My 12 moves as the new PM!

[Dashken]

Here's the list of 12 things I would immediately do if I were the prime minister of Malaysia (in no particular order).

1. Parliament sittings will be broadcast live over TV and Internet with no censoring. Parliament select committees would be appointed comprising 70% government MPs and 30% opposition MPs and I will make the following agencies/departments report directly to these committees:

* Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA)
* Customs & Immigration
* Election Commission (EC)
* Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM)
* AG Chambers & the Judiciary
* Employees Provident Fund (EPF)

2. Sack the heads of the ACA, EC and PDRM and appoint new heads with integrity and proven track records regardless of race or religion. Provide the ACA, EC, the judiciary and Suhakam with more power and authority to arrest and prosecute people. PDRM has already more than enough powers.

3. Change the constitution whereby national elections would be held once every four (4) years instead of current five (5) years. The prime minister can only stand for a maximum of three (3) elections. Postal votes from within the country will be abolished. Only postal votes from citizens residing overseas will be allowed. Conduct elections for all local councils nationwide.

4. The number of cabinet ministers would be reduced and ministries integrated. Three (3) candidates will be picked by the prime minister to head each ministry. The rakyat will elect one of these candidates to the post of minister to head the respective ministries. Similar practice for the state menteri besar, chief minister, etc posts. These candidates will be selected based on their experience, knowledge and proven track records No candidates will be selected based on political patronage that is currently practiced.

5. The cabinet will be directed to provide a monthly report to the rakyat via TV or radio. The current practice of politicians making ‘ad hoc’ announcements and statements will be stopped. The prime minister will arrange and attend a monthly forum. This forum is to report on all the activities the government is doing that is of public interest and to answer questions directly from the public during the session. This forum will be broadcast live over TV.

6. Pass laws that prohibit political parties form owning publishing and/or broadcasting companies directly or indirectly. Political parties can produce and publish their own newsletters for their members.

7. Abolish all oppressive acts that limit the rakyat's freedom of speech and expression eg, the ISA, the Printing Presses and Publishing Act, the Universities and University Colleges Act, etc.

8. Re-name all government-linked companies (GLC) as national companies (NC) and make them report all their budget and financial matters directly to Parliament, including the appointment of key personnel. These companies will be given a free hand to run their business without any interference from the government. Their key performance indicators will be based on profitability and social obligations. Petronas’ accounts, since its inception, will also be made public.

9. Affirmative actions will be reviewed. Assistance will be provided to citizens who truly deserve them, regardless of race or religion, in whatever form or substance. Public education, health and the rakyat's social well being will be given priority. Government staff will be given a higher salary comparable with that of the private sector’s inline with their experience and qualification.

The education system will be revamped to better prepare our children for globalisation. Better and more affordable facilities and infrastructure for the rakyat will be built based on needs.

10. All government projects will be awarded through an open tender and selection would be made based on the company's financial standing, proven track record and value-for-money. Companies would be categorised by Malaysian equity or foreign equity. There will no longer be bumiputera equity. The following criteria would be used for awarding contracts:

* Projects worth RM10 million or less are open to all companies registered in Malaysia regardless of ownership equity.

* Projects worth RM10 million to RM50 million are open to all companies registered in Malaysia with at least a 20% Malaysian equity.

* Projects worth RM50 million to RM100 million are open to all companies registered in Malaysia with at least a 60% Malaysian equity.

* Projects worth more than RM100 million are open to all companies registered in Malaysia with a 100% Malaysian equity.

11. Re-look all contracts signed by previous governments with private companies or other parties and revise them if the contracts are unfair to the government and the rakyat eg Plus.

12. Form a strong team to recover assets and money swindled by businessmen and politicians over the past 20 years from our national coffers. This team will be given full powers to bring the culprits to justice no matter who there are. This will be accomplished within the first four years of me in office. This is the commitment I make and I am willing to step down if I fail to achieve this. Can Pak Lah make the same commitment?

So folks, there you go. If someone here has access to Pak Lah, Najib, Anwar Ibrahim, Wan Azizah, Dr Syed Husin, Lim Kit Siang or Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang, please pass this letter to them. I think this is what the man-on-the-street is expecting from our prime minister.

Maybe the political parties can adopt some of my suggestions for their election manifestoes for the next election and ensure that they are carried out in a timely fashion (if they win).

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/49485

Wow...

[Adrian Wong]

Wow.. Almost exactly what I had in mind.

I would probably disagree with the fact he wants large projects restricted to local companies. Frankly speaking, that's kinda impossible.. and it will restrict fair competition.

I just don't understand why Badawi still continues with "affirmative action", even when it clearly does NOT work. Why only help Bumiputeras? Why not just help POOR people?

Frankly speaking, no matter what the government says, I consider myself a Malaysian Bumiputera. And as a bumiputera, I don't need the government to help me. If the government wants to help anyone, they should be helping the POOR, not further enriching the rich.

[ALstonLoong]

should help the poor and disable ppl.

[doraemon]

haih....we also know la....but u think they will listen to the public? The parliment live just like bunch of dog barking at each other.....wat a shame if other country is watching it....

[ALstonLoong]

Originally Posted by doraemon

haih....we also know la....but u think they will listen to the public? The parliment live just like bunch of dog barking at each other.....wat a shame if other country is watching it....

actually u should look at the taiwan parliment ..... like gangsters...

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by ALstonLoong

actually u should look at the taiwan parliment ..... like gangsters...

Hahahaa!!!! Yeah, and they keep appearing in episodes of Amazing Videos.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by doraemon

haih....we also know la....but u think they will listen to the public? The parliment live just like bunch of dog barking at each other.....wat a shame if other country is watching it....

Actually, our parliament is super tame. The BN people just keep quiet and nod whenever the big boys talk. Even when it sounds stupid, they just keep nodding.. nod, nod, nod.. then clap and knock their tables to show even more support. Just in case their seniors don't know what loyal lapdogs they are.

You want to hear arguments? Only the opposition will provide that. When DAP goes up and argue, BN members will shout them down, calling them racists and asking them to go back to India or China or wherever they came from. Funny thing is we all come from the same country, the last I heard.

Why can't the government show the people the way and stop implementing the same colonial policy of divide and rule? Our government still insists that we look at each other by the colour of our skin. It's sickening.

Our politicians mock the Western countries regarding racial policies and look at the shit we are doing here. It's worse than the pot calling the kettle black.

Even though we keep hammering on the economy, I wish our government would stop with their racist policies. It's time for our politicians to grow some balls and say, "This ain't right."

Affirmative action should be reserved for the poor, the disadvantaged, the disabled. Even when we are so close to being a "developed nation", we still have so many people who are far below the poverty line.

There have been EIGHT Malaysian Plans and we still haven't licked the poverty problem?? When will we actually REDUCE the divide between the poor and the rich? Or is our goal merely to enrich the privileged Umnoputras?

[Shorter]

Well, if you want to set a good example, you might hire a disabled person. I mean, you're hiring right ? why not say "poor, disadvantaged and disabled preferred" ? admittedly you can't prove that a person is poor or disadvantaged, but you can definitely prove that a person a disabled. So why not make a difference ? you've got six positions available, and you know a lot of companies discriminate against disabled people, so they're more often than not in low-paying low-end jobs. If you can take them on, maybe you can make someone's life a little better. Anyone can talk, but not everyone has the means or ability to make a difference in the world (or at least in the country.) But you have. So how about it ? we're not going to live forever, so why not leave our mark before we go ?

[Falcone]

Originally Posted by Shorter

Well, if you want to set a good example, you might hire a disabled person. I mean, you're hiring right ? why not say "poor, disadvantaged and disabled preferred" ? admittedly you can't prove that a person is poor or disadvantaged, but you can definitely prove that a person a disabled. So why not make a difference ? you've got six poistions available, and you know a lot of companies discriminate against disabled people, so they're more often than not in low-paying low-end jobs. If you can take them on, maybe you can make someone's life a little better. Anyone can talk, but not everyone has the means or ability to make a difference in the world (or at least in the country.) But you have. So how about it ? we're not going to live forever, so why not leave our mark before we go ?

I think that's being unfair, would you put "poor, disadvantaged and disabled preferred" to hire people? Firstly that would discourage normall people from applying, and seeing the response is not encouraging to begin with who would want to narrow it down even further. Second if two people applied and one being disabled, but so happens the healthy person fit the job better, would you hire the disabled person just because u took pity on him? And most importantly a disabled person would not want to be pity at. By doing what you suggested, what would they think? Would they even considered applying at all. For me it doesn't matter wether a person a disabled or not, the best man wins.

If being fair is the issue here, then lets discuss fairness. Why a person like me being born and raise here are not considered bumiputra. Why are my chances of getting to a local university are lower than bumiputeras. Why to even buy a house that I have to wait for my turn after the bumiputeras let alone paying 7% extra for not being a bumiputera? Why? Am I a second grade citizen? Why am I being accused of not patriotic for not sticking a flag on my car?

[Shorter]

Originally Posted by Falcone

I think that's being unfair, would you put "poor, disadvantaged and disabled preferred" to hire people? Firstly that would discourage normall people from applying,

That's the idea. It's called positive discrimination, or affirmative action.

Originally Posted by Falcone

and seeing the response is not encouraging to begin with

That has nothing to do with anything so much as high standards and low offers, I think. True quality costs, and as much as we like to think no one puts monetary gain ahead of personal achievement, I'm not sure if that's true.

Originally Posted by Falcone

who would want to narrow it down even further. Second if two people applied and one being disabled, but so happens the healthy person fit the job better, would you hire the disabled person just because u took pity on him?

That's what Dr. Wong seems to be suggesting.

Originally Posted by Dr. Wong

Affirmative action should be reserved for the poor, the disadvantaged, the disabled.

Originally Posted by Falcone

And most importantly a disabled person would not want to be pity at. By doing what you suggested, what would they think? Would they even considered applying at all. For me it doesn't matter wether a person a disabled or not, the best man wins.

That's what I think too, But Dr. Wong seems to be in favor of positive discrimination.