From Malaysia Today
We have gone through a whole generation of totally brainwashed sheep. We have followed anything and everything that benefits the people in government and the government system while depriving ourselves and our future generation the chance of a life filled with humanity; where we can see true law and order, where we can be happy with any other race.
When our children do not get the scholarships they deserve, we complain a little, then say, "Baa!" and bow our heads. When we do not get the contracts we ought to deserve as being the most competitive, we complain again but still we say "Baa!" and bow our heads. When our then Deputy Prime Minister was beaten up and hauled to prison on what seemed like trumped up charges, we do not even complain. When RPK was taken away from us, we are even more cowered. We do not even complain anymore. Well, we do; but only to each other.
Malaysians have been taught to always accept, always be agreeable. We are willing to give up our liberty to speak, to think, to act; hoping that by hiding, we will save ourselves from persecution. But we do not see that we are being persecuted every day. Every single day. We see others voicing out for us and get imprisoned. We want to protect ourselves. We say if we keep quiet, then it won't happen to us. We say we are not busybodies. But we are suffering. Our children are suffering. And the children of our children will suffer more if we continue to stick our heads in the sand.
Why should we think change will come if we do not do anything to make change happen? Yes, there are some of us who are willing to voice out. But how many of these are there? 300? 500? 1000? Malaysia has a population of about 27 million. Where is everyone hiding? You can't even hide in the jungles anymore. Even the Penans have been reported to have been persecuted.
A person's will is how a person will act in order to get his wishes fulfilled. The key word here is ACT. Nothing is going to change if we are just going to think about it. Any delay to act erodes our freedom further. Time waits for no man.
Nobody can change anyone else, nor do most intend to. However, by thinking, brooding and complaining about everything and everyone, it isn't going to help either. We all know what has been going on. We have talked about it to death with friends, with family, with other readers of Malaysia-Today. We now need to be willing to act on this knowledge.
If every single one of us rise up to do our part to do what is right, not just do what is right for us individually, but right for all Malaysians irrespective of race or religion, then Malaysia will have a better future. I am not Nostradamus, I cannot foresee what should be the right thing to do or how it should be done but at least by doing something, there is a chance that change can happen. It is by doing nothing that I can guarantee that nothing will change.
Let's all evolve in our public will that you, me and everyone around us will spend some time to act or initiate acts for the good of society without any expectations. Just for the sake of wanting to do something for someone else. Anyone else; not just for people of your own race, of your own religion, of your own beliefs.
Be your own judge.
R. Shan (Human Being)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Will reducing wealth gap alone narrow the race gap?
by: drchris
Eradicate poverty regardless of race
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was reported as saying that all races living in this country will refer to themselves as Malaysians once the economic gap between them is reduced.His contention may be true to some extent but economic disparity alone is not the only reason for the failure to achieve racial unity to the desired level. What is needed is a genuine desire and whole-hearted commitment to by all to close this widening gap between and within the various ethnic communities in the country.
There are many other factors that need to be fulfilled before one feels proud to call himself a citizen of his country. The situation can be compared to a family where the children feel proud to be members of the family not just by the money and comforts provided by their parents but by the love and appreciation rendered to them. Money and wealth may be important but far more important is the need for appreciation of one’s love for the nation. In the US, descendants of once an enslaved race now proudly proclaim themselves Americans and they excel in almost every field like the descendants of their masters.
While it may be important to eliminate the economic disparity among the different races it is equally important to rid of such disparity among all citizens regardless of race. It is utmost to ensure that such measures to eliminate this disparity among the races are not abused by those in power otherwise it would result in one group becoming overtly favored over the others. They should not be used as excuses for encouraging corruption and abuse of power resulting in a small segment of the elite amassing wealth at the expense of the vast majority of the people who continue to suffer in poverty and hardship.
Eradication of poverty should be a top priority of the government and it should deploy all the resources at its disposal to ensure its endeavors succeed. Poverty is color blind as it transcends all racial divide, so should be all attempts in its eradication.
The government has embarked on many development projects since independence to eradicate poverty among its people by its policies to restructure society so that no one particular community will be identified with poverty and backwardness. There is no doubt the target groups have benefited tremendously by such measures. However due to overzealous implementation of these projects unfortunately certain other groups have been neglected resulting in being left out of the mainstream of the rapid socio-economic development thereby giving rise to much unhappiness and frustration among them.
It is important for the government to realize its shortcomings and address this issue of poverty among its entire people for lasting peace and harmony in our multiracial nation. Race based policies initiated 50 years ago may not be relevant anymore due to the rapid advances taking place in the country in a highly competitive global world. It is timely to review the policies of the past and make amends to improve their effectives in a new social-economic environment.
There is no reason for any group to suffer in poverty particularly in our country that is endowed with abundant God-given natural resources. All that is needed is a fairer, prudent and more accountable management of the economy of the country which the government has pledged to undertake.
Eradicate poverty regardless of race
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was reported as saying that all races living in this country will refer to themselves as Malaysians once the economic gap between them is reduced.His contention may be true to some extent but economic disparity alone is not the only reason for the failure to achieve racial unity to the desired level. What is needed is a genuine desire and whole-hearted commitment to by all to close this widening gap between and within the various ethnic communities in the country.
There are many other factors that need to be fulfilled before one feels proud to call himself a citizen of his country. The situation can be compared to a family where the children feel proud to be members of the family not just by the money and comforts provided by their parents but by the love and appreciation rendered to them. Money and wealth may be important but far more important is the need for appreciation of one’s love for the nation. In the US, descendants of once an enslaved race now proudly proclaim themselves Americans and they excel in almost every field like the descendants of their masters.
While it may be important to eliminate the economic disparity among the different races it is equally important to rid of such disparity among all citizens regardless of race. It is utmost to ensure that such measures to eliminate this disparity among the races are not abused by those in power otherwise it would result in one group becoming overtly favored over the others. They should not be used as excuses for encouraging corruption and abuse of power resulting in a small segment of the elite amassing wealth at the expense of the vast majority of the people who continue to suffer in poverty and hardship.
Eradication of poverty should be a top priority of the government and it should deploy all the resources at its disposal to ensure its endeavors succeed. Poverty is color blind as it transcends all racial divide, so should be all attempts in its eradication.
The government has embarked on many development projects since independence to eradicate poverty among its people by its policies to restructure society so that no one particular community will be identified with poverty and backwardness. There is no doubt the target groups have benefited tremendously by such measures. However due to overzealous implementation of these projects unfortunately certain other groups have been neglected resulting in being left out of the mainstream of the rapid socio-economic development thereby giving rise to much unhappiness and frustration among them.
It is important for the government to realize its shortcomings and address this issue of poverty among its entire people for lasting peace and harmony in our multiracial nation. Race based policies initiated 50 years ago may not be relevant anymore due to the rapid advances taking place in the country in a highly competitive global world. It is timely to review the policies of the past and make amends to improve their effectives in a new social-economic environment.
There is no reason for any group to suffer in poverty particularly in our country that is endowed with abundant God-given natural resources. All that is needed is a fairer, prudent and more accountable management of the economy of the country which the government has pledged to undertake.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar justifying HINDRAF ban
(From today's Wall Street Journal Asia.)
Malaysia Protects Racial Harmony?
Your Oct. 22 editorial "Malaysian Hindus" relating to the Malaysian Hindu Rights Actions Force (Hindraf) suggests that our government does not allow peaceful protests. We do. All Malaysians have freedom of speech and the right to protest peacefully. Peaceful protest, however, does not involve inciting racial and religious hatred or endangering the public. With rights come responsibilities, and this is the same in every democracy.
Ahead of demonstrations, Hindraf repeatedly did not inform police or get permits. Their rallies were illegal and turned violent, with significant damage occurring to property and serious injuries being inflicted on the public and police. Hindraf are an extremist organization. In an interview with Singapore's New Paper, one of Hindraf's leaders was reported as saying that violence may be used by some and civil war was unlikely but a possibility. The organization has incited racial and religious hatred, attempting to drive a wedge between Indians and other races. It is clear that if Hindraf's activities are not stopped, public safety and the cohesion of Malaysia's multiracial society will be at risk.
This action is against extremism, not against Hindus. We have and will take action against any individual or group that is inciting racial or religious hatred, regardless of their political affiliation. This is why we have banned many extremist Muslim groups in recent times. The top priority of any government is to protect the security of its citizens.
Hindraf does not represent all Malaysian Hindus or Indians. The Indian community is represented by legitimate, elected state assemblies and members of Parliament whom the government meets regularly. We will continue to work with them closely and listen to all communities in Malaysia as part of the normal democratic process. Malaysia's multiracial harmony is one of our country's great strengths and must be protected.
Syed Hamid Albar
Minister of Home Affairs
Putrajaya, Malaysia
Malaysia Protects Racial Harmony?
Your Oct. 22 editorial "Malaysian Hindus" relating to the Malaysian Hindu Rights Actions Force (Hindraf) suggests that our government does not allow peaceful protests. We do. All Malaysians have freedom of speech and the right to protest peacefully. Peaceful protest, however, does not involve inciting racial and religious hatred or endangering the public. With rights come responsibilities, and this is the same in every democracy.
Ahead of demonstrations, Hindraf repeatedly did not inform police or get permits. Their rallies were illegal and turned violent, with significant damage occurring to property and serious injuries being inflicted on the public and police. Hindraf are an extremist organization. In an interview with Singapore's New Paper, one of Hindraf's leaders was reported as saying that violence may be used by some and civil war was unlikely but a possibility. The organization has incited racial and religious hatred, attempting to drive a wedge between Indians and other races. It is clear that if Hindraf's activities are not stopped, public safety and the cohesion of Malaysia's multiracial society will be at risk.
This action is against extremism, not against Hindus. We have and will take action against any individual or group that is inciting racial or religious hatred, regardless of their political affiliation. This is why we have banned many extremist Muslim groups in recent times. The top priority of any government is to protect the security of its citizens.
Hindraf does not represent all Malaysian Hindus or Indians. The Indian community is represented by legitimate, elected state assemblies and members of Parliament whom the government meets regularly. We will continue to work with them closely and listen to all communities in Malaysia as part of the normal democratic process. Malaysia's multiracial harmony is one of our country's great strengths and must be protected.
Syed Hamid Albar
Minister of Home Affairs
Putrajaya, Malaysia
Monday, October 27, 2008
Ex-leader uses blog to needle Malaysian government
Monday, October 27, 2008
By Seth Mydans
Published: October 26, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: In a vast office at the top of one of the world's tallest buildings, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad sits at a broad, glass-topped desk, scribbling his thoughts on a pad of unlined paper.
For 22 years Mahathir was the most powerful person in this land, and his thoughts were commands as he reshaped the country in his own grand image.
But he has become an irritant and a spoiler five years after stepping down, turning against his handpicked successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and he has fallen victim to the press controls he perfected as prime minister.
It is mainly a system of self-censorship in an atmosphere of pressure and intimidation that produces an obedient press and has seen the closure or banning of many publications.
"Where is the press freedom?" he exclaimed two years ago, apparently surprised to be suddenly ignored. "Broadcast what I have to say! What I say is not even accurately published in the press!"
Earlier this year, like many other inconvenient critics, he joined what seems to be a political wave of the future, creating his own acerbic blog - www.chedet.com - an online journal where he vents in both English and Malay several times a week.
Around the region, bloggers like him are becoming a fifth estate, challenging the government's monopoly on information in Singapore, evading censors in Vietnam and influencing events in places like Thailand, Cambodia and China.
In March, political experts say, Malaysia's bloggers helped tip the balance, contributing to the biggest upset the governing party, the United Malays National Organization, had suffered since independence in 1957. For the first time in decades, it fell below two-thirds of the seats in Parliament, and it lost control of 5 of 13 states.
Two months after that, in May, Mahathir went digital, cutting and thrusting with elan.
"It is time the so-called intellectuals realize they were being duped by the Master of Spin," he wrote on Aug. 21, referring to his bitter enemy, Anwar Ibrahim, who was his deputy prime minister and now leads the opposition.
"The pious Muslim, who is also the bosom pal of Paul Wolfowitz, the neo-con Jew, the killer of Muslims," he said, referring to the former U.S. deputy secretary of defense.
Blogging on Sept. 3, he offered a sort of mission statement.
Many people are with him as he harasses the government, he asserted. "But they are not prepared to say it openly. That was why I started my blog. About six million had visited my blog site and tens of thousands have commented and supported me."
In case anyone doubts this, he posts the comments, by the dozens and hundreds, page after page, day after day. It turns out he has a lot of fans out there.
"Amazingly brilliant!" reads one comment. "I can't stop laughing... you made my day Sir!"
"HAHAHAHA :) ...This is your BEST posting so far, my dear Tun!!" reads another, referring to Mahathir by an honorific.
"Dearest Tun," reads another, "You are sooooo right.. spot on.. bulls eye.."
And just to clear up any possible misunderstanding, another writes: "You, sir, are the most brilliant politician Malaysia has ever been blessed with."
In the upheaval of the March election, several bloggers, following an opposite trajectory from that of Mahathir, used their online popularity to win seats in the national or state parliaments.
The most prominent was Jeff Ooi, 52, a former advertising copywriter who was one of Malaysia's first political bloggers, in 2003, at www.jeffooi.com.
"The government doesn't have a clue how to handle bloggers," he said in an interview. "If I were a dictator I would be despairing. What do you do against this?"
The government's assault on Ooi - "very hostile," he said - included threats of imprisonment without trial, attacks in the government-friendly press and defamation lawsuits, which are popular among leaders in Southeast Asia.
But that only seemed to make him a hero, and when he decided to run for Parliament with the opposition Democratic Action Party, he already had a big head start.
"As a person that has consistently faced threats as a blogger, I had a kind of iconism and imagery that this is someone you can trust, someone the government fears, someone you need to put into Parliament," he said.
But he said it is much harder to blog from the inside. "The trade-off is that I have to write with measured words," he said. "I am no longer my old self. I thought I had to take it to a higher level, and a lot of readers are getting disappointed. It isn't the same blogger that they used to know."
Mahathir Mohamad, the former prime minister of Malaysia, at his office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
on Sept. 30. (Palani Mohan for the International Herald Tribune)
Earlier this year, Ooi said, he attended a public forum with Mahathir, and he claims that he is the one who persuaded the old war horse to get blogging.
"I threw him a challenge," Ooi said. "A blogger shares a few prerequisites. One, he is strongly opinionated. Two, he could be controversial. And, thirdly, he is an agent provocateur on issues.
"I thought Mahathir fulfilled all three."
The result, Ooi said, was "a miracle, he scored about 10 million visitors within months."
Now, a convert to free speech, Mahathir is using his blog to champion the most recent victim of government censorship, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the country's highest-profile blogger, who posts his slash-and-burn commentary on his site, www.malaysia-today.net. The site has been blocked, but readers are redirected to another address, which continues to be updated.
The government has fallen back on the kind of tactics that Ooi said it threatened against him, charging Raja Petra with sedition and locking him up for two years without trial for comments he has posted.
Mahathir, the country's former strongman, sounded almost like Che Guevara when he said in his blog that the arrest showed "a degree of oppressive arrogance worthy of a totalitarian state."
Furthermore, locking people up is futile, he said in an interview in his sky-high office. There is no way the government can arrest all the bloggers, even if it wants to.
At least, he said, "I hope so. Otherwise I'll be in, too." - IHT
JIMMY E JELANI
By Seth Mydans
Published: October 26, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: In a vast office at the top of one of the world's tallest buildings, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad sits at a broad, glass-topped desk, scribbling his thoughts on a pad of unlined paper.
For 22 years Mahathir was the most powerful person in this land, and his thoughts were commands as he reshaped the country in his own grand image.
But he has become an irritant and a spoiler five years after stepping down, turning against his handpicked successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and he has fallen victim to the press controls he perfected as prime minister.
It is mainly a system of self-censorship in an atmosphere of pressure and intimidation that produces an obedient press and has seen the closure or banning of many publications.
"Where is the press freedom?" he exclaimed two years ago, apparently surprised to be suddenly ignored. "Broadcast what I have to say! What I say is not even accurately published in the press!"
Earlier this year, like many other inconvenient critics, he joined what seems to be a political wave of the future, creating his own acerbic blog - www.chedet.com - an online journal where he vents in both English and Malay several times a week.
Around the region, bloggers like him are becoming a fifth estate, challenging the government's monopoly on information in Singapore, evading censors in Vietnam and influencing events in places like Thailand, Cambodia and China.
In March, political experts say, Malaysia's bloggers helped tip the balance, contributing to the biggest upset the governing party, the United Malays National Organization, had suffered since independence in 1957. For the first time in decades, it fell below two-thirds of the seats in Parliament, and it lost control of 5 of 13 states.
Two months after that, in May, Mahathir went digital, cutting and thrusting with elan.
"It is time the so-called intellectuals realize they were being duped by the Master of Spin," he wrote on Aug. 21, referring to his bitter enemy, Anwar Ibrahim, who was his deputy prime minister and now leads the opposition.
"The pious Muslim, who is also the bosom pal of Paul Wolfowitz, the neo-con Jew, the killer of Muslims," he said, referring to the former U.S. deputy secretary of defense.
Blogging on Sept. 3, he offered a sort of mission statement.
Many people are with him as he harasses the government, he asserted. "But they are not prepared to say it openly. That was why I started my blog. About six million had visited my blog site and tens of thousands have commented and supported me."
In case anyone doubts this, he posts the comments, by the dozens and hundreds, page after page, day after day. It turns out he has a lot of fans out there.
"Amazingly brilliant!" reads one comment. "I can't stop laughing... you made my day Sir!"
"HAHAHAHA :) ...This is your BEST posting so far, my dear Tun!!" reads another, referring to Mahathir by an honorific.
"Dearest Tun," reads another, "You are sooooo right.. spot on.. bulls eye.."
And just to clear up any possible misunderstanding, another writes: "You, sir, are the most brilliant politician Malaysia has ever been blessed with."
In the upheaval of the March election, several bloggers, following an opposite trajectory from that of Mahathir, used their online popularity to win seats in the national or state parliaments.
The most prominent was Jeff Ooi, 52, a former advertising copywriter who was one of Malaysia's first political bloggers, in 2003, at www.jeffooi.com.
"The government doesn't have a clue how to handle bloggers," he said in an interview. "If I were a dictator I would be despairing. What do you do against this?"
The government's assault on Ooi - "very hostile," he said - included threats of imprisonment without trial, attacks in the government-friendly press and defamation lawsuits, which are popular among leaders in Southeast Asia.
But that only seemed to make him a hero, and when he decided to run for Parliament with the opposition Democratic Action Party, he already had a big head start.
"As a person that has consistently faced threats as a blogger, I had a kind of iconism and imagery that this is someone you can trust, someone the government fears, someone you need to put into Parliament," he said.
But he said it is much harder to blog from the inside. "The trade-off is that I have to write with measured words," he said. "I am no longer my old self. I thought I had to take it to a higher level, and a lot of readers are getting disappointed. It isn't the same blogger that they used to know."
Mahathir Mohamad, the former prime minister of Malaysia, at his office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
on Sept. 30. (Palani Mohan for the International Herald Tribune)
Earlier this year, Ooi said, he attended a public forum with Mahathir, and he claims that he is the one who persuaded the old war horse to get blogging.
"I threw him a challenge," Ooi said. "A blogger shares a few prerequisites. One, he is strongly opinionated. Two, he could be controversial. And, thirdly, he is an agent provocateur on issues.
"I thought Mahathir fulfilled all three."
The result, Ooi said, was "a miracle, he scored about 10 million visitors within months."
Now, a convert to free speech, Mahathir is using his blog to champion the most recent victim of government censorship, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the country's highest-profile blogger, who posts his slash-and-burn commentary on his site, www.malaysia-today.net. The site has been blocked, but readers are redirected to another address, which continues to be updated.
The government has fallen back on the kind of tactics that Ooi said it threatened against him, charging Raja Petra with sedition and locking him up for two years without trial for comments he has posted.
Mahathir, the country's former strongman, sounded almost like Che Guevara when he said in his blog that the arrest showed "a degree of oppressive arrogance worthy of a totalitarian state."
Furthermore, locking people up is futile, he said in an interview in his sky-high office. There is no way the government can arrest all the bloggers, even if it wants to.
At least, he said, "I hope so. Otherwise I'll be in, too." - IHT
JIMMY E JELANI
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Top financial analyst is DAP’s latest recruit
By Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — In a comfortably worn blue-collared T-shirt, beige slacks and a hefty backpack slung over one scrawny shoulder, Teh Chi-Chang looked more like your average University Malaya economics undergraduate than the mighty economics consultant that he most assuredly is.
Teh is the new economics advisor to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. - Picture by Choo Choy May
At only 37, the Ipoh-born, taichi-loving Teh is the new economics advisor to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, replacing Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua who now has his hands full dealing with national publicity.
Teh's responsibilities are two-fold: to advise the secretary-general on macro-economic policies; and to act as a human resource centre to the party on all economic matters.
Two weeks ago, he conducted a workshop to brief the DAP MPs on the current global economic situation and how it translates to the domestic scene. It was sort of an Economics 101.
"They come from different backgrounds. Most don't have a good grasp of economic terms. Being able to communicate concepts clearly is key to the success of an economic policy as well," he said.
He said: "You can have sensible ideas but if you cannot convince the people, there is no point," and added: "Hopefully it will lead to better policies that enable us to go forward."
Asked if he thought poor communication was one of the reasons for the government's failure to promote economic growth, Teh snorted. "I don't think they are even trying. They are avoiding the issues completely."
Invariably, the discussion turned to the current heated 2009 Budget being debated in Parliament. The former financial analyst, a graduate from the University of Warwick and Cambridge University, was full of criticism against the government's proposed Budget. As expected of a professional, he remained cool-headed and was able to express his objections in a clear and precise manner.
"As analysts, we also start our estimations based on the most current information available," he said.
"The Budget debate is academic," Teh stated. "The government needs to go back and revise on the oil prices."
To sum up Teh's argument: The government's main source of revenue is based on its oil and oil-related exports. If the cost per barrel is high, then the pile of money in its account would be great. However, the price of oil has dropped drastically since the Budget was released 1½ months ago, effectively reducing the amount of income available for spending.
"The problem is the government is practising an expansionary fiscal policy just like they did during the good times," he sighed.
He likened the current gloomy economic situation to a person who has just lost his job.
"There is no more income and you have to rely on your savings. At that point, you have to prioritise your expenditure. What are the necessities and what are the luxuries?" he asked.
Teh suggests that the government focuses on plans that improve on local infrastructure such as drainage and roads and postpone extravagant projects for example the high-speed broadband and overpriced military purchases such as the RM2.3 billion Eurocopters.
"You can postpone it three, four years. While defence is a very important aspect of a nation's security, I highly doubt that anyone is going to invade Malaysia any time soon," he remarked drily.
He urged the government to encourage domestic spending rather than rely on foreign spending. With the entire world hit by an economic glacier, he was doubtful that foreign investors would bother coming in at the moment. They too had to prioritise their survival.
At any rate, what foreign investors looked for are political stability and an efficient government, Teh emphasised.
"Don't get caught up in Anwar's politics," he cautioned the Barisan Nasional government. He pointed out that the BN seemed to forget it only needs eight seats to get a two-thirds majority in Parliament while the opposition Pakatan Rakyat needs 30 more to claim a simple majority.
"It's simple mathematics," he laughed.
He also advised the government to show reason and competence.
"Competency is not shown when the Home Minister says a person was arrested for her own 'protection'," he said, referring to Datuk Syed Hamid Albar's explanation over the recent detention of a Chinese press reporter under the pre-emptive Internal Security Act.
Teh started his new job in September. Prior to that, he was the Asia-Pacific equity research director for utilities and media at Citigroup, one of the world's leading financial institutions. Before that, he was head of equity research for Malaysia. And before that, the executive director and country head of research at Hwang-DBS Vickers Research.
It makes one wonder, what on earth had happened to compel this wonder boy to give up a lucrative career for a position in an opposition political party.
Teh shrugged. He had been an analyst for 15 years. No matter how attractive the promotion, in the end, the work was the same.
"You only have one life and there are so many things to do," he remarked.
As an analyst and a taxpayer, he had been appalled by the government's reckless handling of the economy. The results of the March 8 general election had shown him that others felt the same. He wanted to play a role in bringing about a change.
He contacted Tony Pua and was impressed by the latter's grasp of economics despite being a lay person. Likewise, Pua was impressed by Teh's "impeccable credentials" and urged him to take an active position in the party.
Teh resisted. He wanted to help improve the economy, not play politics. It was not until he met party workers, especially the staff at DAP's headquarters that he was inspired and humbled.
"What struck me was how dedicated the people were at DAP. It was an eye-opener. You know they are not doing it for the money. They are doing it for a cause and a belief."
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — In a comfortably worn blue-collared T-shirt, beige slacks and a hefty backpack slung over one scrawny shoulder, Teh Chi-Chang looked more like your average University Malaya economics undergraduate than the mighty economics consultant that he most assuredly is.
Teh is the new economics advisor to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. - Picture by Choo Choy May
At only 37, the Ipoh-born, taichi-loving Teh is the new economics advisor to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, replacing Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua who now has his hands full dealing with national publicity.
Teh's responsibilities are two-fold: to advise the secretary-general on macro-economic policies; and to act as a human resource centre to the party on all economic matters.
Two weeks ago, he conducted a workshop to brief the DAP MPs on the current global economic situation and how it translates to the domestic scene. It was sort of an Economics 101.
"They come from different backgrounds. Most don't have a good grasp of economic terms. Being able to communicate concepts clearly is key to the success of an economic policy as well," he said.
He said: "You can have sensible ideas but if you cannot convince the people, there is no point," and added: "Hopefully it will lead to better policies that enable us to go forward."
Asked if he thought poor communication was one of the reasons for the government's failure to promote economic growth, Teh snorted. "I don't think they are even trying. They are avoiding the issues completely."
Invariably, the discussion turned to the current heated 2009 Budget being debated in Parliament. The former financial analyst, a graduate from the University of Warwick and Cambridge University, was full of criticism against the government's proposed Budget. As expected of a professional, he remained cool-headed and was able to express his objections in a clear and precise manner.
"As analysts, we also start our estimations based on the most current information available," he said.
"The Budget debate is academic," Teh stated. "The government needs to go back and revise on the oil prices."
To sum up Teh's argument: The government's main source of revenue is based on its oil and oil-related exports. If the cost per barrel is high, then the pile of money in its account would be great. However, the price of oil has dropped drastically since the Budget was released 1½ months ago, effectively reducing the amount of income available for spending.
"The problem is the government is practising an expansionary fiscal policy just like they did during the good times," he sighed.
He likened the current gloomy economic situation to a person who has just lost his job.
"There is no more income and you have to rely on your savings. At that point, you have to prioritise your expenditure. What are the necessities and what are the luxuries?" he asked.
Teh suggests that the government focuses on plans that improve on local infrastructure such as drainage and roads and postpone extravagant projects for example the high-speed broadband and overpriced military purchases such as the RM2.3 billion Eurocopters.
"You can postpone it three, four years. While defence is a very important aspect of a nation's security, I highly doubt that anyone is going to invade Malaysia any time soon," he remarked drily.
He urged the government to encourage domestic spending rather than rely on foreign spending. With the entire world hit by an economic glacier, he was doubtful that foreign investors would bother coming in at the moment. They too had to prioritise their survival.
At any rate, what foreign investors looked for are political stability and an efficient government, Teh emphasised.
"Don't get caught up in Anwar's politics," he cautioned the Barisan Nasional government. He pointed out that the BN seemed to forget it only needs eight seats to get a two-thirds majority in Parliament while the opposition Pakatan Rakyat needs 30 more to claim a simple majority.
"It's simple mathematics," he laughed.
He also advised the government to show reason and competence.
"Competency is not shown when the Home Minister says a person was arrested for her own 'protection'," he said, referring to Datuk Syed Hamid Albar's explanation over the recent detention of a Chinese press reporter under the pre-emptive Internal Security Act.
Teh started his new job in September. Prior to that, he was the Asia-Pacific equity research director for utilities and media at Citigroup, one of the world's leading financial institutions. Before that, he was head of equity research for Malaysia. And before that, the executive director and country head of research at Hwang-DBS Vickers Research.
It makes one wonder, what on earth had happened to compel this wonder boy to give up a lucrative career for a position in an opposition political party.
Teh shrugged. He had been an analyst for 15 years. No matter how attractive the promotion, in the end, the work was the same.
"You only have one life and there are so many things to do," he remarked.
As an analyst and a taxpayer, he had been appalled by the government's reckless handling of the economy. The results of the March 8 general election had shown him that others felt the same. He wanted to play a role in bringing about a change.
He contacted Tony Pua and was impressed by the latter's grasp of economics despite being a lay person. Likewise, Pua was impressed by Teh's "impeccable credentials" and urged him to take an active position in the party.
Teh resisted. He wanted to help improve the economy, not play politics. It was not until he met party workers, especially the staff at DAP's headquarters that he was inspired and humbled.
"What struck me was how dedicated the people were at DAP. It was an eye-opener. You know they are not doing it for the money. They are doing it for a cause and a belief."
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