Time and time again we've heard our PM preaching about the vices of corruption and the need to curb this disease. We've also heard him saying over and over again that prevention is better than cure and the need to educate our population with the right values.
In my view, what the country needs now is an intelligent and comprehensive set of solutions to curb this disease. Not mere talk.
Someone once said to me that the best way to curb corruption is to increase the probability of being caught . This will then deter people especially those in positions of power from abusing their positions. More importantly, this will then bring the results we seek in the shortest term possible.
So the question one should ask now is how do we increase the probability of being caught in the system?
I'll attempt to answer these questions.
1. CHANGE THE LAW. LEARN FROM SINGAPORE
It makes a mockery of our PM to continue to talk about fighting corruption if Ministers in his cabinet can continue to enjoy a standard of living beyond their means. e.g. Ministers having access to millions of ringgit to build mansion for his mistresses etc. whereas their income is barely RM20k a month! This also extends to civil servants, political appointees etc.
So how do you address this perception problem?
Now, what S'pore did was simple. They changed the law so that the onus is on the accused to provide evidence how his lifestyle is being financed. So no need for hundreds of ACA people having to snoop and sneak trying to catch a culprit red-handed. Simple solution. Did S'pore get the results? Yes.
2. TRANSPARENT PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR GOVT CONTRACTS. OPEN TENDER.
The PM has said this before but unfortunately until today we haven't seen this being fully putinto practice. Common sense dictates that an open tender system would eliminate any leakages arising, such as the role of "brokers" and "gatekeepers". Sadly, now we've heard more and more stories of contracts being "overturned" once they reach the 'highest' office. It's getting worse than before. Now there're billions of contracts in the 9 th M'sia Plan. Any solution? None. Does perception matter?
3. MAKE ACA REPORT TO PARLIAMENT
Again, this is also a simple solution. So that ACA is accountable to Parliament. Not up to the whims and fancies of the leader in dictating which one to investigate and which one shouldn't. Perception matters.
4.TRANSPARENT CAMPAIGN FINANCING
In the U.S, they enacted campaign financing laws to curb the amount of funds politicians can solicit from donors. The idea is to make sure that politicians are not obliged to return such favors when they get elected. And they make a point to enforce such laws. Maybe some lessons we can learn from the U.S system. For your info, every general election in this country costs the ruling coalition hundreds of millions (or even billions) of Ringgit. Any idea where that money come from?
5.CHANGES TO THE VOTING PROCESS IN UMNO (and other political parties)
Once upon a time, there were talks that Umno may consider opening up the voting to millions of UMNO members throughout the country. The idea is so that no single candidate can even try to manipulate the results through money politics. Well, it's a good idea in my view if they're serious in curbing money politics. But what happened to those talks? Why died down? Any solution? Again, none.
6.DON'T RETAIN PEOPLE WHO ARE TAINTED
Especially those in the cabinet. Again, perception matters.
I believe the above are simple and practical solutions. We don't have to be a genius to figure these out. Maybe some of you can even add on some ideas to the above.
The key is to tackle the root causes of corruption. Effect changes to the system, structure and process.
If our leader is serious and sincere in curbing this disease, what we need from him is a clear and effective set of solutions which can deliver results in the shortest term possible. Not continuously talking about education and instilling values which to me are mere rhetoric and won't solve the problem at all. Recall that Mahathir recently commented that corruption is now over the table i.e getting from bad to worse. What actions have our leaders taken?
Friday, April 07, 2006
Sunday, April 02, 2006
9MP - Create a Nation of Thinkers?
"The National Mission also wants to create a nation of thinkers and doers, people with character and intellect".
I agree that this is the right way forward i.e to create a nation of thinkers. A nation that is able to think on its own feet and differentiate between what is good or bad. A nation that is rational and critical in its thinking, not full of "yes" man.
There's is need for a pradigm shift to break-away from this old mindset. We can start with the younger generation. Reviewing the Universities and Colleges Act is a good start.
Spreading the wealth
KUALA LUMPUR: A more equitable nation is the thrust of the Ninth Malaysia Plan presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Parliament yesterday.
The first five years of the 15-year blueprint, dubbed the National Mission, will see a big increase in development expenditure and the plan is focused on spreading wealth and growth across the country.
Stressing on improving knowledge and skills in the country, Abdullah's National Mission also calls for improving the quality of life for all Malaysians while promising that the capacity and effectiveness of the public sector will be sharpened.
He said he wanted progress that was holistic, encompassing all nine aspects contained in Vision 2020.
"We want progress that is enjoyed by all, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
"We want to build a progressive and developed civilisation that echoes the glorious age of Islam and other civilisations, in line with the concept of Islam Hadhari," he said.
Central to the RM220bil 9MP and the National Mission are five key areas, the first touching on moving the economy up to a higher level.
Here, Abdullah's new policy will focus on manufacturing and services, but special attention will be paid to agriculture and small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).
The development of agriculture is an important tool to not only create jobs and reduce the food bill, but also reduce the income gap between rural and urban areas, while a vibrant SME sector is seen as a strong building block for greater links within the economy and as a big contributor to growth.
The National Mission also wants to create a nation of thinkers and doers, people with character and intellect. Realising that the competitive strengths of the country in the 1990s, such as labour and capital, are more abundantly available elsewhere in the region, better education to improve the stock of human capital was being stressed.
Apart from a more knowledgeable population, the Government aims to reduce the socio-economic imbalances that still permeate the country by pursuing equitable growth.
Here, the Government will address the rural-urban and ethnic disparities and also ensure that development projects and initiatives will be spread more evenly to all corners of the country.
Not left out of the National Mission is a better quality of life, something that every aspiring developed nation must possess. Better quality water, efficient energy usage, improved housing and a much better transportation system are all high on the agenda.
The Government will listen more to the private sector to cut red tape, and improving integrity will be an important facet in building a more upright society.
I agree that this is the right way forward i.e to create a nation of thinkers. A nation that is able to think on its own feet and differentiate between what is good or bad. A nation that is rational and critical in its thinking, not full of "yes" man.
There's is need for a pradigm shift to break-away from this old mindset. We can start with the younger generation. Reviewing the Universities and Colleges Act is a good start.
Spreading the wealth
KUALA LUMPUR: A more equitable nation is the thrust of the Ninth Malaysia Plan presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Parliament yesterday.
The first five years of the 15-year blueprint, dubbed the National Mission, will see a big increase in development expenditure and the plan is focused on spreading wealth and growth across the country.
Stressing on improving knowledge and skills in the country, Abdullah's National Mission also calls for improving the quality of life for all Malaysians while promising that the capacity and effectiveness of the public sector will be sharpened.
He said he wanted progress that was holistic, encompassing all nine aspects contained in Vision 2020.
"We want progress that is enjoyed by all, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
"We want to build a progressive and developed civilisation that echoes the glorious age of Islam and other civilisations, in line with the concept of Islam Hadhari," he said.
Central to the RM220bil 9MP and the National Mission are five key areas, the first touching on moving the economy up to a higher level.
Here, Abdullah's new policy will focus on manufacturing and services, but special attention will be paid to agriculture and small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).
The development of agriculture is an important tool to not only create jobs and reduce the food bill, but also reduce the income gap between rural and urban areas, while a vibrant SME sector is seen as a strong building block for greater links within the economy and as a big contributor to growth.
The National Mission also wants to create a nation of thinkers and doers, people with character and intellect. Realising that the competitive strengths of the country in the 1990s, such as labour and capital, are more abundantly available elsewhere in the region, better education to improve the stock of human capital was being stressed.
Apart from a more knowledgeable population, the Government aims to reduce the socio-economic imbalances that still permeate the country by pursuing equitable growth.
Here, the Government will address the rural-urban and ethnic disparities and also ensure that development projects and initiatives will be spread more evenly to all corners of the country.
Not left out of the National Mission is a better quality of life, something that every aspiring developed nation must possess. Better quality water, efficient energy usage, improved housing and a much better transportation system are all high on the agenda.
The Government will listen more to the private sector to cut red tape, and improving integrity will be an important facet in building a more upright society.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
9th M'sia Plan - Ministries Allocation
Any idea what the PM's Dept is in charge of to land themselves with the largest allocation under the 9M'sia Plan?
We know that there are a few ministers in JPM in charge of a few portfolios like law (radzi sheikh ahmad) , national unity (bernard dompok), parliament (nazri aziz), economic planning (effendi nawawi) etc. But even if we combined all their portfolios, the amount couldn't be bigger than defense or education to warrant that amount of allocation!
Kementerian Kerja Raya I know is in charge of building roads, highways etc. Ministry of Defense in charge of buying defense equipment etc. Ministry of Education in charge of building schools etc. What about the PM's Dept? Any idea anyone?
Btw what happen to Ministry of Finance? No allocation?
JPM terima peruntukan terbesar RM26.5b
KUALA LUMPUR 31 Mac - Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) menerima peruntukan pembangunan dan perbelanjaan terbesar berjumlah RM26.5 bilion atau 13.2 peratus dalam Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9) .
Kementerian Kerja Raya pula menjadi kementerian kedua menerima peruntukan terbesar iaitu RM18.6 bilion tetapi merosot berbanding peruntukan RM19.3 bilion dalam RMK-8.
Lapan kementerian lain turut menyaksikan penyusutan jumlah peruntukan termasuk Kementerian Pertahanan dan Kementerian Pelajaran, masing-masing mendapat RM14.5 bilion dan RM16.9 bilion.
Pada RMK-8, jumlah perbelanjaan Kementerian Pertahanan ialah RM18.6 bilion dan Kementerian Pelajaran RM24.1 bilion.
Dalam pembentangan RMK-9, sebanyak 19 kementerian lain mendapat pertambahan termasuk Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi (RM16.1 bilion) berbanding perbelanjaan sebanyak RM13.5 bilion pada RMK-8.
Kementerian-kementerian lain ialah Kementerian Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (RM5 bilion), Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (RM2.2 bilion), Kementerian Kesenian, Kebudayaan dan Warisan (RM598 juta), Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan ( RM8.9 bilion), Kementerian Kesihatan (RM8.9 bilion) dan Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat (RM552 juta).
Kementerian Pelancongan (RM1.4 bilion), Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi (RM7.1 bilion), Kementerian Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi (RM12.1 bilion), Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi (RM5.7 bilion), Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (RM65 juta) dan Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri ( RM2.3 bilion)
Peruntukan pembangunan dan perbelanjaan Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar juga meningkat (RM6.8 bilion), Kementerian Luar Bandar dan Wilayah (RM10.9 bilion), Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani (RM6.9 bilion), Kementerian Perusahaan, Perladangan dan Komoditi (RM791 juta), Kementerian Luar Negeri (RM753 juta) dan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (RM263 juta).
Sektor ekonomi pula memperoleh peruntukan terbesar Kerajaan Persekutuan mengikut sektor iaitu RM89.9 bilion.
Di bawah sektor itu, pengangkutan mendapat RM31.8 bilion, Kemudahan Awam dan Tenaga (RM21.8 bilion) serta Perdagangan dan Perindustrian (RM19.8 bilion).
Sektor sosial pula mendapat RM74.9 bilion dengan pendidikan dan latihan menerima peruntukan RM41.1 bilion dan diikuti kesihatan RM10.7 bilion.
Peruntukan bagi sektor keselamatan pula ialah RM21.2 bilion, merosot berbanding RM22 bilion perbelanjaan sepanjang tempoh RMK-8 dan sektor pentadbiran am (RM13.9 bilion).
We know that there are a few ministers in JPM in charge of a few portfolios like law (radzi sheikh ahmad) , national unity (bernard dompok), parliament (nazri aziz), economic planning (effendi nawawi) etc. But even if we combined all their portfolios, the amount couldn't be bigger than defense or education to warrant that amount of allocation!
Kementerian Kerja Raya I know is in charge of building roads, highways etc. Ministry of Defense in charge of buying defense equipment etc. Ministry of Education in charge of building schools etc. What about the PM's Dept? Any idea anyone?
Btw what happen to Ministry of Finance? No allocation?
JPM terima peruntukan terbesar RM26.5b
KUALA LUMPUR 31 Mac - Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) menerima peruntukan pembangunan dan perbelanjaan terbesar berjumlah RM26.5 bilion atau 13.2 peratus dalam Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9) .
Kementerian Kerja Raya pula menjadi kementerian kedua menerima peruntukan terbesar iaitu RM18.6 bilion tetapi merosot berbanding peruntukan RM19.3 bilion dalam RMK-8.
Lapan kementerian lain turut menyaksikan penyusutan jumlah peruntukan termasuk Kementerian Pertahanan dan Kementerian Pelajaran, masing-masing mendapat RM14.5 bilion dan RM16.9 bilion.
Pada RMK-8, jumlah perbelanjaan Kementerian Pertahanan ialah RM18.6 bilion dan Kementerian Pelajaran RM24.1 bilion.
Dalam pembentangan RMK-9, sebanyak 19 kementerian lain mendapat pertambahan termasuk Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi (RM16.1 bilion) berbanding perbelanjaan sebanyak RM13.5 bilion pada RMK-8.
Kementerian-kementerian lain ialah Kementerian Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (RM5 bilion), Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (RM2.2 bilion), Kementerian Kesenian, Kebudayaan dan Warisan (RM598 juta), Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan ( RM8.9 bilion), Kementerian Kesihatan (RM8.9 bilion) dan Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat (RM552 juta).
Kementerian Pelancongan (RM1.4 bilion), Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi (RM7.1 bilion), Kementerian Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi (RM12.1 bilion), Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi (RM5.7 bilion), Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (RM65 juta) dan Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri ( RM2.3 bilion)
Peruntukan pembangunan dan perbelanjaan Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar juga meningkat (RM6.8 bilion), Kementerian Luar Bandar dan Wilayah (RM10.9 bilion), Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani (RM6.9 bilion), Kementerian Perusahaan, Perladangan dan Komoditi (RM791 juta), Kementerian Luar Negeri (RM753 juta) dan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (RM263 juta).
Sektor ekonomi pula memperoleh peruntukan terbesar Kerajaan Persekutuan mengikut sektor iaitu RM89.9 bilion.
Di bawah sektor itu, pengangkutan mendapat RM31.8 bilion, Kemudahan Awam dan Tenaga (RM21.8 bilion) serta Perdagangan dan Perindustrian (RM19.8 bilion).
Sektor sosial pula mendapat RM74.9 bilion dengan pendidikan dan latihan menerima peruntukan RM41.1 bilion dan diikuti kesihatan RM10.7 bilion.
Peruntukan bagi sektor keselamatan pula ialah RM21.2 bilion, merosot berbanding RM22 bilion perbelanjaan sepanjang tempoh RMK-8 dan sektor pentadbiran am (RM13.9 bilion).
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