Get rid of gangsterism and corruption

13Friday

Lessons from Singapore and HK
11 Mar 2007 Tunku Abdul Aziz.
THE very idea of a new metropolis in southern Johore to rival Singapore and Hong Kong is intriguing, to put it mildly. Sceptics, of whom there are many in our midst, are already raising their eyebrows, plucked or otherwise, as if to say, "Here we go again!" Malaysia's thirst for the "superlatives", and don't we know it, is unquenchable. I see nothing wrong with our trying to replicate the best; the verdict of the international business community is that Singapore and Hong Kong are the best cities in our region in which to live and work.
We, too, have a great city, Kuala Lumpur, the pride of the nation. Why is it that in spite of the iconic Twin Towers and the biggest this and the longest that, we do not measure up to international standards?
Some years ago, the Economist Conferences invited me to deliver a speech in Bangkok on (no prizes for guessing) fighting corruption. The three-day gathering was attended by dozens of high-powered chief financial officers of multinational corporations in the Asia Pacific. The Economist's straw poll during the conference asked which city they would choose if they were setting up a regional office, and, by implication where they would prefer to live as expatriates.
To a man/woman, the choice was Hong Kong first and Singapore second. Kuala Lumpur, to my utter consternation and embarrassment as a proud Malaysian, did not even get a look-in.
In the late autumn of 1999, 1 was a guest at a private dinner in Washington DC. An American private investment banker who had just returned from a shopping" trip to Malaysia was asked, "Of all the countries in Asia, where would you invest your clients' money?" His reply shook me to the marrow: "Anywhere except Malaysia." He then mentioned how a senior government official had told him that a foreigner could not buy a Malaysian company unless he had a Malay partner and he would be more than happy to recommend one in the spirit of US/Malaysia relations. Upon further enquiry, it turned out that the proposed partner was the civil servant's brother-in-law. I spent much of the evening explaining to the Americans that it was not government policy that a foreigner had to have a Malay partner before he could acquire assets in Malaysia.
The point about these little stories is that both Hong Kong and Singapore set out deliberately to become attractive, well-ordered and safe cosmopolitan cities in which business could be conducted with minimum inconvenience. They have not become great cities by accident.
For us, so used to and comfortable with our slapdash approach to doing things, it will require a complete culture change, which in turn can come about only if there is an unequivocal commitment by the government to facilitate the necessary change management.
Nothing less than a thoroughgoing reform of our legal framework, rules and regulations will suffice.
When we talk about the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) as a metropolis to rival both Hong Kong and Singapore, we are entering the realm of serious competition, in every respect, with the top world competitiveness heavyweight champions.
While I have not the slightest doubt that we are more than up to pouring colossal amounts of cash and concrete into this project, do we have the capacity and inclination to see it through by continually seeking to meet the ever-changing global environment and business requirements? Judged by almost all the important social, economic and environmental indicators, these two cities beat the Twin Towers hands down.
Our only claim to fame is that Kuala Lumpur is the cheapest city in the world for visiting businessmen.
What we want badly are those who will come to set up offices and live here and add richness not only to our economy but also to our national diversity. Being cheap may count as a competitive advantage, but in our case, listening to the woes of foreign businessmen trying to set up operations here and dealing with the bureaucracy, we seem to offer a service that is cheap but with a nasty twist in the tail. And when we factor in corruption, then doing business in Malaysia becomes costly.
Ever wondered why more foreign direct investment is not parking itself here? Talk to both the local and foreign business communities, and what they have to say based on their experiences would make your hair curl.
Both Singapore and Hong Kong, which the IDR aspires to rival, started as very corrupt societies and yet today are among the top IO least corrupt countries in the world, according to the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index.
In short, they have shown that corruption is bad for business, especially global business, and they are making sure that the good old days will never come back to haunt them again.
Have we the political will to confront corruption decisively or have we run out of steam?
If the dream of a new super metropolis is not to become a fiasco and a burden, to be borne, as always, by the hapless taxpayer, the government must ensure that the IDR is as different from Kuala Lumpur as it is possible to be.
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur has absolutely nothing to offer in either efficiency or integrity. Again, do not take my word for it; ask the long-suffering taxpayers of Kuala Lumpur.
We have the great fortune of starting from scratch, from the ground up, and we have the biggest advantage of all: The lessons we can learn from Hong Kong and Singapore on what makes them tick as the preferred business destinations of East Asia and the Pacific.
No shame in learning from two "little red dots" which, in my book, are truly "islands of integrity".
In summary, therefore, do not put crooks in charge, so that good governance can take root to make the IDR shine even brighter than Hong Kong and Singapore. And while we are in a dreaming mood, why not throw in Dubai for good measure?
We are entitled to our dreams. This is Malaysia, after all.
Tunku Abdul Aziz is a former special adviser to the UN secretary-general on Ethics.
Lessons from Singapore and HK
(I have printed here for the better tomorrow Malaysia) Thanks for reading and reflection.
Joshua Kong


[ Last edited by  13Friday at 19-4-2007 04:47 PM ]

13Friday

Nation
Friday April 20, 2007


Police seize four guns from Datuk who allegedly threatened guard

KOTA KINABALU: Police have seized four guns from a prominent Datuk, who was alleged to have used a pistol to threaten two security guards at a shopping complex here.

Kota Kinabalu City police chief Asst Comm Ku Chin Wah said three shotguns, a pistol and ammunition were seized from the Datuk, a 61-year-old a timber businessman.

揥e are verifying whether he had valid permits for the firearms and if he had more than the amount of ammunition allowed,

13Friday

JK's Digest No. 45 of April 2007 (101 of 2007)   The symbol of the Kris in Malaysia
The Coronation Ceremony of the 13th AGUNG or King of Malaysia on 26th April, 2007  earlier installed on 13 December 2006 .

Did you see how the Kris as presented to the Agung was handled by the Agung?
Did he lift it high up in the air?  He did lift it parallel to his heart in both hands and place it on the side table.  He did not even kiss it.  
So how should UMNO's leaders handle the symbol?
Who had been the leaders who had lifted up in the air and waving in belligerent or threatening style?
If what the Agung did was the formal symbol of the Kris, then what should the Agung do to those
who had sort of insult the Royalty - the ruler of the nation?   Maybe set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to restore the harmony of the symbol of the Kris as a sign of peace and courage.
I hope this is the start of some POSITIVE move to cleanse from within and without of UMNO once banned but revived with UMNO baru on the journey to ruins or nihilism in the nation.
UMNO has started and allowed the TSUNAMI of illegals and illegalities in Sabah reflective of the doom of Malaysia in Machap and I choke.
I was told by the Chief Editor of a local paper that I should not bring in the Agung in my legal complaint to the International Criminal Courts for RM40 billions.  I believe the Agung is the only capable person to reverse the critical ills in Sabah under two counts - Ethnic cleansing and Apartheid Phenomenon.
Only now I see PBS submitting a memo on illegal  in Sabah to the Prime Minister - too late and too little after 3 decades of rottenness.  Why not Royal Commission of Inquiry NOW?
Joshua Kong is the natural leader as toughened by life experiences NOW to face tough challenges.
Joshua Kong (proponent of MIGS and WON)
http://mega-icc-group-sabah-migs.blogspot.com/    http://won-borneo.blogspot.com/
Latest Book: Biodiversity Challenge-Haze Health Hell ISBN983-2653-24-X
Author of New Wealth Order, EPIC of Sabah, FIRE, Sabah Wealth - image of woods power,
http://www.e-borneo.com/col/jkong/Sabah - 2nd Edition, Paper to Parliamentary Select Committee on Unity and National Service.
EPIC of Sabah - 3rd Ed., WATER, A tussle in biodiversity of two liquids - palm oil and water,
Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia in 1963, A Paper to Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity (2006).  Books to come:-  A critical review- claim on Sabah and A case of Independence for Sabah - EPIC of  pros and cons, Introduction to TSUNAMI of illegals and illegalities in SABAH;  TSUNAMI of illegals and illegalities in SABAH.
http://www.e-borneo.com/col/jkong/

13Friday

JK's Digest No. 49 of April 2007 (105 of 2007) The Megalomania Putrajaya is doomed

Famous Quote:

"If you speak, you are dead,

If you keep silent, you are dead,

so speak and die." Horria Saihi - Algerian Journalist 1995.

Do we need to speak about the implications of Putrajaya KL which had swollen lots of our resources?

Was it not the intention of the Government fearing for the overcrowded Kuala Lumpur City with its limestone foundation over its security that the Government decided to move to a new area nearby?

So can the Government run away from its doom with its new luxurious place?

Are more of such things to come?

What things? It has been reported of the landslide covering more than 25 vehicles on 22 March 2007; then 11 April, the burst water pipes and now 28 April (D. Day of Ijok) a ceiling fell.

So would the things mainly due to corruption finally hit on the illegal Government?

Even the Headquarters building of GOF in Kota Kinabalu is still uncompleted after a few hundred millions Ringgit?

Joshua Kong (proponent of MIGS and WON)

http://mega-icc-group-sabah-migs.blogspot.com/ http://won-borneo.blogspot.com/

Latest Book: Biodiversity Challenge-Haze Health Hell ISBN983-2653-24-X
Author of New Wealth Order, EPIC of Sabah, FIRE, Sabah Wealth - image of woods power,

http://www.e-borneo.com/col/jkong/Sabah - 2nd Edition, Paper to Parliamentary Select Committee on Unity and National Service.

EPIC of Sabah - 3rd Ed., WATER, A tussle in biodiversity of two liquids - palm oil and water,

Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia in 1963, A Paper to Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity (2006). Books to come:- A critical review- claim on Sabah and A case of Independence for Sabah - EPIC of pros and cons, Introduction to TSUNAMI of illegals and illegalities in SABAH; TSUNAMI of illegals and illegalities in SABAH.

http://www.e-borneo.com/col/jkong/

13Friday

JK's Digest No. 13 of May 2007 (125 of 2007)  Hard earned money down the BIG drains.

Where and how and why and when and what am I talking about?

Billions of Ringgit anuually given away to cure all ills of society in Malaysia but little improvement and actually getting worse.

How long can this last when the resources of centuries have been consumed in 50 short years?

RM40.8m for the relief - relief only - of Thalassaemia patients - no cure at the moment and yet tens of thousand are born annually.  No Answer?  I have the answer (got to do with voodoo)
but who want to hear?  write to me personally.

RM37m for the dubious promotion of health of self created health defects.  A range of addictions created by the false religions can be a contributing factor for this.  Even illegals of a race and religion of violent and lawless culture are made fake citizens overnight of 1- 2 millions in Sabah giving rise to the Tsunami of illegal and illegalities with all the diseases they bring be there physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

RM12m bad debts of illegals for health services in Sabah to be written off.  I think a realistic figure is RM120m -incurred for all illegals including fake citizens or extra people Identity cards (EPIC).

Children of Foreign workers to be educated in Sabah when such recruited workers are not to have families in Sabah and that is how much for more than 30,000 children and 1,000 foreign teachers annually ?
Poverty hardcore and otherwise of urban and rural  locals is very bad in Sabah, and really need Billions of Ringgit annually and nothing of that kind of money is forthcoming.

The list can go on nationwide when Sabah is definitely on the great slide to oblivion.
Who do we blame?  Blame ourselves?  Blame the 'dead' system.

This is really ridiculous.  You have a piece of land in your name with rich resources under the soil and in return for a business deal, you get only 5% for the revenue and that is forever not negotiable again.  Was that a lopsided deal?   Can this be one of the reasons why Tengku Razaleigh had been out of the Prime Ministership despite desperate attempts?  http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/corridors.php?itemid=4332

So we need a new system in Sabah as the old system of 44 years is NOT working. Let Joshua Kong lead as he had survived hundreds of voodoo with the latest one last Sunday in the church - three experiences/attacks in three days.

Joshua Kong (proponent of MIGS and WON)
http://mega-icc-group-sabah-migs.blogspot.com/    http://won-borneo.blogspot.com/
Latest Book: Biodiversity Challenge-Haze Health Hell ISBN983-2653-24-X
Author of New Wealth Order, EPIC of Sabah, FIRE, Sabah Wealth - image of woods power,
http://www.e-borneo.com/col/jkong/Sabah - 2nd Edition, Paper to Parliamentary Select Committee on Unity and National Service.
EPIC of Sabah - 3rd Ed., WATER, A tussle in biodiversity of two liquids - palm oil and water,
Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia in 1963, A Paper to Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity (2006).  Books to come:-  A critical review- claim on Sabah and A case of Independence for Sabah - EPIC of  pros and cons, Introduction to TSUNAMI of illegals and illegalities in SABAH;  TSUNAMI of illegals and illegalities in SABAH.
http://www.e-borneo.com/col/jkong/