10 ways to increase incomes, raise living standards
QUESTION TIME | After over eight months in power, the Pakatan Harapan government regretfully does not have a solid plan for the economy and the country, reneging on a number of key promises that it made pre-elections and allowing the creeping in of patronage and other bad practices within the coalition.
It has also been inordinately preoccupied with blaming the previous government for all the ills facing the country and is guilty of painting an economic picture worse than what it really is, thereby eroding confidence in business and the economy.
By now, they should have at least come up with a comprehensive plan to put the country firmly back on the path to higher growth and to ensure that the increased wealth is shared more equitably among all peoples and all races.
If the income gap between the rich and poor is narrowed irrespective of who is poor or rich, then inevitably the gap between the races will narrow too. Instead, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad still talks about distribution of wealth instead of growing incomes and giving everyone a fair share of incomes, the only way wealth inequality can be narrowed.
The other leaders of Harapan are culpable as well as they have demonstrated no way or will to change these outmoded policies of the past and put in place measures that will help all in the nation and actualise the promises they made in their campaign manifesto.
If Harapan leaders need reminding of what should be done - some do and some don’t - below are 10 basics which will apply equally well to any country anywhere in the world, rich or poor, which wants to improve the livelihood of all its citizens...
yeah..easier said than done..u think its so easy to correct 60 years of corruption and mess in just 9 months?? pls get real
Guna' s ten recommendations are not new. Politicians role are to create and facilitate the conducive environment for everyone to contribute and thrive in an open economy. But it's easier said then done. The over reliance on government is obvious as every single thing one does is regulated right down to the toilet paper. The new government seems reluctant to decentralise and deregulate rather they just continue what was left behind. Business is addicted to cheap labour while the government is clueless and lacking the courage to change the existing rules. In the final analysis it's about fixing the rules, empowering people, accept risk and impose meritocracy. Until we see tangible results we can then talk about improving everyone's reward.
Spot on Guna. The issue really is the Malay leaders in Harapan are jostling for power and everything else becomes tradeable in the process. Admittedly, there are difficulties for example finding the right people, needing to manage racial/religious bigots and their agitations, not having enough money to spend - but what we really want is for them to stop their internal fisticuffs, and show a united front and just proceed with the reforms. We also want honesty and transparency. It is fine if they stumble upon a financial or Parliamentary roadblock (amendments requiring 2/3 majority) but at least show that they are ready to go once they are able to overcome such road blocks. I don't think the ministers don't have the right ideas. It's the internecine war that is paralyzing Harapan. It may be a good thing for DAP to lose Highlands, and more importantly for Bersatu to lose Semenyih, so that they finally wake up and instead of pursuing the 2/3 Malay votes that they don't have, they work harder at keeping the 1/3 that they have together with vast majority of other minority groups.