 | | | | ||||
|  [
Index
] | ||||||
 | |||||||
| | | | | |||
We Hope That The Malaysian Prime Minister Use Similar Criteria To Evaluate Domestic Conditions As Those Used By Him In International Forums Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad's advice to Southern Africa International Dialogue about the negative aspects of globalisation. 22.8.2000 | |||||||
| There are good and bad things about globalisation and the motives of developed countries. We would like to avoid the bad things such as the antics of rapacious currency traders. Malaysia had the good things in the 80s and 90s last century, ending in the July 1997 economic crisis in which the claws and fangs of globalisation wreaked havoc. The Malaysian Prime Minister lists the woes of globalisation, admonishing poor countries against repeating the mistakes. Speaking at the Smart Partnership gala held in conjunction with the Southern Africa International Dialogue, SAID 2000, Maputo, Mozambique, Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad says: "Nation building is not only about the lowest cost, it is equally about social justice and a conducive environment for the development of human dignity. It is also about the ability and freedom and flexibility to make strategic choices in finance, trade and investment for oneself." "If they (the negative aspects of globalisation) are (mentioned), they are attributed to things like bad governance, lack of democracy, cronyism, etc," he added. He is unconvinced that developed nations will not allow developing countries to compete on a 'level playing field' in a globalised world. Mahathir has a basis about the drawbacks of globalisation and the need for social justice, a conducive environment for the development of human dignity in nation building and the ability, freedom and flexibility to make strategic choices in finance, trade and investment for oneself. At the height of the economic crisis, the Government chose to go it alone while other countries such as South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia sought the help of the International Monetary Fund, IMF. It has seen Malaysia through the initial stage. Now, the selective capital control and the inflationary pressure are causing concern. The Prime Minister speaks eloquently in international forums on many topics like human rights, globalisation, social justice, | |
human dignity, and democracy. We can learn the positive aspects of developed countries such as science, technology, governance, transparency and accountability. It has taken a country like U.S.A. over two hundred years to reach the present. Yet it does not have a good human rights record. We have a degree of racial and religious tolerance in Malaysia. If we use Mahathir's criteria about social justice, human dignity, conducive atmostphere and choices on the state of the nation, we can see the weaknesses. True, the overweening currency speculators clobbered small countries like Malaysia. But, it is not just the woes of globalisation causing the damage. Our inherent weaknesses such as corruption, cronyism, the lack of transparency and cronyism are contributing factors. The Prime Minister cannot deny that that these factors exist. They may not be as rampant as some countries. Yet, they are there. Even in the attempt to get a 'level playing field' for the underprivileged such as the New Economic Policy and the quota system, we can see so much misuses and abuses. While it is essential to narrow the gap between the haves and the havenots, let us also tackle these misuses and abuses. Then, we may be able to talk about a conducive atmosphere. We admit that it is easier to criticize than to correct the wrongs. We hope that that Mahathir would use his criteria in international forums to reassess the negative aspects in this country.
Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
| | | | | ||||
 | | |||||||
| [ Home | Political | Medical | Personal ] | Article #227 | |||||||
| [ Recent | Archives | Forum | Feedback ] | [
Index
]
| | | | |
| | ||
