Key Points from PM’s speech
– Targeted GDP growth need to be more than 6% for Malaysia to become ‘high income nation’
– GTP to be what the ‘rakyat want’
– NKEA: Develop areas in which Malaysia has a ‘competitive advantage’
– We need ‘strategic reform’ initiatives
– We need to double annual income per capita, bring in more private capital investments
Q1: Why do we have vernacular schools?
It is part of our history and they are here to stay. So we have to find a way around it to ensure racial unity. It is sad if we say that we “tolerate” other races because that means we may or may not like them but if we “accept” that we “celebrate” our differences rather than let it further divide us
Q2: What do we do with ‘internal’ or ‘external enemies’ in Malaysia?
We need to live in peace and harmony and manage our differences. “Kalau ada accident pun, kita tanya yang kena tu Melayu, China ke India ke baru nak tolong”!
Q3: We have rationalised oil subsidies, now can we reduce the price of imported cars? (This was my question to the PM) 😉
It is a zero sum game. We cannot just reduce the price of imported cars without finding new revenue sources. Perhaps if we introduce GST then we might be able to reduce the tariff of imported cars. A big maybe…
Q4: Economic regions such as Iskandar, how do these contribute to our economic growth?
Iskandar, SCORE, NCER and ECER: the PM gave quick updates on these regions. He asked us to be patient to see results and better implementation soon
Q5: When is the next general election?
When would you like it to be? 😉
“in due course” *hint* “not too long, but not after 2013. PM said he does not know himself.
Q6: Why do we need “internet censorship”?
Malaysia is a safe and peaceful country and we need to safeguard that
Q7: Minimum wage, would this be good or bad for Malaysia?
PM personally thought that Malaysians are underpaid! *Clap*clap*. We need to be productive because of innovation, great ideas so we should not just look at wages in isolation, but more of looking at entire supply chain, using “blue ocean thinking” to make us more competitive. No Malaysian should be below poverty line. He increased salary for postmen, plantation workers and security guards when he first took over. We have “minimum wage council” looking at the fair wage for our workers. We don’t want to keep on losing our good people who crossed borders to Singapore, Middle East and all the developed countries
Q8: Malaysian education system dampening curiousity and creativity?
PM admitted our education system focused so much on ‘rote learning’ so we need more creativity to be infused into the education system. Our students need to keep fit, eat less, exercise more and be more creative.
Q9: IPP contracts ‘robbing’ the ‘rakyat’ of our nation’s revenue. What is the government doing about this?
We cannot just unwind IPP contracts since these contracts need to be honoured as legal and binding but the government is renegotiating
Q10: Can the PM give commitment if they are given mandate in the next election, that Cabinet members should be below 50 years old and fair representation between older and younger generation?
We need to look at situation when the time comes. PM thinks we need fair representation and mindful of it. He may not be able to bring changes immediately but when the opportunity comes he shall keep this in mind.
Q11: Inflation too high compared to income, lower disposable income in Malaysia even compared to UK.
Our personal tax rates are one of the lowest in the world and compared to UK. PM thinks that we can still live quite comfortably in Malaysia. We have subsidized key goods such as RON95 and commodities like sugar etc
Q12: How do we improve the Malaysians English proficiency?
We need to start treating English as a first language in order to master the language. We need to teach English literature. We are bringing more teachers under MACEE\Fulbright program so that we improve the quality of our teachers.
Q13: PM’s idea of Malaysia achieving its fully developed country’s status?
Don’t get confused with PM Mahathir’s speech in 1992 which compared us to US, UK etc and PM Najib’s definition of a ‘fully developed nation’ which has now revised to 6% GDP growth and several other changes.
Q14: Why do we need to have AUKU and ISA in Malaysia?
PM does not like to enforce ISA, AUKU, or put you in jail just because you are in the opposition party but we need the rule of law to keep our country safe, peaceful and harmonious. But PM is considering removing AUKU but still looking at possible impacts.
Q15: Why is it that housing prices are so much more expensive now and not many people can afford to buy. Landmark properties at prime locations mostly belong to wealthy foreign investors.
Projek Perumahan 1Malaysia to make it affordable for people to buy property in Malaysia. It will be located at the Sungai Besi airport and more news will come in the near future
Q16: When will GST be implemented and can we ensure that it is implemented in stages and cap the rates to a minimum?
GST will be implemented soon but the rates will be very low.
Q17: How do we prevent over reliance on oil?
Oil and gas industry developing new marginal oilfields and we have more investors attracted. Petronas signing new contracts. Innovation to increase oil extraction rates but we do acknowledge that oil is a depleting asset and when we run out of oil, we cannot subsidise the price of RON95 anymore.
Q18: How can we provide more incentives to attract better teachers?
We have 450,000 teachers so it is not cheap to increase salary for teachers, so although the govt will try to improve teaching conditions we need to find revenue to supplement this decision. But need to be mindful that if we increase the salary of one occupation then there will be follow on impact where firemen, police will start demanding a pay rise.
Q19: How can we improve the quality of life for all Malaysians?
The PM would love for this to happen, that’s why we have the ETP
Minda Jutawan 
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