The top names that were missing included Penang Free School (PFS), St Michael’s Institution, Victoria Institution (VI), St Xavier’s Institution (SXI), St John’s Institution and Bukit Mertajam High School.

So are schools that perform well in examinations like Chung Ling High School and Jit Sin High School.

Over in Sabah and Sarawak, the grumblings are equally loud. From Sabah, for example, the Tshung Tsin Secondary School, All Saints and the Kota Kinabalu Secondary School must surely be wondering why they were left out.

In Sarawak, my colleagues insist that St Joseph Secondary School, St Thomas Secondary School and Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang are deserving names.

Established schools, especially the missionary schools, have produced some of the country’s prominent figures.

These former students remain active in contributing to the well-being of the schools, particularly in fund-raising.

The Chung Ling old boys have the best network with associations all over the world. No Malaysian school can match theirs.

Lost shine

The top 20 list was decided on six criteria – excellent academic achievement, well-known alumni, consistent participation in national and international level competitions, linkages with colleges and universities, networks with other local and international schools, and having measured against national and international benchmarks.

These were the standards that were used for the selection of the High Performance Schools (HPS) for education.

The first batch has been announced and as expected, it has kicked up a storm, which would lead to better competition, if one looks at it positively.

A debate over the list would also encourage schools to take a hard look at themselves and their rivals.

At least 30 more schools would be named next year and 50 by 2012, to make up a total of 100 in three years.

The minus point is that these top 20 schools would now be perceived as the cream and would attract stronger enrolment – it would defeat the elitism of the country’s then premier schools.

Schools like SXI, VI and PFS have lost their shine simply because of the ruling that students must come from nearby locations.

In the past, these schools attracted students from all over the state and those with ties to the schools, especially their parents, were given preferences which strengthened the old schoolboy ties.

For example, at one point, almost all the top editors of The Star came from SXI. Of the seven group chief editors of the newspaper, four came from SXI.

In the 1970s, your alma mater was an important criterion for employment, especially for some big employers in Penang.

The same could be said about employers in Kuala Lumpur, where old boy rivalry conti­nued to exist, even decades after they had left school.

Such was the strong bond among the alumni. That was when schools were named after personalities and not street names or locations.

Those were the days when the motto of many schools, especially missionary ones, were in Latin. A simple letter from the Brother Director then was powerful enough to get you a place in Harvard or Cambridge – that was how strong the international connections were.

But that elitist era is over. The Govern­ment rightly wanted to treat all schools as equals but in the process, the identity and the history of these schools were weakened.

By the 1980s, the residential schools were built and with the financial backing of the government, there was no way the normal secondary schools could compete with them.

Past glories

The residential schools were simply like the elite British boarding schools with the best teachers and facilities. Today, these residential schools dominate the top 20 list.

The Malay College Kuala Kangsar, essentially a boarding school started by the British to produce the Malay elites, has remained on the list. Certainly, there would be no dispute over its standing.

Likewise, Tunku Kurshiah College in Seremban.

Painful as it may be to the former students of the established schools, some are merely living on the glories of the past.

Despite their strong history, many have lost out in their performance in the public examinations to the newer schools.

But the HPS list is a serious matter. It is not just a matter of prestige and recognition.

There’s the RM700,000 financial incentive on top of each school’s annual allocation from the Government. A whopping RM20mil has been set aside for these schools.

While the schools named must fight to keep their positions, the Government should also expect other schools and the public to challenge how these schools were chosen.

The 67-year-old devotes almost all his time to serving his neighbours, acting like an elected representative – if not more effective than one. The residents call him up for everything, from domestic disputes to maids running away, and they expect him to solve their problems.

His passion is in organising community protests against the construction of high-rise buildings in Damansara Jaya in the name of redevelopment. It’s a thankless job but Yew, who is still hale and hearty, is familiar with being unrecognised and unappreciated.

Not many in the neighbourhood, including the older ones, are aware that Yew is one of Malaysia’s greatest sports legends.

He was one of the members of the victorious 1967 Thomas Cup team, and they won the prize in what could be described as the fiercest and most emotional contest in Thomas Cup history.

With Malaysia leading four matches to three in the best of nine series, the play had to be suspended during the eighth match due to unruly crowd behaviour.

The 15,000-strong Indonesian crowd at the Senayan sports hall was fanatical. The Malay­sian players were abused and jeered while slippers and bottles were thrown at them on the court. Even torchlights and camera flash lights were reportedly shone on them to distract them and make them lose their focus on the game.

Indonesia’s Rudy Hartono, not yet 18 then, had just made his debut in the Thomas Cup, certainly the most important international badminton competition in the world.

The chaotic night ended with the Inter­national Badminton Federation giving a 6-3 victory to Malaysia.

Today, members of the 1967 team – Yew, Teh Kew San, Tan Yee Khan, Ng Boon Bee, Billy Ng, Tan Aik Huang and Tan Aik Mong – are still around.

So is Rudy Hartono, now 60 years old and a pastor at the Bethel Church in Jakarta.

But while we have been quick to reward our younger sportsmen and sportswomen with titles and money, we seem to have forgotten, if not neglected, those who did better in the past.

They were international giants in international competitions, not flash-in-the-pan winners at regional events. Swimming the English channel would hardly be a feat compared to what they have done.

Except for Teh, Yee Khan and Boon Bee, who have each received a Datukship, the rest – Yew, Billy Ng and the Tan brothers – are still unrecognised. The fact that they did not seek recognition, such as a Datukship, does not mean we should forget their glorious past.

I am told that they are occasionally invited to badminton events but they normally end up in the stands, not the VIP area.

Another time, one of the 1967 greats took a visiting English badminton player to watch the current national team. A prominent player gave him the cold shoulder but Rexy Mainaky, the Indonesian coach of the Malay­sian men’s doubles, recognised the elderly gentleman and took time to show him around.

Yew, for example, had to retire from competitive badminton when he was only 28 because he tore his Achilles tendon. Left without financial support for treatment, it also meant the end of his career.

Teh, who captained the 1967 team, worked as a clerk at the Penang Municipal Council and had to take unpaid leave to play badminton for the country.

In 2008, Yew and Billy Ng – perhaps suddenly remembered by the sports bureaucrats – were inducted into the Olympics Council of Malaysia (OCM) Hall of Fame.

Other former sports personalities inducted were Shaharuddin Jaafar, the 1965 SEAP Games gold medallist in cycling, and Datuk Malek Noor, a six-time winner of the Mr Asia crown in the heavyweight category.

The members of the 1967 badminton team are now in the twilight of their lives. They won’t be around with us for long.

Malaysia owes it to them to recognise this special breed of fighters who refused to be cowed by an intimidating crowd.

They kept the Jalur Gemilang flying even at the most difficult moments because they believed in themselves and the country. They knew they could not let Malaysians down.

Their nerves were certainly made of steel and their mental preparations must have been the toughest in Thomas Cup history.

Let’s not let the 1967 team down, just as they kept our faith and hope in them then. Those who have not been accorded titles should be recognised – and soon.

There is this perception that seeking an appeal at the Court of Appeals to overturn the decision of the High Court would be a quick fix.

It won’t be because confidence and trust have been shaken. Angry Muslims feel the High Court decision was reached because the judge was a non-Muslim.

So, we can expect the same kind of reactions if the majority of the three sitting judges are Muslims, even if the judgment is legally sound.

The Muslims would be receptive to the decision if it favours them but the Christians, who want to use Allah in reference to God, would be dejected and make assumptions that the court hasn’t been fair.

Religious differences, especially theological ones, have gone on for centuries without any conclusion and, in most cases, we just respect each other’s beliefs. But one fact remains – we hold on to the principles of our faiths.

Whatever decision the higher courts make, it would be almost impossible for the Government to impose on Christians how they should refer to God in their prayers, especially within the premises of the churches.

But we cannot let this issue stop the various religious groups from working together. They must learn to agree to disagree and then move on to other areas of cooperation.

Common values

As men and women of God, they need to demonstrate to their flock that there are many paths to God. We can call Him different names but in the end, He is the Creator and it is His work that we need to uphold.

Upholding the principle of God and the unity of Man – instead of preaching conflict and separation – is surely shared by all faiths. Which right-minded person would quarrel over this?

Worshipping God is surely more important than worshipping personalities, whether they are politicians or bloggers.

We cannot claim to be faithful and pious with the strictest standards on our dressing, rituals and diet, yet close an eye to racial chauvinism, fanaticism and all the ills in this country, especially corruption.

How do we reconcile our belief in God if we openly allow such practices to go on?

Why would corruption be so rampant in this country if we are such a seemingly religious and pious nation?

There are areas of common values that all religious leaders should channel their attention to, namely corruption, poverty, injustice, poor planning and implementation, racial discrimination and blatant stealing of our country’s resources.

Surely, we expect them, as Muslim or Christian leaders, to make such pronouncements in their speeches or sermons regularly. Aren’t all these values important?

All of us are guilty in some aspects by focusing on the narrow-minded interpretation of our religious beliefs and ignoring the universal values.

Worse, most of us dare not point out the mistakes of our religious leaders when they are wrong, especially in their interpretation of the holy books, because we think ourselves inadequate theologically.

But we need to move on, as we try to seek a consensus over the Allah controversy, and that includes the setting up of a National Consultative Council on Religious Harmony.

There is no one body that encompasses all faiths at present, which means that contentious and critical issues involving inter-faith relations have not been resolved at the onset.

Such a body, if it exists, would be able to propose ideas and suggestions to the Cabinet and Parliament for consideration.

The Consultative Council should be headed by the Prime Minister, the minister in charge of religion and national unity, the leaders of the main political parties representing the ethnic groups, opposition leaders and various relevant religious leaders.

The Yayasan 1Malaysia, headed by Dr Chandra Muzaffar, has pushed for this proposal as it would be an effective channel of communication among the different religious groups.

We need to hear each other out, especially our fears and anxieties. Over the past weeks, I have had the opportunity to speak to the country’s top leaders, Muslim editors and colleagues on the frustrations of the Christians.

Many were genuinely surprised that Christians have difficulty setting up churches and that many churches are located above coffee-shops and in factory areas which are hardly conducive for services.

At one discussion, one Muslim newspaper editor openly supported my call that local authorities should stop throwing the spanner at Christians who want to set up churches.

In fact, many churches have been renamed “pusat or centres”, replacing the word “churches” because of the insistence of these local authorities but churches have never created a row.

The crosses on the front portion of many churches have long disappeared because of rules imposed by bureaucrats. This must be another surprise to many of our Muslim friends.

Keeping an open mind

They, in turn, have told me of their concerns why Allah was regarded as exclusive by them in their usage, and fears that Allah, a term so sacred to them, would be abused by others.

They understand the references made in Arab countries and even in Indonesia but they also want Christians to look at it in the Malay­sian context, especially in the peninsula.

They want their Christian brethren to appreciate that they do not want to emulate the Arabs and that the local texture and environment needs to be understood.

It would not be wrong to say that this is the majority view.

The fact remains that there are many issues we need to sit down to discuss, hear each other out and resolve, including terminology to ensure consistency.

For example, non-Muslims cannot use the word “Allah” but the state anthems of most states have the word “Allah”.

An all faith council would allow the leaders to interact and understand each other better, and in the process, perhaps forge a friendship which would enable issues to be resolved more effectively.

Irrespective of our religions, our ego, pride and prejudices are certainly regarded as sins, and perhaps we can look at issues better if we start with that understanding.

A new year is supposed to bring new hopes, new commitments and new aspirations.

We can see and feel that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is setting new targets and plans to take the country ahead.

The plans are there for all to see and for the first time, the public is encouraged to question the goals of the National Key Results Area (NKRA) and to give their input.

They may just be plans at this stage but we all should give Najib a chance to implement these initiatives.

Certainly, there is a consensus on the drive to reduce crime, combat corruption, expand access to quality affordable education, uplift the living standard of low income groups, strengthen infrastructure in rural and remote areas, and improve public transport.

But all these can only work if we adopt a fresher – if not a bolder and radical – way to make them work without being bogged down by bureaucratic resistance and obstacles.

A group of dedicated and empowered professional overseers need to be set up to execute this comprehensive plan.

With just about two years to the next general election, the stakes are high and this could well be the Government’s last chance to meet a demanding electorate in the new political landscape.

Some of us have wasted enough time and energy in the past year with incredulous, mind­less politicking, some bordering on provocative racism in the name of race and religion.

Press statements with racial overtones do not help stimulate the economy, stupid. Instead, they generate ill-feelings and definitely will not help the Government, if the intention is to win votes.

Issues such as schools, languages, labels such as pendatang and quotas, the political language of the turbulent 60s, are still being used. Such thoughtless statements have made many Malaysians feel like we are trapped in a time warp, giving rise to pessimism.

The NKRA must succeed. There is no other choice because the figures and numbers are disturbing.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah sent a wake-up call recently, saying: “Malaysia is trapped in a low value-added, low wage and low productivity structure. While Singapore and Korea’s nominal per capita GDP grew within the last three decades by nine and 12 times respectively, ours is only by a factor of four.”

Among our neighbours China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, our real GDP growth in the last three years was the second lowest at 5.5%. If this is not worrying, we don’t know what is.

Last month, former minister Datuk Seri Effendi Norwawi provided more figures – foreign and domestic investment declined significantly with outflow of capital at RM117bil for 2008 and RM54bil for the first half of 2009. In simple language, money is being taken out of the country.

We can have the best plans but without the best talents, we will never be strong enough to compete.

We can argue that Japan, South Korea and China do not use English but their scientific and educational institutions are already so established that they are able to produce enough skilled workers.

Let’s be honest. If Malaysia is good enough only to attract unskilled foreign workers to be maids and restaurant workers, then there is something wrong with our country.

In short, we are not attractive enough because the wages are too low to attract the best talents here. Singapore and China, and even Thailand and Vietnam, are the preferred choices.

In 2008, 2.062 million unskilled foreign workers entered Malaysia and in the last seven years, the entry of these foreign labourers has increased by 300%, forming 30% of our workforce. That’s only the official figures.

But the number of skilled workers and professionals entering Malaysia has dropped by nearly 60% – 85,000 in 2000 to 35,000 in 2007. The migration pattern of Malaysians, which includes all races, is also disturbing.

Obviously, we cannot allow this slide to continue. Our strength is our plural society with our ability to speak and write in a few languages, even if our proficiency in English has dipped.

Instead of driving a wedge into our plural society, our politicians and media should be encouraged to capitalise on our diverse backgrounds and talents.

We cannot attract the best expatriates to work in Malaysia or our young Malaysians to come home if the wages are low. The fact is that Malaysia has been in the middle income group for 15 years now and to move up the ladder, we need to improve on our per capita income.

Again, we are not going to achieve this if our political brats continue with their erratic behaviour, which often sends jitters to fellow Malaysians and investors.

Neither can we attract the good workforce if they feel that our cities are not safe enough and the political setting appears unfair.

Singapore, for example, competes for investors by providing scholarships for their children and its immigration department does not make it a hassle for their spouses to renew their visas, especially if they have a professional background.

Malaysia has been lucky in many ways but we cannot take for granted what we have achieved. Most analysts, not feng shui experts, expect 2010 to be a volatile year.

But there are good signs too. Our infrastructure development would help stimulate the economy with our economy predicted to rebound 4.2% this year after contracting 2.5% last year.

Most of us are getting tired of the excessive politicking in Malaysia with little debate in our national media and in Parliament on the state of our economy despite the many warning signs.

Wake up, the New Year celebrations are over. By the way, this is 2010, not the 60s any more.

The engines are sophisticated machines and only those with extensive knowledge of their functions and worth would be able to pull off such a despicable act.

And even if it is true that some clever low-ranking officers were capable of pulling off this theft, the head of some top officials should roll for allowing this fiasco to take place.

Malaysians are used to reading, or at least hearing, stories of our leaders who steal from our coffers. It could be plain bribery, either a huge commission or a generous winning bet at the golf course, but this one takes the cake.

Last week, the RMAF denied that 41 personnel, including a brigadier-general, were sacked because of the theft of the two RM50mil turbo jet engines.

In a statement on Thursday, the RMAF said the 41 were sacked due to incompetency and poor working performances.

It added that the decision to give them the boot was taken before the engines were discovered missing.

Several senior RMAF officers, including generals, are expected to be questioned following the theft of the General Electric J85-21A afterburner turbojet engines (the power plant for the single-seater F-5E Tiger 11 and RF-5E Tigereye).

Few of us have heard of those in the civil service, including the armed forces, being sacked for incompetency.

There would be no end to the sacking of civil servants in an over-bloated administration if they were actually sacked for lousy performances.

We have now been told that four people, including three low-ranking personnel, were arrested and released on bail over the theft. It’s the small fry again.

Would we be told soon that there was no evidence to implicate the generals and that they were too clever to be caught?

Would this theft be soon forgotten with the press losing interest as they move on to other subjects with greater news value?

If this had not been exposed by the media, we would never have known about it as it was obvious that the RMAF, being non-civilians, were trying to resolve the matter within the RMAF. Until a police report was lodged, would the theft have possibly been uncovered?

Assuming we accept what the RMAF wants us to believe, that this is the work of some small-time thieves, a serious breach of security has taken place and seemingly with ridiculous ease.

We are furious because the theft took place in 2007, an audit revealed the loss in 2008, and the public only knew about it at the end of 2009.

A police report, we are now told, was also only made very much later although the theft took place two years earlier. It seemed to suggest that there was no urgency on the part of the RMAF.

It has been reported that the Argentinians do not use these two jets. Obviously, the next question would be where exactly the engines are heading.

The F-5E planes were used by the RMAF from 1974 to 1999 before they were replaced by MiG-29N and F/A-18D. The planes, said to be obsolete now, were reactivated for reconnaissance and training purposes in 2003.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi have pledged that those responsible would be punished. Indeed, it can only be good for the administration if these traitors are punished and shamed.

It makes little sense to protect these thieves as doing so, even in the most subtle form, would only send the wrong signal to others.

There is no need to be defensive and it would be wrong for the RMAF to think it is good press relations to try to cover up or attempt to protect those who are responsible.

The theft has not only astonished Malay­sians but, following press reports, it has also made many question whether we overpaid for these engines.

There is big demand for J85 engines; you only need to go online to sites like www.speednews.com to get more details for such items and the prices that buyers would pay.

It’s time the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency steps in to find out whether hefty kickbacks were paid for these engines.

It’s no longer just a simple theft and the MACC must also now ask a simple but relevant question: were the engines worth the price we paid for them?

There have been claims that these engines are probably only worth RM7mil in the market.

Malaysian taxpayers have a right to seek answers about the RM50mil because this involves our money.

It would seem that Santa Claus came much earlier for some people in the RMAF. We need to recover their stolen presents because they don’t belong to them.

IT always looks good on paper but the difficult part is implementing proposals on improving things in the country. Public expectations are high and no one can blame Malaysians for running out of patience.

The living standards of Malaysians have basically gone down while the cost of living has shot up.

The streets are no longer safe and public confidence in the ability of our police force to protect us is eroding. Only those in denial mode will tell us that corruption has not gone out of control. It is fast in danger of becoming a way of life, very much the Indonesia and Thailand way. Our politicians can argue that it is merely a perception but try telling ordinary Malay­sians that.

When a policeman stops a foreigner by the roadside, no one perceives he is a carrying out a routine crime check. Most of us passing by would assume that he is trying to extort money from the poor foreigner.

Businessmen assume, rightly or wrongly, that palms need to be greased if contracts are to be approved.

And have we seen details of multi-million public contracts being made public? They should be put on the Internet and in newspapers, as in India, because they involve our money.

Some politicians who live beyond their means and openly flout their wealth seem to be untouchable.

Hence, the Government can not only expect plenty of hope but also cynicism from the public on the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme (GTP) roadmap.

The two ministers responsible for the GTP, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Datuk Seri Idris Jala, have given a commitment that these proposals would be implemented.

“You don’t make a concrete commitment like that to show transparency unless you intend to do it. If you don’t intend to do it or don’t have the political will, it is better that you don’t put something like that in the public domain,” said Jala.

We hope that Jala, a no-nonsense person known for his persistence in achieving targets, would not be disappointed. For that matter, Malay­sians too.

Jala was the man who coined the term “labs” in place of the more mundane words like “workshops” or “seminars” because he wanted ideas to flourish during the six weeks that the participants put together these proposals.

The six National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) are reducing crime, fighting corruption, raising living standards of low income households, strengthening infrastructure in rural areas, improving urban public transport and education.

In the tradition of the townhall concept, a meet-the-people session was held on Friday where the lab leaders and members were able to interact with the people.

The move is certainly a good start because public input is essential. The days of leaders talking down to the public and telling us what is good for us are over. They should do more listening if they still want to stay in office.

A similar event will be held in Sabah and Sarawak in the first week of next month but the Government should consider holding the meet-the-people session in major towns like Penang and Johor Baru too.

Understandably, interest was on the plans to battle corruption, where the lab presentation was extended to three hours.

The general sentiment was that only the ikan bilis (small fry) were caught while the jerung (sharks) were allowed to swim free.

It is also time that a mandatory jail sentence be imposed on graft offenders as these criminals must not assume they can get away by just paying a fine.

There should also be confiscation of assets that have been stolen from the public as that would deter offenders. To be jailed for two years, for example, is almost nothing if a person gets to keep hundreds of millions of ringgit – which he would not be able to accumulate in his lifetime of working.

And why shouldn’t politicians who live beyond their means be investigated without having to wait for official complaints to be lodged?

Politicians must not only be clean but must also be seen to be clean and even smell clean.

The Malaysian Anti Corruption Agency (MACC) should set up MACC stations, similar to police stations, in key areas like government offices and markets.

In Hong Kong, the Independent Com­mission Against Corruption set up such bases to enable the public to walk right in to lodge reports and these stations also serve as a place to educate the people on the ills of corruption.

At the market place, council enforcement officers, regarded as being corrupt by most Malaysians, would think twice if the MACC station is within easy reach for stallholders to complain.

Why shouldn’t the public think that our council enforcement officers are corruptible when they see tables and chairs being put up at parking bays in front of mamak shops? Or are they going to tell us that they do not have enough enforcement officers to act? Come on!

Places of worship should also be used to educate the public. What is the point of being seemingly God-fearing and pious, in mannerism, dressing and habits, if one is blatantly corrupt?

A refreshing start has been made by the Government. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is certainly aware of the need to implement these proposals as the next general election isn’t that far away.

We all want the GTP to succeed because this is the last chance for Malaysia. We are on the downhill roll and we need to get back on track.

IT isn’t often that we read something refreshing from our politicians. Their statements are often predictable and unexciting. If they are in Government, they are talking down to us, lecturing us or are being plain defensive.

Those in the Opposition are not exemplary either. It was thus refreshing to read a bold and honest speech by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah last week.

The mild-mannered Perak politician, at the National Award For Management Accounting on Dec 8, struck a chord with his listeners with his openness and his admission to use the country’s plural society to push for Malaysia’s competitiveness. It is a rarity these days as many politicians prefer to make “safe speeches”.

At a time when some politicians attempt to play the racial card, believing it to be still the best way to shore up voter support, Ahmad Husni has taken a different route. “It is about time we fully exploit the potential synergy that is fully inherent in the diversity of our talent pool,” he said.

Indeed, what has put London, Hong Kong and New York way ahead of Kuala Lumpur is they have always placed emphasis on meritocracy. You are either good or no good – nobody cares about the colour of your skin.

The fact is that the Malaysian domestic market is just too tiny and every businessman looking at the global market needs a good force of employees from diverse backgrounds and talents.

It would be plain stupid, even if he’s a self-professed nationalist, if he cannot see beyond the shores of Malaysia, or his village.

We will continue to lose our best talents to Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and even Jakarta if we refuse to discard old hang-ups.

“I see highly talented young people working together, respecting each other’s intellectual capabilities and, to an extremely large extent, measured by only that benchmark,” Ahmad Husni said.

As he correctly pointed out, we have the single best comparative advantage – our multi-racial make-up – but we have not used it, preferring instead to dwell on trivial emotional issues that serve little purpose.

“If we are to unleash this cultural synergy, this economic opportunity to all participants, we have to break down the invisible barriers that prevent us from truly accepting the beauty of each other’s culture and capabilities.”

There can be no compromise over the issues of transparency if we want to pull ourselves ahead again. We are on self-denial mode if we don’t. The world isn’t going to wait for us.

A week earlier, speaking at the National Economic Outlook Conference 2010-2011, he said: “Malaysia is trapped in a low value added, low wage and low productivity structure. While Singapore and Korea’s nominal per capita GDP grew within the last three decades by nine and 12 times respectively, ours is only by a factor of four.”

I am glad that Ahmad Husni has the courage to pull the blinkers away. Malaysia is losing its place on the radar screen of investors. It doesn’t help that investors have the perception that it is costly to do business in Malaysia because of inflated cost as a result of corruption.

There is an urgent need to restore confidence, credibility and governance. Ahmad Husni added: “Amongst our peers, China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand, our real GDP growth in the last three years was the second lowest at 5.5%.”

We are obviously in danger of lagging behind in the region. One way to fend off these challenges would be to address the competitive pressure and to move away from traditional markets which could be already overcrowded.

Private investment has declined, Ahmad Husni pointed out. “For the period 2000-2007, our investment per value added in percentage nominal terms in manufacturing dropped from 30.6% to 21.7% while (for) the services sector, the decline is from 26.8% to 22.1%.”

But what struck me more is Ahmad Husni’s frankness. In his words, “a simple analysis of our capital account will show that there has been a continuous outflow of capital from our shores.”

That’s not all. The fact is that some of best brains are either staying overseas or, worse, migrating.

But we must not give up. As Ahmad Husni declared: “We have to rebuild an environment that gives confidence to the private sectors.”

It is heartening to hear the government talking about restoring confidence in leadership and governance, market driven resource mobility, strong and effective institutions and a knowledge and innovation society.

It is time for Malaysian politicians to use the right sound bite. The news now tend to be littered with inconsequential comments that make good political reading but name-calling and racist reactions, unfortunately, are not going to help check our declining competitiveness.

The two speeches by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah referred to by Wong Chun Wai in On the Beat are below.

Minister of Finance II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah’s speech at the “National Economic Outlook Conference 2010-2011”, Dec 1, 2009, at Hilton Kuala Lumpur.

Ladies and Gentlemen 1. The Government intends to revise its estimate for next year’s GDP growth from 3.0% upwards. We have identified several sources of growth and we will enhance our capacity through domestic demand. We are also looking to strengthen the private sector’s contribution to the GDP through the Government-linked companies. We have identified several projects in the pipeline and we will bring them forward for implementation in the first quarter of next year. We are reasonably confident that a target of 5.0% is achievable.

2. Next year we will unveil the Tenth Malaysian Plan. We will focus on initiatives to revitalise private initiative as the primary engine of growth. In this respect, we will improve the dynamics of competition in the domestic marketplace, focus on technology and innovation in niche areas including green and bio technologies. We will develop these niches on existing comparative advantages and provide soft & hard infrastructure for the knowledge economy.

3. With all these, we will create new catalysts of growth, boost demand for knowledge workers and skilled labour, raise private and social returns to education and skills upgrading, and a more balanced internal economic structure with a bigger role for domestic demand. Externally, we will also continue to further promote closer economic, trade and financial linkages within the region.

4. For the longer term, our Prime Minister has tasked the New Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) to develop a new economic model to transform the country into a high income economy. This journey will be an exciting as it would represent the single biggest transformative process since the introduction of the New Economic Policy in 1970.

5. There will be many changes. Quoting the Prime Minister, business is not as usual. Fundamental and structural economic reforms are critical if our economy is to be transformed successfully. Malaysia is trapped in a low-value-added, low wage and low productivity structure. While Singapore and Korea’s nominal per capita GDP grew within the last three decades by 9 and 12 times, respectively, ours only by a factor of 4.

6. Amongst our peers, China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand, our real GDP growth in the last three years was the second lowest at 5.5%. Our manufacturing sector is not investing up the value chain while our services sector remains low in growth and under-developed.

7. The transformation is particularly urgent when we take the external environment into account. The global environment is changing. We can no longer rely on our traditional trading partners and we need to address the competitive pressure from other emerging markets on our existing exports.

8. Our economy has been stagnating in the last decade. We have lost our competitive edge to remain as the leader of the pack in many sectors of the economy. Our private investment has been steadily in decline. Our private investment is now half of what it was since the Asian crisis while both manufacturing and service sectors have become less capital intensive. For the period 2000 to 2007, our investment per value-added in percentage nominal terms in manufacturing dropped from 30.6% to 21.7% while the services sector, the decline is from 26.8% to 22.1%.

9. We need to restore the private sector’s role in the economy, serving as the primary engine of growth. How do we re-catalyse the private sector? In this regard, I wish to take this opportunity to articulate the concept of 1Malaysia in economic terms. There are some quarters, the cynics and the pessimists, whom view the 1Malaysia concept as another slogan gimmick. I assure you, it is not. We know that the bumiputras do not hold the bulk of Malaysia’s wealth. A simple analysis of our capital account will show that there has been a continuous outflow of capital from our shores. In this mobile world, capital will always flow to jurisdictions that are perceived to be more secure, not necessarily the ones that give a higher return.

10. Therefore, we have to rebuild an environment that gives confidence to the private investors. The critical pillars for us to restore confidence are leadership and governance, macroeconomic stability, market driven resource mobility, strong and effective institutions and a knowledge and innovation society. Allow me to articulate these five pillars, one by one. First: Leadership and Governance.

11. Political stability is a necessary component of leadership, especially so in a government that is based on a coalition of component parties. If there is to be continuity in a leadership structure that has the track record of a successful economy manager, Malaysians have to embrace acceptance of our differences and diversities which have been the base of our coalition. We also recognise that all Malaysians must be given equal opportunity to participate in the economy. Performance must be the primary rod of measurement. In this regard, we have announced that there will no longer direct negotiations for any public projects unless it is for the procurement that is related to national defence and security matters. There have been concerns that the Government is abandoning the bumiputras. This will not happen. The responsibility to develop and improve the economic standing of the bumiputras is the bedrock of this Administration’s mandate.

12. Nevertheless, we have to do it differently. There may have been a number of bumiputras who are awarded contracts whom are not genuine entrepreneurs. Yes, we encourage collaboration, of course. Consortiums and strategic alliances are a good thing but there must be a demonstrable element of genuine collaboration. For years the Government has denounced this “Ali Baba’ syndrome. It’s about time we get tough on it. Meritocracy must prevail. This is necessary for the long term economic survival of the bumiputras, of ourselves.

13. If we are to ensure there is fairness in the marketplace, there must also be a corresponding strengthening of our public institutions. Transparency and adherence to the highest standards of governance is something that we must strive towards. In this regard, we wish to see greater participation from all races in the public institutions, where performance is the key measurement. The introduction of NKRAs and KPIs is the first step in that direction.

Second: Macroeconomic Stability 14. Moving forward, we have to ensure that our fiscal position is restored to a more sustainable level. While the broad objective of increasing private investment in the economy will be continuously pursued, from the Treasury’s point of view, we also need to ensure that we receive optimal return from our hard-earned tax revenue. There have been too many leakages in the past and less than productive spending.

15. I do not for one minute underestimate the difficulty of achieving this. One of the most difficult things that anyone in management can tell you is “cultural change”. How can anyone change a cultural mindset that has been ingrained for so many years? But I have faith. Malaysians had developed all these centuries a strong survival gene. When push comes to shove, we change. The key is – there must be someone or something to do the shoving. The world is changing and that’s the biggest shove that I can think of.

Third: Market-driven Resource Mobility 16. The Government spends RM8,000.00 per capita annually in numerous subsidies. Not only this places a huge weight on our operating expenditure but it also create distortions in our marketplace. We need to realign this. We will re-calibrate the distribution of the subsidies. We want to ensure there is greater precision in its application. Nonetheless, we also want to ensure that there will be no erosion in the standards of living for the underprivileged and the poor, regardless of race or ethnicity.

17. We must also consider the gradual dismantling of our open-ended protection of specific sectors and industries which have introduced a climate of complacency and artificial levels of supply. The long term success of the nation’s economy must take precedence over the short term interests of a few protected groups.

Fourth: Strong and Effective Institutions 18. Entrepreneurs need to know that the public institutions are transparent and are run by the highest standards of governance. Entrepreneurs need to know that they do not compete in a market whereby their competitors seemed to possess institutional advantage. We need to see better competition policies and better regulatory environment which can allow market forces to operate in an orderly manner.

Fifth: Knowledge and Innovation-Driven Society 19. One of the biggest challenges that we face is the development of an innovative knowledge-driven society. Fortunately, we have a substantial middle class whom understands the value of knowledge. Unfortunately, our institutions of higher education have proven to be a disappointment. The mismatch between our industry’s needs and the output from the local universities has resulted in Malaysia having the highest unemployment rate of graduates, at close to 4.0%, compared to, for example, Ireland, Korea and Singapore. We have to consider introducing greater competition in our halls of higher learning. We have to introduce greater diversity in the range of capabilities in the members of the academia. If there is a lack of self-induced factors in our in our undergraduates and academics to strive for greater performance, maybe we should introduce external factors to drive excellence.

20. If there is one operative word that runs through consistently in all the points that I have just put across to you just now, the word would be competition. 1Malaysia equals inclusivity and by being inclusive, we introduce competition. We have to increase the level of competition in all the relevant sectors of our economy. To those that compete and win, there will be a set of rewards in terms of higher wages and awards. A performance-based culture does not accept mediocrity. We want to see a steady decline in those that suffer from the “dependency syndrome”.

21. Countries that have made successful transition into a high-income economy such Japan, Korea and Singapore have a single commonality – their workforce has strong work ethics, a disciplined mind and the hunger to succeed.

22. Historically, Malaysia never subscribed to any dogmatic approach to any particular ideology or economic school of thought. We are pragmatic people. Malaysia is a unique country that has its own particular set of dynamics. However, in a globalised world where economic and financial integration is inevitable, there will be a greater level of equalisation in our market economy with other participating economies. We cannot participate in half way measures although in our own pragmatic way, we will participate in ways and means that are prudent and cautious so as not to disrupt the existing equilibrium too much. A measured approach is called for but the end-destination is clear.

23. The journey ahead is certainly exciting but also daunting. The next decade will prove to be a period of unprecedented change in this Nation’s economic history since the last thirty years. Indeed, we are embarking on this adventure in a period where the external environment is also going through a level of transformation that is unparalleled since the conclusion of World War II. The challenges are great but if we persevere, God willing, we shall succeed.

SPEECH AT THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING (NAFMA) 2009, DEC 8, 2009 AT ONE WORLD HOTEL, PETALING JAYA.

1. I most pleased and honoured to be here this evening to present the National Awards for Management Accounting (NAfMA) 2009. It is a momentous occasion not for just those whom are present here tonight, but also for the management accounting industry as a whole. The recognition given to the deserving recipients tonight is create greater awareness in the importance of management accountancy in regards to risk management and corporate governance practices in Malaysia.

Ladies and Gentlemen: 2. Management accounting is one of the key pillars of corporate governance and corporate governance is a cornerstone of efficient markets. It requires corporate and business entities, as well as public sector organizations, to benchmark themselves against the best in their respective sectors. These benchmarks must indeed be global and universally accepted. The most prudent and comprehensive criteria must be applied, the highest standards adopted.

3. The Malaysian corporate sector is very important to the Government. We are most unhappy that the private sector’s share in its contribution to our Nation’s GDP has steadily declined since the Asian Financial Crisis. We are also alarmed by the decline in the private sector’s level of investment, both in the manufacturing and services industries. We wish to reverse these trends.

4. In the Government’s efforts to institute the necessary changes in the economy to re-galvalnise private investment, we seek to increase the confidence of investors in this country. Malaysia is facing the threat of being “squeezed” from all sides. On our right is India, India, on our left, China, behind us, Vietnam, and in front of us, Indonesia. We have to build up our comparative advantages quickly and strongly.

5. Over the next few years we hope that Malaysia’s comparative advantages will be emphasized and the factors that contributed to the decline of confidence lessen in their importance. One of our most important and obvious comparative advantage is the diversity of our ethnic make-up. It is striking that seventy percent of the Malaysian population is under 25, and I cannot think of anything more exciting to have such a mix in any economy – young and diverse pool of talents to propel the future growth of this beloved country.

6. In this respect, we have to acknowledge that we, all Malaysians, have not fully taken advantage of harnessing the synergy that can come from our racial mix. We have witnessed in a few other countries how ethnicity, tribal divisions and religion can lead a country to a state of strife and failure, one of the most obvious evidence being Northern Ireland, Fiji and the various African states. I do not ever believe that there is even a remote possibility that we will ever be inclined in such a direction.

7. Nevertheless, ladies and gentlemen, it is about time we fully exploit the potential synergy that is inherent in the diversity of our talent pool. When I visit the financial capitals of the world, London, Hong Kong and New York, I am struck by the diversity of the racial mix in their workforce.

8. I see highly talented young people working together, respecting each other’s intellectual capabilities, and, to an extremely large extent, measured by only that benchmark. There were the Caucasians, the Chinese, Indians, Koreans African Americans and even a few Malays, all taking pride in the quality of their output and confident of their place in the organization.

9. The United States have gone through, and still have yet to fully resolve its racial issues. But what they have done successfully is to fully realize the economic synergy that can be obtained by combining the talents of the American African and the whites. This is most evident in the music, film and sports industries, which I am sure you are very well aware, are worth in the tens of billions of US Dollars. 10. As we are surrounded by the four afore-said economies, we should look around us and identify how best we can penetrate these economies. The solution is staring right front of our noses, our single biggest comparative advantage is our racially diverse population.

11. In a creative economy, the export of cultural products and services can gain much importance, the most notable example being the American sale of its popular culture abroad. In this regard, I do not see any impediments that cannot be overcome for us to export films, music and multimedia content. The racial diversity that is ours can produce the most fascinating cultural products that can truly amaze the world.

12. We have been living in our respective parallel universes for far too long. By and large, the Malays going to see Malay movies, living in Malay areas and pretty much living in a Malay world. So, have the Chinese and the Indians. If we are to unleash this cultural synergy, this economic opportunity, which is mutually beneficial to all participants, we have to breakdown the invisible barriers that prevent us from truly accepting the beauty of each other’s culture and capabilities.

13. I have been brought up to believe that God has given each of us something to offer to the world, that everyone has a gift that someone else can appreciate, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. If each one of us has the sincere desire to seek, to discover this gift, this world of ours will be a much better and prosperous place.

14. You may be wondering why I am talking about racial diversity at a management accounting award ceremony. Racial diversity is all around us, everyday, all the time. It is an applicable issue as long as the audience is Malaysian. Wherever we are, whenever, it is a valid theme. At the workplace, at home, at play, it is a valid issue. We cannot go on living with our heads buried in the sand, living in separate universes.

15. I have no doubt that there will be arguments and disagreements between us. To say otherwise would be unrealistic but does that not happen in any family? Blood is thicker than water. In this context, our history, the sacrifices and the rewards that we have shared together, the good and bad times together, in these so many years, are as good as blood can get. 16. The Prime Minister has inspired us with the 1Malaysia campaign. I hear now, what next? What is the Government going to do next? 1Malaysia is not the Government’s campaign. Take ownership, it is OUR campaign. The Government can only inspire but it us Malaysians that need to put life into it and make it happen.

17. In this regards, I am very proud to be here tonight. Earlier in this speech, I greeted Tuan Haji Rosli, Mr Chandran and Mr Yeo tonight. This is an excellent example of 1Malaysia at its best. Congratulations.

But they have suddenly been condemned worldwide for their decision to ban the building of minarets on mosques.

The decision, backed by the country’s far right Swiss People’s Party, is as good as banning the construction of mosques.

The advocates of this policy have equated minarets to Islamisation, with caricatures on posters showing the physical similarities between minarets and missiles.

They also argued that minarets were incompatible with the country’s political and legal systems as mosques advocated the imposition of Syariah laws.

The controversy started in the small town of Langenthal when its community of 750 Muslims applied for permission to add a minaret to its mosque. The town, with a population of 14,500, has 11 churches.

The strong reaction to this harmless request has shocked Switzerland’s neighbours.

It is right that the decision has led to global outrage, and pressure should be mounted to make Switzerland an international pariah. Even the Swiss Bishops Conference has issued a statement condemning the shocking results of the referendum.

Critics have pointed out that mosques seemed to be discriminated against, as Sikh temples and Orthodox churches did not face such difficulties in the country.

What has probably not been said is that Europe is feeling uneasy over the large number of Muslims who have migrated to the continent, especially France.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy has pushed for the ban of the purdah or burqa, saying such garments were “unwelcome” and a “threat to the secular constitution”.

In Switzerland, there are reportedly over 40,000 Muslims who are mostly from the former Yugoslavia, which has no history of Islamic radicalism.

Malaysia has correctly joined in the chorus of protest with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman describing the banning of minarets as a setback to the promotion of global religious tolerance.

He said Malaysia was deeply concerned that the ban had happened in an era of globalisation and in a country that had long supported human rights and had continuously advocated peace and understanding between the Muslim and the non-Muslim worlds.

“Malaysia hopes the Swiss government will take every effort to reverse the act of intolerance that would serve to generate negative consequences on society, especially the Muslim community, as a result of the referendum,” he said.

Anifah said the ban was a serious blow to religious freedom and would infringe on the rights of the minority to practise their religion in Switzerland.

That is precisely the point – the rights of the minority must always be respected. In the case of Switzerland, it is the tyrant majority disregarding the rights of the minority.

Deep in their hearts, many Swiss would probably say that if the minority Muslims do not like it, they can simply pack their bags and leave the country.

It is the same kind of ignorance and bigotry that we in Malaysia often get from some racists.

In their inability to argue rationally and fairly, they often resort to such mindless retorts, citing that it was the majority decision and that the minority must always respect the majority.

But the minority – whether you are Muslim, Buddhist, Christian or Kabbalah – does have a constitutional right to build their places of worship and to practise their religion. We all call God in many names, and it is the Creator that one gives honour and love to. The path is the same.

France has no legal right to ban the veil, which they also see as a form of gender discrimination even though many Middle Eastern women see the wearing of it as a religious or cultural requirement.

But the point is, how can legislation be imposed on what one wants to wear? If they choose to cover up from head to toe, that’s their business.

Similarly, if women choose to colour their hair, wear tight jeans or mini-skirts, that’s also their right. Why should we impose our values on these people simply to make them conform to our standards?

No one should be telling us what concerts we should or should not watch. Only extremists impose such conditions and they are not even in power yet in Malaysia.

The construction of mosques, temples and churches should be made simple and no politician or official should make it difficult.

Christians in Malaysia have long made representation to the Government about how local authorities often turn a simple application to build a church into a complicated process. Putting up a Buddhist temple is easy but to build a church, that’s another story.

Construction of many of the grand Catholic churches that now exist in Penang and Malacca was done by missionaries decades ago.

In the case of Protestant churches, they are found mainly in office buildings and shoplots – hardly conducive environments for the worship of God even if we hold steadfast to the belief that God is everywhere.

The reaction of the Swiss is, to say the least, shocking as they are an educated lot and one would expect more from them.

A minaret is just a harmless physical addition to a mosque and is like any other feature in a religious building, be it a church, synagogue or temple. These features should be admired rather than condemned or, worse, feared.