Friday, September 24, 2010

KL ETP Open Day

The Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) Open Day was held on 21 Sept 2010 at PWTC. It was indeed a historic moment not just for the Government but more importantly for the private sector. Why so, some may ask?

If we can recall, a couple months back in June-July period, the private sector which includes multinational corporations and key Malaysian industry players were gathered together to
  • brainstorm on our economic roadmap
  • share their business operations and plans
  • discuss on the available opportunities and necessary steps to achieve key results
From there, the private sector and Government worked together to produce what we all saw at the Open Day. In other words, the ETP is a result of private sector initiatives and targets.


At 10am in the morning, Datuk Seri Idris Jala's team began the keynote presentation and speech. The Merdeka Hall, it seems, could only fit about 3000 people.

Many did not get to enter as the hall was filled till it didn't have any standing space left. The public had to settle down with the large projector screen outside of the hall instead.

Such was the response and interest on the Programme (not a plan, in Idris Jala's words) that attracted Malaysians from all walks of life - corporate executives, analysts, investors (foreign and local), researchers and many more.

For those who missed it, Idris Jala's presentation slides can now be downloaded at http://www.pemandu.gov.my or even better, download the interview of Idris Jala with BFM radio HERE.

Now, ever since the ETP Open Day was held, many critics began to come out of the jungle and speak like experts. This is especially so among the Opposition.

However, at the Open Day, the relevant people such as PEMANDU team, private consultants, analysts, and private sector members including corporate leaders were all there to engage the public to share their findings after the 2 months Labs for all 12 NKEAs.


All praises to all those who came, raised their points/questions and got the relevant clarifications to any doubts they had over the 12 NKEAs be it in terms of terminology, programme, classification or calculations.

And when I say I well done to those who came, this includes YB Teresa Kok (DAP) who came to see or to understand the nation's long term plan to be a high income nation. The rest, saya tak nampak pun (I was there almost the whole time).

So, I don't know why are the bloggers, politicians and critics from the Opposition running around acting like "experts" and condemning the private sector driven Economic Transformation Programme from their own cosy leather seats at home instead of being there at the Open Day to engage the representatives from the private sector and Government present.

At the end of the day, the people can judge for themselves what Najib's Administration can do and will do for the country.


Critics can go on all day long about how bad or how unacceptable this or that is. But when we ask them back, "you have any suggestions on how to transform us into a high income economy?", they will stutter and stammer.

This, clearly is, the right description of the Opposition and the critics while Najib and Idris Jala get things running as they carry the burden of transforming the nation for the better past the finish line.


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

You said:

So, I don't know why are the bloggers, politicians and critics from the Opposition running around acting like "experts" and condemning the private sector driven Economic Transformation Programme from their own cosy leather seats at home instead of being there at the Open Day to engage the representatives from the private sector and Government present.

Maybe it so happen some of us know what is beyond the beautiful words and presentation crafted for the gullible to be easily impressed.

Some of us have been briefed earlier and we have inside information on insider happenings that you will not be able to know.

We are seeing beyond what you are seeing.

The ETP was a self serving exhibition. It should rid the E and call it S for self interest and economic or nation building.

katdog said...

"Critics can go on all day long about how bad or how unacceptable this or that is. But when we ask them back, "you have any suggestions on how to transform us into a high income economy?", they will stutter and stammer."

There already has been many suggestions on how to transform Malaysia's economy. Unfortunately many of these suggestions are long term solutions, meaning things will likely get worst before they get better. Something UMNO can't allow to happen or it will effect their image.

Here are the things the govt has been asked to do for years but have refused to do so:

- Award scholarships only on merit to stop the brain drain.
- Revamp the awards of permanent residence, focusing on highly skilled professionals instead of muslim maids.
- End inefficient government backed monopolies
- Implement open tender system to encourage participation from valid private firms not just government 'sponsored' cronies.
- Abolish the UUCA and allow students the freedom to develop 'thinking'.
- Eliminate wasteful spending (eg. National Service program etc.) and balance the country's budget without having to impose more higher taxes/tariffs.
- Sell off Proton (that has become a burden to the rakyat pockets anyway) and open up the automobile industry in Malaysia.

And on and on and on...

Yeah...there are no lack of ways to transform the country's economy. It's just a question of which way UMNO decides to use.

So no, UMNO's ETP is not the only way that has been put forward. It is just the most widely publicized way proposed. And by no means, is UMNO's ETP necessarily the best way forward. Only time will tell...