Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Letter from a very brave or foolish man


I am compelled to write an open letter to give thanks to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and record my appreciation for his nine years’ tenure as the nation’s prime minister and 40 years of service to the nation.

I am 23 years old and a Pakatan Harapan supporter through and through. I am still in a state of euphoria after Pakatan’s win but I consider Najib as a good and effective PM of Malaysia. When he was head of the government, I never felt the slightest hatred for him.

I joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat a few months after the 13th General Election as I was interested in the party’s reform agenda and believed that it was the party of the future and had many talented, energetic and driven young politicians. But being part of the opposition does not translate into being unreasonable and unjust towards whoever ran the government.

I was (and still am) an ardent supporter of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and proponent of the “Reformasi” movement but I have never disliked Najib mainly because I consider him a gentleman and a sincere individual.

It is beyond doubt that his political career was never dictated by personal interest but a sense of responsibility to make the country better, just like his late father had wished. Najib was committed to bringing Malaysia to greater heights since day one of his administration. This can be seen in how he managed to steer the country during the 2008-09 global economic recession. To save the country from falling into recession, he introduced stimulus packages or “pump-priming” amounting to billions of ringgit, boosting spending in the economy and increasing employment.

During his administration, Malaysia moved away from unsustainable economic policies to those that were feasible and pragmatic. It was during his time that subsidies were slashed and a new tax system was implemented.

In general, subsidies are good but relying on them for a prolonged period of time puts a burden on the country’s finances and government coffers. Although removing the subsidies resulted in the increase in prices of goods, it certainly helped to lower the deficit and debt levels. Cutting subsidies also gave the government space to spend more on physical development and public infrastructure. If Malaysians followed closely the concept of Pareto Efficiency, they would have understood why Najib had to make this unpopular fiscal planning.

Part of the reason why I can say Najib was a good PM is that he managed to diversify our economy. In 2009, our country’s dependence on the oil and gas sector was at 41%. Seven years later, it had been reduced to 16%. That is beyond impressive.

Interestingly, one of Najib’s greatest achievements as PM was to make public transport, particularly rail transport, expansive and easily accessible. In just six years, he transformed the public transport system with the completion of the MRT SBK line and the extension of the Gombak-Kelana Jaya LRT and the Ampang Line and the construction of LRT3 and MRT SSP. The LRT extension project saved me from getting stuck in traffic congestion on the Damansara-Puchong Highway to get to the LRT station. It used to take me about 30 minutes. Now, it takes me only five minutes to get to the new Lembah Subang (and Ara Damansara) station.

Lastly, I must praise his administration for implementing the Goods and Services Tax, which was indispensable when our country was hit by the fall in global oil prices. This loss of revenue was offset by the collection from GST which amounted to over RM40bil. GST was also important to keep our fiscal deficit at a desired level so that the country’s credit rating could be maintained.

Without revenue from GST, the fiscal deficit would have soared, hence downgrading the credit rating of Malaysia which in turn would make it harder for our country to borrow to expand the economy and spend on infrastructure projects. Having a down-graded credit rating would also chase investors away from our country.

I am grateful to have had Najib as PM for the past nine years. I regard him as an effective prime minister even though he was unpopular. But he was pragmatic, bold and strong in leading the country through times of uncertainty and political instability.

I wish him all the best in his future endeavours and may God grant him good health.

ADDIN AIMAN

Petaling Jaya

26 comments:

  1. https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2018/05/14/giving-praise-where-it-is-due/

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  2. THE 14th General Election is over, Pakatan Harapan has won and a new government under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been formed. I am glad the handover of power at the executive level has been smooth and peaceful.

    According to Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, brother of our former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the “big, noisy element” that led to the downfall of the Barisan Nasional government was the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) crisis, which dragged Najib’s reputation down “Nazir: Malaysians have spoken loudly and clearly” (The Star, May 11).

    Parties in the opposition coalition capitalised on the 1MDB issue during their election campaigns, and our former prime minister and his wife were the target of hate. Sometimes I felt the words used to describe them, such as pirate and thief who looted our nation’s assets, were a bit overboard.

    The biggest problem for the previous government was the 1MDB issue which was not well addressed and the talks organised by its CEO were not carried out effectively.

    Since the 1MDB case will be reinvestigated by the new government, I appeal to the general public to leave this to the investigating teams. Remember, the rule of thumb holds that no one is guilty until it is proven by the courts of law. So, please give our former prime minister and his family some breathing space and privacy.

    Malaysians must also remember that during his nine years as prime minister, Najib also contributed much to Malaysia social-economic progress.

    These include the introduction of the light rail transit system in the Klang Vally, the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) which houses government agencies in one building located in the city centre and operates beyond working hours and even during weekend. Both have offered much convenience to the general public.

    Najib also planned projects like the 2325km Pan Borneo highway stretching from Sabah to Sarawak and the 688km East Coast Rail Link which would eventually bring development to rural districts that are less accessible now. I hope the new government will not scrap these noble projects.

    Implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was actually not a bad idea, considering that 170 countries have this similar system of taxation. Malaysians always want the government to provide them with cheap public healthcare, free schooling and various subsidies, which make our cost of living one of the lowest in the world.

    Where will the government get the revenue to fund these without a broad-based tax? Furthermore, our country cannot depend on petroleum all the time.

    Najib must also be lauded for his moderate and accommodating style of administration to cater to the needs of different races in this multiracial country. The country’s political situation was quite stable and because of this, foreign investors and tourists arrived in large numbers to our country.

    Barisan Nasional may not have received the support of voters because of the racial politics practised by some of the leaders in the coalition.

    Only time will tell how the new government can improve our future political stability as well as the socio-economic well-being of the country as promised in their election manifesto.

    If the new government does not perform to the expectations of the rakyat, it should not be given another term five years from now. This is how a democratic country system works.

    As a tribute to Najib’s past good work for the country, let us put all the hate to rest and wish our former prime minister and his family well. Please remember the saying: “If any of you have never sinned, then go... For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself...”

    TAN AND FAMILY

    Petaling Jaya

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  3. After petrol prices flat-lined since parliament was dissolved back in early April I wonder what will happen tonight? Will the price drop, rise or remain unchanged? Subsidies was part of Harapan's Manifesto, so time to deliver folks.

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  4. He is brave, and young. Give him a break.

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    Replies
    1. An idealist full of air, who ONLY looks at the surface as indoctrinated by his blur understanding of bleeding heart (don't add a kick when someone's down)!

      Like all things in the universe, good intertwines with evil. These interlinks CAN be by design or unintentional.

      It's the proportional mix of the two that affects the ultimate judgement. The punishment should be harsh as determined by the humanity quotient of the people involved.

      Good ≫ evil - be benevolent

      Evil ≫ good - service u right

      Always, it's those WHO r not directly affected who want to play bleeding hearts. Bcoz for them it's politically correct in humanity term as the hurts/damages they received R the least!

      Delete
    2. His FB, twitter, instagram, telegram, & whatnot will be flooded with hate mail soon, PH modus operandi even against their own. No thought deviation allowed.

      #NotMyPM

      Delete
  5. The 1MDB Auditor General's report has been declassified.
    Najib Razak destroyed or attempted to destroy many people to prevent this information from becoming public.

    A few quick facts
    a) This is an Audit Report. Like any other Audit report it investigates transactions and how money flowed, but it is not part of its terms to name ANY names. There are no names in the report, but that does not mean Najib is cleared. Nobody is cleared.

    b) The Malaysian Auditor Generals's report aligns with United States Department of Justice investigations. The US DOJ's report has additional information derived from FBI's investigation of the US side of the transaction. Malaysia could easily have obtained this information if they had cooperated with the Americans.

    Najib is most likely guilty of Obstruction of Justice.

    c) 1MDB's Assets have nothing to do with its liabilities.
    1MDB's Assets come from the valuation of its land, and the value of Real Estate development that has come from the land.
    1MDB received Real Cash for its Liabilities. There is real evidence the bulk of the cash is Gone.

    If you buy a house , say RM 400,000, you accepts maybe RM 500,000 in liabilities (factoring in Interests) , but you gain a related asset (the House) which over time may be worth well over RM 400,000. A fair exchange.
    1MDB's Assets have nothing to do with its liabilities. The cash from the liabilities is GONE.

    The new Pakatan administration , especially Finance Minister designate Lim Guan Eng will have a huge challenge how to recover this money.
    1MDB is not a Business Problem. Its is a massive Crime and Fraud

    This money - multi-multi Billions of Ringgit belongs to our Grandchildren.
    Najib and his Cronies stole it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The cash is GONE because they used it to BUY the assets (TRX & Bandar Malaysia).

      Delete
    2. Another CLEAR sign of reading deficiency!!

      Wakakakakaka…

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    3. That is NOT what the Auditor General's report says.

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    4. But the fact is, much of the money purportedly GONE was sunk into TRX and Bandar Malaysia. 1MDB ownership of these are undisputed.

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    5. Auditor General's report.
      "1MDB raised RM3.98 billion from domestic debt and sukuk issuance, of which only RM246 million was invested in two property projects (I.e. TRX and Bandar Malaysia) , while RM2.16 billion was moved to other accounts". The RM 2.16 Billion sudah lesap.

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    6. In such plain and clear English...blur sotong with mud brain is still unable to absorb. Kalau macam tu, at least be humble la...but ini tak, masih degil and vociferous.. told you all so...worse than the hardest stone, even water cannot seep in.

      Delete
    7. Have you so easily forgotten that 1MDB had parted that money into Edra and had used that money to buyout some of Mahathir's crony IPPs? And it was because of blur sotongs with mud brain fools like you folks that shipwrecked the IPO that's meant to repay those domestic debts & sukuk issuance?

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. U SHOULD change yr call sign!

      That unknown (blogger profile 03431352248378490137) & u r different person.

      He has created multiple split personalities to chore his chants.

      U r causing confusion here.

      Delete
    2. hahahahaha.....wonder if it's Hadi Awang apparatchik

      Delete
  7. "Oh, our descendants will burn with bitter shame. to remember, when punishing vile acts,. that most peculiar time, when. plain honesty was labeled 'courage'"

    Yevgeny Yevtushenko - written during the period Soviet dictatorship period.

    What high standards we expect from Pakatan...

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  8. Najib and Rosmah are lucky this was a democratic revolution via the ballot box, and we intend to settle this matter through the rule of Law and Due Process.

    If things had been different, there could well be carpenters setting up the Guillotine machine on Dataran Merdeka this morning , and Najib-Rosmah brought before it tomorrow morning....wakakakaka...after a quick trial before the Malaysian Committee for Public Safety... (go read A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens) !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And guess what followed the kangaroo court and execution? Yup, the Reign of Terror begun.
      But Mahathir was a kind person, he went straight for his Reign of Terror. Let's see Malaysia's Robespierre will get his comeuppance justice.

      Delete
  9. https://takemon.wordpress.com/2018/05/14/rosmah-najib-may-hang-if-found-guilty/

    After the 1MDB trial will come the Altantuya trial....

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  10. https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/425233

    Sarawak Report was right about the draft Charge Sheet against Najib over 1MDB.

    Not fake news.

    ReplyDelete
  11. How come the whole post sounds and smell like a court case after a lengthly trial when the accused is found Guilty and is now submitting Mitigating circumstances, good character points etc before Sentencing?

    Wakakakakaka

    ReplyDelete
  12. i think najib is a fighter, a brave one.

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    Replies
    1. Yup....a really Great Man....just a victim of legions of Hell-Hounds spreading fake news against him....

      Wakakakaka...

      Delete
    2. I might not be politically aligned to him, but I respect him for his refusal to use slander and fake news in a dirty fight. For that I salute him.

      Delete