‘What you know, not who you know should be key’ - Syed Husin
Martin Vengadesan
INTERVIEW | Former PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali says for Malaysia to truly progress, it has to consider meritocracy instead of other qualities like connections or race.
“All along in Malaysia, it has been who you know rather than what you know that determines a person’s success. We must put a stop to this.
“There is a need to recognise the ability of people, regardless of their connections or quotas,” said the former senator in an interview with Malaysiakini.
He was asked to comment on recent conversations about reversing the brain drain so that the country can keep hold of its talent.
“If you want to compete on a global level, you have a knowledge-based economy and yet we’ve been losing many talents for generations. We must consider that if we want to bring people back, can we offer them high salaries, because the wages might be low compared to Singapore, Australia, or America.
“Secondly, there is not enough recognition of abilities. If an entrepreneur or a creative person feels we have the wrong environment or ecosystem, they will look elsewhere,” he said.
Recently, former minister Khairy Jamaluddin claimed the brain drain is not only due to higher salaries offered abroad but also because some Malaysians feel like “second-class citizens”, particularly the non-bumiputeras.
While acknowledging this, Syed Husin said he was not in favour of the idea of dual citizenship.
INTERVIEW | Former PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali says for Malaysia to truly progress, it has to consider meritocracy instead of other qualities like connections or race.
“All along in Malaysia, it has been who you know rather than what you know that determines a person’s success. We must put a stop to this.
“There is a need to recognise the ability of people, regardless of their connections or quotas,” said the former senator in an interview with Malaysiakini.
He was asked to comment on recent conversations about reversing the brain drain so that the country can keep hold of its talent.
“If you want to compete on a global level, you have a knowledge-based economy and yet we’ve been losing many talents for generations. We must consider that if we want to bring people back, can we offer them high salaries, because the wages might be low compared to Singapore, Australia, or America.
“Secondly, there is not enough recognition of abilities. If an entrepreneur or a creative person feels we have the wrong environment or ecosystem, they will look elsewhere,” he said.
Recently, former minister Khairy Jamaluddin claimed the brain drain is not only due to higher salaries offered abroad but also because some Malaysians feel like “second-class citizens”, particularly the non-bumiputeras.
While acknowledging this, Syed Husin said he was not in favour of the idea of dual citizenship.
Former minister Khairy Jamaluddin
“I don’t think we should have any system of dual citizenship. Basically, it should be yes or no. If people choose to operate overseas then so be it. I don’t think as a country we should be depending on people who are not fully committed.
“What we do need to do is create a better environment so enough people want to come home and do something for the country,” he said.
He also called for Malaysia’s economic planners to look at greater diversification.
“We have always been talking about having a variety of economic activities and not just depending on an export-orientated kind of economy. As has been shown in the past, depending on rubber and tin and then oil entirely, is not a very safe bet.
“There should be more local developments based on our strengths that can make the country more stable and more self-dependent,” he added.
Time for new leaders
Now 87 himself, Syed Husin has watched as whole generations of Malaysian politics were dominated by a few key figures. Given that our three longest-serving parliamentarians Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and Lim Kit Siang exited the Dewan Rakyat last year, he says it’s high time for new leaders to step forward.
“Certainly there is a need for genuine, generational change. For too long, the same figures have been very influential, if you include Muhyiddin Yassin, Abdul Hadi Awang, Najib Abdul Razak, and even the prime minister himself. We need fresh blood and new leaders.
“Among current ministers, I’m not sure who stands out, as they can be a bit overshadowed by Anwar (Ibrahim). Maybe (Economy Minister) Rafizi Ramli. But what is certain is that more need to step forward,” he added.
“I don’t think we should have any system of dual citizenship. Basically, it should be yes or no. If people choose to operate overseas then so be it. I don’t think as a country we should be depending on people who are not fully committed.
“What we do need to do is create a better environment so enough people want to come home and do something for the country,” he said.
He also called for Malaysia’s economic planners to look at greater diversification.
“We have always been talking about having a variety of economic activities and not just depending on an export-orientated kind of economy. As has been shown in the past, depending on rubber and tin and then oil entirely, is not a very safe bet.
“There should be more local developments based on our strengths that can make the country more stable and more self-dependent,” he added.
Time for new leaders
Now 87 himself, Syed Husin has watched as whole generations of Malaysian politics were dominated by a few key figures. Given that our three longest-serving parliamentarians Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and Lim Kit Siang exited the Dewan Rakyat last year, he says it’s high time for new leaders to step forward.
“Certainly there is a need for genuine, generational change. For too long, the same figures have been very influential, if you include Muhyiddin Yassin, Abdul Hadi Awang, Najib Abdul Razak, and even the prime minister himself. We need fresh blood and new leaders.
“Among current ministers, I’m not sure who stands out, as they can be a bit overshadowed by Anwar (Ibrahim). Maybe (Economy Minister) Rafizi Ramli. But what is certain is that more need to step forward,” he added.
Economy Minister Rafizi ramli
Syed Husin first became involved in politics in the period surrounding Merdeka and struggled alongside many of the opposition’s greatest names including Dr Burhanuddin Helmy, Ishak Mohammad, Ahmad Boestamam, Kassim Ahmad, and Abdul Razak Ahmad.
Asked if his now-departed comrades would be happy with the Malaysia of today, he said they would still be dissatisfied.
“They would have dreamt of more equality and unity in society and they believe in socialism. There is hardly any socialism in the country now. There is greater differentiation between ethnic groups.
“They might be really happy that colonialism is gone, and we are an independent country, and that we are no longer so authoritarian. But I don’t think they will be happy, especially not Ahmad Boestamam!” he said with a laugh.
Smaller parties still ineffective
Syed Husin said that while there is now more diversity in our political arena, smaller parties such as PSM and Muda that profess progressive politics will still struggle to make an impact. Given that he led Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) through a number of decades in the wilderness, he is speaking from experience.
Syed Husin first became involved in politics in the period surrounding Merdeka and struggled alongside many of the opposition’s greatest names including Dr Burhanuddin Helmy, Ishak Mohammad, Ahmad Boestamam, Kassim Ahmad, and Abdul Razak Ahmad.
Asked if his now-departed comrades would be happy with the Malaysia of today, he said they would still be dissatisfied.
“They would have dreamt of more equality and unity in society and they believe in socialism. There is hardly any socialism in the country now. There is greater differentiation between ethnic groups.
“They might be really happy that colonialism is gone, and we are an independent country, and that we are no longer so authoritarian. But I don’t think they will be happy, especially not Ahmad Boestamam!” he said with a laugh.
Smaller parties still ineffective
Syed Husin said that while there is now more diversity in our political arena, smaller parties such as PSM and Muda that profess progressive politics will still struggle to make an impact. Given that he led Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) through a number of decades in the wilderness, he is speaking from experience.
“I don’t think they will be effective, because of our system. They need to find a way to work with the bigger coalitions or their voices will be drowned out.
“As for Muda, there is a lot of mistrust because of the closeness of the leader to Mahathir in the past, and the perception that he has been financed by former finance minister Daim Zainuddin.
“PSM is unfortunate because there is a long-standing antagonism towards socialism, especially among the Malay Muslims. So unless, like decades before, you can get some Malay-Muslim support, a party like PSM will always be on the fringes.”
He was also scathing about the party that currently calls itself PRM because he feels the real PRM merged into PKR, but that a few stragglers found a loophole.
“I think it’s been taken over by some people from dubious backgrounds, who don’t mind losing their deposits just to run in the election. PRM as it used to be is now dead. If they are relying on Ezam Md Nor as their deputy president then I don’t think it will improve as he lacks credibility and support,” said Syed Husin.
READ PART 1: Ex-ISA detainee reminds govt to be firm on abolishing Sedition Act, Sosma
PART 2: Govt should help people based on need, not race - Syed Husin
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