Conversation with a M'sian angry with the Govt

Idris Jala, The Star

RECENTLY, I had a robust conversation with a Malaysian. He was very angry. He had so much to complain about everything in our country. To him, nothing is right in Malaysia.

I reproduce my responses to his complaints, in the hope that it might shed some light and provide some hope to those who feel our country is in a hopeless decline.

To maintain his anonymity and privacy, I simply call him “Angry Malaysian”:

Angry Malaysian (AM): I think Malaysia is the most corrupt country in the world. If the Government is not corrupt, we will solve all the problems in this country. There will be no poverty and everyone in Malaysia will be prosperous and happy.

Idris: That’s not true. Last year, Malaysia improved in Transparency International (TI)’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI). Malaysia’s 2012 score improved compared to 2011 to 49 out of 100 from 4.3 out of 10 (TI’s new scoring methodology changed in 2012 from assigning a score between 1 to 10 in 2011 to 1 to 100 in 2012) . Also Malaysia’s ranking improved from 60 in 2011 to 54 in 2012.

It is equally wrong to say that the only solution to poverty, prosperity and happiness is government corruption.

Almost all the countries that are ahead of Malaysia in the world corruption ranking still have absolute and relative poverty.

For instance, not everyone in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany or Singapore is rich.

Crime still exists in these countries.

Whilst there is hardly any corruption in many rural villages in Malaysia or anywhere else in the world, yet the people are still poor.

When I grew up in Bario, in the Borneo highlands we were almost isolated from the rest of the world and there was no corruption in the village.

Yet, we were poor.

We should stop looking at corruption as something that leads to other peoples’ problem – the poor, the marginalised and expect only the Government to tackle the issue.

It is true that corruption must be eradicated in the interest of creating a level-playing field and enhancing standards of living.

The Government is serious about implementing this through various initiatives.

Whilst we deploy policy measures to arrest corruption, there is also a responsibility upon every Malaysian to ensure they do not engage in or encourage corrupt practices.

As long as there is giving, there will be taking – it is a vicious cycle. Eradicating corruption is not the job of the Government alone, it is a shared responsibility.

AM: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said at a rally before GE13, that Malaysia’s illicit capital outflow over 10 years of RM873bil, as reported by Global Financial Integrity, is proof that corruption is the scourge of Malaysia.

According to him, if we stop this corruption by the Government and its cronies, there is enough money for Malaysia.

Idris: Bank Negara has refuted this claim.

It has clarified that 80% of illicit capital outflow is trade mispricing or transfer pricing.

This means private companies produce receipts or invoices which differ from the actual amount of money transacted, usually to pay lower taxes to the Government.

This is not government corruption.

Bank Negara established that the remaining 20% of illicit capital outflows is due to “errors and omissions”, which includes small residual amounts due to illegal business and corrupt practices.

Based on the Bank Negara report released in March, it is totally wrong to say that RM873bil of “illicit capital” outflow is due to government corruption.

AM: Twenty years ago, Malaysia was on par with South Korea in many ways for example GNI (gross national income) per capita. Even in soccer, we used to beat them. I believe Malaysia lost its competitiveness because of the New Economic Policy (NEP).

If we remove the NEP, then Malaysia will immediately improve its competitiveness and catch up with South Korea.

Idris: It is true that South Korea has made a lot more progress compared to us.

However, I do not agree that as soon as we abolish NEP, Malaysia will be on the road to catching up with them.

The South Koreans did it because they did not complain incessantly about not getting government contracts. They did not incessantly complain about everything that was not perfect around them.

They simply focused on innovating their products to be the best in the world and trained their sights on marketing and selling them in the world market.

AM: A lot of people, particularly non-bumiputras, are leaving Malaysia in droves because of unfair policies such as the NEP. Many of them migrate to Singapore where there is no NEP and it is a fair society.

Idris: That’s not true. A Mindshare survey of 2,000 Singaporeans carried out last year showed that over half of them (56%) wanted to migrate, although there is no NEP in Singapore.

According to the World Bank, Singapore had 300,000 migrants in 2010, nearly 10% of Singapore citizens. Reasons for migration are complex and varied and cannot be just pinpointed to the NEP.

AM: The Government collects lots of taxes from all of us. So many of us work hard only to pay so much in taxes. The Government wastes the tax revenue through corrupt practices and cronyism.

Idris: I don’t agree that Malaysia is taxing everybody and also over-taxing the people. First, Malaysia has a population of 29 million people.

Last year, our working population was 12.5 million people. Out of this, only 1.5 million people were registered taxpayers but only 1.2 million paid taxes.

Second, most of the government tax revenue comes from Petronas and the oil and gas companies, followed by other corporate taxes and then by the 1.2 million taxpayers.

Third, it is not true that Malaysia is over-taxing. Its corporate and personal income tax is competitive when compared with all other countries worldwide.

Fourth, Malaysia is one of the few countries that has not implemented the Goods and Services Tax (GST). More than 140 countries have already implemented GST.

Fifth, since Malaysia wants to keep income taxes at reasonable rates, and since the Government continues to pay huge sums of money on subsidies for the rakyat, our tax revenue is insufficient to pay all our operating and developing expenditure.

So Malaysia has a fiscal deficit. Under the leadership of our prime minister, we have been steadily reducing our fiscal deficit from 6.6% in 2009 to 4.5% last year.

AM: I hear that the Government will be introducing GST. This will hurt the poor people and the middle-income group in this country. GST will bring untold suffering to our people and Malaysia’s economy will collapse.

Idris: No decision has been made by the government to implement GST.

More than 140 countries worldwide have implemented GST and this includes many developed and developing countries eg the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Indonesia and many more.

Under GST, many items that are typically consumed by the poor and the middle-income group are exempted from GST. Some items are “zero rated”, which also reduces the impact of GST. This is why the implementation of GST was done in many developing and poor countries. I don’t agree with you that GST will bring “untold suffering to our people”, nor will our economy collapse. Let’s be clear, these problems did not happen in the 140 countries which implemented GST.

AM: Crime is happening everywhere in Malaysia.

Everyday, I read in the newspapers about street crime and violent crimes. The police are not doing anything. The Government doesn’t care about the safety and security of its people.

Idris: The Government considers crime as one of the top national priorities to address. It is indeed one of the National Key Results Areas (NKRA) under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP).

The Deputy Prime Minister, Home Minister, IGP and the police are all working hard to implement initiatives to fight crime. As a result of our collective efforts, crime has dropped from 575 cases per day in 2009 to 407 cases per day in the first five months of 2013, which is an improvement of over 29%.

But that does not mean crime does not occur. It still does, but the rate has reduced. Whilst we take note of this, we continue to address problem areas and ensure we continue to make our streets, villages, towns and cities safe. This is a priority. It is pertinent for us to look into UK’s experience in 1998, when ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair launched an intense nation-wide program to fight crime.

Significant amount of resources were provided to strengthen UK’s police force to fight crime. This program succeeded in turning around crime trend.

However, while the crime rates have started to drop in 1998, the general UK public perception was the exact opposite – believing that crime rate continued to increase.

It was only six years later, in 2004, that the UK public perception of crime finally started to turnaround. This was how long it took for the UK public to catch on with their country’s improving crime situation.

Malaysia is experiencing this same syndrome, called the “Crime Perception Lag”.

We are in the third year of the Crime NKRA program - half-way into the perception lag period experienced by the UK.

I believe we need to redouble our efforts to fight crime – by strengthening police presence in our streets, improving investigation and prosecution outcomes, engaging the larger community to fight crime via to be United Against Crime, and incorporating Safe City elements in the development of our cities and townships.

Well, that was the gist of my conversation with the AM.

Yes, things are not perfect in this country of ours. Where is it perfect? But we have a lot going for us and it is up to us – each and every one of us - to grasp the opportunities available to progress and help our country and ourselves to become developed.

Things are never as bad as they seem.

Datuk Seri Idris Jala is CEO of Pemandu and also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. All fair and reasonable comments are most welcome at idrisjala@pemandu.gov.my

Now, we cannot even eat in peace

Crime is our number one concern, according to a survey by the International Islamic University, and that certainly is not news to us. There is this strong perception that following the repeal of the Emergency Ordinance, the hardcore criminals, including former detainees, have been emboldened to return to the streets. Talk to the police officers and many are angry that they have lost their power to rein in these devious criminals.

Wong Chun Wai, The Star

IF you live in Petaling Jaya, you would probably have heard of it. Three armed men rushed into a famous chilli crab restaurant shortly after closing time and they were not looking for food.

They held up the cashier in this cash-only restaurant and cleaned out the till while the restaurant helpers ran helter-skelter, for fear of being slashed by the parang-wielding robbers. An accomplice was waiting inside a car nearby. Luckily, there were no customers at the usually packed restaurant.

Not too long ago, the restaurant opposite, famous for its fish head curry, had also fallen victim to such criminals.

What is frightening and most unfortunate is that this is one part of Petaling Jaya that is busy and vibrant, even after midnight. It is a hive of activity because the food court and several outlets nearby are open 24 hours.

Word has gone around Petaling Jaya that it is no longer safe for the people to patronise eateries during late hours.

In fact, at least one restaurant operating in Section 17 has taken the unusual step of locking its doors even when it is open for business. Only customers who have made reservations or those who can prove they are bona fidecustomers are allowed in.

It's the same with many hair salons, which have taken to locking their doors as they are often the target of such hoodlums.

In Cheras, it was reported that people eating on the pavement outside a restaurant were also robbed. For many of us, crime has worsened.

This newspaper reported on June 13 that a group of armed robbers had been terrorising customers of seafood and mamak restaurants in Kuala Lumpur, hitting five eateries in Cheras, Jinjang and Brickfields since January.

The group of at least 10 parang-wielding men would use stolen cars, conceal their faces with crash helmets and target the restaurants to rob customers of their money and valuables.

The police, according to the report, claimed to have made a breakthrough in the case following the arrest of three men, in their 20s, who had attempted to strike at their sixth target, a seafood restaurant in Kampung Subang.

The point is this why must Malaysians continue to live in fear? To be more precise, it seems that Malaysians cannot even eat in peace now!

The promises and assurances made at the many anti-crime campaigns will not be taken seriously until the people feel safe. Forget about the statistics that tell us that snatch theft incidents have actually gone down.

Don't think that our Cabinet members and police chiefs do not know about the actual situation. I know for a fact that the family members of several Cabinet members have been robbed. So have the children and relatives of our top police officers.

I hope the Prime Minister would issue an order for the Cabinet and police top brass to watch the most recent robbery cases captured on CCTV that have been uploaded on YouTube and shared on Facebook.

Many of these robberies, which take place in broad daylight, happen right in front of the homes of Malaysians. The most vulnerable victims are women who, upon alighting from their cars, have their bags snatched by the robbers on motorcycles. In some cases, the victims are dragged along the road when they resist.

Video clips of such incidents are shocking and guaranteed to make our blood boil. The fact that cameras are being installed in so many homes now is testimony to the fact that many of us don't feel safe even in our home surroundings.

Crime is our number one concern, according to a survey by the International Islamic University, and that certainly is not news to us.

The Dewan Rakyat begins its meeting proper on Tuesday after the oath-taking ceremony on Monday. I hope that our Members of Parliament would find time to deliberate on this issue. We are not interested in them scoring points, but to propose concrete solutions, especially with regard to legislation.

There is this strong perception that following the repeal of the Emergency Ordinance, the hardcore criminals, including former detainees, have been emboldened to return to the streets. Talk to the police officers and many are angry that they have lost their power to rein in these devious criminals.

No doubt, there have been allegations of abuse of power by the police in the past, which was one reason why this piece of legislation was repealed. But now we learn of many cases of robberies involving ex-detainees who probably no longer fear being detained or banished.

The harsh reality is that the police do not expect hardcore criminals to volunteer information or confess to their crimes when arrested. It is difficult to build up a case under such circumstances but human rights lawyers expect the police to try harder instead of using the EO to close their files.

But the pressure is piling up on the government, not just the police, because we want our authorities to clean up our streets.

We are sick and tired of living in fear. We have elected our politicians into the highest legislative chamber and now we expect them, as law-makers, to do their job well. So please get on with it.

Homes of Muhyiddin’s & IGP’s sisters broken into

Monday, 20 May 2013 18:47

Relatives of two VVIPs experienced break-ins over the weekend, in a short span of five hours.

According to China Press, the first incident happened at the home belonging to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s (right) sister in SS3, Petaling Jaya.

The home, a double storey bungalow, was reportedly broken into at 10pm on Saturday.

By about 3am Sunday morning, another break-in occured in Mantin, Negri Sembilan at a single storey bungalow belonging to inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar’s sister.

Her family of five were tied up during the robbery which involved five individuals, believed to be foreigners.

According to a news alert by Nanyang Siang Pau, the robbers escaped without a trace whereas the victim has declined to state the amount of losses. - Malaysiakini

Minister’s daughter loses RM8,000 to snatch thieves

MAY 29, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — The unnamed daughter of a Cabinet minister lost cash and personal belongings amounting to RM8,000 to two snatch thieves near a hypermarket in Ampang, yesterday.

The victim, a 26-year-old teacher, was also slightly injured on her right knee in the 11.50am incident.

Selangor police deputy chief, Datuk A. Thaiveegan when met at the scene today, said the victim was putting her things in the boot of her Suzuki Swift when the suspects who were in a Proton Satria, snatched her handbag which contained an iPad, iPhone and RM5,000 in cash.- Bernama

2 held over robbery at PKR’s sec-gen’s house

JUNE 09, 2013

MACHANG, June 9 — Police detained two men in connection with a robbery at the house of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution in Kampung Air Hijau here last Thursday.

Machang district police chief DSP Che Malek Bedot said the suspects, aged 23 and 22, were arrested at their respective houses in Kampung Gosong here at 1.05am yesterday.

He said the two men would be remanded for three days from today to assist investigation.  Both had previous records, with one of them only out of prison last December, he told reporters at the Machang district police headquarters here.

He said police were looking for three other suspects involved in the robbery which occurred at 6.30pm. – Bernama

Another ex--minister's house robbed

By Thasha Jayamanogaran | Malay Mail – Thu, Jul 19, 2012

PETALING JAYA: Barely a month after robbers struck former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik's home in Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar, another VIP's house became a target.

This time it was the residence of former domestic trade and consumer affairs minister, the late Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayub in Kelana Jaya that saw robbers fleeing with gold jewellery and branded watches worth RM40,000.

During the 5.30am incident, three masked robbers broke into the house through the back door and tied up the maid, security guard and Megat Junid's wife Puan Sri Faizah Shuib.

Recalling the ordeal, security guard Mustafa Md Noor, 67, said he was patrolling the porch area when he heard sounds coming from the back.

"When I went to check, suddenly the robbers popped up, tied my legs and hands with cable wires and placed me beside the restroom outside the house.

"One of the robbers stood beside me, pointing a screwdriver to my neck, telling me not to make noise while the rest entered the house and tied up Faizah and the maid with cables from the refrigerator in the living room" he said.

It was learnt the robbers also slapped the maid when she tried retaliating.

Mustafa said he could only alert neighbours to contact the police after the robbers fled.

"With my hands and legs still tied, I rolled myself to the main gate before shouting for help," he said.

Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Arjunaidi Mohamed, who visited the scene later, told reporters that the suspects were believed to be Indonesians.

"Our forensic team has lifted thumbprints from the scene and break--in tools left behind, for investigation," he said, adding that there was no CCTV at the house.

Police have also recorded statements from everyone in the house.

Faizah, meanwhile, was too traumatised to speak to the media.

This is the second robbery in a month involving a former minister.

On June 29, burglars escaped with valuables and a pistol from Abdul Rahim's house.

Daylight robbery in Khairy's home

Updated: Monday July 1, 2013 MYT 1:43:53 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has become the latest victim of robbers when his home was hit on Saturday afternoon.

Three men scaled the wall of the bungalow in Jalan Setiabistari, Bukit Damansara, at about 5.30pm before breaking in through the front door.

Khairy and his wife, who live in the house which belongs to his mother, were not in when the robbers struck.

The only person in the house was a maid, who said the three men ransacked the place, including the master bedroom where most of the valuables were kept.

The robbers took off with several laptop compu­ters, watches and other expensive items.

City CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ku Chin Wah said police were trying to find out the total number of items taken away.

 

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin

“There have been no arrests yet. We are probing all angles for the robbery,” he said.

Khairy, who also confirmed the robbery on his Facebook page yesterday, thanked family members and friends who offered words of kindness.

“Thankfully no one was hurt and I leave the matter in the hands of the police.

“This incident is a reminder to us all that crime is a serious problem in our country.

“It is a real issue and not just merely a perception,” he said, urging other victims of crimes to stay strong.

He also urged everyone to keep their families and themselves safe.