Malaysian policy changes and new initiatives soon

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/06/07/policy-changes-and-new-initiatives-soon-dr-m-shift-includes-ensuring-top-civil-servants-know-and-spe/ 

PUTRAJAYA: Signalling a major policy change over defence and administrative issues, the Prime Minister has outlined several initiatives that the Government will undertake from now on.

For starters, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad does not want warships on either the Straits of Malacca or the South China Sea.

In doing so, Dr Mahathir has sent a strong message to superpo­wers, such as the United States and China, that Malaysia wish to remain neutral over their desire to control the region.

To ensure better spending of public funds, he has enlisted the help of former auditor-general Tan Sri Ambrin Buang to head a high-level committee to look into the procurement of government supplies, starting with the Defence Ministry.

In a move to improve the running of the public sector, Dr Mahathir said top civil servants would have to sit for an English competency test, signalling a major initiative in pushing for the language to be part of the civil administration.

“We consider English a very important language and it must be mastered by all high-ranking civil servants. These top officers must have a strong command of English because they always have to deal with foreigners,” Dr Mahathir said at a press conference after chairing the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.

Instantly, former civil servants lauded the move, as many felt that government officers today were less proficient in English and as such, could not work as well as the seniors before them.

Tan Sri Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, for instance, said that it was important for civil servants at all levels to master the English language.

“It’s a good idea and it’s about time that this was introduced. Thailand and Vietnam are catching up very fast and we don’t want to be left behind,” said Dr Rebecca.

The former International Trade and Industry Ministry secretary-general said Miti staff in particular had to undergo English language training as the ministry was involved in a lot of international work, drafting agreements and statements that required a high level of proficiency in the language.

Former Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to United Nations Tan Sri Hasmy Agam concurred.

“It’s a fantastic idea. In this globalised age, we have to be proficient in English at all levels.

“If you are a civil servant and you are not proficient in English, you can’t participate much at the international level,” he said.

Hasmy said apart from top civil servants, proficiency in English should also be emphasised in schools and universities as well.

“If Malaysia is aspiring to join the ranks of developed countries, we have to start now.

“A Malaysian would be more patriotic if he or she can communicate in international languages, in this case English, when representing the country’s interests abroad.

“Negotiations in diplomacy, trade, labour – you have to negotiate in English,” he added.

Both Dr Rebecca and Hasmy said that the younger generation of civil servants were less proficient in English due to different mediums used in schools.

“We have to do it (English language training) for the younger ones coming into the service because they went through a Malay-medium education,” said Dr Rebecca.

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"Chinese dream" speaks to the whole world, offers global inspiration

When President Xi Jinping articulated a vision of prosperity, national rejuvenation and happiness for the people at the UNESCO headquarters in March, he added the best footnote yet to the notion of the "Chinese dream."

No other words about China in recent years have captured the world's attention and imagination as those two have.

The phrase, first mentioned during a speech by Xi two weeks after he was elected general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in November 2012, has been echoed repeatedly by Chinese leaders and is considered a central mission of the new leadership.

The latest reaffirmation came on Sunday, when Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao called on young people to work for the "Chinese dream" to integrate their personal dreams with the bigger dream of the Chinese nation's revival.

Although the country might still be years, if not decades, away from living its dream for real, the Chinese dream has provided global inspiration.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said in January during a visit to Beijing that he admired China for its great achievement of development and that he believed the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation will benefit the whole world as well as the Chinese people.

Asha-Rose Migiro, a former UN deputy secretary-general, also said last year that the "Chinese dream" resonated with the dream of Africa, as China and Africa can achieve common development through common efforts.

This is no accident and not difficult to understand. For one thing, the Chinese dream does not run contrary to the common aspirations worldwide, but is compatible with them.

Peace, prosperity, happiness and social stability, which are the essence of the Chinese dream, are also the most fundamental components of the shared pursuits of people worldwide.

In that sense, people across the world have all dreamt of the "Chinese dream" in their own way. It is no wonder that foreigners understand the notion upon first hearing it.

The Chinese dream also offers huge potential opportunities for cooperation and mutual benefit for other countries, both economically and politically.

China's rapid economic growth has produced enormous "bonuses," not only for the Chinese people, but also for the whole world.

According to figures from the National Statistics Bureau, China has topped the list of contributors to the global economy, with up to 19.2 percent of world economic growth coming from China in 2007, compared to only 2.3 percent in 1978.

China is not only the main engine of global economic growth, but also the defender of regional peace and stability.

Unlike certain troublemakers in the region, China has the resolve to create with Asian countries a peaceful and bright future for East Asia and the rest of the continent.

The realization of the Chinese dream does not entail fracturing the dreams of other countries. On the contrary, it helps them to realize their own dreams of peace and prosperity. - Xinhua

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Ruling multiracial Malaysia

There’s no need to wonder who should rule in Putrajaya: what’s more important is how they rule.

LEE Kuan Yew got it right. Whether it is Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat in Putrajaya, this country will still be under Malay rule.

So what, this aunty would like to ask?

For this citizen of Chinese descent, it is a given due to our history, racial composition and politics.

To quote Deng Xiaopeng, it doesn’t matter if it is a black or white cat, as long as it can catch the mice.

Similarly, I can accept Malay rule, regardless which side is in power, as long as it provides good government.

But as a voting citizen, I do have my hopes and expectations from my leaders.

You see, I am fine with Malay rule as long as the leaders cherish and respect the Constitution and continue to abide by the provisions in this document and not to tinker with it as they like.

I have no problem with Malay rule as long as those in power upholds Islam’s position as the official religion but will also respect other religions and protect the rights of all Malaysians to practise their faiths without discrimination, harassment or fear.

I am really okay with Malay rule as long as those who rule are not afraid of the past; who understand history should not be reinterpreted to make one community look better than others and who will acknowledge the contributions of other races in the building of this nation.

I will defend a leadership that will not use other races to invoke fear in the Malays by insinuating that these ungrateful interlopers are greedy and grasping and will steal the nation from under them if they are not careful.

I will support leaders who are strong and courageous to stand firm against those who preach hate and divisiveness and punish them appropriately, regardless of who these hate-mongers are.

I will cherish a Malay-led government that is fair to women and believe in gender equality; that will end all laws that continue to discriminate against women and treat them like simple-minded creatures.

I will admire a leadership that recognises the competition is beyond our shores and if we don’t stop bickering among ourselves and trying to frighten each other, our country might be left far behind, even within the region as all our neighbours get their act together and grow from strength to strength.

Hence, I will rejoice to have leaders who embrace meritocracy and will fight to nurture and retain all its talented citizens to benefit our society and nation and give us the edge on the international front.

I am all for a principled government that upholds the rule of law and that means, as defined by thefreedictionary.com, the government exercises “its power in accordance with well-established and clearly written rules, regulations, and legal principles” and “no branch of government is above the law, and no public official may act arbitrarily or unilaterally outside the law”.

In other words, a leadership that enforces laws with fairness, morality and justice.

I will support those in power who believe in educating and empowering its people and not keeping them stupid and poor in order to control them and making them dependent forever.

I will happily live under a leadership that nurtures a thinking society and does not fear dissent or those who challenge its authority through peaceful expressions be it in words, or through art, performances, music and film.

I will cherish a leadership that is inclusive with a consistent message to all, actively promotes true racial accommodation and acceptance and not play lip service to mere tolerance.

That is simply intolerable.

I will be in awe of leaders who can articulate and defend their policies by speaking with intelligence, backed up with quality research, facts and figures, and not insult the intelligence of others, especially those who question them.

And I can cheer them on proudly when they promote or defend Malaysia’s interests abroad because they can speak in crisp, clear English with authority, knowledgeably and wittily.

I will respect leaders who understand that becoming Yang Berhormats does not automatically elevate them to a status that demands obeisance from others.

Rather, they understand they are the people’s servants and respect must be earned.

I will honour a government that is led by leaders who are morally clean and upright, with zero tolerance for corruption and will not use underhanded means to enrich themselves and to keep themselves in power.

I am all for Malay rule as long as my leaders are committed to and believe in a multiracial, multi-cultural and multi-religious Malaysia and want to keep it this way.

SO AUNTY, SO WHAT? BY JUNE H.L.WONG contributed to this post:

> Aunty hopes August, being our Merdeka month, will be a good time to remember our shared history. Feedback to junewong@thestar.com.my or tweet #JuneHLWong. The views expressed are entirely the writer’s own. 

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Raising productivity growth

I REFER to the report “Malaysians lag in productivity” (see the related posts below). The recent findings by the Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC) shows that our worker productivity levels, productivity growth and productivity value are lower than several leading industrialised economies and even some developing countries in our region.

That’s serious and calls for a more specific analysis of the situation to identify the real causes and institute urgent remedial measures involving all factors that influence productivity. MPC is of the view that even with our 2011 productivity growth rate of 4.55%, we are still on track to become a high-income nation by 2020.

It must, however, be understood that when any single factor of productivity or total factor productivity is low, economic growth will not be sustainable over the long-term and will instead decline and with it bring down both employment and incomes.

Some reasons have been cited for our low worker productivity levels, such as workers who prolong working time to perform a job thus increasing costs, poor working conditions, low-level of worker motivation and lack of incentives, among others.

As the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and the SME Corp have pointed out, a major factor that keeps worker productivity levels low is the massive hiring and continuing dependence on low-skilled, especially foreign, workers, who make up a fifth to a third, or even more, of the workforce in various industries.

Also, the use of low, or even medium, level technology and the preponderance of low value-added industries dominating the economy, contribute to low worker productivity levels.

Clearly, in order to boost overall productivity levels, there is an urgent need to pursue quality growth by investing in and providing incentives for:

1. > Upgrading skills;
2. > Increasing local worker employment levels;
3. > Encouraging high value-added industries in all sectors of the economy; and,
4. > Tightening foreign worker policies.

Other measures should include increased partnerships with leading global companies, developing the talents and skills needed to support such businesses, promoting high-end local enterprises and investing in a strong 21st century education system.

While rewarding employees through increases in wages and benefits might please them, it should never be done on an adhoc basis nor as a mere handout exercise for whatever reason.

If rewards are to serve as incentives to increase productivity levels, such benefits must be for better performance that is measurable, and that leads to higher level and quality of output and gains.

Underlying the need to raise productivity growth and worker productivity levels is the importance of cooperation between the management or employers and workers in fostering a conducive working environment and increasing the quantum and value of goods produced or services delivered.

There has to be genuine scope for ongoing mutual dialogue among these “social partners” that promotes consensus-building and the democratic involvement of those with vital stakes in raising performance, productivity, profitability and personal rewards.

RUEBEN DUDLEY Former United Nations / ILO Regional Deputy Director for Asia & the Pacific

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