Tengku Razaleigh said he would rather prefer Malaysia not to produce any oil.
He was not talking rubbish.
I could somewhat understand the message Ku Li was trying to deliver.
Petroleum is an additional bounty bestowed by God upon nation. It is more like a windfall than anything else.
But, like what ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Zhi said: Blessings could also be the root of all disasters.
Like a well endowed child born with a silver spoon in his mouth, having all the luxuries fed to him and nothing to worry about.
Which is not a bad thing, if he knows how to make good use of his fortune.
At least a well nourished child is physically and mentally a notch above his peers.
But if he is blindfolded by his wealth, squandering all his money on material indulgences, not aware of the sufferings of other people, he may end up a pauper when his wealth dries up several years later.
He may then regret having been born rich, and would rather choose to live an ordinary life, working conscientiously for a decent living.
Oil, is the gift from the Almighty. If we make good use of it, the impact is going to be unbelievable!
If America were not so richly endowed with subterranean oil, it would not have risen so rapidly as a superpower.
The problem is, the gift of oil to Malaysia is more like one given generously to a spendthrift son.
No one knows this better than Ku Li, one of Petronas' founders.
35 years ago, he personally took part in the planning for the national oil company's management as well as the use of its oil resources.
According to the original plan, he said there would be controlled oil exploitation to ensure sustained development, while oil revenues were to be used for education and modernisation programmes, helping Malaysia achieve the status of a high-income country.
But when the management of the country's oil resources fell into the hands of powerful people in the government, the original plan was distorted and oil was excavated insatiably.
Politicians used the oil money to erect the Twin Towers and a host of other gaudy but useless mega structures, as well as to bail out failing companies and acquire expensive weapons.
Part of it, of course, went into the oversea bank accounts of some powerful people.
Oil resources have been manipulated by some people to intensify their autocratic rules and ruin the constitutional democracy, while also corrupting government and business elites.
The abuse of oil wealth, like the addiction to narcotics, has been employed to stimulate the senses and satisfy immoral lusts.
Oil has expedited the fall of Malaysia.
In the 60s, when Malaysia was not yet an oil-producing country, our socio-economic development levels were among the highest in the continent.
In the 70s when oil money began to roll in, Malaysia started to go downhill, while oil-starved Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea made impressive advances through equitable and relatively corruption-free governance and elevation of their competitiveness and productivity.
The golden age of Malaysia's oil is now tapering to an end. Oil revenues are halved, and we only have two years to become a net importer!
Perhaps this should serve as a wake-up call for some people. (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)
MSC
21/12/09
He was not talking rubbish.
I could somewhat understand the message Ku Li was trying to deliver.
Petroleum is an additional bounty bestowed by God upon nation. It is more like a windfall than anything else.
But, like what ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Zhi said: Blessings could also be the root of all disasters.
Like a well endowed child born with a silver spoon in his mouth, having all the luxuries fed to him and nothing to worry about.
Which is not a bad thing, if he knows how to make good use of his fortune.
At least a well nourished child is physically and mentally a notch above his peers.
But if he is blindfolded by his wealth, squandering all his money on material indulgences, not aware of the sufferings of other people, he may end up a pauper when his wealth dries up several years later.
He may then regret having been born rich, and would rather choose to live an ordinary life, working conscientiously for a decent living.
Oil, is the gift from the Almighty. If we make good use of it, the impact is going to be unbelievable!
If America were not so richly endowed with subterranean oil, it would not have risen so rapidly as a superpower.
The problem is, the gift of oil to Malaysia is more like one given generously to a spendthrift son.
No one knows this better than Ku Li, one of Petronas' founders.
35 years ago, he personally took part in the planning for the national oil company's management as well as the use of its oil resources.
According to the original plan, he said there would be controlled oil exploitation to ensure sustained development, while oil revenues were to be used for education and modernisation programmes, helping Malaysia achieve the status of a high-income country.
But when the management of the country's oil resources fell into the hands of powerful people in the government, the original plan was distorted and oil was excavated insatiably.
Politicians used the oil money to erect the Twin Towers and a host of other gaudy but useless mega structures, as well as to bail out failing companies and acquire expensive weapons.
Part of it, of course, went into the oversea bank accounts of some powerful people.
Oil resources have been manipulated by some people to intensify their autocratic rules and ruin the constitutional democracy, while also corrupting government and business elites.
The abuse of oil wealth, like the addiction to narcotics, has been employed to stimulate the senses and satisfy immoral lusts.
Oil has expedited the fall of Malaysia.
In the 60s, when Malaysia was not yet an oil-producing country, our socio-economic development levels were among the highest in the continent.
In the 70s when oil money began to roll in, Malaysia started to go downhill, while oil-starved Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea made impressive advances through equitable and relatively corruption-free governance and elevation of their competitiveness and productivity.
The golden age of Malaysia's oil is now tapering to an end. Oil revenues are halved, and we only have two years to become a net importer!
Perhaps this should serve as a wake-up call for some people. (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)
MSC
21/12/09
1 comment:
Ha ha ha is there is s thing call the oil curse???? No and no.
It has nothing to do with the oil. It is how the people use it. Just like Panadol, if you use it correctly, it will cure your headache. Try eating twenty and see what happen.
Stop blaming the 'gift' god give us, if we abuse it that is the 'curse' we get.
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