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Human Development With Prosperity, Health, Justice And Equal Opportunity To Fully Harness Every Individual’s Potential For The Benefit Of Their Family, Community And Country 2005 Chinese New Year Message by Lim Guan Eng (Petaling Jaya, Monday): In the year of the Rooster, DAP wishes all Malaysian Chinese not only a prosperous New Year but also enjoy good health, justice and equal opportunity to fully harness every individual’s potential for the benefit of their family, community and country. For Malaysia to face the challenges of globalization and international competition, human development with the above attributes is the key.  Whilst we wish for prosperity DAP is concerned that the over 7% economic growth rate  and the huge foreign reserves of RM 250 billion in Bank Negara has not translated into better business for many Malaysian businessmen. Prosperity is not just about wealth creation but also wealth distribution. The failure to distribute economic wealth fairly is highlighted by the 2004 United Nations Human Development Report showing Malaysia having the worst income disparity between the rich and poor in South-East Asia.  To ensure economic justice, the poor and middle-class must be given their fair share. Crony capitalism, where selected companies with no track record but enjoy good connections are given preferential treatment from the government, must end.   DAP regrets that there have been 13 deaths from dengue since the beginning of this year. Such deaths remind us both of the importance of enjoying good health and the poor performance of local councils in maintaining cleanliness. Local councils throughout the country have an abysmal record because they are neither accountable nor transparent. There is no accountability and transparency because for the past 40 years, local councilors are appointed and not elected by the people.   The time has come to restore democracy in local government elections that was suspended by the BN government on 1 March 1965. There is no logic or reason why we can elect our Prime Minister, Menteri Besar, MPs and ADUNs but not our local councilors. Let us return power to the people and take back our democratic rights.   Wealth creation is largely dependant not so much on natural resources but on human development. The 9th Malaysian Plan(2006-10) recognizes the importance of human development but the important question is whether the government realizes that human development requires equal opportunity and a sound education system based on merit. The sad saga of 128 top STPM students with 5As not able to do medicine in local universities benefits no one and is contrary to human development.  Discrimination against mother-tongue education based purely on irrational racial considerations must stop. To take advantage of the expanding China and Indian market, the government should develop mother-tongue education. As a first step, allocation of development funds for Chinese and Tamil primary schools must be democratic and fairly based on student enrolment. Giving Chinese and Tamil primary schools less than 1% in development funds in 2004 when they comprise almost 25% of the total primary school enrolment in the country is just not acceptable.   “It takes 10 years to plant a tree, but 100 years to educate a man.” Education should not be used as a political weapon to divide Malaysians but to unite the nation. GONG XI FA CAI! (7/2/2005) * Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General