1M PM6 : 30 % gone, merit scholarship...what else?

“We are restudying the distribution of scholarships under the Public Service Department scheme to introduce a new category.

“We will announce it next year and with the plan to limit the Sijil Pelajaran Malay-sia to 10 subjects, we expect to see a more level playing field,” Najib Tun Razak

1. 1M PM6 is working hard to win over Malaysians. Within the space of less than 3 months, he has proposed new populist measures to shore his image and leadership style.
2. The populist measures taken by Najib are :-
   • Lifting of 30 % Bumi rule for 27 services sub-sectors;
   • New category of scholarships, purely based on merit;
   • Done away with 30 % Bumi quota requirement for companies in Bursa saham Malaysia

3. In a nutshell, is this an act of desperation or an act of "openess"? It depends on which side you are on, either pro-BN or pro-opposition. Let us discard our political stand and see the issue in a bigger picture...
4. On 22nd April 2009, 1M PM6 Najib announce the lifting of Bumi rule for 27 services sub-sectors with immediate effect.
5. The sub-sectors involved are health & social services, tourism services, transport services, business services, computer and related services. These services sector account for 55 % to the GDP in 2008 and the government wanted to tap the full potential of the sub-sectors, aiming to increase its contribution to 60 % of GDP.
6. June 28 2009, Najib again goes for another landmark announcement. This time 1M PM6 announce that the government will introduce new category of scholarships, purely based on merit. This will take effect from 2010.
7. If the first announcement in April did not catch the Chinese attention, the second announcement will surely convert the Chinese back to support BN.
8. For icing on the cake, Najib's third announcement on government's decision on 1st July 2009 to do away with 30 % bumi equity requirement will floor the investors and hopefully will attract both local and foreign investors to open their business in Malaysia.
9. This is the right time for the investors to start investing in Malaysia. The announcement open up new possibilities and new horizons as the new policies will give Malaysia the edge in the competitive market.
10. Of course the detractors, especially the one-time Finance Minister will say that the move is not enough to propel and generate our economy. They can come up with alternatives and views but whether their model can work is another matter. Just as long as they can sell their ideas politically, they will be more than happy to oppose Najib's moves.
11. Some, like Lim KS will still complain about the scholarship and the merit system. Others may say that the services sub-sectors does not affect the Malays etc etc.
12. However, I see Najib's moves as a key move to checkmate the system where the "30 % bumi equity" has always been related to "UMNO" equity. In short, to UMNO, Bumiputra is UMNO and UMNO is bumiputra. The rest, non-UMNO members are not "bumiputra".
13. That means, Najib's announcement hit UMNO warlords and UMNO division chiefs more than it hurt the average Malay. It is good and here, we can see later how many of the warlords will continue to sing praise to Najib, now that their "financial pipeline" has been severed.
14. Najib has to do what he did. It is his political life now hanging at a balance. He needs to gain the support once "automatically" accorded to BN. Along the same line, he needs to get a strong backing and commitment from other BN component parties.
15. As for PR, their populist approach is fast dwindling as Najib is making all the populist moves. PR needs to go back to the drawing boards and map out new strategies to sustain their popularity.
16. The question is, Najib has done his part. What about the follow-up? Will it be coming? Will BN ministers work on Najib's policies or will they dilly dally on the implementation part? I laeve it to your judgement...whether to go for or against the policies outlined by 1M PM6.
    

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are...