The Government
Transformation Programme (GTP) has been an utter failure if we were to look at
the way things has been for the last 3-4 years. The transformation mooted by
Najib has indeed turn the tables against the very rakyat whom should have
benefited from this programme but which it keeps getting worse by the day!
What does it take of
this ‘People First Performance Now’ government to ensure the success of
their own GTP?? This is their own initiative and please know that we have moved
onto the 3rd and final phase of the many programmes launch by
Najib and his cohorts in anticipation of Vision 2020.
And where are we now
in terms of the 7 NKRA’s that Najib and PEMANDU has been extolling day in and
out in the mainstream media? I strongly believe the rakyat knows better as they
are feeling the real pinch than all the data that PEMANDU can spin or churn
out.
Reducing Crime
The best measurement
for this NKRA is to answer this question – “Do you feel safe nowadays?” Most
Malaysians will not hesitate to say NO! Every now and then we are seeing or
hearing in the news how are people getting involved with violent crime i.e.
murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping etc. There are times we may even know the
victims themselves.
The statistics may say
that our crime rate has fallen by 40% the last 5 years but somehow we feel
unsafe walking down our dark busy streets.
What is the
cause of all this? I firmly believe that the lawlessness at
the top has crawl down and many are resorting to the same mindset of
taking an easy way out. Meaning that if you are not happy and want
something just rob, maim or finish them. And this is what our country has become!
Unfortunately, if the
powers responsible for keeping our lives safe wants to spend a big part of
their resources monitoring the social media then we shall end up with an ever
increasing crime rate and feeling unsafe most of the time. Whatever the reason
of the crime in this country it needs to be addressed holistically and
speedily. Let’s not make Malaysia a haven for crime for anyone and there must
be a concerted effort to tackle this challenge without fear or favor!
Fighting Corruption
This must be one of
the best jokes of the year whichever year you care to pick! How could
this nation fight corruption when their leaders have the gumption to
acknowledge and revise their definition of corruption to commission and then to
donation!?? We should have named it as GRAND CORRUPTION!
A national leader
which such tainted reputation is definitely not the best poster boy to tackle
this menace in the country.
Many have long
lamented that nothing gets done in this country unless it gets oiled by some
undercut money and the root of this sickness can be traced back to Dr.
Mahathir. Corruption has become rampant so much so it has become a way of life
of some Malaysians.
Come to think of it we
are no better off than India, Indonesia, Phillipines or most of the African
countries.
In addition, data from
World Bank has shown that Malaysia is one of the top country in the world to
have the biggest illicit money outflow in the world when our national
population is just over 30 million! The amount of money just does not make
sense if compared to the other top 4 countries such as China, Russia, Mexico
and India where their population exceeds 100 million and more.
Which means that even
if we are yet to reach the per capita income of a develop country rest
assured we could already be holding the World’s No. 1 of per capita income for
black money! Isn’t this crazy?
Our so called “drive”
against corruption has spewed more and more illicit money over the years and
there are no signs of stopping at all in the near term.
Does this NKRA works?
Below data shows where we stand in the “underground” world!
Assuring Quality
Education
Most parents aspire
their children to high quality and affordable education. But how can our
youngsters be given the chance to pursue that sort education in this country?
Many are questioning
about it and there has been a lot of dissatisfaction such as the standard of
our schools and universities are falling year by year. Just a simple English
test will tell you where we are heading as a nation.
Does it take much for
our government to provide proper education to our young people? We pride
ourselves in preparing our youths for a steady job market but the question is
what sort of job market are we creating for them when those in power are
allowing our education standards to fall by the year?
A huge gap exist in
the way we plan for our education on paper and the way we are pursuing this
particular KPI to provide quality education for our students. We are
great in drawing plans and visions but hopeless when delivering these
initiatives and it is being done at the expense of our children’s future!
Critical thinking is
definitely a prized goal nowadays! The way our education is geared
towards is meant to create 2 things:-
- - To breed a generation of un-thinking
Malaysians so that a particular political party could rule in perpetuity
- - To be a yes man/women to their employers i.e.
MNC’s, GLC’s others
I remember very well
during my school days some of my best teachers were those who studied up to
Standard 5 or 6 only. But their classes were one of the most enjoyable
and educational ones. That generation of teachers are hard to come by now. And
come to think of it we don’t really need high flying plans on paper to provide
a solid education; just competent and dedicated teachers with great pedagogy
for our syllabus.
As far as this NKRA is
concern I share with other Malaysians that we are yet to even reach half the
level we would like to be. How do we move forward if we keep falling backward?
Raising Living
Standards of Low-Income Households Overview & Addressing Cost of Living
Notice that the
programmes under this NKRA targets the most vulnerable and poor amongst us
which is what it’s supposed to do. Malaysian poverty rate which currently
stands at 3.8% hopes this NKRA will reduce further down to 2%. I
must say there are some good programmes in this KPI such as 1Azam, improving
nutrition levels, enhancing healthcare and housing facilities and also business
opportunities such as micro sourcing etc.
The bottom line is what
needs to accomplished to improve the standard of living amongst the low income
households? If this NKRA wants to raise the standard of living of this group
then it must first and foremost bring down the cost of living in this country!
There has been considerable
discontentment regarding the rising price of goods and services in this country
for a long time but this time around it’s just gotten worse and all complaints
from the public seems to be falling on deaf ears!
Some may argue it’s
due to yearly inflation problem but it’s been proven most of these the rising
prices are cause by the very people who gave us the dreaded GST. On one
hand this ‘People First’ government talks about raising the standard of living
of the poor but at the same time it is raising the cost of goods and services
in this country by cutting down subsidies and implementing GST. Isn’t
this contradictory? The poor has to fork out more now just to get by
their necessities. SO, what does this NKRA does forthem?
If you really want to
know the impact of these rising cost of living (toll, electricity, fuel, GST,
etc) talk to the poor and they could give you a livid demonstration on how they
are competing in the market place just like you and me! I hope the data to be
produced by PEMANDU will not be a colorful one like in the past but just the
plain TRUTH to inform where are we in terms of this critical KPI and what will
the government of the day DO about it!
Improving Rural
Development
The main tasks of this
NKRA is to expand infrastructure access of gravel roads, treated water,
electricity and providing housing facilities to the rural folks. The standards
are set and implementation is in progress.
The question we should
ask is - As access to the above facilities is open to the rural population
(Orang Asal, the Penan and other indigenious groups in East Malaysia) will
these benefits trickle down to this group of people or will it open the
floodgates to the influx of developers and greedy companies to rob and
contaminate their land further?
We know of many
incidences in Sarawak whereby the Penans and other rural people has been
blocked to harvest the fruits from theirown jungle and land just
because certain companies has begun to exploit the jungle resources for their
own bottom line!
This KPI should take
into account the needs of the rural people and try to fulfill those needs first
without imposing our city people thinking – “We Know Best mentality” on what is
good or disastrous for them. The development brought about by this KPI has to
be on rural folks terms. It’s about time we city-folks take some time out
and LISTEN to the rural folks on what their needs are. Surely this KPI will
achieve its objectives but under whose terms?
Improving Urban Public
Transport
It is quite Klang
Valley centric but what it propose is to have a sustainable and integrate all
public transportation by enhancing the capacity of buses, KTM Komuter, taxis,
parking management etc.
But what about the
rest of Malaysia? Doesn’t rest of the country needs a fully integrated public
transportation as well? Generally, Malaysians are getting fed-up of getting
stuck in traffic jams but what choice do we have?
Many years ago, the
government introduce car-pooling for those entering Klang Valley. I thought it
was a good idea but somehow it did not take off at all. In fact car-pooling,
don’t seem to take a liking for those in Penang island but working Mainland and
vice-versa!!
But when the Penang
state government introduced Park & Ride bus services between the two areas
which feeds all the way to the industrialized zones the buses were almost full.
The public is willing but are the authorities prepared to invest resources for
a strong system that works for all??
Only a political will
on the part of the federal & state government is able to solve this
perennial problem for the rakyat.
And what about the
ferry services in Penang which is almost in a pathetic state due to certain
powers wanting to reduce its ferry to skeleton services - this has cause much
unhappiness to its daily commuters as the current arrangement seems is plan to
cater to the ferry owner’s wanting to minimize lost.
These grievances needs
to be dealt with promptly and systematically in the national NKRA’s or this
government is doomed to be known as a ‘Cronies First, Performance Later’
government!
The biggest question
is can this government be relied upon to look into the well-being and transform
the lives of the rakyat or will it use the NKRA to whitewash its own
weaknesses?
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