KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will lose out economically if obsolete policies are not discarded, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.
“Policies should be re-examined and discarded if they are not working to the nation’s benefit. Very often, policies drawn up with noble intentions are wayward in their implementation,” said Ong.
He said a change of mindset was needed for Malaysia to be competitive globally.
“We need to be creative, innovative, visionary and bold. There are some among us who, it appears, do not seem to have realised that we have moved into the 21st century. It’s the digital age, but they operate with an analogue mindset,” he said, adding that educational reform was needed if Malaysia was to compete globally.
“It is not just the digital gap that is widening between rural and urban areas, so is the education gap. We have no choice but to implement changes. Our children are no longer just competing with each other within national borders. They are competing with the world.”
He pointed out that the need to overhaul the national schools was more pressing than the debate over vernacular schools.
Ong, who said this when opening the Malaysian Young Entrepreneurs Conference at the Putra World Trade Centre here today, called for reforms to make the ruling Barisan National coalition relevant for Malaysians.
“The political mould has been broken. Unless we in the Barisan compete in the marketplace of ideas, there is a real possibility that we will be voted out of office in the next general election. It is time we change the political model that worked so well for us until March 8,” said Ong, who called on parties to focus on the interests of Malaysians as a whole.
“Unless we take on a wider, national role, we could soon become irrelevant. The political base of the communal parties has no doubt been within the community, and we must cater to their interests, but there is nothing that says we cannot or should not build on this base by addressing national concerns affecting all Malaysians.”
At a press conference later, Ong repeated his call for reform after the March 8 political tsunami.
“After March 8, I said it (the need for reform) loud and clear. When I was interviewed in April by one of the news agencies, I reiterated one point, and making a reference to my own party, I said we must initiate changes, or else we would become irrelevant,” he said.
He said he was “not apologetic” about his comments.
“I did it with good intentions, because at the end of the day, what we want, what the people want and are looking for and expecting from us is good governance. We are a beautiful country, we are rich in resources, so why can’t we harness our resources for the best benefit of the country and the people.”
He said his Barisan peers accepted the need for change, and noted that each Barisan component party had its own methodology for change.
“On Feb 14 next year, there will be a big BN rally, where the component parties, leaders and members will meet and brainstorm.
Perhaps this will serve as a good platform for the component parties to brainstorm and share experiences in transforming our own parties,” he added.
Tan Yi Liang
The Sun
22/12/08
mi1: Would UMNO agree?
“Policies should be re-examined and discarded if they are not working to the nation’s benefit. Very often, policies drawn up with noble intentions are wayward in their implementation,” said Ong.
He said a change of mindset was needed for Malaysia to be competitive globally.
“We need to be creative, innovative, visionary and bold. There are some among us who, it appears, do not seem to have realised that we have moved into the 21st century. It’s the digital age, but they operate with an analogue mindset,” he said, adding that educational reform was needed if Malaysia was to compete globally.
“It is not just the digital gap that is widening between rural and urban areas, so is the education gap. We have no choice but to implement changes. Our children are no longer just competing with each other within national borders. They are competing with the world.”
He pointed out that the need to overhaul the national schools was more pressing than the debate over vernacular schools.
Ong, who said this when opening the Malaysian Young Entrepreneurs Conference at the Putra World Trade Centre here today, called for reforms to make the ruling Barisan National coalition relevant for Malaysians.
“The political mould has been broken. Unless we in the Barisan compete in the marketplace of ideas, there is a real possibility that we will be voted out of office in the next general election. It is time we change the political model that worked so well for us until March 8,” said Ong, who called on parties to focus on the interests of Malaysians as a whole.
“Unless we take on a wider, national role, we could soon become irrelevant. The political base of the communal parties has no doubt been within the community, and we must cater to their interests, but there is nothing that says we cannot or should not build on this base by addressing national concerns affecting all Malaysians.”
At a press conference later, Ong repeated his call for reform after the March 8 political tsunami.
“After March 8, I said it (the need for reform) loud and clear. When I was interviewed in April by one of the news agencies, I reiterated one point, and making a reference to my own party, I said we must initiate changes, or else we would become irrelevant,” he said.
He said he was “not apologetic” about his comments.
“I did it with good intentions, because at the end of the day, what we want, what the people want and are looking for and expecting from us is good governance. We are a beautiful country, we are rich in resources, so why can’t we harness our resources for the best benefit of the country and the people.”
He said his Barisan peers accepted the need for change, and noted that each Barisan component party had its own methodology for change.
“On Feb 14 next year, there will be a big BN rally, where the component parties, leaders and members will meet and brainstorm.
Perhaps this will serve as a good platform for the component parties to brainstorm and share experiences in transforming our own parties,” he added.
Tan Yi Liang
The Sun
22/12/08
mi1: Would UMNO agree?
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