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Let Us Know The Strategy On Globalisation As Formulated By The Government Think Tank And The Steering Committee Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw on the Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's desire to humanise globalisation on 8 June 2000 | |||||||
| Globalisation means greater flow of goods, services, funds, ideas, inforamtion, technology and crimes in the world. There are good and bad things. In the 80's and 90's last century until mid July 1999, many countries benefited from it as shown by the 7-8% annual economic growth and big foreign direct investment in Malaysia. Transnasional companies shift their activities from one region to another, from United States of America, USA and Western Europe, European Union, to Asia. They may then go from Asia to Africa or back to Latin America if the political climate allows. With the USA granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relation, PNTR, and China's imminent admission into the World Trade Organisation, WTO, globalisation flowers in China and other parts of Asia. Whether we like it or not, globalisation is there. We are in it. What you lose on the savings you gain on the roundabouts. After Malaysia has become a form of an economic tiger, currency speculators attacked it, causing grievous bodily harm--an economic crisis since mid July 1999. Because of inherent weaknesses in the Malaysian economy such as mismanagement, corruption and cronyism, the crisis has been made worse. Since October 1999, the Government has set up a think tank and a steering committee to study the effects of globalisation in the country. We hope that they come out with a strategy which would show Malaysians the ways to grapple with globalisation. We are behind Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan in many aspects of globalisation. We use these three as yardsticks because they are nearer home and they were once behind Malaysia in many things. For example, in Internet and e-commerce, they are ahead. We have Multimedia Supercorridor, MSC, which is still struggling. We have to double our efforts to make it a success. Meanwhile, Singapore is moving forward. On 4 June 2000, the Deputy Prime Minister spoke on globalisation at the 14th Asia-Pacific Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur, listing out its perils and prospects and the need for its humanisation. For example, Dato' Seri Abdullah | |
says:"Except in the most authoritarian and closed societies, it is no longer possible to monopolise or control information as they all once used to. "The Internet, in its present configuration, conceals within its dark recesses powerful forces of destruction even as it informs, enriches and empowers. "We in the developing world are much better equipped and infromed to handle our own problems without asking for third-rate help from third-rate dogmatists," he asserted. The Deputy Prime Minister proposes six solutions, namely, (1) spreading the benefits of globalisation more widely and more equitably at home and globally; (2) better regulation of financial markets like currency markets; (3) treat liberalisation more sensitively and sensibly; (4) disabuse ourselves of double standards; (5) adapt our domestic and international governance systems and (6) must not bind ourselves to any dogma. How do we control the vagaries of globalisation? Just as other countries, Malaysia plunged into globalisation blindly. They that know nothing fears nothing. A burned Malaysia dreads the fire. Does the Government intend to control this embryonic and open system which is yet to flower in its full bloom? Malaysia embarks on capital control as a measure. How long will it last in the tidal waves of globalisation? Is it possible to have a form of domestic control or collective control such as ASEAN commanding the pace and direction of globalisation? Whatever the exhortations, adaptations of a governance system to globalisation takes a painfully long time. For instance, we have our 850,000-strong civil service with its positive and negative or fixed mentality. Many pays and will pay lip services to change. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. It is not just the civil service. Other organizations are in the same boat. The leopard can't change its spot. Meanwhile, information technology and other aspects of globalisation march on relentlessly. The pen is mightier than the sword. Now, the Internet is mightier than the nuclear weapon.
Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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