NATIONAL MISSION, 2006-2020

Mr. Speaker Sir,

10. We now take the next step, to begin the second phase towards achieving Vision 2020. We want our country to be a developed country, imbued with its own unique characteristics. We want progress that is holistic, encompassing all nine aspects contained in Vision 2020. We want progress that is enjoyed by all, regardless of religion or ethnicity. We want to build a a progressive and developed civilisation that echoes the glorious age of Islam and other civilisations, in line with the concept of Islam Hadhari.

11. As a guide for the rest of this journey, the Government has drafted and will implement the National Mission – a framework for the country’s development agenda which outlines the key steps we must take in the fifteen years to come. The National Mission aims to concentrate the country’s efforts on priority areas which will ultimately lead to achieving Vision 2020. These priority areas encompass the nation’s global competitiveness, human capital development, national integration, ethnic relations, distribution of income and wealth and the quality of life. Our focus on these areas will enable us to attain better results and greater impact from our developmental efforts.

12. The National Mission comprises five thrusts, as follows:
· The first thrust is to move the economy up the value chain. The Government aims to increase the value add of existing economic sectors as well as generate new knowledge-intensive activities and employment in ICT, biotechnology and services. The Government will also build an environment which encourages the private sector to take a leading role in the country’s economic development.
· The second thrust of the National Mission is to raise the country’s capacity for knowledge, creativity and innovation and nurture ‘first class mentality’. Malaysia’s future success depends on the quality of its human capital, not only in terms of intellect but also character. Therefore, in line with this thrust, the Government aims to undertake comprehensive improvement of the country’s education system, from pre-school to tertiary and vocational institutions. A more enabling environment will also be fostered to encourage the R&D. At the same time, heavier emphasis will be placed on the shaping of values to create more well-rounded individuals.
· The third thrust of the National Mission is to address persistent socio-economic inequalities constructively and productively. The Government strongly believes in eradicating poverty, generating more balanced growth and ensuring the benefits of growth are enjoyed by the Malaysian people in a fair and just manner.
· The fourth thrust of the National Mission is to improve the standard and sustainability of our quality of life. The Government will continue to provide for basic needs such as water, energy, housing, transportation and other amenities but more emphasis must now be placed in addressing issues related to maintenance, upgrading and efficient usage of resources.
· The fifth and final thrust of the National Mission is to strengthen the institutional and implementation capacity of the country. The success of our plans rests on our ability to implement. As such, the Government aims to improve the public services delivery system at various levels. The Government will also address issues related to corruption and integrity in the public sector, the private sector and among the general public.

THE NINTH MALAYSIA PLAN, 2006-2010

Back to the Guv

Mr. Speaker Sir,

13. The Ninth Malaysia Plan represents the first of three Malaysia Plans that form the National Mission to achieve Vision 2020. As such, the Ninth Malaysia Plan is consistent with the ambition to build a country with an advanced economy, balanced social development and a population which is united, cultured, honourable, skilled, progressive and farsighted. To deliver the Ninth Malaysia Plan, we need to multiply our efforts towards achieving greater success in order to build a civilisation that will elevate the nation’s dignity.

14. The Government will ensure macroeconomic conditions remain stable, enabling development to be carried out smoothly and effectively. The Government will ensure that inflationary pressures are controlled. The Government will ensure that fiscal policy continues to support growth, while the Federal Government deficit will be reduced gradually from 3.8 percent in 2005 to 3.4 percent in 2010. The public sector accounts will be managed judiciously and steps will be taken to ensure the cost effectiveness of public expenditure.

15. Domestic consumption and private investment is expected to drive growth. Private investment is expected to expand at an average rate of 11.2 percent a year, exceeding public investment for the first time since the Asian financial crisis. At the same time, total factor productivity is expected to increase from 29 percent to 35.8 percent, in line with the evolution into a more knowledge- and productivity-based economy.

16. Malaysian exports is expected to grow at a healthy rate in the next five years at a rate of 8.5 percent a year. Total trade is expected to exceed the RM1 trillion mark for the first time.

17. Our target is to achieve average real GDP growth of 6.0 percent per annum. Based on this growth, GNP per capita is expected to increase at an average rate of 5.9 percent per annum to reach RM23,573 by the year 2010. GNP per capita adjusted for purchasing parity is expected to increase to USD13,878 in 2010.

18. Economic growth is inextricably linked with external factors. Therefore, our foreign policy will provide optimal benefits to meet the National Mission. We will strive to foster an external environment that is conducive to the accomplishment of the objectives of the Ninth Malaysia Plan. We will work to strengthen cooperation, peace and stability in the region and beyond, because our economy cannot prosper otherwise. We will aggressively undertake initiatives to seek new markets, promote our exports, attract investments and increase tourism. We will negotiate and enter into bilateral and regional trade agreements that are in our best interests. To these ends, we will also improve capacity in the institutions that are primarily responsible for preserving and promoting our interests abroad.

IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL MISSION

Mr. Speaker Sir,

19. Please allow me to outline the main policies and programmes of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, which have been intended to achieve the thrusts and objectives of the National Mission.
Thrust 1: To Move the Economy Up the Value Chain

20. Globalisation has escalated the level of competition in the international market. Not only does the domestic macroeconomic structure and environment need to be strengthened, but elements of the micro economy including the respective economic sectors and local corporations also need to be made more resilient. In order to enhance national long-term competitiveness, the Government will continue to promote the transition to higher value added activities in three main economic sectors, the first being manufacturing; second, services; and third, agriculture. New sources of growth in these sectors will be identified and promoted to generate additional income and to develop new sources of economic wealth.

Enhancing value added in manufacturing, services and agriculture

21. The manufacturing sector is projected to expand by 6.7 percent per annum, and will continue to shift to high technology and knowledge-intensive activities with high value added content in various industries, especially involving electrical and electronics, petrochemicals, biotechnology, machinery and equipment, aerospace and maritime. The Government will prepare specific incentives to attract investments, including high quality FDI for manufacturing sector activities that are being promoted. In addition, we will promote Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with high innovation capabilities to become part of the global supply chain.

22. Some of the projects that will be implemented to enhance the manufacturing sector include the expansion of Kulim High Technology Park, the establishment of Sarawak Technology Park and Perak Technology Park, the development of 20 industrial and SMEs parks throughout the country, and infrastructural improvements to existing industrial areas. The Government will also develop several industrial clusters, which include electrical and electronics (E&E) clusters in Pulau Pinang and Kulim High Technology Park, and petrochemical clusters in Pahang and Terengganu. To improve access to sources of finance, the Government will create several funds such as the Strategic Investment Fund, the Automotive Development Fund, the Industrial Restructuring Fund, the Automation Fund, and specific funds for biotechnology, halal products and handicrafts.

23. To leverage on Malaysia’s advantages in the halal sector, particularly in terms of certification and logo recognition, the Plan will drive the sector’s growth in making Malaysia an international hub for halal products and services. The Halal Industry Development Board will be established to develop this industry in a holistic and orderly manner.

24. The services sector will be given a boost in order to realise its full potential. This sector is projected to expand by 6.5 percent during the Plan period. At present, services industries are mainly located within the Klang Valley. In order to expand the services sector to other locations, the South Johor Economic Region will be developed as a dynamic regional services hub, benefiting from its location and natural advantages. To enhance the services sector’s access to financing, the Export Services Fund and SMEs Export Services Fund will be established.

25. Revenue from the tourism industry has almost doubled between 2001 and 2005. To maintain this momentum, we will develop Malaysia as a main international tourist destination, while enhancing domestic tourism. Malaysia’s advantage as a centre for conferences, event organisation, sports facilities, exhibitions and conventions as well as its wealth in arts and crafts, shopping and recreation must be promoted aggressively. As such, the management of the Malaysian Tourism Board will adopt private sector business practices in order to become more dynamic. In addition, main programmes that will be implemented by the Government include enhancing access and facilities for tourist arrivals, and improving as well as maintaining amenities and infrastructure. An expenditure of RM1 billion has been allocated for the purpose of maintenance. By the year 2010, our target is to attract 24.6 million tourists per annum.

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26. We will also develop Malaysia as a regional centre for health tourism in both traditional and modern health treatments. For this purpose, we need to develop comprehensive health services packages. Promotional efforts will also be enhanced through the establishment of a brand for Malaysian health services, which will be known as ‘Health Malaysia’.

27. For educational-related services, we will double efforts to develop Malaysia as a regional centre for excellence in the provision of tertiary level education. We will promote and export tertiary education through strategic marketing efforts and the branding of educational products.
28. For financial services, efforts will be aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s position as an international centre for Islamic banking and finance. In addition to the progressive liberalisation of the financial services sector, we will continue to promote the expansion of competitive domestic financial institutions into other regional markets.

29. The Government will also promote the development of a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry for aircraft and vessels as well as an integrated logistics industry. For this purpose, the Government will develop a comprehensive aviation hub to attract the participation of more local and international players. Incentives will be offered and development programmes will be organised to expand and enhance the competitiveness of commercial, professional and consultancy services.

30. The agriculture sector is projected to expand by 5 percent. This sector will be given a new lease of life in order to become the third engine of economic growth. We must think progressively and remove misperceptions that agriculture is a low value-added economic activity capable of only generating small incomes. In fact, agriculture is the main economic driver for rural communities. 37 percent of Malaysians live in rural areas. 7 out of 13 states in Malaysia possess large tracts of rural land. The highest incidences of poverty, with a level of 8.3 percent, occur amongst the Bumiputera community who form the majority of the rural population. 11.9 percent of poverty occurs in rural areas, more than twice the national average. Hence, agricultural sector development not only has the potential to generate new sources of growth, but can help to narrow national socioeconomic divides by simultaneously eradicating poverty. The Government will develop the ‘New Agriculture’ programmes by giving focus on enhancing the value chain, cultivating high value added agricultural activities and large-scale commercial farming, utilising ICT as well as exploiting the full potential of biotechnology.

31. Initiatives will be taken to enhance productivity and competency as well as increase opportunities to generate income and wealth, expand usage of modern agricultural techniques and technology, increase R&D and innovation, improve farming accreditation, product standards and quality, as well as develop marketing capabilities and infrastructure. The Government will promote a higher level of private sector participation including that of Government-linked companies (GLCs), SMEs, graduates, agriculture entrepreneurs and skilled labour in order to enhance the level of professionalism in the sector. Malaysia aims to become a net exporter of food by 2010.

32. To realise these objectives RM11.4 billion has been allocated for this sector; a 70 percent increase compared to the allocation in the Eighth Malaysia Plan. A large portion of the allocation will be for the development of infrastructure for irrigation and drainage, R&D, enhancing credit facilities and implementation of entrepreneur development programmes. Programmes to integrate and rationalise more than 100,000 hectares of land will be implemented, whereas more than 380,000 hectares of land will be replanted with rubber and oil palm. Other main projects include the creation of 28 Permanent Food Production Parks comprising a land area of almost 2,400 hectares, an Agropolis at Serdang and National Food Terminals (TEMAN) at Ipoh and Kota Bharu. We will also increase the development areas of oil palm clusters, livestock valleys, fruit valleys, aquaculture parks and Halal food parks.

33. The agriculture sector that is being developed by the Government includes agro-based industries, which achieved a total value added worth RM16.9 billion in 2005 and has the potential to create 128,000 new jobs over the next 5 years. There are no limits to the upside potential of this sector if it is managed effectively. The agriculture sector needs to be viewed through a new lens, infused with fresh conviction, developed with a new spirit – a new agenda.

Generating new sources of wealth through ICT and Biotechnology

34. The Government will continue to implement measures to ensure that Malaysia remains a choice destination for ICT-based investments. Malaysia will realise its potential by continuing to promote the development of the shared services and outsourcing industry. Local companies will be urged to develop outsourcing and other high value added activities. The Government will develop new fields such as the local digital content industry and bio-informatics. Specific attention will be given to promote the widespread use of ‘e-dagang’. Development of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) will be focused on the development of corridor networks, encompassing the 3 existing cyber cities and 4 new cyber centres that will be developed, as well as enhancing facilities at Cyberjaya. To enhance access to financing sources, various funds and programmes will be developed while existing funds will be strengthened.

35. Biotechnology is an important industry, as it has the potential of generating new sources of wealth. Efforts will be increased in order to develop the biotechnology industry as a new driver of economic growth. Focus will be given to the usage of biotechnology in agriculture, health care, industrial activities and bio-informatics. To support the development of this industry, we will improve the investment regulatory framework, develop relevant infrastructure, improve access to funding, increase the rate of R&D commercialisation, increase the number of skilled biotechnology workers and researchers, as well as attract foreign R&D partners. The Government will allocate a total of RM2 billion to promote the development of biotechnology in order to complement private sector funding. Local and foreign companies holding ‘Bio-Nexus’ status will be offered attractive incentive packages.

Enhancing job creation

Mr. Speaker Sir,

36. A total of 1.6 million new jobs were created in the Eighth Malaysia Plan. To sustain economic growth, we continue to give emphasis to the creation of new jobs to keep unemployment low and to ensure that graduates and skilled workers are able to obtain employment suitable to their qualifications. The Malaysian people must be equipped with the skills and knowledge that make them employable. For this purpose, functional training will be provided to ensure the workforce has the specific skills required by industry.

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37. Every year, it is estimated that 220,000 people will join the labour force. 44,000 of them will possess tertiary qualifications. It will be a challenge to provide employment opportunities to this group. Indeed, a critical challenge that will need to be addressed is the attitude of local workers who are unwilling to accept low-level employment positions. This forces the nation to rely on foreign labour. Currently, there is a total of 1.8 million registered foreign workers. This has resulted in many new social problems for the nation. The Government is currently structuring programmes that are designed to fortify spiritual and physical resilience and inculcate noble values to change the mindset and attitudes of Malaysian youth.
The Private Sector as the main engine of economic development

38. The economic participation of SMEs must be increased. Although SMEs represent more than 90 percent of commercial establishments, SMEs only contribute 46 percent to national output. With proper support, SMEs will be able to increase their economic participation more effectively. Initiatives that will be implemented by the Government include improving access to funding through SME Bank and providing seed funding for newly established SMEs. Specific programmes will be introduced to strengthen cooperation and linkages between SMEs and large domestic companies as well as multinational corporations (MNCs). Efforts will also be concentrated on enhancing entrepreneurial and technical capabilities of SMEs.

39. The Government and the private sector must work closely in order to ensure continuous economic growth. Implementation of privatisation programmes over the last two decades has provided a strong foundation for cooperation between the Government and the private sector. Privatization programmes have contributed to a higher level of participation of the private sector in the economy and have subsequently made the private sector a driver of economic growth. Nevertheless, there remain several aspects within the privatisation program that require fine-tuning and improvements in order to make it more effective.

40. Changes that will be made include focusing on projects proposed by the Government based on national development priorities. Private financing initiative (PFI) will be introduced as a new measure under the privatisation. The Government plans to widen the implementation of PFI-based projects during the Plan period to increase opportunities for the private sector to participate in infrastructure and utilities development. This measure will also help drive growth in the construction industry, which has been contracting over the last five years.

41. The PFI approach will be utilised in two circumstances. First, PFI can make the implementation of Government projects more efficient, in a manner where risk and reward is equitably shared between the Government and the private sector. Secondly, PFI can be utilized in situations where Government support enhances the viability of private sector projects in strategic or promoted areas. Among the projects that have been identified as feasible for the implementation of PFI include public transportation services and the development of education infrastructure. With careful implementation, PFI can also accelerate private sector investment for regional development.

Expanding the market for Malaysian products and services

42. In order to remain competitive, initiatives to expand the market for Malaysian products and services will be intensified by strengthening our position in traditional markets and by exploring new markets. Liberalisation under WTO and AFTA as well as bilateral free trade arrangements with countries in East Asia, South Asia and Asia Pacific will expand our global reach, and provide additional opportunities for trade and investments. Mr. Speaker Sir,
Thrust 2: Enhancing the National Capacity for Knowledge and Innovation and Nurturing Citizens with “First Class Mentality”

43. The most precious assets of a nation are its people. The development of human capital, the upgrading of the mentality and intellectual capacity of a nation is one of the biggest challenges under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. If we wish to become a knowledge-based economy, if we wish to be a developed country and maintain that developed status, the development of human capital must be a priority. In the context of globalisation, high quality human capital has become a necessity, not merely a luxury.

44. Development of quality human capital will be intensified. The approach must be holistic and emphasise the development of knowledge, skills, intellectual capital in fields such as science, technology and entrepreneurship. Simultaneously, we must develop a culture that is progressive, coupled with high moral and ethical values. This is what is meant by human capital with “First Class Mentality”. Three main strategies will be adopted:
· First, increasing the capacity for and the mastery of knowledge; · Second, strengthening the nation’s capabilities in science, R&D and innovation; · Third, nurturing a cultured society that possesses strong moral values.
Increasing the Capacity for Knowledge

a. Increasing access to education and quality training at all levels

45. There will be more education opportunities at better equipped pre-schools and primary and secondary schools. During the Plan period, the Government will build 180 primary schools and 229 secondary schools and full boarding schools. Dilapidated schools, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak will be replaced. The Government is also aware that 1,598 schools in Malaysia do not have piped water and 809 schools do not have 24-hour electricity supply. Therefore RM1.15 billion is allocated to improve and enhance rural school facilities, primarily in Sabah and Sarawak.

46. At tertiary level, the Universiti Darul Iman in Terengganu, Universiti Darul Naim in Kelantan and a number of polytechnics will be constructed. The Government will also increase vocational training facilities by establishing Community Colleges, MARA Training Centres and Centres of Advanced Technology.

47. Steps will also be taken to improve the academic achievements of students especially rural students. The improvement of teaching quality and the learning environment in rural schools including providing ICT facilities will be emphasised under the Plan. The education and training of teachers will be emphasised to produce qualified, skilled, responsible teachers who are proud to be educators. The status of teachers’ colleges will be upgraded and improved to become Institutes of Teaching Education which can award bachelor degrees in education. The Government has allocated RM690 million for teachers’ accommodation or housing quarters. Half of this allocation will be for teachers’ housing quarters in rural areas.

b. Making national schools the “School of Choice”

48. Schools are where the seeds for national unity and national integration are sown. We must ensure a balance in the racial composition amongst students and teachers in national schools. Various steps need to be taken towards strengthening the national schools so that they become the “School of Choice” for all races in Malaysia. The quality of teaching in national schools will be improved. The curriculum and co-curriculum activities will be reviewed to ensure a solid foundation for basic competencies and to ensure that they are in line with current human resource demands of the country. Languages such as Mandarin and Tamil will be introduced as elective subjects.

49. As part of the effort to make national schools the “School of Choice”, all existing national schools will be made “Smart Schools”. To this end, RM284 million will be allocated for the Smart School Programme and RM1.51 billion will be allocated for the Computerisation of Schools Programme. Educational opportunities for special children and those with learning difficulties will also be improved.

c. Increasing the level of technical and vocational skills

50. The capacity and effectiveness of training will be enhanced by increasing the number of public training institutions, adding further courses in technical fields, strengthening the certification/accreditation systems and the quality of technical education, as well as encouraging private sector participation in the field of technical training. Under the “National Dual-Training System”, the intake of technical trainees will be doubled. The technical curriculum will be enhanced with the cooperation and input of industry.

d. Producing Higher Institutions of Learning of International Standard

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51. The Government will continue to take steps to increase the quality of tertiary education. Local tertiary institutions will be benchmarked against international standards. The quality of academics in terms of leadership, expertise and a sense of commitment will be enhanced. The Government targets to have 60 percent of academics in Malaysia with PhDs by the year 2010. In order to strengthen research capacity at local institutions, cooperation networks with leading international institutions will be created. Tertiary education institutions must also ensure the courses offered at their institutions are in line with the nation’s needs.

Strengthening R&D capacity, Science and Technology

52. The Government is fully committed to building up the country’s competency in R&D, science and ability to innovate. Malaysia cannot become a developed nation without acquiring significant capabilities in science and technology. The public sector budget allocated for R&D activities is RM3.9 billion - twice the amount that was allocated under the Eighth Malaysia Plan. The Government aims to eventually spend 1.5 percent of GDP on R&D by 2010. We will encourage research as the basis for developing and deepening knowledge. To ensure that expenditure on R&D is maximised, we will prioritise and focus on specific R&D efforts and pursue the commercialisation. The Science Fund and the Techno Fund will play an important role in achieving these aims.

53. The Ninth Malaysia Plan will focus on producing more researchers, scientists and engineers (RSE) and we target to have 50 RSEs for every 10,000 members of the labour force by 2010. To achieve this target, we have created a RM500 million S&T Human Resource Development Programme. As a start, we will implement the Brain Gain Programme - a programme directed at involving or attracting outstanding researchers, scientists and engineers, including Malaysians abroad.

Fostering a Cultured Society with Strong Moral Values

54. A society with “First Class Mindset” is one that we define as being knowledgeable, competitive, has a high performance culture, integrity and strong moral values. It is also a society of learned people who appreciate culture, arts and heritage, as well as the history of their nation, race and religion. This society is known by its strong sense of self-esteem and is not easily swayed by the waves of globalisation. This society is steadfast in its faith in God and loyalty to the King and country. The spirit of Islam Hadhari that stresses on noble universal values will be inculcated.
55. Direct participation by Malaysians in culture, art and heritage activities will contribute to the holistic development of human capital, whilst strengthening national unity. The Government will seek to increase Malaysian awareness on the importance of culture, arts and heritage in daily life and also promote the arts and culture industry within the country.

Empowering Youth and Women

56. The young are important assets and valuable natural resources. They shall inherit the mantle of leadership and continue the struggle. This Plan, the National Mission and Vision 2020 will be entrusted to them. Therefore, we must nurture in them an appreciation and understanding of the National Mission and Vision 2020. We should guide and build up the leaders amongst them. We have to nurture them and involve them in programmes to develop the nation at all levels - planning, leadership and implementation. Leaders of youth organizations must be able to fulfill the aspirations of the young. Youth organisations must be the forum for them to voice the aspirations of their generation. For that reason, the leadership and membership of youth organisations should appropriately be handed over to the young. The Government is in the process of enacting the National Youth Act, which will serve as a compass for the future of Malaysian youth.

57. Malaysia abides by the principles of gender equality. Women, when provided equal opportunity, have proven they possess outstanding capabilities. There is no doubt at all that women have important roles in all aspects of development. Women have contributed tremendously towards the nation’s development. Housewives and those who do not work full time contribute significantly towards the socioeconomy development by nurturing family values and human development. The Government will continue to facilitate higher participation of the women into the nation’s labour force by providing more training opportunities, encouraging flexible work hours and creating a special window in existing business financing programmes. In addition, the Government will continue to review existing laws and regulations that discriminate against women.

Thrust Three: Addressing Socioeconomic Disparities Constructively and Productively

58. The twin objectives of the New Economic Policy to eradicate poverty and restructure society was borne out of the experience of the May 13 incident. This bitter episode in the nation’s history was the result of the discontent between “the haves” and “have nots” as well as the strained relations between different ethnic groups caused by inequitable distribution of the country’s economic cake. The NEP was formulated to address these socioeconomic disparities through expanding the economic cake and not denying any group of its rights and share in the wealth of the country. The NEP’s implementation began to address these disparities. There was reduction in poverty, people began to enjoy high quality of life. The number of Bumiputera professionals increased and the Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera middle-class expanded.

59. However, the progress in ensuring more equitable distribution stagnated since the early 1990s when the country began liberalising. When the Asian financial crisis occurred in 1998, the disparity in income levels became even more pronounced, especially between ethnic groups, between rich and poor, and between between urban and rural areas. This shows that although robust economic growth can raise income levels and enhance the quality of life of the rakyat, it does not in itself ensure that the benefits of economic growth are enjoyed by all citizens in a far-reaching and more equitable manner.

60. We have not achieved the targets that were set under the NEP. We cannot pretend to be blind to the realities today. We must have the courage to admit the truth because only then will it allow us to take the necessary corrective measures. If unaddressed, these disparities can threaten the harmony and stability we enjoy and consequently, thwart the country’s economic development.

61. It is with this in mind that in the Ninth Malaysia Plan, we re-emphasise efforts to address socioeconomic disparities as we have not met the set targets. To address this issue, we fine tune and streamline strategies bearing in mind the open nature of the global economy and the lessons that we have learnt from that. To be effective, strategies to be adopted will be based on the following principles:
· Firstly, to eradicate poverty and ensure no one is left out of the development process, thereby strengthening the country’s socioeconomic foundation to enable steady economic growth; · Secondly, to generate balanced development especially in under-developed areas and creating more opportunities for direct participation in the country’s economic development; · Thirdly, to ensure that all Malaysians benefit from the economic growth fairly and equitably.
Eradicating Poverty

62. Efforts to eradicate poverty, irrespective of race, region and state will be intensified. Poverty eradication must be the first step in the larger effort to address disparities in the country’s socioeconomy. This will then ensure that the needs of citizens are met, the socioeconomic foundation is strengthened, economic growth sustained and harmony and stability maintained.

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63. Effective implementation of the poverty eradication programme requires us to know exact details of the target poverty group. To determine who the target group are, the Government has revised the Poverty Line Income (PLI) bearing in mind the significant changes in price structures, consumption patterns and standard of living since 1977 when the PLI was first introduced. Besides allowing more accurate information about poverty to be obtained, the new PLI would be able to help to identify and reduce the burden of those who are clearly poor under current conditions, but are not categorised as such under the old PLI. These include the urban poor.

64. Based on the new PLI, in 2004, the overall poverty rate in the country was at 5.7 percent and hard-core poverty at 1.2 percent. The Government intends to reduce the overall poverty rate to 2.8 percent and to eradicate hard-core poverty entirely by 2010.

65. The main focus of the poverty eradication programme is to build the capacity of the poor by improving their access to education and skills training, instil positive thinking and build self-confidence and motivation. This will encourage active involvement of the poor in economic activities. To facilitate the involvement of the poor in development and economic activities, the Government will facilitate access to financing and provide better infrastructure. Special programmes will be implemented to address rural poverty and urban poverty among the Bumiputera in Sabah and Sarawak as well as the Orang Asli community. Nevertheless, recognising that there are certain groups that are unable to participate directly in economic activities, the Government will continue to provide direct assistance to the elderly, the infirm, the disabled and the destitute.

Achieving Income Parity

66. Although the Eighth Plan saw a rise in average household income, the overall income gap and that between rural and urban areas continued to widen. We need concerted efforts to achieve income parity and reduce the income gap. We have set some targets to reflect the Government’s commitment to address this issue. The income gap between Bumiputera and the ethnic Chinese will be narrowed from a ratio of 1:1.64 in 2004 to 1:1.50 in 2010 and between Bumiputera and ethnic Indians from a ratio of 1:1.27 in 2004 to 1:1.15 in 2010. The income ratio between rural and urban areas will be reduced from 1:2.11 in 2004 to 1:2 in 2010. The Government also aims to increase the share of household income of the bottom 40 per cent of the population.

Spearheading Regional Development

67. The Government will increase the amount allocated for the development of rural areas as well as under-developed regions to reduce the development gap between rural and urban areas as well as between under-developed regions and developed regions. However, merely increasing allocations is insufficient in the era of the global economy. What is needed is a development formula that is integrated, comprehensive and dynamic. The time has come for centres of growth and development not to be exclusively concentrated in the Klang Valley. Therefore, the Government will develop new growth area including focusing on transborder development between states in order to enable the benefits of development projects to be enjoyed by several states at once. We will therefore develop a Northern Peninsula Corridor encompassing the states of Perlis, Kedah, northern Perak and Seberang Perai; an Eastern Corridor covering southern Kelantan, northern Terengganu and eastern Pahang, and Sabah and Sarawak.

68. Apart from this, regional growth centres will be identified in several regions to spearhead development. The Southern Johor Economic Region will be developed in a comprehensive and systematic manner. The construction of the Second Penang Bridge will spur growth in nearby areas, including mainland Penang, Kedah and Perak and, will spur economic activities particularly for businesses that benefit from the port facilities and air cargo services.

69. Integrated development will be undertaken to consolidate villages as well as establish growth centres. The Government will improve infrastructure and facilities as well as create new economic opportunities to generate income and employment, particularly in modern agriculture, agro-based industries, and the services sector. A total of RM1.2 billion will be utilised to improve water supply to rural areas; RM1 billion for rural electrification, RM2.7 billion for rural road construction and RM900 million for construction of village roads. New regional development authorities will be established in Sabah and Sarawak to develop rural areas and rural growth centres.

Reducing the Wealth Disparity

70. The Government is committed to achieving the target of at least 30 per cent Bumiputera equity share ownership. Realistically, the target can only be achieved over a longer time period. Therefore, we have set the target to achieve at least 30 per cent Bumiputera equity share ownership by the year 2020. The privatization programme will remain as a foundation to assist qualified Bumiputera to participate in business. Meanwhile, we will continue to develop sources of capital for Bumiputera, for example land and wakaf assets currently under the state Islamic religious authorities. The state Islamic religious authorities need to to shoulder the responsibility of fardu kifayah, play an active role to develop the economy of Muslims and assist in the development of human capital. The scope of Bumiputera ownership of assets will be widened to include housing and commercial property ownership, especially in urban areas. For this purpose, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) will be re-established to complement the efforts of Yayasan Amanah Hartanah Bumiputera. We will also encourage greater Bumiputera ownership of intellectual property.

71. We will also assist the development of customary land in Sabah and Sarawak. We will implement a comprehensive plan to accelerate the development of the Orang Asli community. This includes creating more income generating opportunities through Skim Pembangunan Kesejahteraan Rakyat (SPKR) and relocation schemes as well as introducing rural entrepreneurship programmes.

72. We will take appropriate steps to raise the share of equity ownership of ethnic-Indians to 3.0 per cent by 2020. Besides encouraging entreprenuership, we will increase opportunities for skillstraining for Indian youths at Pusat Giat MARA and Institut Keusahawanan Negara (INSKEN), as well as establishing Pusat Putra. The Government will continue to improve the environment and facilities in new villages. With these efforts and programmes, all ethnic groups will derive the full benefit from economic opportunities that are being provided under this Plan.

Restructuring Employment Patterns

73. In the five-year period of the Plan, the Government will strive to ensure that the employment pattern in all sectors of the economy truly mirrors the racial composition of Malaysian society. The private sector must play its role in enhancing Bumiputera participation in sectors where they are under represented. Efforts must also be intensified to ensure increased non-Bumiputera participation in the public sector and in sectors where they lack equitable representation. We will monitor strictly the progress in restructuring the employment sector.

Developing the Next Generation of Bumiputera Commercial and Industrial Community

74. The Government will continue to develop the Bumiputera Commercial and Industrial Community (BCIC) as part of the agenda to restructure society and ensure more meaningful participation of Bumiputera in the economy. The second phase of the BCIC programme will be launched, with the aim of developing Bumiputera entreprenuers who are independent, resilient and competitive, as well as to develop sustainable Bumiputera SMEs. To improve the implementation of BCIC programmes, we will seek to improve the capability of trust agencies, GLCs and co-ops. The involvement of Bumiputera in new growth areas will be encouraged. The franchise and vendor development programmes will be strengthened. We will be more systematic and focused in our approach to develop rural-based entrepreneurs, specifically agro-based and handicraft SMEs.

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Achieving A Balanced and Meaningful Development

75. In order to bring about more balanced development so that its benefits are shared fairly and equitably among the rakyat, there has to be strong commitment from the government, private sector, non-governmental organisations, as well as each and every Malaysian. Programmes to create a more balanced socio-economy never meant that existing wealth of any group would be re-distributed. Instead, it is aimed at increasing wealth and re-distributing the future expanding cake gradually through the active and direct participation of all groups in the country’s growth process.

76. Studies have shown that by undertaking the steps that we have recommended, including that of distribution, by the year 2010, household income would be raised by 25 per cent on average, from today’s levels. In other words, all races would be able to enjoy a rise in their income levels. What needs to be stressed here is the fact that by implementing distribution policies, not only the Bumiputera, but all other races will be able to enjoy the benefits as well.

77. Nevertheless, the Government is cognisant of the need for distribution policies and programmes to be properly designed, implemented and monitored in order to be fair to all groups. Poor implementation and monitoring of policies allows for leakages and abuse to occur and hence, the benefits will only be enjoyed by a small group of people. This should not be allowed to occur. In order to realise a more balanced and meaningful development, we must accept the fact that a policy that does not provide meaningful opportunities for all groups, primarily the majority group, is not viable in the long-term.

78. Therefore, we are committed to implementing distribution policies fairly and effectively. The Government will ensure speedy set-up of implementation and monitoring structures to ensure that the impact of the policies and programmes will be realised as soon as possible. We must view the target of achieving social justice and harmony as a duty (amanah) entrusted to us. We have to undertake this duty with sincerity and firmness so that our vision for a brighter future for our country and nation will come to fruit for this generation and the generations to come.
Thrust Four: Enhancing the level and sustaining the quality of life

79. A nation’s development is also evaluated by the quality of life of its citizens. The Government will ensure that all citizens benefit from the development programmes and share the fruits of success. Such development will be more meaningful if it is equitably shared to improve the quality of life of the citizens.

Meeting housing needs and improving urban services

80. In the Eighth Malaysia Plan, the number of houses built exceeded the set targets. The quality of low cost houses also improved. We will continue to ensure sufficient quality and affordable housing for all citizens, especially for those in the lower income group. The Government will build approximately 43,800 units of low cost houses through Program Perumahan Rakyat. This will be complemented by the building of approximately 29,000 low and medium cost houses by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad. The private sector must complement such Government efforts to build low cost houses through mixed development projects.

81. We will continue to enhance the quality and efficiency of urban services by restructuring local authorities and applying Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor performance. Local authorities have an important role in ensuring clean and environmentally-friendly surroundings in which, people can work and live in a more conducive lifestyle. A conducive, clean and nature-friendly environment in residential and commercial areas will directly assist in inculcating a first class mindset amongst the citizens. Local authorities have a key role to play in furthering the national agenda by providing attractive and well planned business premises for Bumiputera. The use of ICT will also be expanded to enhance efficiency of services. The Government will also implement the National Solid Waste Management Strategic Plan. The National Urbanisation Policy will be formulated to assist in the planning and implementation of urban services.

Improving healthcare services

82. Facilities for health care will be improved to provide for an active and alert society. Current facilities will be upgraded whilst new facilities will be built to provide a comprehensive package of services. This includes building 8 new hospitals, replacing 14 old hospitals and building specialist centres. Mobile clinics will be increased to improve healthcare services in rural areas. Primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services will be integrated through an efficient and effective referral system. A human resource action plan will be drafted and RM1 billion will be allocated to human resource development in healthcare.

Improving transportation facilities and infrastructure

83. A superior public transportation system that meets the needs of the people is another characteristic of a developed nation. The high incidence of road accidents and traffic congestion that arises from limited road capacity are extremely unproductive for the country. This is exarcerbated by the increase and instability in the price of petroleum derived fuels. The Government has the political will to improve the public transportation system effectively. The establishment of the Public Transport Trust Fund will be one of the initial steps in this direction.
84. The commuter, LRT and monorail systems have proven to be effective investments. Nevertheless, these systems need to be integrated comprehensively with a wider network in order to become the choice mode of transportation. We need a complete feeder system, on-time services, increase in frequencies and less waiting time. Transportation planning must take into account the growth of new residential areas, new commercial centres and complexes, new public infrastructure such as schools and also population growth and density.

85. A National Commission will be established to regulate the overall public transportation system in the country and a specific commission will be established for the Klang Valley. Integrated transport terminals will be built in Gombak and Bandar Tasik as transit hubs to Kuala Lumpur. The Government will also implement a number of major projects across the country, including the Penang Monorail and the Eastern Dispersal Link in Johor.

86. The Government will continue building new roads and upgrade current roads to facilitate access to less developed areas and to link regional growth centres with areas that have tourism potential.

Ensuring the sustainability of energy supply

87. Adequate and quality energy supply is key to the nation’s development. The public has to realise the value and scarcity of such resources. An energy conservation culture must be inculcated. Such resources need to be prudently and carefully utilised. Buildings should be designed to optimize energy usage. The Government will adopt measures to reduce wastage by enhancing energy efficiency and increasing energy sufficiency. The Government is also committed to reduce dependence on petroleum products through the increased usage of alternative fuels such as biofuel and biodiesel as well as renewable energy

Enhancing water supply systems and overcoming floods

88. I am deeply saddened by what is happening to the nation’s water resources. Contamination has killed off much of our aquatic life. Rivers that were once abundant with fish, prawns and terrapins are now barren.

89. As revealed by God, this is the Earth’s retribution against the cruelty of mankind. Overlogging, encroachment into water catchment areas, unrestrained greed, indiscriminate waste disposal in rivers and drains are among the root causes. God has bestowed this Earth with rain and rivers that flow from hilltops to valleys. These gifts must be honoured and protected. Many around the world suffer from a shortage of water. If we do not exercise due care, our country will soon face a water crisis in the near future. We must therefore manage our water resources more efficiently and responsibly.

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90. The Government will focus on improving the quality, coverage and reliability of water supply. Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN) will regulate the quality of water supply throughout the country to safeguard the interests of consumers. Water supply infrastructure will be built and upgraded. Among the major projects that will be implemented include the Pahang-Selangor Inter State Raw Water Transfer, Triang and Batu Hampar Water Supply Scheme in Negeri Sembilan, Sandakan Phase 2 in Sabah as well as Phase 2 of Langat Water Treatment Plant in Selangor. The Government will also allocate RM1.48 billion to rehabilitate the distribution network to reduce the rate of non-revenue water from 38 percent in 2005 to 30 percent by 2010.

91. We will continue to initiate flood mitigation measures. We will not be able to adequately develop the eastern corridor and other regions without overcoming the flood problem. The Government will spend almost RM4 billion for flood mitigation projects, compared to RM1.79 billion the Eighth Malaysia Plan. Flood mitigation projects will be implemented. Apart from that, flood prevention measures will also be implemented through control of land usage as well as an integrated forecast, warning and response system that is efficient.

Ensuring environmental sustainability and resource management

92. God has blessed the country with natural resources and an environment that provides nutrition and medicine. Beaches and seas, hills and rivers, tropical forests and flora and fauna are national treasures which are valuable assets and an attraction for eco-tourism. Unfortunately, such beauty is being destroyed by irresponsible human action and greed. The environment is damaged, degraded and contaminated. Our treasures will become extinct and God’s gifts lost forever. We must learn our lessons from past mistakes.

93. Therefore, the Government has a responsibility to ensure there is a balance between development and environmental sustainability. We will step up enforcement and increase preventive measures. For this purpose, RM510 million has been allocated for cleaning, preserving and beautifying rivers; RM350 million for coastal management; RM200 million for reforestation; and another RM70 million for the management of wildlife and protected areas.

Developing sports

94. Sports plays an important role in strengthening national harmony and unity, instilling patriotism and developing a disciplined and competitive society. Malaysia will continue to promote both mass and high performance sports. We will give emphasis to inculcate a sporting culture amongst the citizens whilst working towards sporting excellence at the international level. 13 Community Sports Complexes will be built. The private sector will be encouraged to provide sporting and recreational facilities as well as sponsor sports and recreational programmes.

National defense and maintaining public order

95. National security and public order have a major influence on the political and economic climate. A country which is free from any internal or external threats can increase investor confidence and ensure political stability. The level of crime in the country needs to be mitigated effectively. The move to improve the effectiveness of the police force by improving capacity will be given significant attention. It is also important to enhance and modernise the national defense mechanism to safeguard sovereignity. Apart from the role played by the army and police force, citizens must assist in ensuring stability. The media, political parties, non government organisations as well as individuals must be sensitive to issues related to religion, race, culture and language and must not instigate issues that threaten peace and security. Thrust Five: To strengthen the institutional and implementation capacity of the country

96. The National Mission and the Ninth Malaysia Plan were formulated based on the input, views and feedback from various parties. The planning contained therein may not be perfect and may require further refining. However, the more important thing is to ensure effective and efficient implementation. Malaysians want to see the political will and determination of the Government in implementing this Plan as the first step towards realising the National Mission and ultimately achieving Vision 2020.

97. Hence it is the Government’s duty to structure the implementation, monitoring and evaluation machinery to become more effective. It is the responsibility of the Government to build the capacity of that machinery with first class human capital development. It is the duty of the Government to improve and amend existing laws and regulations in order to facilitate development and reduce obstacles.

98. Therefore, the the fifth thrust of the National Mission is to strengthen the country’s institutional and implementation capacity. The Government will improve organisational structure; facilities and work environment; the quality of human capital; and laws and regulations. With these steps, the Government excpects to enhance the performance of frontline Government agencies as well as improve the delivery system particularly amongst government-linked companies (GLCs).

99. As a specific step towards strengthening the country’s implementation, monitoring and evaluation system, I would like to announce in this august House the restructuring and re-scoping of the National Economic Action Council (NEAC). The NEAC will henceforth focus on the implementation of programmes and projects to ensure effective service delivery. I am also proposing the establishment of two National Implementation Action Bodies; one to monitor selected high impact projects from the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the second to monitor programmes related to the formation of a new generation of the Bumiputera Commercial and Industrial Community (BCIC2). I will chair both bodies and other members will include the Deputy Prime Minister, relevant Cabinet Ministers and the Chief Secretary to the Government. These two Bodies will be supported by a National Implementation Directorate, which will comprise project management experts.

100. Additionally, human capital development amongst the civil service will be intensified. Local and foreign institutions will be involved in the education and training. Meanwhile, laws and regulations which impede development will be reviewed and amended. For this task, a Public-Private Sector Action Committee will be formed to recommend needed amendments to laws and regulations.

101. I would like to caution however that the success of implementation does not only rest on the public sector; other institutions such as the private sector, civil society, Parliament and the media all play vital roles. Indeed, the collective effort of all these institutions will determine the level of our achievements in economic growth as well as social progress.

102. I would like to emphasise once again that the country’s implementation machinery must be predicated on the values of trustworthiness and integrity in order to increase accountability and to raise qualitative standards of national administration. Without trustworthiness and integrity, the country cannot be said to be developed in the true sense of the word, no matter how developed the economy, the social landscape or the quality of life.

103. The National Integrity Plan has been drafted and it contains plans and strategies towards building a society with integrity. The implementation of the National Integrity Plan will be strengthened. The Malaysian Integrity Institute will intensify steps to educate and create awareness in the public sector, private sector and the public to encourage the practise and internalisation of integrity in work and in everyday life.

104. The Government remains firmly committed to combating corruption even if efforts appear to run against the tide. To step up the battle against graft, we will increase enforcement by adding more manpower, equipment and other enforcement tools. Anti-Corruption Agency investigating officers will be trained in latest techniques. At the same time, regulatory agencies such as Bank Negara and the Securities Commission will continue to ensure that private sector companies improve the quality of corporate governance and adhere to related regulations. To ensure more effective enforcement in the corporate sector, the Securities Commission and the Companies Commmission will be merged to oversee nearly all laws related to commercial entities in Malaysia.

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DEVELOPMENT ALLOCATION

105. To achieve the National Mission during the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the Federal Government will allocate a total of RM200 billion for development expenditure, an increase of RM30 billion from the Eight Malaysia Plan. Furthermore, projects worth RM20 billion will be implemented through private finance initiative. Out of the total allocation, 44.9 percent will be distributed to development projects under the economic sector; 37.5 percent for social sectors; 10.6 percent for security and 6.9 percent for general administration.

106. For the sub-sectors, education and training receive the biggest percentage of the allocation, at 20.6 percent, in line with the Government’s resolve to enhance the human capital quality. Public transportation sector’s allocation is 15.9 percent; energy and public facilities, 10.9 percent; trade and industries, 9.9 percent; agriculture, 5.7 percent; health, 5.4 percent; and housing, 5.0 percent. For development allocation by state, we have taken into consideration the need to reduce the development gap between state and between regions. The Government is confident that the allocation is adequate to give effect to the intention and objective of the Plan.

CONCLUSION

107. The Ninth Malaysia Plan allows us to identify the progress we have made, identify weaknesses and put us on the track to achieve developed nation status by 2020. The National Mission provides a long-term perspective; formulated to produce better performance and enhance the impact from the efforts that have been undertaken to develop the nation.

108. It is of utmost importance that we ensure implementation is on schedule; and that the returns we generate commensurate with our spending. Implementation, monitoring and assessment mechanisms will be strengthened. The Economic Planning Unit and Implementation Coordination Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department will be responsible to ensure that the programmes implemented are in line with the development thrusts and accomplish the objectives set. I, with the assistance of my Deputy, will be heading the high-level taskforce to monitor the implementation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

109. We need full commitment and concerted efforts from all parties to ensure the successful implementation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan. I would like to reiterate that each one of us plays an important role in ensuring success of our nation and our race. The private sector must take the lead in generating the economic growth while the public sector enables economic growth and is the provider for socio-economic facilities. Civil society must be a partner in development. If we want to realize our aspiration to become a developed nation, every citizen has to show commitment and willingness to work hard, improving our self-worth and embrace life long learning.

110. May we achieve our wish to build a nation that is more prosperous, developed, progressive and dynamic; a nation that is capable of providing a better quality of life to its people. May we build a golden civilization that earns the respect of the world. May the Almighty bless our sincerity and labours.

111. Ya Allah, You are the One Exalted in Power, the One Full of Knowledge – between the good and evil; between the obvious and the unseen. Protect us from calamity and danger – from disturbances and strife; grant us our prayers; guide us to righteousness and to the path that You bless, provide us with people that are sincere, trustworthy, noble and honest; responsible in building a developed nation – building a united people – we forever seek Your blessings, “Towards Excellence, Glory and Distinction”.

Mr. Speaker, I move the motion.

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2006-10-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

Go ahead and click www.saujanautama.com

The portal is maintained by a group of dedicated people, the earlier residents of Saujana Utama.

Saujana Utama is being taglined as Bandar Damai dan Indah. The place is nice and quiet located some 15 kms away from Sungai Buluh township proper, make it some 40 something kms from Kuala Lumpur city centre. You know, it leads all the way to the west towards Kuala Selangor if you were to drive through from Sungai Buluh. Unpleasant I must say when at times we have to identify Sungai Buluh Prison as the landmark that lead to the area. You know, the prison became well-known when they kept Anwar Ibrahim during his tenure behind bars there. I chose the place by accident years back not knowing I would actually later love the place once settled there. Well, actually I just followed my instincts together with my wife's agrement and... and... on top of it, my daughter wanted it there instead of other choices we had in hands at that particular time. She said the house design was nice. Well, Sungai Buluh area was an obvious choice the place we wanted to be at due to my wife being posted in her job to Sungai Buluh, she's lecturing there.

The children, I mean the boys grumbled when we first decided to move to Sungai Buluh from Kuala Lumpur but not my daughter. She instead, jumped with joy. The boys were scared for having an idea of a new place, new school and have no friends. I told them, in no time they'd be making new friends and very quick they'd adapt to that new place. I told them how nice to have them riding their bikes down the hill effortlessly but they question over what about riding back up? Oh dear! Well new things not always easy. After sometime having them acclimatized to the area, have them running the new daily routines which saw the drop in their performances in school, some period of socializing with new faces; they bounced back and to really start liking it.

Being us, me and my wife as parents, we just love it to be in the area due to the "closed" neighbourhood that limit certain unnecessary exposures to the kids unlike staying in a big city - the place is conducive for raising children. In the retrospective side, it is such an event for them for the outings to Kuala Lumpur every once in a while.

But, me... travelling to office in Kuala Lumpur and back home everyday that covers some 100 kms is no big deal. It was a little hard on me initially to travel such distant but now I didn't even have much time pondering over things in my head while running through highway, and I'd have already either reached the office or back home for comfort.

Welcome to Saujana Utama.

www.saujanautama.com

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2006-09-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

http ://ga benor.blogspot.com

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Peraturan Barat Menjajah Dunia

Oleh HASSAN AHMAD

PERATURAN dunia sejak tahun 1492 ialah: Bangsa yang kuat berhak menjajah bangsa yang lemah. Dalam tahun itu kuasa Islam di Sepanyol tamat setelah berada di kawasan itu selama lebih 700 tahun. Dalam tahun itulah bermula sejarah penjajahan dunia Barat terhadap kawasan-kawasan di luar Eropah.

Dalam tahun itu juga Christopher Columbus meminta restu dan bantuan Raja Ferdinand dan Ratu Isabella dari Sepanyol untuk berlayar merentas Lautan Pasifik untuk mencari kawasan baru. Dia memberitahu raja dan ratunya bahawa kawasan yang hendak dicarinya itu ‘kaya dengan emas dan rempah’. Maka Columbus pun belayarlah bagi kali kedua setelah pelayarannya yang pertama gagal apabila kapal induknya bernama Santa Maria rosak di tengah lautan sehingga dia dan angkatannya terpaksa patah balik ke Sepanyol.

Akhirnya sampailah angkatan Columbus itu di sebuah kawasan yang disebut San Salvador (penduduk asli di situ menyebutnya “Guanahai”) di Kepulauan Bahamas. Itulah peristiwa yang menandakan bermulanya penjajahan dunia Barat atau Eropah di kawasan-kawasan bukan Eropah di Amerika (Utara dan Selatan), Asia dan Afrika.

Kisah pemusnahan etnik yang dilakukan oleh para kolonis yang datang mencurah-curah di Amerika selepas Columbus dikatakan menemui ‘Dunia Baru’ yang disebut ‘Amerika’ itu, sangat dahsyat, buas dan kejam. Kisah ini dirakamkan dalam sebuah buku bertajuk A Short Account of The Destruction of the Indies (terjemahan dari bahasa Sepanyol oleh Nigel Griffin (Penguin Books, 1992).

Buku ini ialah cerita yang disampaikan oleh seorang paderi muda Sepanyol bernama Bartolome De Las Casas, yang pernah mengikuti rombongan para kolonis Sepanyol ke Amerika dalam tahun 1484 dan menyaksikan kekejaman dahsyat yang dilakukan oleh orang-orang Sepanyol terhadap penduduk pribumi Cuba dan kawasan lain di Amerika.

Selepas itu, bangsa Sepanyol dan Portugis yang pernah diperintah oleh kerajaan Islam Andalusia (di Sepanyol) mulai memburu orang-orang Islam di mana sahaja mereka berada, sampailah mereka ke kawasan Dunia Melayu Islam awal abad ke-16, iaitu di Melaka dan di Filipina. Pada tahun 1511 kerajaan Melayu Melaka diserang dan ditawan oleh bangsa Portugis. Tentera Sepanyol memerangi dan menawan kerajaan Melayu-Islam di Manila. Penjajahan bangsa Portugis dan Sepanyol di Dunia Melayu Islam itu diikuti oleh bangsa Belanda dan Inggeris.

Sampailah kita ke zaman selepas Perang Dunia. Sebagaimana kita tahu, Perang Dunia I dan II dicetuskan di Eropah. Pertubuhan Antarabangsa yang disebut Pakatan Bangsa-Bangsa atau League of Nations ditubuhkan oleh bangsa-bangsa Barat selepas Perang Dunia Pertama, kononnya bertujuan untuk mengelakkan berlakunya perang dunia lagi.

Tetapi projek ini gagal. Perang Dunia Kedua dicetuskan, juga di Eropah dan merebak ke kawasan-kawasan lain. Salah satu punca yang menyebabkan tercetusnya Perang Dunia Kedua itu ialah Hitler pemimpin ultra nasionalis Jerman. Dia mengidamkan wujudnya sebuah negara bangsa Jerman yang ‘tulen’, bersih daripada kaum-kaum atau bangsa-bangsa bukan Jerman. Maka dia melancarkan tindakan menghapuskan semua kaum Yahudi dan kaum Gipsi yang berada di Jerman.

Amerika dan negara-negara Eropah Barat yang lain menentang tindakan itu - tentunya gerakan Zionis memainkan peranan penting dalam usaha untuk mempengaruhi Britain dan negara-negara Eropah yang lain (kemudiannya termasuk Amerika Syarikat) supaya mencegah tindakan Jerman itu.

Setelah tamat Perang Dunia II, pihak yang menang mulai menciptakan peraturan baru lagi, kali ini bukan sahaja untuk dunia Barat atau Eropah tetapi untuk seluruh dunia, termasuk negara dan bangsa-bangsa yang menjadi mangsa perang Barat itu, dan tentunya tidak ketinggalan ‘Dunia Islam’. Pertubuhan antarabangsa baru, menggantikan League of Nations yang gagal itu, ialah Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (United Nations).

Tetapi belum lagi kering segala luka dan kecederaan umat manusia seluruh dunia akibat Perang Dunia II itu, negara-negara Barat menciptakan punca krisis yang baru pula. Mereka berpakat untuk menubuhkan sebuah negara Yahudi di tengah-tengah dunia Arab Islam di Timur Tengah. Mungkin roh Hitler terseksa mendengar berita buruk ini. Kalau sebelum itu kaum-kaum Yahudi menjadi masalah di Eropah kali ini masalah itu dipindahkan ke tempat lain.

Kalau dahulu orang Eropah, termasuk orang Rusia, dan tidak sahaja Hitler, sering membenci kaum Yahudi sehingga mereka melancarkan tindakan pogrom (misalnya di Rusia) untuk menghapuskan kaum ini daripada negara masing-masing, kali ini kaum Yahudi dikumpulkan dan disatukan dalam sebuah negara yang disebut Israel itu, dan dibenarkan membina senjata sekuat-kuatnya supaya kaum Yahudi dapat menjadi wakil tentera Amerika atau Barat untuk mencegah perkembangan kuasa Arab-Islam di sekeliling Israel itu. Jadi, peraturan baru dunia yang dibina oleh dunia Barat selepas Perang Dunia II jelas. Peraturan itu ialah peraturan penjajahan yang bermula sejak tahun 1492 itu. Peraturan ini dapat kita rumuskan kepada empat sub-peraturan yang asas, iaitu:

* Pihak musuh atau pihak yang dianggap sebagai musuh (ini termasuk pihak yang ‘kalah’ dalam Perang Dunia II) hendaklah disekat daripada usaha dan percubaannya untuk membina senjata yang kira-kira dapat digunakan untuk mengugut kepentingan ‘kita’ - kepentingan ‘kita’ baik dalam negara ‘kita’ sendiri mahupun kepentingan ‘kita’ di kawasan dan negara orang lain, dan kepentingan ‘kita’ di negara musuh itu sendiri;

* Peraturan perdagangan dunia hendaklah menurut peraturan ‘kita’ atau untuk kepentingan ‘kita’. Pertubuhan seperti WTO (Pertubuhan Perdagangan Dunia), Dana Kewangan Antarabangsa (IMF) dan Bank Dunia hendaklah mengembangkan dan melaksanakan peraturan ‘pasaran bebas’ menurut kehendak kita. Persaingan hendaklah menggantikan ‘kerjasama’ dalam bidang perdagangan menurut kehendak ekonomi pasaran bebas itu, tidak kira sama ada negara anggota WTO itu mampu bersaing atau tidak, kaya atau miskin, sudah maju atau ‘sedang membangun’;

* Media massa dunia hendaklah mempromosi nilai dan pandangan ‘kita’; dan

* Budaya negara bukan Barat hendaklah diglobalisasikan supaya budaya tempatan, budaya pribumi - dan ini termasuk kepercayaan agama mereka, khususnya agama Islam - dapat ‘dicairkan’ melalui budaya dan nilai konsumerisme global itu.

Contoh bagaimana sub-peraturan

(a) dilaksanakan oleh Amerika dan rakannya di Eropah, termasuk Israel, ialah peraturan ‘lucut senjata’ yang menjadi peraturan PBB selepas Perang Dunia II (peraturan PBB ini bererti, peraturan Baratlah). Bangsa yang kalah perang menentang Barat atau menentang negara yang disokong oleh Barat dilarang membina semula senjata mereka. Anehnya, peraturan ini tidak dikenakan kepada pihak yang ‘menang’ perang walaupun pihak itulah yang agresif, yang menceroboh dan menyerang pihak yang kalah perang itu.

Palestin, misalnya, tidak dibenarkan mengadakan kelengkapan tentera, membina senjata, untuk mempertahankan dirinya daripada musuhnya, iaitu Israel. Akibatnya, Israel boleh dengan bebas dan sesuka hatinya mengebom kawasan Palestin, memusnahkan harta dan membunuh rakyat Palestin, dan menangkap beberapa orang menteri Palestin (atau Hamas) semata-mata kerana seorang askar Israel ditawan oleh pejuang Hamas. Mereka tahu Palestin tidak dapat mempertahankan dirinya apatah lagi menyerang balas serangan Israel itu dengan jet-jet pejuang dan peluru berpandu. Inilah peraturan dunia yang dibuat oleh Amerika.

Orang Islam berkata, tindakan Israel itu ganas, kejam, tidak berperikemanusiaan. Tetapi dunia lain - dan ini termasuk PBB - tidak berkata begitu. Israel dan dunia Barat menanggap bahawa tindakan itu ‘patut’ dan ‘tidak salah’. Sebabnya ialah, pejuang Hamas yang memulakan tindakan ‘agresif’ dengan menawan seorang askar Israel! Bayangkan! Mereka marah kerana Hamas tidak mengakui kewujudan Israel. Israel dan Amerika - dua negara jaguh demokrasi - tidak menganggap Parti Hamas itu sah walaupun parti itu dipilih oleh rakyat Palestin melalui proses demokrasi bebas.

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Jadi, inilah peraturan dunia hari ini. Yang berkuasa bukan kebenaran tetapi ialah kekuatan: Kekuatan senjata. Israel tidak mempedulikan kritikan dunia lain kerana, menurut peraturan dunia yang ada sekarang, mereka tahu dunia lain tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa untuk mencegah keganasan Israel itu. Cuba, kalau Palestin dan negara-negara Arab yang lain mempunyai kekuatan senjata - mempunyai peluru berpandu, jet-jet pejuang yang hebat dan canggih buatan sendiri (bukan buatan Amerika atau buatan musuh Islam) dan bom-bom nuklear, beranikah negara Yahudi itu mengkotak-katikkan Palestin, Lebanon dan negara Arab yang lain dengan begitu bebas dan liar?

Mereka tahu bahawa Iraq sedang kucarkacir dan sudah lemah senjata. Mereka juga tahu Iran sedang dihalang daripada meneruskan rancangan pembinaan kuasa nuklearnya dan mereka juga tahu bahawa orang Arab ‘Suni’ dan orang Iran ‘Syiah’ tidak bersatu - mereka sudah bermusuh sejak lebih seribu tahun dahulu. Jadi, kalau Palestin dimusnahkan oleh tentera Israel sampai ranap, tiada siapa yang dapat menyelamatkan negara itu. Orang yang lemah boleh terus menjerit, terpekik terlolong, mengadakan demonstrasi, dan sebagainya, tetapi orang yang kuat tidak mengindahkan jeritan itu. Inilah peraturan dunia hari ini.

Dalam pada itu Korea Utara tidak diserang oleh tentera Amerika, padahal negara itu dikatakan mempunyai senjata nuklear yang boleh menggugat sahabat atau negara klien Amerika, Korea Selatan. Amerika masih bersedia berunding dengan Korea Utara. Mengapa? Sebabnya ialah Korea Selatan bukan negara Islam dan letaknya jauh daripada Israel. Jadi, dari segi pengaruh ‘ideologinya’ Korea Utara tidaklah lebih ‘berpengaruh’ atau lebih ‘berbahaya’ daripada Islam. Ini tentunya pandangan orang seperti Hungtington yang menganggap Islam sebagai ‘ancaman’ terhadap tamadun dan ‘ideologi’ Barat. Inilah peraturan dunia hari ini.

‘Berkuasa’

Tentang sub-peraturan (b) dan (c), tidak usahlah dijelaskan di sini. Pembaca umum pun sudah dapat melihat dan memahami betapa sistem perdagangan dunia hari ini makin lama makin ‘berkuasa’ untuk terus memperkayakan dan memajukan ekonomi negara yang sudah kaya dan maju dan terus memiskinkan negara yang miskin, yang sedang membangun. Cuma hal yang perlu diberikan perhatian oleh para perancangan dan pelaksana pembangunan ekonomi kita ialah: Janganlah kita menggunakan peraturan penjajahan itu di Malaysia; kita terlalu ghairah atau taksub atau takjub dengan ‘kuasa’ pasaran bebas, sehingga ada kalanya untuk kepentingan ‘perdagangan bebas’ kita sanggup membiarkan harta negara - termasuk aset strategik - dijual kepada syarikat asing, syarikat luar negeri.

Kita perlu juga ingat bahawa dalam zaman globalisasi hari ini, perdagangan bukan lagi semata-mata merupakan kegiatan komersial atau ekonomi sahaja tetapi juga merupakan perusahaan strategik, seperti juga perusahaan membina senjata. Negara boleh jahanam jikalau sebahagian besar harta dan ekonomi negara berada dalam tangan syarikat-syarikat asing. Jangan lupa sejarah. Bangsa Inggeris dan Belanda dahulu menguasai dan memiliki kawasan kita - menjadikannya koloni mereka - melalui Syarikat Hindia Timur atau ‘East-India Company’ masing-masing. Raffles, misalnya, bertugas atau mewakili syarikat East-India Company Inggeris. Kalau sejarah berulang besar kemungkinan syarikat-syarikat global atau asing boleh menjadi alat penjajahan baru di negara ini.

Peraturan (d) penting kita berikan perhatian sebab kerosakan yang boleh dilakukan melalui proses globalisasi budaya terhadap minda bangsa kita, budaya dan agama bangsa kita, sering kali kita tidak nampak. Serangan tentera tidak dapat memusnahkan budaya atau kesedaran jati diri sesuatu bangsa, tetapi kesedaran ini boleh dimusnahkan melalui cara lain yang lebih halus.

Dalam hal ini bangsa Melayu-Islam di negara ini harus menyedari bahawa tiga menyelamat bangsa Melayu dalam sejarahnya menghadapi proses globalisasi di dunia Melayu dari tahun 1511 hingga tahun 1957 ialah (i) bahasa Melayu, (ii) budaya Melayu, dan (iii) agama Islam. Walaupun tiga kuasa Barat, iaitu Portugis, Belanda dan Inggeris, akhirnya berjaya menjadi pemerintah di kawasan kita, mereka tidak berjaya memusnahkan bahasa Melayu, budaya Melayu dan agama Islam. Tiga alat inilah yang terus menjadi asas kekalnya kerajaan-kerajaan Melayu-Islam di Semenanjung Tanah Melayu dan di beberapa banyak kawasan lain di Indonesia sebelum institusi raja dihapuskan oleh pemerintah Republik Indonesia selepas tahun 1945.

Hari ini, jikalau tiga alat pembentukan jati diri, alat kekuatan dan ketahanan tamadun bangsa Melayu-Islam itu musnah melalui proses globalisasi moden yang lebih agresif lagi, alamat bangsa Melayu akan musnah, akan tinggal tanpa apa-apa alat kuasa yang dapat menyelamatkan mereka lagi. Kemajuan ekonomi orang Melayu, kalau pun ada, belum tentu dapat menjamin ketahanan Melayu jikalau tiga alat tadi lemah atau tidak dijadikan asas atau acuan kemajuan Melayu itu dalam bidang-bidang lain.

Aliran fikiran ‘Islam liberal’ mulai merebak di negara ini. Seperti kata seorang pengembang agama (bukan Islam), cara yang paling baik untuk memusnahkan Islam ialah dengan mengubah kepercayaan atau akidah penganutnya, atau menjadikan penganut Islam, terutama dalam kalangan kaum muda mereka, ‘makin lama makin tidak yakin’ atau ‘ragu-ragu’ sama ada agama mereka itu ‘benar’ atau ‘tidak benar’. Masa yang paling baik untuk melakukan kempen ini, menurut pengembang agama itu, ialah sekarang ini, semasa seluruh dunia Islam sedang mengalami serangan kuasa-kuasa bukan Islam, tetapi nampaknya ‘Tuhan tidak campur tangan untuk menyelamatkan umat yang beriman menentang kaum yang tidak beriman, yakni kaum kafir’.

Teorinya ialah, jikalau sebahagian besar orang Islam di dunia ini ‘tidak lagi yakin bahawa Tuhan boleh menolong orang Islam yang kena bunuh, kena bom, kena seksa, dicabuli dan sebagainya’, maka iman dan amalan orang Islam terhadap agamanya makin lama pasti akan musnah, dan pada waktu itu Islam tidak lagi akan menjadi kuasa tamadun yang berpengaruh. Itulah teori orang yang merancang untuk memerangi Islam melalui penyebaran ‘budaya global’ dan melalui ideologi ‘Islam liberal’ dan ‘Islam pluralisme’. Teori ini boleh jadi salah, dan boleh judi benar.

Salah kalau dilihat bahawa jumlah umat Islam di seluruh dunia dikatakan makin bertambah - sekarang melebihi 1.2 juta orang. Benar kalau dilihat dari segi merosotnya iman dan rosaknya akidah orang Islam terhadap agamanya. Jumlah atau kuantiti tidak penting. Yang penting ialah mutu dan kekuatan. Dari sekian banyak umat Islam itu berapa peratuskah yang benar-benar mengamalkan ajaran Islam atau mereka hanya ‘orang Islam pada nama sahaja’. Kita tidak tahu apakah peratusnya, tetapi kalau orang hendak ‘melemahkan’ Islam sebagai suatu kuasa tamadun yang kuat dan berpengaruh caranya ialah dengan ‘melemahkan’ iman orang Islam terhadap agamanya.

Menyogokkan orang Melayu-Islam dengan pelbagai jenis hiburan secara bertalu-talu adalah salah satu cara yang mereka anggap berkesan untuk mengkhayalkan orang Melayu yang dikatakan suka ‘berseronok, berpoya-poya dan berpesta’. Saya dengar sudah ada beberapa pihak yang prihatin yang percaya bahawa di sebalik program-program hiburan khayal tertentu itu ada niat atau agenda ‘anti-Melayu-Islam’. Mereka menggesa pihak berkuasa supaya peka terhadap ancaman ini dan mengambil tindakan segera untuk 'menyelamatkan keadaan'.

Tambahan, sudah ada pula cadangan meminta kerajaan membenarkan tauke-tauke hiburan membuka kelab malam, karaoke dan disko di kawasan perumahan, yakni dekat dengan rumah-rumah kita, dan membenarkan tempat-tempat hiburan itu dibuka sampai jam 5 pagi. Kononnya dengan cara ini Malaysia akan dapat menarik pelancong untuk mencari hiburan di Malaysia, menggantikan kawasan lucah seperti Pat Pong di Bangkok, atau Pigalle di Paris, atau kawasan 'Lampu Merah" ('Red Light Dsitrict') di Amsterdam, dan di tempat lain. Saya berharap ini bukan kehendak 'Islam Hadhari' atau bukan kehendak Perdana Menteri kita.

Apakah kita di Malaysia juga terpaksa mengikuti peraturan dunia baru itu dari segi peraturan moralnya atau dari segi peraturan ekonomi pasarannya, atau adakah kita akan menjadi mangsa peraturan dunia baru yang diciptakan oleh dunia luar itu? Saya berharap tidak. Sama-samalah kita perhatikan perkembangan seterusnya.

Back to the Guv

2006-09-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

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Her Story

Her Story - Part 1

She did not know what had come over her lately. She had been thinking a lot about him. It was a forbidden thought for a married woman. She had been married for several years. Since the day she fell in love with the man who was now her husband, she had never looked at other men let alone to be attracted to them. Both her and her husband had a good relationship and the couple had a happy family. But now she could not get him out from her mind. Was it a test from God the Almighty to see how faithful she was towards her husband? Or was it the whisper of the cursed devil to lure her into sinful fantasies? Whatever it was she needed to let out her feelings. But she would not dare to breathe it to a single soul because she knew that it was a fatal attraction. She then decided to pour it out onto her humble machine. Let God the All-Knowing, the keyboard and the screen be the witnesses of what she was going to write. She stared at the white computer screen and tried to flash back to the day that she first saw him…the other man.

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Her Story: The Other Man (Part 2)

It was the first day of her daughter’s lesson. She and her daughter were waiting for the previous lesson to finish. Suddenly she saw him emerging from the other room with his student. He was a good-looking young man and was quite talkative. She sat there quietly in the waiting room and unconsciously listened to his chat. Occasionally they looked at each other but neither tried to start any conversation. He was one of those men blessed by the handsomeness that she would occasionally come across but who could never have stirred any feelings in her heart. Her husband was the only one that she could ever love and she would ever want to be with. She never thought a bit about other men in general and him in particular.

Time passed by and it had been a few months that she had been sending her daughter to the academy. Every week when she was there at the academy accompanying her daughter, he was there either chatting to the receptionist or to his students. There was one time that he told the receptionist who was struggling with the camera to hurry after seeing her daughter who was dressed in a fancy costume had to wait too long to post.

However, one night she dreamt about him. She woke up the next day with mixed and confused feelings. Since that night she started to develop certain feelings for him. She was attracted to him. She could not believe that after all the years of her marriage that she would still have feelings for other man…
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Her Story: The Other Man (Part 3)

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She had to do something. She needed to get him out of her mind. The only way was not to send her daughter to the academy anymore. Luckily her husband was willing to do so. During the next few months she was able to forget about him and went on with her normal life.

One day both her and her husband attended their daughter’s first performance at a theatre. They were sitting at the back row. For certain reason, as if she was sensing that somebody was watching her, she looked to her right and there she saw him sitting alone at the very back seat. Their eyes met and quickly she looked away. Her heart was thumping very fast. She had never expected to see him there. After the performance was over and as they were getting ready to leave, she saw him still sitting at the back of the stage by himself.

For many months to come, she had managed to avoid going to the academy at all and managed again to get him out of her mind. However, as long as her daughter was in the academy, sooner or later she would bump into him again. That happened during the rehearsal at the academy. She bumped into him again at the door. Not knowing that it was him when she muttered, “Excuse Me!”

It was God’s plan for them to meet and it was also His plan to separate them. Her husband had found a house somewhere else and they would be moving into their new house soon. Since the academy was further away from their new house, they decided not to continue their daughter’s lesson there. She was not going to see him anymore and that was a relief. However, she decided to send her daughter to the academy for her final lesson. She needed to see him again for the last time...

Her Story: The Other Man (Part 4)

She decided to go early to the academy. As she and her daughter entered the waiting room, she heard a male’s voice from one of the closed doors. She hoped it was his voice. She chose a seat across the room from where he was teaching to have a good view of him when he came out. Her daughter was already with her teacher and she was sitting alone outside. She tried to read a magazine but she could not concentrate. Then his door opened and his student came out. She saw him sitting on the chair in the room and at the same time he was looking at her. There was a small boy with him who was the student’s brother. She hoped he would come out and chat to the receptionist or his students as usual and she would be his faithful listener. However, she was quite disappointed because the next student who was the previous student’s sister was already in his room.

In her mind she was wishing that if he really wanted to see her he would make up any excuses to come out from the room just for a few seconds. As if he was reading her mind, half way through the lesson he came out from his room, went to the receptionist and asked for the washroom key. She heard the receptionist was asking whether or not he was feeling alright. He mumbled something. A minute later, his student came out and asked the receptionist what was wrong with him and complained that he left her in the middle of the lesson. The receptionist was saying how rude he was to leave her just like that. A few minutes later, he came back from the washroom and resumed the lesson with his student. Not long after that his door opened again and he went to another room with the little boy. His student came out again and went to the receptionist. The receptionist asked her whether or not her lesson was finished. The student said that he was teaching her little brother something. The receptionist told the student that she was going to tell the students’ mother about his attitude.

As if he could no longer bear his feelings, he came out from the other room and sat a chair away from her. The lesson was not finished yet and he was already outside. Then the little boy came and chatted with him. All the while that she wanted to see him so badly, she did not expect him to abandon his student. She would feel very guilty if she was the reason for him to behave like that.

As he was sitting close to her, she wanted to look at his face and memorize his handsomeness for the last time. But she was too shy to look directly at him. Furthermore, she did not want to be so obvious. There were other people in the room. Occasionally, she looked up to see his face. He knew that she was watching him as he was talking to the little boy. Then it was time to leave when her daughter came out with her teacher. At the door, both she and he smiled at each other. Two smiles each carries the secret of her and his feelings and intentions towards one another which one and only God would have already known…

2006-07-27T18:32:00.000-07:00