Rm60 Billion

The Deputy Prime Minister announced a stimulus package of RM60bil on Tuesday, but the question here is, how much will go to the people and how much will end up in the pockets of the bigshots who have intimate connections with the ruling politicians and the various government agencies. The huge sum of money has set the saliva flowing from the mouths of many powerful politicians. Already some UMNO politicians are uttering comments that contractors getting government projects should be 'endorsed' by their local UMNO chiefs, an act that would be patently illegal in all countries every where. ( except Malaysia.) Corruption and money politics will very likely ensure that the money intended to be used to prop up the economy would eventually benefit those who support the ruling class and very little, if any, will go to the man in the street. To ensure that the common people would be able to benefit most from the stimulus package and the country could still bypass the existing bribery culture, there are some steps that should not be missed at all. 1.The government must not bow to demands from the provincial-minded politicians, but must straightaway implement the right strategies to maintain or enhance economic growth. Use the open tender system to award projects and discard or avoid the old method of race-based quotas or restrictions. 2.Don't pump money into companies that are unproductive, such as the ones dealing with independent power production. The demand for electricity is going to be very weak in view of the present meltdown and it would be better to help those consumers who clock very little monthly power consumption. The IMF has already said that 2009 is going to be the year of the Great Recession. 3.Do not be too overly preoccupied with FDI and hoping for foreign companies to set up their headquarters or their manufacturing facilities here. Many foreign companies have already learned that local youths generally do not pay much attention to productivity in the workplace but rather, they are much more interested in the pay and benefits that they could have. The government should focus on local companies even if they are just family-owned firms. 4.The government should ensure that sufficient money is channelled to the enterprises involved in food production, tailoring, exotic items like birdsnests, herbal teas and other cornershop businesses. These people pay taxes and they form the silent majority in the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector. Remember the high cost of school uniforms was one of the many reasons or causes for the defeats suffered by the BN in many areas during the March 2008 elections. 5.Do not forget the individual in our society. Many people have lost their jobs or their sources of income over the past three or four months. They are unlikely to get back on their feet in a hurry.For such people, the authorities should perhaps give out coupons to exchange for foodstuffs or medicines or urgent items like school shoes for their kids. Teachers and headmasters should be asked to show tolerance towards schoolpupils who do not wear socks or other required apparel. Money is tight in many households and there is

no need to punish or humiliate the poor. 6.The government should consider allowing individuals who have EPF accounts and who are at least 50 years old to withdraw part or all of their EPF savings provided they are currently unemployed. Such people are unlikely to find new jobs anytime soon but they still need to eat now in order to continue to survive. Avoid by all means the situation where such people are forced to turn to loan sharks just because no one could be bothered to help. 7.The government must put emphasis on transparency and integrity. There are bound to be outstretched hands demanding or moaning for handouts and usually such hands are waved by unseen politicians acting in the background. Already we have reports of RM70,000 found hidden in a car belonging to some secretary to a minister and that wives of some politicians went on overseas trips to visit Disneyland using state money. Such happenings are bound to be resurrected many times over if RM60 billion are made available without due care. Transparency and integrity must be given top precedence over political or racial considerations. Any calls to give priority to racial sentiments must be ignored. 8.The government must help the small-time entrepreneur by at the least doing two things for him. One, give him a little respite from the opportunistic once-in-a-while robber or mugger who liked to prey on such people. Extend an ear to the longsuffering businessmen who have been victims of too many hold-ups and visits by extortionists. Two, show some sympathy to them and listen to their grouses that local banks have consistently refused to give or provide coin-changing services to small-time businesses. 9.The government should provide aid to those who run evening class colleges or tuition centres tailored for working adults who want to acquire further qualifications. Right now, most, if not all these courses and qualifications are not recognised by the government despite the fact that these people are truly a praiseworthy lot. They really deserve some assistance. 10.The politicians should end their current bickerings with each other and concentrate on the work ahead. In particular, the Penang UMNO and MCA, who are really nothing more than corroded empty vessels should for once shut up and stop lambasting others unfairly. 11.The authorities should get off their seats, dust their backsides and start thinking about the need to provide free or cheap internet access for the citizens. With so many desperately looking for jobs, cheap or free access could be of immense help. 12.The government must come down hard on those unscrupulous people who bring in foreign workers to replace local labour. These are the real traitors and the ones who are disloyal and disobedient to the country, not the minority politicians who are fighting for sensible, ordinary everyday justice and rule of law. 13.The government must boost the size of the police force and clean all the dirt from within. What good is economic progress if the country is constantly plagued by a high crime rate and people constantly hear horror stories of crime victims. The government

must set up a secret hotline for people in the law enforcement agencies to squeal on their counterparts involved in wrongdoings and speedy action must be taken to weed out such rogues. Even the MACC cannot be totally trusted. The case of the IGP and the A-G being cleared of any wrongdoing in the issue that involved the Anwar black-eye incident is proof that no person or agency is above suspicion. We cannot wipe out corruption and crime but we should try to reduce both to the absolute minimum. Let us hope that the government will use the RM60billion to help the country and the economy and not to enrich politicians who are already wallowing in the lap of luxury. The same goes for their relatives and supporters. Say no to those who want the money to be doled out according to racial considerations. Do not entertain those who moan for cash just because their names sound familiar. With the right steps, the country could still survive 2009.