KUALA LUMPUR: The greatest challenge faced by the government in returning Malaysia to its former glory is developing the country according to its own mould instead of relying solely on recognition by international organisations.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said although Malaysia plans to meet the benchmark standards imposed by global bodies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), it is equally imperative for the government to ensure Malaysians feel that they are in a better position in economic and social aspects.
Muhyiddin, who is the most senior minister after Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the Pakatan Harapan Federal Cabinet, also outlined several challenges for Malaysia to achieve developed nation status.
“These challenges include efforts to develop the country in several aspects such as psychological, economy, social, politics, spiritual and national unity.
“To some people, the last two challenges which I have outlined may appear non-tangible but these are the facts that we need to deal with.
“It is important for us to pay attention to the spiritual, moral, ethical, cultural values, and moral development in a rapidly developing country such as Malaysia,” said Muhyiddin during the launch of the second session of the ‘Bicara Merdeka’ programme here today.
The-day long programme was organised by Akademi Harimau Asia, a digital academy under the Asian Tiger initiative launched by Dr Mahathir on April 1 last year.
Muhyiddin said the government will not be complacent despite the assurance by economists that Malaysia should already be declared a developed nation.
Meanwhile, Pharmaniaga Bhd non-executive chairman Datuk Dr Hafsah Hashim, who was one of the speakers at a forum during the programme, believed the government needs to revisit several policies and draft a new policy to ensure that Malaysia was heading towards the right path.
She proposed for the authorities to revive a policy which states that from the total government procurement, 30 per cent must be locally-made products.
“The policy will not only help spur domestic consumption but will also compel local companies to produce quality products and stimulate the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“SMEs make up 98 per cent of local businesses and is responsible for almost 70 per cent of employment for working Malaysians. SME exports have also reached 30 per cent.
“Former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz once said the dynamism and agility of the country’s economy comes from SMEs,” said Hafsah, who is also the former chief executive of SME Corp Malaysia.
Another speaker, Akademi Harimau Asia advisor Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim, proposed for Malaysia to formulate a policy for the import of foreign electric cars into Malaysia, similar to the that of the Approved Permits (AP) concept.
“We should think ahead and in the next 10 years, electric cars will be a big thing.
“Malaysia can come up with a policy requiring manufacturers to create the power source of the vehicles (batteries) right here in Malaysia. This will bring a tremendous multiplier effect to the country’s economy,” he said.
Zarif, who is Sapura Secured Technologies Bhd chief executive officer, said it was important for Malaysia to continue to reinvent itself in a challenging economic environment.