Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
MALAYSIAN EDUCATION
By Dr Mahathir Mohamad
1. When we became independent in 1957 we had a clear idea about education in Malaysia. We wanted every Malaysian child to go to national schools where the medium of teaching would be the National Language based on the Malay language, the language of indigenous people. They would know and be close to each other, get used to their different cultures and be distinctly Malaysian.
2. For a time the “English Schools” were to be allowed to go on. The students at these schools were from all the ethnic groups in Malaysia.
3. When Minister Aziz Ishak as acting Education Minister decided that all schools must be converted to national schools with the national language as the teaching medium, the Chinese raised a big row. Cabinet then decided that the vernacular language schools would be allowed. They were re-designated “Jenis Kebangsaan” or National Type. The national type primary vernacular schools would receive Government aid but the national type secondary schools were not to be supported by Government. The decision was political. Nothing in the Constitution provided for this. Then another Education Minister in 1971 decided to abolish Government secondary schools which teach in English.
4. The net result was an exodus of Chinese students to private Chinese Secondary schools.
5. With this the children of different races lost all opportunities to grow up together; the Malays to national schools, the Chinese to Chinese primary and secondary schools and the Indians to Tamil primary schools. There were no Tamil secondary schools. So most Indians studied in National Secondary Schools.
6. International schools using English were however allowed to exist. Then local private schools using largely English as the medium were set up.
7. The Malaysian children were not supposed to go to these private schools. In any case the fees charged by private schools as usual were high.
8. Then the ministers’ children, against national policy started going to private schools and international schools which use largely English as the teaching medium. The ministers also send their children to public (actually private) school in the UK. So followed the children of the rich.
9. The result is that the rich go to private schools in Malaysia and U.K while the poor go to national schools at home.
10. Apart from racial separation because of the ethnic language based schools, we now see a separation of the rich children and the poor children. The rich now speak in English and the poor in Malay, Chinese or Tamil. Jobs favour the English speakers.
11. Strangely the language nationalists have not protested as they protest the use of English for Science and Mathematics. Incidentally the Malay language nationalists also help promote the use of the Chinese language in Chinese schools and in business. Even Malay parents like their children to go to Chinese schools. And in Sarawak the natives prefer Chinese schools.
12. All these will result in the separation of the races and the separation of rich high-class English speaking people from the poor less privileged national language speaking people. There will also be a loss of the knowledge of modern science and higher mathematics among national school students.
13. I must confess that although my children all went to national schools, my grandchildren all go to private schools in the country and abroad. They do speak the national language but their kind of schooling widens the gap between races as well as between the rich and the poor.
14. It seems that poor parents must accept poor education for their children so politicians can be popular.
http://chedet.cc/
Friday, November 14, 2014
BR1M
By Dr Mahathir Mohamad
1. Let me begin by admitting that I am not a trained economist or financier. Still I don’t think it is fair for anyone to say I do not understand BR1M and the good things about it. I have in the past made some decisions on economic and financial matters which seem to have given good results for the country.
2. I have been opposed to giving monetary handouts as a way to increase the income of people right from the beginning. If at all financial aid should be given to the very poor who are unable to work to earn an income. My primary objection is because handouts on such a scale look too much like bribery. And when this is given near elections or the manifesto promises this, the impression that it is about buying votes just cannot be dismissed. If incomes are to be increase it should be by way of creating opportunities for work or business.
3. But BR1M has more negative implications than that. It increases the tendency towards personal dependence on the Government even for one’s income, without any effort by oneself. It weakens the character of people and reduce their competitiveness in the market place.
4. We want high incomes. But high income should come from increases in productivity. High productivity results from better education and training. A manual labourer cannot be more productive than a mechanic or a craftsman. And they in turn cannot be as productive as an engineer. The ability to increase productivity comes from greater added value to the products.
5. It follows that when we promote industries with greater added value, than the incomes of employees would increase due to greater contribution of the employees. We should note that in countries with big Government revenues from the foreign exploitation of resources, and people are given a part of the revenue to sustain a good lifestyle, there is a lack of desire to work.
6. Giving money does not increase productivity. Without increasing productivity, competitiveness will not improve. And the economy will not really grow. These countries invariably depend on foreign workers, executives and entrepreneurs.
7. When Malaysia adopted a policy of encouraging labour intensive industries, it was because at that time the people were jobless and had no income. After that to increase their incomes we switched to hi-tech, knowledge-based industries and our people are educated and trained for these more sophisticated higher income industries.
8. We can increase their wages further by adopting new technologies and management systems. Our workers should now be involved in designing new products, producing prototypes, testing and mass-producing. Marketing and sales of these more sophisticated products will also increase incomes.
9. We want to be a developed nation by 2020. We think that this can be done by increasing average incomes to a certain level. This is misleading. A few people with very high incomes will distort the average income. Per capita income should not be a measure of our achievement of developed country status. The emphasis on high income alone is not enough. In fact by itself it will not make the country a developed country. It would be even more misleading when the income is due to handouts by the Government.
10. To be developed we have to be at par with these developed countries in terms of education, technological and industrial knowhow, research and development, industrialised to a high level, commensurate infrastructure and high earned incomes for all.
11. It is imperative therefore to spend money on education and training to a higher level, to build up engineering and industrial capacities, to be productive and competitive, to expend money on building first-class infrastructure and to be researchers, inventors and developers.
12. Since we want to be developed in our own mould, we can reject the moral values of some developed countries. We see them obviously decaying because of the emphasis on unlimited materialism and personal freedom. We must sustain the good values that we have and acquire good ethnics which will contribute to our productivity and our income. In other words we must earn our income through higher productivity and not through handouts by the Government. The Socialist and Communists have tried to improve their people’s incomes through giving them money and making free availability of support facilities to ensure they have a good life. But Socialism and Communism have failed. They have to resort to free enterprise and hard work.
13. Finally we must not forget that Government money is derived through taxes on the people. Taxes raise the cost of living. Still the people are willing to endure raised cost of living because they expect the Government to give them security, to govern the country well, to have policies which benefit the people generally.
14. But the people would not like to see the taxes they pay to be expended in ways that are beyond this. Certainly they would not want their hard-earned money to be expended on winning popularity for anyone or political parties or administrations.
http://chedet.cc/
DEFORESTATION
By Dr Mahathir Mohamad
1. As I was being driven along one of the magnificent roads in our country, I saw a stream of lorries loaded with logs passing in the opposite direction.
2. I asked my companion who was from that area as to who the logs belong to.
3. He turned and smiled conspiratorially and whispered the owner’s name. I could hardly hear him but it would seem he was afraid of being heard. He was clearly scared although apart from the driver and my ADC there was nobody else in the car.
4. Vast stretches of our forests are being cleared but nobody seems to know for whom the logging is done. But what is obvious is that our most valuable heritage – the great rain forest is being destroyed.
5. There are many reasons for cutting down the trees. Firstly of course is to extract timber legally and illegally. Then there is the clearing for development of rubber and palm oil plantation. These are very big, totalling millions of hectares over the years.
6. Small time farmer clear hillsides to plant ginger and other vegetable. Each farm is small but the total area for ginger is big.
7. The mining for iron ore and other minerals has begun again. Huge forest areas are being denuded as open cast mines expand and expand in area.
8. Living space also requires forest area to be cleared. As towns expand, the poor sell their suburban kampongs and move to forest areas where legally as well as illegally low cost houses are erected.
9. Between all these reasons for clearing the forest it is said that 70% of our forest have been cleared.
10. So what happens? This country is in the rain-forest region. Rainfalls are very heavy. In the past the rain falls on the thickly leafed trees of the forest and the thick undergrowth and much rain does not reach the ground. On the ground the trunks and exposed roots cause the water flow in any own direction to be slowed. So much of the water seeps into the ground or dries up.
11. Some of the water flows to lower ground and form tiny streams, which in turn form bigger streams which flow into the rivers. The speed of flow is slow obstructed by roots of trees and shrubs and rocks. Erosion of the ground is limited.
12. As the rain water now falls directly on the bare earth and immediately flows rapidly towards lower ground, the volume grows along the way. The rivers become swollen, rising rapidly and flow downstream. The massive amount overflows the banks and floods the surrounding land. The ground softens and landslides occur.
13. This is the origin of floods and landslides. No one can deny that the deforestation is causing this. Many are going to die and many have died.
14. We are fortunate in that we are free from typhoons. Our neighbours are not so lucky. We need to clear some forest for living space. But greed has overcome us and we are clearing too much of our forests too quickly.
15. First there is a need to stop illegal clearing of forest, to stop corruption that goes with it. Then we need to look again at legal clearing. Do we really need to make money from logging. Do we need to give out concessions for this? The people who get the concessions are not really poor. They should make more money than they already have some other way.
http://chedet.cc/
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Saturday, November 8, 2014
KERETAPI TANAH MELAYU
Oleh YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
1. Saya terbaca dalam akhbar bahawa KTM akan membangun landasan untuk mengurangkan kerugian sebanyak RM2.5billion. Kerugian tiap tahun adalah sebanyak RM185 juta. KTM merancang menaikkan tambang untuk mengurang kerugian. Walaubagaimanapun Dato Ahmad Maslan dalam Parlimen berkata KTM akan untung RM31 juta tahun depan. Alhamdullilah.
2. Tiap hari ramai datang berjumpa saya kerana kononnya saya boleh nasihat Kerajaan berkenaan masalah yang dihadapi oleh mereka. Sebenarnya saya bukan penasihat Kerajaan. Tetapi kadang-kadang saya tegur Kerajaan. Samada diterima atau tidak, wallahua’lam.
3. Memandang bahawa KTM sedang merancang untuk mengurang kerugiannya, teringat saya akan cadangan yang boleh memberi sedikit keuntungan kepada KTM.
4. Cadangannya ialah kebenaran untuk mengguna landasan milik KTM bagi keretapi membawa barangan dan kontena antara Bangkok dengan pelabuhan-pelabuhan Malaysia. Sekarang bisnes ini dibuat dengan kapal dari Bangkok ke Singapura.
5. Tahun depan landasan berkembar letrik dari Padang Besar ke pelabuhan Penang dan Kelang akan siap.
6. Penghantaran barangan antara Bangkok dan pelabuhan Malaysia boleh menambah pendapatan KTM sebanyak RM663,000,000-00 dalam masa 2013-2030.
7. Hari ini KTM sedang menyewa landasan dan kepala keretapi kepada YTL untuk Oriental Express dari Singapura (JB) ke Bangkok. Cadangan penggunaan landasan secara sewa bukanlah perkara baru.
8. Saya diberitahu Kerajaan Thai tidak ada halangan terhadap projek ini.
9. Saya harap Kerajaan dan KTM dapat menyetujui dengan projek ini. Juga diharap tidak ada siapa lain yang ‘hijack’ projek ini.
http://chedet.cc/
1 MDB
Oleh YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
1. Kebebasan adalah suatu petanda kedewasaan sesebuah negara. Kita dewasa. Dan kita beri banyak kebebasan termasuk kebebasan bersuratkhabar. Malangnya kadang-kadang kebebasan disalahguna. Ada akhbar di Malaysia yang sering menyalahgunakan kebebasan mereka.
2. Kita tidak lagi boleh masukkan sesiapa dalam tahanan ISA. Oleh itu apabila sesuatu disalahguna, maka penjelasan perlu dibuat. Jika tidak kebebasan akan membawa mudarat terutama apabila yang ditegur ialah Kerajaan.
3. Saya jarang membaca akhbar The Edge. Tetapi baru-baru ini saya terbaca rencana yang bertajuk “Tabiat 1MDB membayar lebih untuk memperolehi (hutang) duit.”
3. Saya jarang membaca akhbar The Edge. Tetapi baru-baru ini saya terbaca rencana yang bertajuk “Tabiat 1MDB membayar lebih untuk memperolehi (hutang) duit.”
4. 1MDB ialah satu dana yang ditubuh oleh Kerajaan sebagai dana kekayaan negara (sovereign wealth fund) untuk dilabur supaya negara akan dapat hasil dari kekayaannya bagi masa depan.
5. Biasanya dana seperti ini ditubuh oleh negara pengeluar minyak yang banyak yang tidak dapat habiskan pendapatan setelah mentadbir dan membangun negara.
6. Malaysia bukanlah negara pengeluar minyak yang besar. Hampir semua 650 ribu tong yang dikeluar tiap hari diguna dalam negeri. Dan Malaysia pula mengalami defisit dalam belanjawannya. Tidak ada lebihan wang untuk dana kekayaan negara.
7. Oleh itu Kerajaan terpaksa hutang untuk dana kekayaan ini.
8. The Edge dalam rencananya menyebut bahawa kos pinjaman berbilion Ringgit luar biasa tingginya.
9. Pada 1 September 2009 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) menggegarkan industri perbankan apabila bersetuju membayar faedah 5.75% keatas hutang RM 5 billion. Hutang ini dijamin oleh Kerajaan Malaysia. Biasanya bon Kerajaan membayar hanya 4.0%. Petronas membayar 3.6% sahaja.
10. Pada tahun 2014 1MDB berhutang lagi sebanyak US Dolar 1.75 billion (RM 5.6 billion) dengan faedah sebanyak 5.99%.
11. Tetapi 1MDB cuma dapat US1.554 billion (RM4.973 billion) kerana sebanyak US196 million (RM 630 million) ditolak untuk komisyen, bayaran fees dan perbelanjaan. Ini bermakna kos pinjaman berjumlah 11.25% dari wang yang dipinjam.
12. Pada Mac 2013, 1MDB Global Investment Ltd telah pinjam USD3.0 billion (RM 9.6 billion) dengan faedah 4.4%. Tetapi 1MDB mendapat hanya USD2.717 billion (RM8.7 billion) kerana USD283 million (RM 906 million) atau 9.44% dipotong untuk membayar komisyen, fees dan perbelanjaan.
13. Bayaran sebanyak 11.25% dan 9.44% adalah kepada Goldman Sachs, pengurus pinjaman hutang ini.
14. Sebaliknya sebuah Syarikat Equisar International Incorporated, milik Kerajaan Sarawak membayar Goldman Sachs hanya 1.25% (USD10 million) apabila mengurus pinjaman USD800 million.
15. Jurucakap Kerajaan menjelaskan bahawa 1MDB memiliki harta bernilai lebih dari RM40 billion sedangkan hutangnya hanya RM38 billion. Oleh itu rakyat tidak perlu bimbang. Tetapi kenapa bayaran kepada Goldman Sachs begitu tinggi?
16. Sebahagian wang yang dipinjam ini diguna untuk membeli stesyen janakuasa swasta. Ini dilapur dalam akhbar. Tetapi harga belian jauh lebih tinggi dari harga pasaran. Kenapa demikian?
17. Seorang jurucakap Kerajaan menjelaskan bahawa wang 1MDB diguna untuk Bumiputra. Yang saya tahu satu biasiswa diberi kepada seorang pelajar muzik. Tidak mungkin biasiswa ini bernilai 38 billion Ringgit. Kerajaan sepatutnya memberi maklumat yang jelas kepada rakyat, terutama Bumiputra akan bantuan yang boleh didapati dari 1MDB
18. Mungkin seluruh rencana dalam The Edge adalah fitnah untuk memburuk Kerajaan dan Perdana Menteri. Tetapi jika tidak ada audit oleh pihak bebas dan penjelasan yang munasabah, saya khuatir orang ramai akan percaya cerita dongeng The Edge.
Wallahua’lam.
http://chedet.cc/
UMNO SELANGOR PERLU BERUBAH
Oleh YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
1. Sesungguhnya perubahan yang diperlukan oleh UMNO Selangor ialah pembubaran dan penyusunan semula. Pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO Selangor perlu terima hakikat bahawa mereka kalah dalam PRU 12 dan 13. Mereka perlu undur.
2. Hari ini untuk mendapat calon Menteri Besar di kalangan pemimpin UMNO pun tidak ada. Ini boleh diadakan dengan ramai jika UMNO Selangor sedia menerima ahli baru. Pemimpin UMNO biasanya tidak suka menerima ahli baru yang berbakat kerana takut mereka dicabar dan hilang jawatan atau tidak dapat jadi calon pilihanraya. Oleh itu usaha mereka bukanlah memperkuatkan UMNO tetapi memperkuatkan kedudukan mereka.
3. Penerimaan ahli baru dengan ramai termasuk yang berbakat adalah perubahan yang utama yang perlu dilakukan oleh UMNO Selangor.
4. Ahli baru perlu juga ditapis oleh badan yang terdiri dari veteran UMNO termasuk dan Bahagian lain. Tapisan diperlukan kerana ada makhluk perosak yang ingin peralat UMNO untuk agenda peribadi mereka.
5. Yang kedua ialah tumpuan kepada Gen-Y. Pada PRU 14, 2.5 juta pengundi muda akan mengundi.
6. Gen-Y tidak berminat dengan UMNO. Mereka, terutama yang terpelajar di Barat sudah menerap budaya dan nilai-nilai hidup Barat. Bagi ramai dari mereka penghargaan terhadap parti dan pemerintah yang memberi peluang kepada mereka mendapat pelajaran dan berjaya dalam kehidupan mereka tidak ada.
7. Jika disebut akan jasa parti UMNO kepada mereka, mereka menolak peringatan ini sebagai mengungkit. Lagi pun mereka berpendapat parti mana pun yang menjadi Kerajaan akan membuat perkara yang sama.
8. Pandangan cetek ini disebabkan mereka tidak membuat bandingan antara Kerajaan Malaysia pimpinan UMNO dengan Kerajaan-Kerajaan negara-negara lain. Jika bandingan dibuat oleh mereka, sudah tentu mereka akan lihat bahawa negara-negara yang mencapai kemerdekaan bersama kita tidak pun dapat dimajukan, jauh sekali daripada memberi pelajaran, biasiswa dan bantuan lain supaya rakyat mereka dapat menikmati taraf hidup seperti rakyat Malaysia.
9. UMNO Selangor perlu berusaha menarik pemuda Melayu menyertai UMNO dengan mendekatkan diri dengan mereka yang bukan ahli bahkan yang menentang UMNO. Untuk ini kepimpinan UMNO harus tahu sejarah UMNO dengan mendalam. Pemimpin yang mampu menjelas kedudukan orang Melayu dahulu dan sekarang tidak ramai. Mereka juga perlu diberi kursus.
10. Ketiga, kikis imej UMNO sebagai parti rasuah. Cara hidup pemimpin UMNO perlu lebih sederhana. Mereka perlu rapat dengan rakyat dan bukan sahaja dengan ahli UMNO. Jangan sekali-kali guna kereta mewah bila ke kampung.
11. Sesungguhnya banyak lagi perubahan yang perlu dibuat oleh UMNO Selangor. Tetapi jika yang tiga ini dibuat sokongan rakyat akan lebih kuat.
http://chedet.cc/