09/07/2023
https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2023/07/07/sri-lankans-jump-ship-as-a-bankrupt-nation-struggles/78356
We have a choice where our country goes to in the next 30 years time.
The British benefited immensely from the riches of Malaya tin and rubber but upon independence they left a frame work of Constitutional democracy headed by a rotating Head of State( Agong), a sound educational system, a fairly efficient multiracial civil service and respected police force. Of course countries in Asia after independence were fairly backwards but Malaysia in 1960s were ahead of most of them due to the colonial legacy framework left behind .
In fact 1960 to 1980 will be the best period where Malaysia achieve its best phase of sustainable development in diversifying away from tin and rubber to manufacturing and other commodities and agricultural activities ( sustainable Felda). The work force was highly regarded in Asia as a good destination for foreign investment due to the sound education system and racial harmony was a given.
From 1980s onwards the advent of increasing massive oil income allowed grand but not sustainable projects and development, enlarged civil service as a vote bank, rent seeking cronyism. Money was used not to develop fresh sources of sustainable activities and income but to enlarge status quo activities. Enlarged non innovative civil service, GLCs, enlarged the pension emoluments to all kinds of categories/ dependants, promote religious education instead of basic education.
So in 2023 we are still dependent on oil money, low and medium costs manufacturing with foreign cheap labour, with a local work force not as innovative as in 1970s due to the education conundrum. Our commodities, plantation and agricultural sectors which were our bright sectors in 1980s are slowly losing its shine due to a lack of innovation and sound political leadership, resulting in other countries overtaking us.
Services and tourism are areas where Malaysia needs to clearly decide what values we stand for as a nation as our branding is confused at the moment.
We are not Sri Lanka both now and in the next 20 to 30 years but we do not want even a chance of falling into that category when oil money runs out and we do not revert to sustainable development and policies.
Our Monarchy realises that.
PMX realises that.
Part of Malaysians realise that.
We want all Malaysians to realise that as the future starts with tomorrow.
COLOMBO, July 7 — The snaking queues for food and fuel that crisscrossed Sri Lanka last year have given way to a different kind of line — people scrambling for travel documents...
