Government is focused on economic development, says Abdullah

Government is focused on economic development, says Abdullah
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/NewsBreak/20070629155224/Article/index_html

IPOH, FRI.:

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that the country continues to develop rapidly and is capable of facing challenges because the government has never deviated from its focus to develop the economy.

The country’s focus since attaining independence 50 years ago was on economic development and now, it was endeavouring to become a developed nation, said the Prime Minister in his speech at the simultaneous launching of the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (PCCCI) 100th anniversary celebration and the 50th National Day Expo at the Indera Mulia Stadium, here today.

While I agree with the prime minister that our country's economic growth has been encouraging since independence, I feel that this is not 100% via the efforts of the government. If the citizens of Malaysia do not contribute productively, there will be no growth despite any government intervention. So, please, give some credit to the Rakyat!

Secondly, I don't think the statement that "the government has never deviated from its focus to develop the economy" is entirely accurate. The government has recently focused on developing Islam Hadhari (religious focus), condemnation of bloggers (control focus), censorship and repression of film and print material (media focus), and many other examples.

“The democratic government chosen by the people through an independent election process will continue to be chosen by the people as it is focused on important economic development programs,” he said.

If the election process is independent, why do we have perceptions of unfair gerrymandering, phantom voters, vote buying, media blackout toward opposition, no 3rd level (local government) elections, seat-vote disproportional distribution, and many more?

The government was also endeavouring on expanding the economy further by providing forward planing to face the global challenges and market compettion, he stressed.

“Your Prime Minister is not sleeping,” he said as he outlined various economic development programmes that have been planned, including the Iskandar Development Region and the Northern and Eastern Regional Development Corridor.

Oops. He shouldn't have said that he's not sleeping. Ever heard of the "pink elephant" syndrome? What happens when I ask you not to picture a pink elephant in your head?

After attaining independence, he said the country was depending on revenue from rubber and tin ore but with the plans drawn up by the government, the country was able to diversify its economy.

“The British did not teach us, but we planned to move forward... we became a producer of value-added rubber and palm oil. We also became an industrial country and we need to intensify efforts to increase products that can be marketed,” he said.

Abdullah, who is also the Finance Minister, said although the country’s trade had surpassed the record RM1 trillion mark, the volume should be increased with further development, not only in the Klang Valley but the whole country.

The Prime Minister is also confident that the country’s positive economic performance will be maintained because the Barisan Nasional (BN) government had never deviated from its two other important policies, namely unity and power sharing.

“Right from the start, the country’s leaders have emphasised on solidarity, the economy and power sharing... the BN maintains moderation because if any one race or religion runs the government, it will lead to problems. Now everyone is represented, this is our way and it must be maintained,” he added.

This lovey-dovey representation of the BN government is superficial and only skin deep. Everyone knows that UMNO rules, and the other compartment parties are merely there to make up the numbers. So why keep on harping on this so-called power sharing and unity?

BLA BLA BLA!