Ego...pride...that is all it is when Anwar and the Pakatan Rakyat alleged that Najib 'copied' some of their ideas. That is so wrong - for they should in fact be congratulating Najib and the UMNO-led BN for being open and taking on the good proposals that have been made by the Pakatan Rakyat, other Opposition parties, civil society groups, etc... In the past, Lim Kit Siang would have called this kind of behaviour - a “third-class mentality”.
It is this kind of gloating and/or behavior that has kept many a good suggestions from being accepted and put into action for the benefit of the people by governments of the day. UMNO-led BN may be too scared to take on good ideas immediately, just because some opposition group or organsition may come out and 'embarass' them as Anwar and PR just did.
So, normally good ideas have been put on hold for many years - and later, when 'who first raised it' had been forgotten, then the government implements it. Some say that it is best to 'secretly' communicate good ideas and suggestions to the government of the day, if we want the suggestions taken up fast. If the same suggestions comes from the Opposition - that is it, as it may be decades before it is taken up given the current mentality ('third-class mentality'?) of many Malaysian politicians.
That is why I was not at all happy about what Anwar and the Pakatan Rakyat did. Of course, good ideas are best implemented today rather than some time in the future. Better it benefits the people today rather than tomorrow. Are political parties/coalitions also claiming 'copyright' on good ideas/suggestions for the benefit of Malaysia and its peoples?
Pakatan Rakyat today poured scorn on the government's New Economic Model (NEM), claiming that it was copied from the opposition coalition's Malaysian Economic Agenda (MEA).
Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said Pakatan has identified several key features in the NEM which have stark similarities to the MEA."One cannot help but wonder whether the crux of his speech yesterday was an extraction of Pakatan Rakyat's MEA.
"The pillars of NEM sound very familiar to those who are accustomed to MEA," he told a press conference in Parliament today.
"The prime minister stressed on the need to attain high economy, achieve sustainability and promote inclusiveness in driving the economy, especially in moving towards needs-based affirmative action," said Anwar.
He said that the similar ideas were stated in the Pakatan's manifesto for the 2008 general elections.
The opposition's coalition also accused that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who ignored Parliament and announced the NEM instead at the Invest Malaysia conference yesterday, of belittling the status of the august House.
Anwar pointed out that although the government admits that the economy needs a major overhaul, it refuses to embark on structural reforms of public institutions, as well as practices and policies that have been an impediment to growth.
"There was hardly any mention of concrete actions to bring credibility to the judiciary or reforms in other government institutions.
"In the end, the announcement of NEM became another confirmation that this government is driven by public relations - what more with its association with (global consultancy firm) Apco - and lacks the political will and courage to carry out all the necessary reforms to save the country," said Anwar.
Concern over abuse of EPF
Also present at the press conference today were PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, among others.Anwar lamented that there was no real commitment to structural reforms.
"The issue is that this is not merely a public relations exercise. Is there a commitment to reform? Free media? RTM, TV3, and Utusan (Malaysia) is controlled fully by the government, which mean that you are not able to receive criticisms or views," he said.
"(What about) the issues of judicial independence, transparency and procurement policies? You say that you want to privatise, but to whom? First to EPF (Employees Providence Fund) and then transfer it to your crony companies?" asked Anwar.
He also expressed concern that the EPF, which has RM360 billion in assets, would be abused by the government following Najib announced that the pension fund will be allowed to invest overseas as well as to sell some of its shares to boost liquidity in the stock market.
"EPF has been actively used and there is danger that it is being utilised as a temporary body before the assets are transferred to company associated with (BN) leaders and their cronies.”On a related development, Anwar said that Pakatan is looking at forming state and parliamentary divisions.
Commenting on the upcoming Hulu Selangor by-election, he said Pakatan has agreed that the candidate will come from PKR, but the party has yet to decide on who to field.
"I will discuss with Hadi and Kit Siang before we name our candidate," said Anwar.- Malaysiakini, 31/3/2010, BN 'stole' ideas from our economic agenda: Anwar
For, too long there has been a mentality in Malaysian politics of blind opposition to whatever suggestion, ideas, plans proposed by the other side irrespective of whether it is good for the rakyat and the country. The victims of this kind of attitude has been the people of Malaysia.
At a separate press conference, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the BBC members were shocked over Shahrir’s decision to resign.
“It is not that we disagree with Shahrir but it’s an opposition motion and we usually reject their motions. - Star, 5/5/2006, Shahrir quits as Backbenchers Club chief
I believe that all politicians, political parties and political coalitions (and others including the civil society) must listen and accept good suggestions and ideas irrespective of who it is coming from. That is mature politics.
In 2006, the UMNO-led BN came out with a public stand that all their MPs must fully support all that is BN, and reject (and not support) anything that is coming from the other side. Remember, that Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad who gave us a good example when he supported a motion by the Opposition leader because it was right.
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (pic above) dropped a bombshell in Parliament yesterday by resigning as Backbenchers Club (BBC) chairman.
He had earlier walked out of Dewan Rakyat disappointed that his colleagues had distanced themselves from a DAP motion related to alleged interference by an MP in the work of the Malacca Customs Department.
The motion called for a newspaper report containing the allegation that the unnamed MP had asked the department to be lenient with those caught importing sawn timber from Indonesia to be referred to the Parliament Rights and Privileges Committee.
Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang had proposed the motion, which was debated for 20 minutes.
Voicing support for the motion, Shahrir, who is Johor Baru MP, said the matter should be investigated by the committee to clear the air as “integrity should begin in Parliament.”
“The problem with the civil service is that it has become an old body that refuses to take action against itself.
“The committee is a tool to manage our affairs. We will call witnesses from the Customs Department and the said newspaper writer to find out what had happened and whether others are involved. We need to be responsible for our conduct and actions,” he told the House.
His statement received loud thumps from the floor.
However, when Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib asked the MPs to vote on the matter, there was a resounding “no” from most Barisan Nasional MPs. Shahrir then walked out.
The controversy arose from a newspaper report that the MP had gone to the department on April 14 to “settle the case.”
Announcing his resignation at a press conference, Shahrir said the motion should have been supported as it involved an MP and the report had affected Parliament’s integrity.
He would write to Chief Whip and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak about his decision to resign, he added.
“This is my stand and I will not change my mind. This is a question of principle as it is pointless for me to debate on parliamentary issues if I don’t get the support of my colleagues,” he said at the Parliament lobby.
At a separate press conference, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the BBC members were shocked over Shahrir’s decision to resign.
“It is not that we disagree with Shahrir but it’s an opposition motion and we usually reject their motions.
“I hope Shahrir does not take this as a slap as there was no question about his leadership.”
Nazri added that Barisan MPs rejected the motion as a newspaper report, which did not even name the MP, could not be referred for action in the House.
“If the Customs director wrote a complaint to the Speaker and named the MP, then we can investigate,” he said, adding that it would be better if the police or the Anti-Corruption Agency looked into the matter.
Several hours later, BBC committee members emerged from a 20-minute emergency meeting and issued a statement urging Shahrir to reconsider his resignation.
Larut MP Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar, the club’s deputy chairman, said Shahrir was still needed as chairman.
Lim said the rejection of the motion showed that Barisan MPs were hypocrites and had a “third-class mentality.”
“It is a shameful day for Parliament. The motion is not meant to curb the press but it (the report) has cast doubts on all MPs and that needs to be cleared,” he added. - Star, 5/5/2006, Shahrir quits as Backbenchers Club chief
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