New Economic Model - 'Modal' for Opposition

The New Economic Model (NEM) which was unveiled by the Prime Minister last Tuesday apparently was not even brought to UMNO, I mean to UMNO Supreme Council, let alone to be tabled at BN supreme Council.

I was told that it will only be tabled to the UMNO supreme Council in the next Council meeting and is not known the date when it will be tabled to the Supreme Council of BN.

It means that the rakyat, so far has not at all been consulted before assenting decision was made on the New Economic Model, with grand branding as it sounds.

That was also the main reason why this important issue was not taken seriously by the public as they totally cloaked away by the decision makers, in particular the PM.

I don’t have the clue why this undemanding undertaking was not done and it does not cost the PM ten cents if the people were to be consulted through their respected parties and other administrative channels in order to reach the opinion leaders at all levels.

The cabinet is accountable for not advising our PM not to take this ‘people unfriendly’ like decision, and this is an insupportable judgment made by the Premier over this remarkably important subject.

A Prime Minister is elected to administer on behalf of the people and he is indebted and beholden to act after consultation with them. A Prime Minister is not appointed to act unilaterally and subsequently feels agitated when the people go frontally head-on with any of his many flawed decisions.

All Prime Ministers of pre-Mahathir consulted UMNO, Parliament and the component political parties representing all races in order to come up with decision readily agreeable by the rakyat and that was why every decision made was very approving with diminutive and negligible resistance from the people.

The ruling party was informed and was given the legroom to give input for excellent and well thought-of outcome and decision respected and rejoiced by the people on the street, the actual point of the government strength and durability.

Whether we like it or not the government in the end of the 5-year term has to face the ordinary citizens who are free to decide the fate of the ruling government.

Those days every PM was felt to be very near to the rakyat, and there were no SEMARAK neither did there was JUARA RAKYAT or any kind of sort to insulate the divisiveness in perception towards the government among the voting public.

Without much uncertainties the rakyat rallied sturdily behind leadership and every citizen felt they were part of all major government decisions made for them; government by the people and for the people.

The government worked hand-in glove with ordinary public and the rakyat took accountability together with the government on any unexpected mistakes or misdemeanor which subsequently surfaced in the implementations of the policies.

The JKKK heads and committee members, Penghulus, government servants and all were together in implementing all what have been decided.

It was only when the yearn and desire for material gains crept in to become the culture in all administrative system of nation, that diverts the spirit of love for the nation to the love for personal and material advantages; no monetary rewards nothing is done and fulfilled.

The rakyat are not involved in any major decisions made by the government. All are done from top-bottom without getting feedbacks direct from the people through civic courses which is now extraterrestrial and unfamiliar to political culture of the day.

Some say it is out-of-date affair to go down to he ground to explain since internet is available for everyone but the fact remains that even urban public are not all accessible to the net.

If this NEM is at all too important as being portrayed, it definitely warranted a special committee in the UMNO and BN Supreme Council for detailed briefs to be made for comments and diligent preview by the committee comprising of learned members of the Council if there is anyone left.

By doing so the PM is taking steps for the new model of economic makeup together with the voices of UMNO and other ruling parties and not unilateral script-writings of the PM personally.

BUT if Najib’s intention is to take NEM for his personal glorious accomplishment to rest his laurels on, than he should take the culpability alone if there are unexpected failures and hiccups in the plan which jeopardizes the ruling government he leads.

Don’t blame the anyone if the Model fails to be actualized as any wrong in motion would only give ‘modal’ for the oppositions to strengthen themselves.

As it is now the opposition has expediently claims that NEM was all extracted from their General Election manifesto; it is PR 2008 Election Manifesto in different name, so they say.

Bulks of the claims seem to be true. Just read PR manifesto of the last General Election before agreeing with me.


Thanks………………………………………..Aspan Alias