So long as the members and leaders are all diligent in their work and look out for the welfare of the people yes. But humans being humans one-party state will utimately bring about ruin as power courrpts and absolute power courrpts absolutely. The state of our nation pretty much says it all.
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Is a one-party state good for Singapore?
- Thread starter ozeman
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Go read HJC's books and articles
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One-party state is long run will be bad for middle-class & low income people, the country is ruled & run by a group of elites.
In PRC, the middle-class & low income people could not cope with the rising cost of basic living.
And the elites become more richer
In PRC, the middle-class & low income people could not cope with the rising cost of basic living.
And the elites become more richer
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Go tell the heterdox economists that. Democracy is not a condition for successful economic development.
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Dr M is helping Singapore PAP to gain vote from Singapore voters age above 40 years old who hate Malaysia UMNO.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's influential former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Saturday he was concerned that increasing racial friction could destabilise the multi-ethnic country.
A series of disputes have erupted between the country's different ethnic groups in recent years, straining relations between Malays and minorities, who fear the country is being "Islamised."
"I am worried because over the last five to six years you don't see this country growing," Mahathir told reporters when asked to describe the political situation and whether he was worried it could cause instability.
"You see a lot of accusations on the part of the races... The Malays accuse the Chinese, the Chinese accuse the Indians and the Indians accuse the Malays. Before you don't see this," he added.
Malaysia's population is 60 per cent Muslim Malay, but also includes indigenous tribes as well as large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities - practising Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism, among others.
The minorities have increasingly voiced their resentment of policies that give Malays benefits in terms of housing, education and investment.
Mahathir, who spent more than two decades in power, said disputes between racial groups risked fuelling "anger and hatred" and causing instability.
Earlier Mahathir inaugurated a new Malay nationalist group named Perkasa, which aims to defend the rights of the majority Malay population.
In January, Malaysian police said the severed heads of four pigs - considered unclean by Muslims - were found at two mosques, in the latest of a spate of attacks on places of worship that have escalated ethnic tensions.
A simmering row over the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims has also seen violence against 11 churches, a mosque and two Muslim prayer halls.
- AFP/yb
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's influential former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Saturday he was concerned that increasing racial friction could destabilise the multi-ethnic country.
A series of disputes have erupted between the country's different ethnic groups in recent years, straining relations between Malays and minorities, who fear the country is being "Islamised."
"I am worried because over the last five to six years you don't see this country growing," Mahathir told reporters when asked to describe the political situation and whether he was worried it could cause instability.
"You see a lot of accusations on the part of the races... The Malays accuse the Chinese, the Chinese accuse the Indians and the Indians accuse the Malays. Before you don't see this," he added.
Malaysia's population is 60 per cent Muslim Malay, but also includes indigenous tribes as well as large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities - practising Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism, among others.
The minorities have increasingly voiced their resentment of policies that give Malays benefits in terms of housing, education and investment.
Mahathir, who spent more than two decades in power, said disputes between racial groups risked fuelling "anger and hatred" and causing instability.
Earlier Mahathir inaugurated a new Malay nationalist group named Perkasa, which aims to defend the rights of the majority Malay population.
In January, Malaysian police said the severed heads of four pigs - considered unclean by Muslims - were found at two mosques, in the latest of a spate of attacks on places of worship that have escalated ethnic tensions.
A simmering row over the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims has also seen violence against 11 churches, a mosque and two Muslim prayer halls.
- AFP/yb
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- 0
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's influential former premier Mahathir Mohamad said on Wednesday the country's current prime minister had yet to live up to promises, and urged him to forge ahead with pledged reforms.
A vocal government critic who led the push to oust his immediate successor and usher in Najib Razak as premier in 2009, Mahathir also defended an affirmative action policy that favours the country's Malay majority. Najib has pledged to roll back Malay privileges in a new economic model he released on Tuesday.
"One year is not enough (for an assessment), you are just learning to be a prime minister really," Mahathir, 84, said in an interview on the sidelines of an investor conference. "Najib has just released his economic policy, we need to see whether the performance is as good as promised."
Najib took office in April last year pledging reforms to rejuvenate investment and reverse 2008 election losses suffered by the coalition that has ruled Malaysia for 52 years.
But his government has delayed the introduction of petrol and electricity price rises, road toll increases and a goods and services tax in a series of decisions that has undermined market confidence in his ability to deliver economic reforms. That, Mahathir said, was no way to oversee change.
"I think that is a very bad way of doing things," he said."You make a decision, then you have to implement it, but before making a decision, you should think very carefully about it."
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Mahathir served as prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and still plays a major behind-the-scenes role in national politics.
The country's next general election is due by 2013, but may be called as early as next year.
UPSETTING THE MALAY MAJORITY
Analysts say that although Najib faces an opposition riven by divisions, he is wary of upsetting the Malay majority, the core of support for his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party, mainstay of the ruling coalition. Many Malays could be hit by the proposed tax and subsidy reforms.
Najib announced a new economic model (NEM) on Tuesday to hoist the country's trade-dependent economy to the ranks of developed nations by 2020 through liberalisation and a greater focus on services.
But doubts remain on how far he can succeed in overcoming a potential political backlash in rolling-back the four-decades old affirmative action policy favouring Malays.
Since taking office, Najib has rolled back parts of the old policy, endiing requirements for a 30 percent Malay equity ownership in some economic subsectors.
Signs of resistance have begun to emerge with the formation of a Malay rights group Perkasa (Strength) at the weekend. It is not clear whether Perkasa enjoys widespread support, but Mahathir presided over its launch and he told Reuters the prime minister should take account of its demands.
"Try to do something to reassure them (Perkasa) and explain why the government is doing certain things," he said.
"If they can accept your explanation, well and good, but if not it is important to take seriously their feelings of unhappiness."
Ethnic and religions tensions have increased in the mainly Muslim but multiracial country following a court ruling allowing the use of the word "Allah" by Christians.
A rising tide of Islam also saw three Muslim women caned for the first time under strict Islamic laws, while another was sentenced to caning for drinking beer.
Mahathir presided over some liberalisation measures to the New Economic Policy (NEP), the reform plan of the time often criticised as an impediment to investment.
His changes allowed, for instance, 100 percent foreign ownership of some factories and he called for "adjustments" to be made, provided they did not increase income disparities between Malays and the wealthier ethnic Chinese community.
"The mechanism for implementing the policy is going to be very important if it is done correctly, I think even Perkasa would accept it," Mahathir told Reuters.
PAP still can win in Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew had confident for 10 years if NEP continue in Malaysia.
A vocal government critic who led the push to oust his immediate successor and usher in Najib Razak as premier in 2009, Mahathir also defended an affirmative action policy that favours the country's Malay majority. Najib has pledged to roll back Malay privileges in a new economic model he released on Tuesday.
"One year is not enough (for an assessment), you are just learning to be a prime minister really," Mahathir, 84, said in an interview on the sidelines of an investor conference. "Najib has just released his economic policy, we need to see whether the performance is as good as promised."
Najib took office in April last year pledging reforms to rejuvenate investment and reverse 2008 election losses suffered by the coalition that has ruled Malaysia for 52 years.
But his government has delayed the introduction of petrol and electricity price rises, road toll increases and a goods and services tax in a series of decisions that has undermined market confidence in his ability to deliver economic reforms. That, Mahathir said, was no way to oversee change.
"I think that is a very bad way of doing things," he said."You make a decision, then you have to implement it, but before making a decision, you should think very carefully about it."
Win 1 Year's Free Fuel Daily with Shell!
Mahathir served as prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and still plays a major behind-the-scenes role in national politics.
The country's next general election is due by 2013, but may be called as early as next year.
UPSETTING THE MALAY MAJORITY
Analysts say that although Najib faces an opposition riven by divisions, he is wary of upsetting the Malay majority, the core of support for his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party, mainstay of the ruling coalition. Many Malays could be hit by the proposed tax and subsidy reforms.
Najib announced a new economic model (NEM) on Tuesday to hoist the country's trade-dependent economy to the ranks of developed nations by 2020 through liberalisation and a greater focus on services.
But doubts remain on how far he can succeed in overcoming a potential political backlash in rolling-back the four-decades old affirmative action policy favouring Malays.
Since taking office, Najib has rolled back parts of the old policy, endiing requirements for a 30 percent Malay equity ownership in some economic subsectors.
Signs of resistance have begun to emerge with the formation of a Malay rights group Perkasa (Strength) at the weekend. It is not clear whether Perkasa enjoys widespread support, but Mahathir presided over its launch and he told Reuters the prime minister should take account of its demands.
"Try to do something to reassure them (Perkasa) and explain why the government is doing certain things," he said.
"If they can accept your explanation, well and good, but if not it is important to take seriously their feelings of unhappiness."
Ethnic and religions tensions have increased in the mainly Muslim but multiracial country following a court ruling allowing the use of the word "Allah" by Christians.
A rising tide of Islam also saw three Muslim women caned for the first time under strict Islamic laws, while another was sentenced to caning for drinking beer.
Mahathir presided over some liberalisation measures to the New Economic Policy (NEP), the reform plan of the time often criticised as an impediment to investment.
His changes allowed, for instance, 100 percent foreign ownership of some factories and he called for "adjustments" to be made, provided they did not increase income disparities between Malays and the wealthier ethnic Chinese community.
"The mechanism for implementing the policy is going to be very important if it is done correctly, I think even Perkasa would accept it," Mahathir told Reuters.
PAP still can win in Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew had confident for 10 years if NEP continue in Malaysia.
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KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak took office a year ago with big ambitions for political and economic reform but analysts say his plans have been hampered by the disarray in his own coalition.
Sworn in after his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was forced to step down following a dismal performance by their ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in the 2008 election, Najib outlined a bold agenda.
He pledged to spur growth, close the wealth gap between ethnic groups and reach out to minorities aggrieved by the "bumiputra" affirmative action programme, which favours the country's Muslim Malay majority.
"He is on the right track," Ibrahim Suffian, head of the independent opinion polling firm Merdeka Centre told AFP, adding that Najib has done "remarkably well" - under the circumstances.
"He has been able to regain some lost respect for the prime minister's position and some support for the government due to his firmness and competitiveness."
But as the leader of an unruly coalition dominated by his own UMNO party, Najib's efforts have been hindered by political infighting among the other BN members, weakening his position, Ibrahim said.
"As prime minister he tries to resolve the people's problems but as BN chairman he is one way or another linked to the politicking that is going on, which people are fed up about," he said.
The son and nephew of two previous prime ministers, the 56-year-old Najib has made an effort to reach out to Chinese and Indian minorities - who deserted the BN at the last election - to join an inclusive "One Malaysia" agenda.
He has liberalised the banking and services sectors to attract much-needed foreign investment and vowed this week to review the bumiputra ("sons of the soil") affirmative action policy, which has promoted the interest of Muslim Malays since the 1970s.
Ibrahim says Majib, a British-educated moderate Muslim, has enjoyed an average 60 percent popularity rating since he took office.
But critics say that his reforms have not gone nearly far enough, and that minorities are being alienated by the BN's fierce defence of the bumiputra policy and a rash of religious disputes.
These include church firebombings linked to a controversy over the government's refusal to allow Christians to use the word "Allah" as a translation for God.
"He has prevaricated between pandering to conservative Muslim elements and making concessions to liberal forces to win the support of non-Malays," said analyst Reuben Wong at the National University of Singapore said.
Export-dependent Malaysia has seen its economy - the third largest in South East Asia - contract by 1.7 percent in 2009 while foreign investment plummeted during to the global downturn.
Andrew Colquhoun of Fitch Ratings in Hong Kong said Najib's "New Economic Model," under which the review of the bumiputra policy will be carried out, "looks like an ambitious agenda" but lacked substance.
"We need to see what reaction there is from key stakeholders. I think UMNO is at a crossroads in terms of what sort of political model it wants to follow," he said.
"Governments around the world can face difficulties in mustering support for reforms that promise long-term gains in return for short-term adjustments."
Critics have called for the repeal of the race-based policy, arguing it has bred an over-reliance on support from Malays - UMNO's core vote bank - and improperly benefited the elites.
Steven Gan, chief editor of the influential online news portal Malaysiakini, said Najib was struggling to convince UMNO members to support his agenda, as the party tries to recapture lost Malay votes from the resurgent opposition.
He said reforms so far were mostly "piecemeal," citing the failure to reform a controversial security law that allows detention without trial, and more reprimands for the tightly controlled media under Najib's year-long leadership.
"Najib has done something but whether it is successful is really hard to say at this point in time," he said.
"A lot of that relies on him winning over the conservative elements in UMNO and, looking at the track record of UMNO, he will get quite a bit of reluctance on issues such as phasing out the racial quota."
Sworn in after his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was forced to step down following a dismal performance by their ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in the 2008 election, Najib outlined a bold agenda.
He pledged to spur growth, close the wealth gap between ethnic groups and reach out to minorities aggrieved by the "bumiputra" affirmative action programme, which favours the country's Muslim Malay majority.
"He is on the right track," Ibrahim Suffian, head of the independent opinion polling firm Merdeka Centre told AFP, adding that Najib has done "remarkably well" - under the circumstances.
"He has been able to regain some lost respect for the prime minister's position and some support for the government due to his firmness and competitiveness."
But as the leader of an unruly coalition dominated by his own UMNO party, Najib's efforts have been hindered by political infighting among the other BN members, weakening his position, Ibrahim said.
"As prime minister he tries to resolve the people's problems but as BN chairman he is one way or another linked to the politicking that is going on, which people are fed up about," he said.
The son and nephew of two previous prime ministers, the 56-year-old Najib has made an effort to reach out to Chinese and Indian minorities - who deserted the BN at the last election - to join an inclusive "One Malaysia" agenda.
He has liberalised the banking and services sectors to attract much-needed foreign investment and vowed this week to review the bumiputra ("sons of the soil") affirmative action policy, which has promoted the interest of Muslim Malays since the 1970s.
Ibrahim says Majib, a British-educated moderate Muslim, has enjoyed an average 60 percent popularity rating since he took office.
But critics say that his reforms have not gone nearly far enough, and that minorities are being alienated by the BN's fierce defence of the bumiputra policy and a rash of religious disputes.
These include church firebombings linked to a controversy over the government's refusal to allow Christians to use the word "Allah" as a translation for God.
"He has prevaricated between pandering to conservative Muslim elements and making concessions to liberal forces to win the support of non-Malays," said analyst Reuben Wong at the National University of Singapore said.
Export-dependent Malaysia has seen its economy - the third largest in South East Asia - contract by 1.7 percent in 2009 while foreign investment plummeted during to the global downturn.
Andrew Colquhoun of Fitch Ratings in Hong Kong said Najib's "New Economic Model," under which the review of the bumiputra policy will be carried out, "looks like an ambitious agenda" but lacked substance.
"We need to see what reaction there is from key stakeholders. I think UMNO is at a crossroads in terms of what sort of political model it wants to follow," he said.
"Governments around the world can face difficulties in mustering support for reforms that promise long-term gains in return for short-term adjustments."
Critics have called for the repeal of the race-based policy, arguing it has bred an over-reliance on support from Malays - UMNO's core vote bank - and improperly benefited the elites.
Steven Gan, chief editor of the influential online news portal Malaysiakini, said Najib was struggling to convince UMNO members to support his agenda, as the party tries to recapture lost Malay votes from the resurgent opposition.
He said reforms so far were mostly "piecemeal," citing the failure to reform a controversial security law that allows detention without trial, and more reprimands for the tightly controlled media under Najib's year-long leadership.
"Najib has done something but whether it is successful is really hard to say at this point in time," he said.
"A lot of that relies on him winning over the conservative elements in UMNO and, looking at the track record of UMNO, he will get quite a bit of reluctance on issues such as phasing out the racial quota."
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PUTRAJAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin remains committed to the 1Malaysia concept despite his “Malay first” statement, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Thursday.
"What he is saying reflects the provision in the Constitution, which is based on the ethnic (group) to which one belongs.
"But Muhyiddin is also saying that he is committed to 1Malaysia, so I don’t see that as a contradiction,” Najib told reporters after launching the Finance Ministry’s MyProcurement portal.
The Prime Minister said saying one is a Malay did not mean that he was against 1Malaysia or think that he was not a Malaysian.
"Similarly, if you are a Malaysian Chinese doesn’t mean you don’t think like a Malaysian or subscribe to the concept of 1Malaysia," he added.
Najib was asked to comment on Muhyiddin’s statement Wednesday that he was "a Malay first", then a Malaysian.
The Deputy Prime Minister said this in response to DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang’s challenge for him to resign if he refused to admit he was a Malaysian first and a Malay second as proof that he was in full support of the 1Malaysia concept.
Muhyiddin said Lim had wicked intentions in making the challenge to him and was aiming to drive a wedge between him and the Prime Minister who mooted the concept.
Najib introduced the 1Malaysia concept when taking office on April 3 last year, pledging to listen to the people and declaring that "the era where the Government knows best is over.
"What he is saying reflects the provision in the Constitution, which is based on the ethnic (group) to which one belongs.
"But Muhyiddin is also saying that he is committed to 1Malaysia, so I don’t see that as a contradiction,” Najib told reporters after launching the Finance Ministry’s MyProcurement portal.
The Prime Minister said saying one is a Malay did not mean that he was against 1Malaysia or think that he was not a Malaysian.
"Similarly, if you are a Malaysian Chinese doesn’t mean you don’t think like a Malaysian or subscribe to the concept of 1Malaysia," he added.
Najib was asked to comment on Muhyiddin’s statement Wednesday that he was "a Malay first", then a Malaysian.
The Deputy Prime Minister said this in response to DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang’s challenge for him to resign if he refused to admit he was a Malaysian first and a Malay second as proof that he was in full support of the 1Malaysia concept.
Muhyiddin said Lim had wicked intentions in making the challenge to him and was aiming to drive a wedge between him and the Prime Minister who mooted the concept.
Najib introduced the 1Malaysia concept when taking office on April 3 last year, pledging to listen to the people and declaring that "the era where the Government knows best is over.
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PETALING JAYA: Malay rights group Perkasa has hit out at the New Economic Model (NEM) for its lack of Malay agenda and ambiguity of the affirmative action policy.
Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said providing assistance to the lower 40% of the population with a monthly income of RM1,500 or less per month is regarded as a poverty eradication programme.
“Where is the stake for the Malays in the distribution of the country’s economic cake? What’s important is fairness and not equity,” he said in a statement yesterday.
“Foreigners who were involved in formulating the NEM will not be bothered about the indigenous people. If strategic areas are developed under the open tender system, the Malays will not be able to compete.
The NEM has given rise to many questions and Perkasa is not happy in the issue of Malay agenda,” he added.
Perkasa or Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia had earlier commended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for guaranteeing that bumiputras including those from Sabah and Sarawak had not been left behind under the NEM.
Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said providing assistance to the lower 40% of the population with a monthly income of RM1,500 or less per month is regarded as a poverty eradication programme.
“Where is the stake for the Malays in the distribution of the country’s economic cake? What’s important is fairness and not equity,” he said in a statement yesterday.
“Foreigners who were involved in formulating the NEM will not be bothered about the indigenous people. If strategic areas are developed under the open tender system, the Malays will not be able to compete.
The NEM has given rise to many questions and Perkasa is not happy in the issue of Malay agenda,” he added.
Perkasa or Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia had earlier commended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for guaranteeing that bumiputras including those from Sabah and Sarawak had not been left behind under the NEM.
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