SPEECH AT THE RAFIK HARIRI UN-HABITAT MEMORIAL AWARD

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY IN NEW YORK CITY, USA ON SEPT 28, 2012

1. I would like to thank the Rafik Hariri Foundation and the UN Habitat for conferring on me this prestigious Rafik Hariri UN-Habitat Memorial Award.

2. I deem it a great honour especially as this award is named after a remarkable man whose leadership qualities and contribution toward the rehabilitation of the war-ravaged city of Beirut and Lebanon is incomparable.

3. I knew Rafik Hariri when he first visited Malaysia. We immediately became close friends and I visited Lebanon at his invitation to see the damage wrought by the fratricidal war. Rafik promised he would rebuild Beirut as it was before the war. And he delivered on his promise. I visited Beirut after the restoration and I felt sure that a great future awaits Lebanon under his leadership.

4. In many ways I was like him. I wanted to develop Malaysia just as he wished to develop Lebanon. But he was less fortunate because he did not have the stability of Malaysia. Nor was he given the time.

5. Here I would like to pay tribute to my predecessors who devised a formula for Malaysia’s multi-ethnic, multi-religious people to work together. My predecessors also set the stage for Malaysia’s conversion from an agricultural country to an industrial country.

6. My task was to ensure the peace and stability of Malaysia was fully utilised to grow and develop the country. For this Malaysia decided not just to look at the developed West, but more at the burgeoning economies of the East, principally Japan and South Korea. Look East became Malaysia’s slogan. It was not about industrialising as much as it was about acquiring the work ethics of these successful nations. I believe firmly that work ethics determine the success or otherwise of a nation.

7. A business-friendly policy was adopted and this stimulated investments both by foreigners as well as locals. We actually called this policy Malaysia Incorporated, despite general disapproval of Government/business collaboration. We were working for the 30% of the profit which belongs to the Government as corporate tax. Stress on labour intensive industries overcame unemployment almost completely.

8. The economy grew by leaps and bounds. With growth in Government revenue first class infrastructure was built. To hasten the progress, a policy of privatisation was adopted. Very quickly the country boasted of infrastructure comparable with developed countries.

9. Malaysia believes in no ideology. We are pragmatists. We do what can be done, whether capitalistic or socialistic. We promoted self-confidence by adopting the slogan “We Can”. We Malaysians can do what others can do.

10. I think I have said enough about Malaysia’s experience. It is no miracle. It is just about doing what everyone thinks should be done when we are in charge of our own destiny. I believe that any country can be run the way Malaysia and Lebanon under Rafik Hariri were run. The magic lies in devising a formula to keep the country stable and peaceful. Democracy is great but democrats must accept that they cannot win every time. Losing elections is something which must be accepted in a democracy.

11. Above all, leaders should not stay in power too long, even if they are popular.

12. I believe this award, the Rafik Hariri UN-Habitat Memorial Award is for Malaysia more than it is for me. Without the culture of sharing among the multi-racial, multi-religious people of Malaysia, without their love for peace and stability, Malaysia would not have been able to grow as it has done.

13. I believe my friend Mr Rafik Hariri noticed this during his visit to Malaysia. Violence breeds destruction. Only peace and stability can be a win-win formula.

24 thoughts on “SPEECH AT THE RAFIK HARIRI UN-HABITAT MEMORIAL AWARD”

  1. Salam Tun.

    It’s very obvious rich people tend to rule the less fortunate ones.
    When a particular race has become very rich, the tendency is for them to rule the country. They either rule by proxy (as in the case of the jews influencing the decisions to many western countries, especially the US), or by force (the apartheid shown by South Africa’s Pieter Botha & Rhodesia’s Ian Smith).

    Let’s hope the Chinese in Malaysia is not too greedy & become super rich and hence easily succumb to the wishes of kit siang to rule Malaysia by proxy. The consequences could probably cause/create catastrophic scenes which will be pointless to regret!

    Please remember that kit siang was the greatest single instigator that cause the May 13 incident!! Thousands of Malaysians died due to kit siang’s foolishness.
    He’s now in close cohorts with kuan yew’s racist lots and actively (albeit indirectly) propagating the Chinese towards May 13 2.00 (maybe to fulfill kuan yew’s last wish).

    If that happens, I don’t think Ambiga can hide. She’s too big and reckless to find an immediate safe hiding place, away from the plentiful & unfriendly pursuers.

  2. Salam
    YAB Tun Dr Mahathir

    1. Melayu Memang Boleh!……………………..

    2. Kami sekeluarga sentiasa mengamalkan Slogan Keramat ‘Malaysia (Melayu) Boleh’ yang Tun wujudkan/ciptakan/nasihatkan/sarankan.

    Terima kasih Tun Dr Mahathir.

    Doa restu kami sekeluarga buat Tun dan keluarga.

  3. Salam Tun.

    How I wish to be one having the capacity (and to be accepted/recognised) to bestow just one award, to one that’s most outstanding and influential, and whose achievement when compared to the rest combined that still only look a mere pale shadow of his.
    I’d undoubtedly have reserved that award for you.

    This coming PRU13, I wish that Tun will reconsider retirement in politic and to contest in Permatang Pauh.
    Knowing the parliamentary seat to be Anwar’s impregnable fortress, and even if the slim chance that Tun will lose is to happen, everyone will understand the situation.

    Tun has very little to lose if there’s an upset happening and Anwar wins, but with a huge reputation intact and getting stronger if Tun can win there, which I’m very optimist on Tun’s success.

    God willing, I’ll do my utmost best to change at least 100 fence sitters and opposition supporters to vote for Dr. Mahathir.

  4. Dear Tun,

    Please allow me to address MiddleAges who says

    //But we really need to ask ourselves, what on earth happened to our argricultural sector ?

    Industrialization is no excuse to neglect agri sector, which is primary and our survival need. I understand it is a difficult sector involving private owners and cultural hindrances.

    But i fear my children and grand children may have to import rice and vegetables from India and China, even if they have superb Proton cars and money sticking out of their pockets given by the BN government.//

    Dear MiddleAges,

    Our former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Bedawi tried to stress on agriculture sector, when he was the Prime Minister. Mao Tze Tung’s Cultural Revolution and Pol Pot despotic regime in Cambodia made the urban dwellers go and do farming in the countryside to boost agriculture production. Pak Lah, Mao and Pol Pot had failed.

    In Economic science, Theory of comparative advantage and specialisation is the most productive and effective tool to be applied by any community or country. Our income comes from Petroleum and oil palm and at one time electronic products. Singapore, the third wealthiest country in the world in terms of per capital income does not have any farm land at all. Singaporeans can eat the biggest lobsters and the biggest sweetest figs in the world just by trading. What MiddleAges is suggesting is the StoneAge economy where people plant their own rice, hunt for their own meat, farm their own ikan keli. We are in the 21st century now. The world has evolved into a society of specialisation and trading in the digital and electronic age. BN government definitely won’t go back the the StoneAge economy, not even MeddleAges/Medieval economy. We must move forward in tandem with the modern world and there is no turning back to backwardness and poverty.

    amin tan

  5. Asalamualaikum..
    trillion terima kasih tun…
    keranamu saya terlalu bangga jd org m’sia…
    saya hanya menumpang keterbilangan nama n perjuangan tun…ikhlas dari perasaan saya…ini ada lah salah satu sbb yg buat depa yg kutok tun bengkekkkk jer…makin depa kutukkk…
    makin naikkkk saham tun…he he he….terima kasih tun…apa lah m’sia kalo tun tak lahir kat sini…syukur ya Allah….

  6. Askm Tun, semuga dilanjutkan umur dalam kesihatan dan terus menyumbang bakti kepada negara. Juga semuga kita semua yang beriman terus diperkuatkan dgn ketaqwaan kita kpd Allah SWT dan kita wajib senantiasa bersyukur atas segala nekmat Allah SWT yang tak terkira banyaknya kalau nak dikira dan senantiasa bersyabar atas segala musibah ( ujian ) yang dikenakan keatas kita kerana begitulah ujian Allah SWT utk mempertingkatkan keimanan & ketaqwaan. Itulah hikmahnya.

    Alhamdulillah dan TAHNIAH atas “awards” yang terbukti pengitirafan jasa Tun kepada negara yg tercinta bernama MALAYSIA. Ada yang ingin mempertikaikan bahawa kita hanya perlu bersyukur kpd Allah SWT saja dan bukan kpd manusia.

    Tapi sayang masih ada segelintir yang ingin terus memburuk2kan atau memperkecilkan sumbangan Tun bukan saja, sebagai pemimpin tetapi juga sebagai seorang insan yang menjalankan tanggungjawab yang Allah SWT telah amanahkan … utk kebaikan & kemakmuran rakyat. Yang paling menyedihkan, segelintir ini pula cuba dan telah dapat mempengaruhi ramai dgn berbagai fitnah, semata2 kerana ingin memenuhi kehendak nafsu mereka sendiri – iaitu KUASA. Kepada yang terpengaruh pula memang nyata kejahilan mereka utk berfikir. Sungguh pun berpelajaran tinggi tapi tidak tahu bersyukur. Orang luar negara nampak sumbangan Tun pada negara tapi mereka yang mengaku rakyat Malaysia, tidak mahu memberi pengitirafan atas kebenaran tersebut. Semuga Allah SWT memberi mereka petunjuk.

  7. Dear Tun,

    The message is very clear. PEACE AND STABILITY is paramount for any country to prosper, develop and become a positive contributor to the international community.

    Whatever the circumstances of any country they must strive for Peace and Stability as a first priority. Not free speech, not freedom, not democracy and certainly not driving wedges within the populance of the country.

    We must be clear on this.

    Thanks Tun for your lifetime of service to the Human Being, the World and Social Juctice.

  8. Salam YAB Tun dan fellow bloggers,

    1. Tahniah kepada Tun di atas kejayaan Tun memimpin kakitangan awam, kerajaan, rakyat untuk menjadikan Malaysia sebuah negara yang maju (sepenuhnya kelak).

    2. Jika dikaji ranking Malaysia dalam pentadbiran negara (governance), kedudukan negara kita tidaklah teruk, tetapi top juga…ini membuktikan PM dan kerajaan (majoritinya pegawai Melayu) telah bekerja dengan berkesan, itu sebabnya berada di tingkat atas.

    3. Negara lain juga ada parti politik yang mentadbir kerajaan, tetapi kenapa masih corot? Ertinya pemimpin dan pegawai2 mereka tidak berkesan, tidak cekap.

    4. Ertinya BN yang diketuai oleh UMNO, disokong oleh MCA dan MIC serta parti komponen lain berjaya mentadbir negara ini dengan baik dan berkesan….sudah ada ‘track record’ yang baik, jadi kenapa mahu ditukarkan dengan kerajaan (geng PR lah tu..) yang baru mahu mencuba? yang tidak ada pengalaman? kurang ilmu dan kemahiran? yang berjaya menunjukkan mereka bercakaran dan tidak ada manifesto yang jelas dan seragam…yang sudah membuktikan mereka lagi korup dan tidak cekap, dll?

    5. Malangnya, penyokong PR adalah mereka yang emosional, tidak berilmu, tidak ada kemahiran….jika mereka IQ tinggi, mereka mengkaji yang baik dan tidak baik…tetapi mereka takut mencari kebenaran…malang sungguh…mereka sangat mempercayai kata2 pemimpin mereka yang jelas mengambil kesempatan di atas kesetiaan penyokong mereka…inilah manusis yang paling jahat, iaitu ada pengikut maka diperalatkan pengikut…tidak mahu menerangkan yang benar (bukannya mereka tidak tahu pembohongan dan kesilapan mereka)

  9. Salam
    YAB Tun Dr Mahathir Yg DiRahmati Allah s.w.t

    1. Tahniah Tun Dr Mahathir….., kami rakyat Malaysia bangga mempunyai Tun Dr Mahathir.

    2. Sifat kebijaksanaan, ikhlas dan murni Tun Dr Mahathir sedang dicontohi oleh ramai rakyat Malaysia sekarang ni termasuk juga seluruh pelusuk dunia.

    3. Malangnya orang yang hatinya berpenyakit masih memburuk, mengutuk mencaci hina Tun.

    4. Allah s.w.t Maha Mengetahui……….. TAHNIAH TUN DR MAHATHIR.

  10. YABhg Tun,

    YAB Dato Najib’s 1Malaysia…an olive branch or a white flag? What’s say you sir…..??

  11. joashe,

    What are you thinking when you said “Thousand negative comments (against Tun M or the Government?) but not published here ???

    This has only one meaning…..those thousand people are reading and responding to this blog be it positive or negative comments they make but it really contradicts your point when you said that this blog has to be closed down….It shows that people keep on visiting this blog and want to give their opinion whether negative or positive…..but they keep on coming like you……..If you do not like it so just go away and we will not miss you……Who are you tell Tun M what to do with HIS blog ?

    You do not own this blog or Tun M himself !!!!!??????

    He can write and maintain this blog with or without people like you. Do not come visit but you keep on coming…..go fly kite. This is like telling people to go away when actually you are in their house…….muka tak tau malu….

    Do yourself a favour….think before you say anything….it contradicts your low IQ more often than not and reflects your poor upbringing….

  12. Assalamualaikum Tun.

    Orang berilmu dan beramal seterusnya ajar pada orang lain,maka ilmu itu akan berbicara.Walaupun ilmu itu kelihatan diam.

    Ulama berkata,sesiapa yang tidak bermanafaat pandangannya bagimu,maka ilmu dan fatwanya juga tidak bermanafaat bagimu

    Tulis Al Sayyid Syaikh Muhyiddin Abdul Qadir Al Jailani.

    Terima kasih Tub.

  13. YAB,

    19. Published: Wednesday October 3, 2012 MYT 1:23:00 PM

    PM: Malaysia recognises need to work with global community to combat corruption

    KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government recognises the need for cooperation with the international community in pursuing anti-corruption efforts within the country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

    He pointed out that fighting corruption was now an integral part of the Government’s ambitious plans to transform itself and accelerate economic growth in Malaysia.

    He said the Malaysian government had made fighting corruption one of its priorities by including it as a National Key Result Area (NKRA) under the Government Transformation Programme GTP.

    Najib said this in his welcoming message in conjunction with the 6th International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) annual general meeting and conference, which will be held here from Thursday to Sunday.

    Themed “UNCAC Chapter VI: Technical Assistance and Information Exchange”, the forum at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre will be attended by more than 1,000 anti-corruption officers from more than 100 countries and focus on technical assistance and information exchange.

    Najib said corruption was a threat to national security and jeopardised not only the country’s financial well-being but also its socio-economic development efforts and most importantly, the moral fabric of the nation in the longer term.

    “Corruption is indeed a serious threat that we have been trying to combat for a very long time. Despite the fact that it is condemned by the public and a crime prohibited by law, it remains widespread in many societies,” he said.

    Najib said the IAACA conference would be a great event for participants from different anti-corruption law enforcement agencies, experts and academicians from international anti-corruption organisations to discuss significant issues such as training, technical assistance, collection, exchange and analysis of information on corruption.

    “Hopefully from this conference, Malaysia will have the opportunity not only to share its experience but also to learn from others in its quest to meet the nation’s goals,” he said.

    This biggest conference among anti-corruption agencies from throughout the world will cover five key areas of workshops, intensely on anti-corruption efforts namely prevention, capacity building, operation, investigation and legal framework.
    Speakers at the conference include European Partners Against Corruption (EPAC) president Martin Kreutner of Austria, European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) director-general Givanni Kessler, Malaysia’sAttorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala and several others from the international police organisation (Interpol). – Bernama

    20. As Malaysians become more civilized, knowledgeable and well educated, combats on corruptions would be easier and gradually minimized to a standard at par with countries that have the lowest corruption cases.

    21. When each corruption is being tackled, solved and charged by court, it would be the sole duty of the media owners to inform their readers and the world via paper and online news.

    22. The up rise of Egypt’s Arab Spring from “bottom up” with estimation of 1 million Egyptians (0.0142857% of her 70 million total of the population) has shown the world leaders that the 30 year old Dictatorship of President Hosni Mubarak, “top down” , thrown out in less than 2 weeks.

    23. Civil war was launched by opposition party when Syria’s President does not want to step down.

    24. The current President of Iran is isolating Iran from the world markets for the sake of his ambitious nuclear plant, and when Iranians did badly in their economy, he would be voted out.

    25. Anwar Ibrahim can never be the PM because he knows nothing about Malaysian economy.

    26. If Malaysia does not have other races exist, the Malay ulama/mufti will dictate their people to fight among themselves in the name of religions and would end up as Libya, Sri Lanka or Syria.

    27. Smart, learned and wise leaders do not hold on to long term absolute power.

    28. They do not perceived themselves as supreme leaders in which the country and cannot survive without them.

    29. YAB is right at point 11. Above all, leaders should not stay in power too long, even if they are popular.

    30. Let BN Chairman, DS Najib Tun Razak will re-write a new chapter for Malaysia in 1 Malaysia Transformation Programmes.

    31. BN will do better in this 13th general election because voters voted opposition parties were to punish BN.

    Goodnight, YAB.

  14. 11. Above all, leaders should not stay in power too long, even if they are popular

    I DISAGREE

    GOOD LEADER MUST STAY PUT AS LONG AS THEY WON THE VOTE REGARDLESS OF HOW TOO LONG

    NEVER POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY A GOOD LEADER OVERNIGHT
    ONCE A GOOD LEADER IS IDENTIFY THE VOTE IS HIS
    HE IS MANDATE REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG

    A CHANGE OF LEADER COULD LEADS TO IMPROVEMENT
    IT COULD ALSO COLLAPSED THE GOVT AFFECTING THE NATION

    MY VERDICT

    AS LONG AS HE IS ELECTED
    AS LONG AS HE WANTS THE SEAT
    HE DESERVES IT

    WE DO THE MALAYSIA WAY
    WE DON,T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE WESTERN
    COMMUNISTS,CAPITALISTS, SOCIALIST,DEMOCRATIC

    WE DO WHAT WE DO RIGHT

  15. Assalamualaikum TUN.
    Tahniah atas anugerah yang tersebut.
    Maka dengan ini hendaklah Rakyat Malaysia berwaspada atas apa yang sedang di lakukan oleh segelintir orang di Malaysia yang akan memusnahkan kestabilan politik dan sosial hanya untok mencapai cita2 saorang untok menjadi PM. Kemusnahan dan kehancuran tidak mustahil berlaku di Malaysia saperti yang berlaku di banyak negara2 lain.

    Sudah di lakukan pun saperti Bersih yang nyata2 membawa keburokan lebih dari kebersihan.
    Hari ini kita sudah lihat saorang bergelar Tok Guru menghina Nabi MUHAMMAD dengan meyamakan kelahiran Nabi sama saperti budak2 lain bernama MUHAMMAD di kampung nya.
    Na’uzubillah. Astagfirullah.
    Kemudian ada pula saorang bergelar Uztad menyamakan Anwar Ibrahim kepada Imam Mahdi. Apa dah jadi dengan orang2 ini . Mereka hanya buat umat Muslim di Malaysia menjadi keliru dan bertambah binggung dan jahil.

    Tiada pilihan lain kecuali UMNO pada PRU13.

    Tahniah sekali lagi TUN.

  16. Assalamu Alaikum Tun,

    Malaysia and the Muslims worldwide very proud of you.. Semoga Allah terus memberi kesihatan dan hikmah kepada Tun.

  17. Tun

    Only a person without a heart and soul cannot see the magnitude of your lifetime achievements of a hundred years.

    Many self-acclaimed opportunists in our beloved Malaysia thought they are the best. I do not blame them as every one person must have self-esteem especially in politics and public service.

    To underline this, they adorned themselves with decorations and purportedly self-written books. But they all lack one vital ingredient to balance the equation of success like your achievements. And this is your deeds not your words.

    These deeds are the most important of all and could not be copied or reproduced at any time because at the end of the day, such a charlatan would be unmasked with feet of clay concomitant with grand mistakes which were already history. And no one can turn history back – short of employing an army of well-paid hacks to re-write it as had been shown recently in some quarters.

    What is it that makes a person do deeds greater than others, like Rafik Hariri and yourself ?

    There are and were many personalities who had moments of greatness but to have sustainable greatness depends on more than just one thing as you are aware, Tun. And it is not just to achieve greatness by being a Prime Minister. But you became great by over-working and taking normal holidays ! And you fitted in with the 3 Golden Attributes to be a Prime Minister :-

    1. Commonsense

    2. The Ability to Think out of a Box.

    3. Compassion.

    You will be surprised that a person with the top academic qualifications might have none of these 3 Golden Attributes ! Is this not a surprise ?With due respect, in your case, compassion was very important to you subconciously !

    A great person must have a proper lineage with the proper set of genes to begin with.

    The rest of a person’s life would then be shaped and moulded by events which might be significant or not.

    In your case, your successful entry into the famous King Edward Vll Medical College, Singapore and your experience of the basic world of the Japanese Occupation would never ever leave your memory.

    From here onwards, the little spark of compassion which was kindled in your psyche began to grow as the urgency to save the lives of human beings took root and every case must be treated urgently until completion, success or failure did not matter. It was just the focussed attempt to save a life !

    This was the development of your mental strength which most people did not understand – the completion of a task. They interpreted this as obstinacy and fortunately, not lunacy ! Ha! Ha!

    From your new beginning in politics and your vision which I am sure changed with the times and the circumstances, your drive to achieve with that intangible thing called compassion drove you on and on. And what happened when things you decided could be done. The following and many more :-

    1. The highways and the by-ways all over the country.
    2. Advancement in communications and electronics.
    3. A motor assembly plant is set-up. And it is still not too late to do more with this.
    4. The creation of a Bumiputra class of entrepreneurs without which the non-Bumiputeras could find it difficult to do business.
    5. The sum total of your deeds created the middle income group of Bumiputras in the urban areas followed by the success of Big Mac and KFC ! These urbanites should vote BN always !
    6. Education advanced with the expansion of private colleges and universities.
    7. Medical facilities were affordable to all without opaqueness.
    8. The beloved Nation’s sovereignty, national interest and self-esteem were safe-guarded and in place. You did not sell our grandmothers down river !
    9. Your foreign policy was sincere, engaging and honest. It was not blood-stained and sent leaders of friendly countries flying around the world seeking a home like the Flying Dutchman ! If at all, most of our Malaysian enterprises in Africa and others lost money !
    10. And many many of your deeds which could only be catalogued. There was no self-praise or blowing the trumpet to tell the world !
    11. The sum total of all the above gave rise to the peace and stability and prosperity in addition to the legacy left to you by your predecessors which may just about to run out soon if we are not careful.

    No one has pointed out that you were the Prime Minister of a country which had citizens from 3 major demographich groups today globally. The 1.2 Billion Muslims (150 Million Malays), the 1.1 Billion Indians and the 1.2 Billion Chinese. And you were successful with your famous 22 year Administration which was more successful than some of those with more than 44 years of tight-fisted rule !

    It is in our beloved country Malaysia that a person with normal attributes, as a Prime Minister can achieve much given her strategic geographical position, bountiful natural resources, the equable climate and her resourceful citizens from 3 major groups of people and others in the land.

    This largesse is also a call for caution and be friends to all or overnight whatever the BN built-up over 55 years would be no better than sayonara folks !

    Not forgetting we are in a predator’s world and would make a juicy breakfast for some every morning. There have been attempts to destablilize but the key to the confounded door has not been found yet.

    Hence, a Prime Minister of Malaysia is such an important person to safe- guard all the citizens interests of this beloved country.

    Any International Award (if the distinguished sponsors are not biased) to you is the epitome of all your deeds in beloved Malaysia and the World at large.

    A normal human being who did great deeds for his country and the world in the general interest for Peace for Humankind and not War which had continued by the strong relentlessly since the days of stone axes.

    You are right. We should outlaw War !

    And for all Malaysians vote BN for continuity and good leadership.

  18. Dear Tun,
    //1. I would like to thank the Rafik Hariri Foundation and the UN Habitat for conferring on me this prestigious Rafik Hariri UN-Habitat Memorial Award.//

    May I congratulate you on the above award. Indeed, the world over has recognised your contribution towards peaceful development of humanity. Your courage, vision, wisdom, discipline and sense of fair play is internationally recognised and acclaimed. Above all, you are a statesman par excellence. Malaysia was lucky to have you helmed the nation for considerable 22 years and leaving behind tangible legacies for posterity.

    amin tan

  19. Salam Tun,

    Congratulations on being conferred this prestigious and meaningful award. Although you were the recipient, i take it that we Malaysians are also being honored for our respective progress.

    Malaysia progress was not without its drawbacks or side effects. The society became more polarized, with religious groups and leaders trying to win the upper hand by portraying their various pious stand and loud vocalization of their beliefs.

    Maybe you are right we have no ideology, or more accurately i think we are of a mixed, rojak kind of ideology where anything that works goes. This pragmatic approach is good for development, but is not so good for long term growth as the things we build are not well thought out, there is no “ideology” behind them.

    I fear if this continue, we always build on demand basis, fire fighting our way to progress. We need close study and socially friendly development.

    Another area neglected is definitely agriculture. I am deeply saddened to see betik or papaya imported from Hong kong sold at CarreFour. I thought to myself, with the abundant land we have and weather most suited to the papaya, we could not organize a decent orchard to have our own self sufficient papayas ?

    I remember Tun seeing some papaya plants grwooing through cracks in the cement in some modern shopping buildings. Apparently some birds or maybe some kids threw some papaya seeds into the cracks, and it grew into a full fledges tree ( compete with fruits ).

    Why Tun, must we then import papaya from Hong Kong ? I am not questioning Carrefour business as hyper market, but i question very much how come no one does nothing about it. I do not think Carrefour care much where they papayas came from as long as they sell them and people buy them.

    But we really need to ask ourselves, what on earth happened to our argricultural sector ?

    Industrialization is no excuse to neglect agri sector, which is primary and our survival need. I understand it is a difficult sector involving private owners and cultural hindrances.

    But i fear my children and grand children may have to import rice and vegetables from India and China, even if they have superb Proton cars and money sticking out of their pockets given by the BN government.

    Thank You Tun

  20. I think I have said enough about Malaysia’s experience. It is no miracle. It is just about doing what everyone thinks should be done when we are in charge of our own destiny.

    SAYS TUN

    WE ARE IN CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY

    WE ARE US
    THEY ARE THEM

    WHATEVER WE DO THERE WILL BE INTENTION
    GOOD INTENTION WE PROCEEDS
    BAD INTENTIONS DELAY OR ERASE
    DON,T BOTHER OTHERS SAY
    THEY ARE THE SAME
    NO MR. PERFECT

    OUR INTEREST, OUR AGENDA MUST BE THE PRIORTY
    MALAYSIA CANNOT BE MR.NICE GUY
    BE MODERATE AS IT IS IN OUR SUNNAH

    WE HAVE TO MONITOR
    THE INSTIGATION, THE INFLUENCE OF ANY
    WE WILL COLLAPSED IF WE ARE UNABLE

  21. Dearest YAB Tun,

    CONGRATULATIONS TUN!!!

    You deserve the award! Malaysia is very proud of you Tun!

    Thanks.

    *** May Allah SWT bless Tun and family ***

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