Malaysia VS Singapore

BY *AHMAD MUSTAPHA


*The writer is a nephew of Dr Mahathir.


Singapore's Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, who was Singapore 's founding father, has always been very direct in his comments. This was the man who outsmarted the communists in Singapore (with the innocent help of Malaya then and the willing help of the British) and who later outwitted the British and outpaced Malaysia in all spheres.


Singapore practices corrupt-free meritocracy and Malaysia affirmative action. The former attracted all the best brains and the latter chased out all the brains. The Singapore cabinet consists of dedicated and intelligent technocrats whereas Malaysia has one of the most unwieldy cabinets. Not only that, brain wise it was below par not even good for the kampong.


With that kind of composition, one that is very brainy, naturally Singapore , with no natural resources could outstrip Malaysia in every aspect of development. Malaysia , on the other hand, was too much preoccupied with its Malayness and the illusory 'Ketuanan Melayu' and was also more interested in useless mega iconic development rather than real social and economic development.


Whenever Kuan Yew utters anything that deemed to be a slight on Malaysia , voices were raised admonishing him. Malaysia would never dare to face reality. That Singapore had shown that it could survive was a slap on those who believed that Singapore would fold up once it left Malaysia . Therefore it was natural that these doomsayers would try to rationalise their utterances to be in their favour to combat on whatever Kuan Yew commented. Its political jealousy.


Singapore achieved its development status without any fanfare. But here in Malaysia , a development that was deceptive was proclaimed as having achieved development status. It was trumpeted as an achievement that befits first world status. This was self delusion. Malaysians are led to believe into a make believe world, a dream world. The leaders who themselves tend to believe in their own fabricated world did not realise the people were not taken in by this kind of illusion.


Lee Kuan Yew believed in calling a spade a spade. I was there in Singapore when the People's Action Party won the elections in 1959. He was forthright in his briefing to party members as to what was expected of them and what Singapore would face in the future. Ideologically, I did not agree with him. We in the University of Malaya Socialist Club had a different interpretation of socialist reconstruction. But he was a pragmatist and wanted to bring development and welfare to the Singaporeans. Well! He succeeded.


Malaysia was so much embroiled in racial politics and due to the fear of losing political power, all actions taken by the main party in power was never targeted towards bringing wealth to all. Wealth was distributed to the chosen few only. They were the cronies and the backers of the party leadership to perpetuate their own selfish ends.


Seeing the efficiency and the progress achieved by Singapore caused the Malaysian leadership to suffer from an inferiority complex. That Malaysia should suffer from this complex was of its own making.


In a recent interview, Kuan Yew said that Malaysia could have done better if only it treated its minority Chinese and Indian population fairly. Instead they were completely marginalised and many of the best brains left the country in drove. He added that Singapore was a standing indictment to what Malaysia could have done differently. He just hit the nail right there on the head.


Malaysia recently celebrated its 50th year of independence with a bagful of uncertainties. The racial divide has become more acute. The number of Malay graduates unemployed is on the increase. And this aspect can be very explosive. But sad to see that no positive actions have been taken to address these social ills.


Various excuses were given by Malaysian leaders why Singapore had far outstripped Malaysia in all aspects of social and economic advancement. Singapore was small, they rationalised and therefore easy to manage. Singapore was not a state but merely an island.



There was one other aspect that Malaysia practises and that is to politicise all aspects of life. All government organs and machinery were 'UMNO-ised'. This was to ensure that the party will remain in power. Thus there was this misconception by the instruments of government as to what national interest is and what UMNO vested interest is.


UMNO vested interest only benefited a few and not the whole nation. But due to the UMNO-isation of the various instruments of government, the country under the present administration had equated UMNO vested interest as being that of national interest. Thus development became an avenue of making money and not for the benefit of the people. The fight against corruption took a back seat. Transparency was put on hold. And the instruments of government took it to be of national interest to cater to the vested interest of UMNO. Enforcement of various enactments and laws was selective. Thus a 'palace' in Kelang, APs cronies and close-one-eye umno MPs could exist without proper procedure. Corruption infested all govt departments, the worse is the police and lately even in the judiciary.


Singapore did not politicise its instruments of government. If ever politicisation took place, it is guided by national interest. To be efficient and to be the best in the region was of paramount importance. Thus all the elements like corruption, lackadaisical attitude towards work and other black elements, which would retard such an aim, were eliminated. Singapore naturally had placed the right priority in it's pursuit to achieve what is best for its people. This is the major difference between these two independent countries.


Malaysia in its various attempts to cover up its failures embarked on several diversions. It wanted its citizens to be proud that the country had the tallest twin-tower in the world, although the structure was designed and built by foreigners. Its now a white-elephant wasting away. It achieved in sending a man into space at an exorbitant price. For what purpose? These are what the Malays of old would say "menang sorak" (hollow victories).


It should be realised that administering a country can be likened to managing a corporate entity. If the management is efficient and dedicated and know what they are doing, the company will prosper. The reverse will be if the management is poor and bad. The company will go bust.


There are five countries around this region. There is Malaysia , and then Indonesia . To the east there is the Philippines and then there is that small enclave called the Sultanate of Brunei . All these four countries have abundance of natural resources but none can lay claim to have used all these resources to benefit the people. Poverty was rampant and independence had not brought in any significant benefits to the people.


But tiny Singapore without any resources at all managed to bring development to its citizens. It had one of the best public MRT transport systems and airlines in the world and it is a very clean city state. Their universities, health care, ports are among the best in the world.


It is impossible to compare what Singapore has achieved to what all these four countries had so far achieved. It was actually poor management and corruption, and nothing more. Everything is done for the vested interest of the few.


Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines and the Sultanate of Brunei need good management teams. They would not be able to do this on their own steam. I would advise that they call on Kuan Yew to show them what good governance is. Why look East to Japan when it is just next door across the causeway.

The World of Less & Less

I got this from an email... Interesting and funny... =D

The World of Less & Less

Today?,

Our communication... Wireless

Our phones... Cordless

Our cooking... Flameless

Our food... Fatless

Our desserts... Sugarless

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our labor... Effortless

Our relations... Fruitless




Our attitude... Careless

Our feelings... Heartless

Our politicians... Shameless


Our government... Useless


Our education... Worthless


Our mistakes... Countless


Our arguments... Baseless


Our youth... Jobless


Our ladies... Topless


Our boss... Brainless

Our jobs... Thankless

Our needs... Endless

Our situation... Hopeless

Our salaries.. Less and less..........

Ah Pek and The Pope

This email I got from my mum...

About a century or two ago, the Pope decided that all the Chinese had to
leave Italy . Naturally there was a big uproar from the Chinese
community. So the Pope made a deal. He would have a religious debate
with a member of the Chinese community. If the Chinese win, they could
stay. If the Pope wins, the Chinese would have to leave.

The Chinese realized that they had no other choice. So they picked an
old man named Ah Pek to represent them.

As Ah Pek was not conversant in Italian language, he asked for one
condition to be added to the debate.
'To be fair', he said, 'neither side would be allowed to talk'.
The Pope agreed.

On the day of the big debate, Ah Pek and the Pope sat opposite each
other for a full minute.

Then the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers.
Ah Pek looked back at him and raised one finger.

The Pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head.
Ah Pek pointed to the ground at where he sat.

The Pope pulled out a loaf and a glass of wine.
Ah Pek pulled out an apple.

The Pope stood up and said: 'I give up. This man is too good in
religious knowledge. The Chinese can stay.'

An hour later, the cardinals were all around the Pope asking him what
happened.
The Pope said, 'First I held up three fingers to represent the holy
trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there
was still one God common to both our religions.
Then I waved my finger around me to show him that God was all around us.
He responded by pointing to the ground and showing that God was also
right here with us.
I pulled out the wine and loaf to show that God absolves all sin. He
showed me an apple to remind us of the original sin.

He had an answer for everything. What could I do??'

Meanwhile, the Chinese community also crowded around Ah Pek and asked
him what's happened in the debate.
'Well', said Ah Pek. 'First he indicated to me that all Chinese had 3
days to get out of here. I raised my third finger and asked him to f*@k
off, and that none of us was leaving.
Then he pointed that this whole city would be cleared of Chinese. I
showed him that we are staying right here.'
'Yes, and then???' asked the crowd.
'I don't know', said Ah Pek, 'He took out his lunch, and I took out
mine.'

Nice Email!

I got this very nice email from my friend... So true, and so touching...


1.很清楚的知道她不合適自己，可是更確定的是他不會主動說分手。

他只是耗著等著，直到有一天女生自己受不了忽冷忽熱、若即若

離的態度，或是等到年華老去不得不下決定時，自己選擇離開。

妳的主動離開，我沒有負心，反而是尊重與成全妳的決定。



2. 半年後發現，他居然可以跟一個只認識三個月的女生步入禮堂，

令她晴天霹靂，才明白他不是不想結婚，不是真的不婚主義者，

說穿了只是他不想跟妳結婚。

八年的愛情長跑比不上三個月的感情。


3.
這位故事中的男生是我的朋友，現在也已經結婚半年。

當他聽到劉若英的「後來」，居然會無法克制的流眼淚，想起

的是他交往八年的前任女友。

為什麼會難過，因為妻子身上有著前任女友的影子，

他才明白其實他喜歡的就是這種類型的女孩。




4.
可是人往往很矛盾，
喜歡她的倔強與有性格，卻受不了她的嬌縱。

喜歡她的落落大方，卻受不了她的朋友一堆；

你愛她的小家碧玉，就不要怪她不夠大方；

你愛她的活潑大方，就不要批評她像花蝴蝶一樣。

戀愛談的愈長，結婚的可能性就愈低，

所以有時候戀愛的長度與結婚的可能性成反比。



5.
喜新厭舊是人性，日子久了，會結婚不是為了愛情，而是責任

感的驅使。婚後的他才慢慢的發現，當時的那一段感情其實不

是不愛，是時間太久了太長了，把愛情給磨掉了，再遇到另一

個女孩點燃了愛情的火苗，星星之火足以遼源，把枯竭已久的

愛情給予生命，所以倉促的決定結婚。

等到真的結婚後，愛情降了溫，才慢慢的發現其實妻子的身上

有著許多前任女友的影子，他比較愛的人其實還是前任女友，

可是他娶的卻不是她。

這樣的情節不知道是不是也在別處同樣上演著？



6.
學生時代的愛情很單純，出社會以後總想等工作穩定以後再結

婚，工作穩定以後又想等有一點積蓄買車子、買房子以後再結

婚，等著等著，等到愛情被時光給消磨，等到第三者介入點燃

了對方心中激情的火苗，乾柴烈火不可收拾以後，曾經在年少

一起織夢的理想全都抵擋不了新鮮感的激情，所以琵琶別抱，

到最後步入禮堂的都不是在一起同甘共苦、共同經歷過寒、暑

假，等當兵的人。





7.
所以奉勸各位女孩子，

如果對方真的是你想結婚的對象，不要想著有房子有車子有金

子，有了一切再結婚。

現實是，等他有了一切，他的身價暴漲是有價值的單身貴族，

他必需要面臨的是更多的誘惑，妳長久以來的等待與年輕時許

下的山盟海誓都難以抵擋誘惑排山倒海的來。

就像我現在若不嫁他，非得等到他有車子有房子還有存款時再

結婚，那時新娘有極高的可能不是我。

因為要等到什麼都有還要幾年？

有能力的男人就像酒愈久愈香醇，女人則像麵包一樣有賞味期

限，青春是女人的天敵。

如果我是他，等到我三十五歲，什麼都有是個有上千萬身價的

黃金單身漢，我並不需要一個很有能力而年過三十的女人來幫

襯我，我寧可選個如花似玉，年輕貌美的女生，也許沒有什麼

工作能力，至少發揮了賞心悅目的功能，一個真正有能力的男

人，不會在乎一個女人是否能在他的財富上加乘。

遇上對的人，莫等待莫蹉跎，也許沒有房子沒有車子，只要他

認真上進，他就是張有潛力的積優股，早點進場獲利更高。






8.
也提醒各位男士，

如果對方真的是你想好好疼愛的女人，別讓她等太久，
有她一起陪你奮鬥應該是很美好的一件事除非你心中有其他的想法，

否則別讓愛情等太久，把真愛都磨掉了！雖然聽起來很殘忍,但

身邊的家人朋友都有類似的例子。



真愛，就不要等，除非是不想結婚......