Malaysia stuck with ‘side issues’ while Indonesia forging ahead, says Bloomberg columnist
Bloomberg columnist William Pesek, noting an increasing interest in Malaysia in "side issues", today warned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak against dragging his feet to open up and scale back race-based programmes.
"If their country refuses to open up and become a true meritocracy – the kind of place where a figure like Jokowi could come to power through the ballot box – neighbours like Indonesia and the Philippines will steal away investment and industries.
"Then the problems they're focusing on today won't seem so large," wrote the Tokyo-based Bloomberg columnist, referring to Indonesian president Joko Widodo who was sworn in this week.
Pesek also referred to recent protests among Umno leaders over the Oktoberfest beer festival and the "I want to touch a dog" event in Petaling Jaya, which he said took place at a time when Malaysians were struggling with rising cost of living, a sign that religion was still being used as a "political weapon".
"Malaysia cannot afford to get bogged down with such side issues," he said and contrasted what he called was "petty political infighting and religious small-mindedness" in the country with recent developments in Indonesia.
"Jokowi is Indonesia's fifth president since dictator Suharto was ousted in 1998 and the second to be elected directly by the nation's 250 million people
"In contrast, the political establishment that controlled Malaysia for six decades is still trying to silence opposition leader (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim," he said.
Anwar's sodomy appeal to set aside his conviction has been fixed on October 28 at the Federal Court, and any decision to jail him could see the end of his political career.
Pesek compared the continued prosecution of Anwar with Jokowi's announcement to work with political opponents and move Indonesia forward.
He said Malaysia's problems were not unique, noting Thailand's political divisions and Indonesia's "endemic corruption and dysfunction".
"But Malaysia’s failings are especially frustrating because they are so unnecessary," Pesek added.
"To increase the country’s competitiveness, Najib should have begun scaling back the four-decade-old affirmation action programme that favours the ethnic Malay majority; instead, he’s expanded it.
"Malaysian leaders should be striving to improve the investment climate through stronger corporate governance, and expanding education and training to raise productivity. Subsidies for state-connected companies need to be scaled back and eventually eliminated."
Pesek said it was meritocracy that allowed a "small businessman" and a "nobody" to assume Indonesia's highest office.
"Voters have to ask themselves why Jokowi’s story can’t be replicated in their own countries, many of which are crying out for more credible, effective leaders.
Pesek said Najib had particular reason to be concerned. He was the son of Malaysia's 1970s Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and he was born into privilege. – October 23, 2014.
