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Reject Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam And BN’s Pro-Rich Economic Policies Of Producing More Bumiputra Millionaires As A Policy Failure And Morally Wrong Opening Speech - at the DAP Melaka State Annual Convention by Lim Guan Eng (Melaka, Sunday): BN’s pro-rich economic focus of producing more bumiputra millionaires instead of creating wealth that can be enjoyed by all Malaysians is a policy failure and morally wrong. Such policy failure has resulted in the report by the latest United Nations Human Development (UNHDP) Report 2004 showing Malaysia with the worst income disparity between the rich and poor in South East Asia, higher than Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia. The most recent declaration of the importance placed by the government on creating bumi millionaires came from newly-elected UMNO Vice-President and Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam in the Melaka State Assembly on 26 October 2004. The Melaka Chief Minister proudly measured the success of his economic management in the state with 10 bumi millionaires created by him which was preferable to creating 100 middle-class bumis with RM 100,000/-. When DAP Melaka Assembly State Opposition Leader Betty Chew asked whether it is better to have 1,000 Malaysians with RM 10,000 instead of only 10 persons sharing RM 10 million, the Melaka Chief Minister preferred the 10 millionaires to the 10,000 ordinary Malaysians. It is morally wrong to help and create the few who are rich at the expense of the many who are poor. This is the integral difference between DAP and BN social and economic policies- BN is interested in creating more millionaires whereas DAP focuses on creating wealth for everyone, especially the poor. The UNHDP Report 2004 shows the richest 10% in Malaysia 38.4% of our economic income as compared to our poorest 10% controlling only 1.7%. This compares unfavourably with Singapore’s richest 10% controlling 32.8% of economic income as compared to its poorest 10% controlling 1.9% of economic income.The success of BN’s economic policy of creating millionaires can be seen when the richest 10% of the population is 22.1 times richer than the poorest 10%. Clearly the UNHDP 2004 Report validates DAP’s fears that under the BN’s crony capitalism, in relative terms the rich has become richer. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should reject the pro-rich focus of Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam and prove his commitment towards economic justice by creating and distributing wealth for all. As social democrats, DAP believes in equal opportunities to foster competitiveness and productivity to generate economic growth. This is the reason why the people do not feel the benefits of the 8% economic growth and instead feel that business is worse. The generous terms given to Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan allowing it to increase the already high toll rates by 10% every three years apart from the hundreds of million of ringgit of compensation received is one example of crony capitalism. One company’s interests is more important than the welfare of 25 million Malaysians. Economic wealth should be distributed to all deserving Malaysians who work hard and not to produce the few millionaires, whether bumi or non-bumis, who are beneficiaries of crony capitalism.
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2004 (proportion of the economy controlled by population economic strata) HDI Rank Poorest Poorest Richest Richest Richest 10% To 10% 20% 20% 10% Poorest 10% 59. Malaysia 1.7 4.4 54.3 38.4 22.1 83. Philippines 2.2 5.4 52.3 36.3 16.5 76. Thailand 2.5 6.1 50.0 33.8 13.4 25. Singapore 1.9 5.0 49.0 32.8 17.7 112. Vietnam 3.6 8.0 44.5 29.9 8.4 111. Indonesia 3.6 8.4 43.3 28.5 7.8
Failure To Sack Datuk Amid Nordin As Melaka State EXCO Member Proves Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam’s Lack Of Commitment Against Money Politics And Corruption DAP condemns the failure of Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam to sack Melaka State EXCO for Tourism Heritage and Culture Datuk Amid Nordin following his suspension as Kota Melaka UMNO division head as proof of his lack of commitment to fight against money politics and corruption. If Datuk Amid is not qualified to hold posts in UMNO, he is definitely not qualified to be a Melaka State EXCO. By refusing to sack Datuk Amid, the Melaka Chief Minister feels that being an UMNO office-bearer requires a higher moral and ethical standard than an EXCO member. There have been so many local corruption scandals in Melaka exposed by DAP Melaka leaders. Just these past 5 months, I have lodge 5 corruption reports from the RM 8.5 million Hang Tuah Mall scandal, the RM 28.4 million Sentral Bus Terminal scandal to the failure of BN to pay RM 141,000 in quit rent and assessment arrears. Where else but in Melaka can you sell a rubbish bin of RM 80 for RM 880; or build a RM 25,000 fountain for RM 250,000; or build a canopy of RM 10,000 for RM 80,000? Where else but Melaka can a BN political party owe quit rent for 25 years of RM 31,000 or assessment rate of RM 84,000 without fear of the land being confiscated by the state or property sealed? And where else can you find so many Datuks from such a small state where from the 84 Datuks an overwhelming majority come from outside Melaka, including those who are charged for beating up people. MCA also plays such dirty money politics by trying to buy over DAP leaders. The latest attempt by MCA Melaka State Chairman Datuk Poh Ah Tiam to buy over DAP ADUN for Banda Hilir Goh Leong San for RM 1 million is nothing new. The exposure by Goh Leong San has shown that MCA leaders have no principles, no integrity and no sense of righteousness. Just imagine if MCA and Datuk Poh can afford RM 1 million to buy over Goh Leong San, how much more wealth have they accumulated. This is the difference between DAP and MCA. DAP commits itself into politics not to get rich but to serve the people, fight for accountability, democracy and justice unlike MCA leaders who have never even lodged a single corruption report. 5 Core Areas To Realise Malaysian Malaysia DAP has therefore identified five core areas to realize the people’s dream of a Malaysian Malaysia belonging to all Malaysians living with dignity and united by one common vision of bangsa Malaysia, pelbagai agama and satu negara namely; 1. Democratisation by pressing for local government elections to ensure full accountability and transparency; 2. Economic, environmental and social justice to ensure that economic benefits are fairly distributed to all in a safe and healthy environment with respect for for moral values; 3. Equal opportunities for all to ensure a prosperous and competitive economy; and 4. Education should be a unifying force and not a political weapon to divide Malaysians; 5. Protection for rule of law to ensure integrity with emphasis that honesty pays and those corrupt are punished. (19/12/2004) * Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General |