YOURSAY ‘There is more to developed nation status than just money.’

DAP: Why compare us with backward nations?

Fairnsquare: It has always been a norm to lower the standards rather than meet challenges upfront as a culture in the BN administration, No meritocracy, just call us tuans and we are happy, even though the standards are pariah. Now we have someone telling us the facts and we are ready to kill the messenger. When will we ever learn?

The Analyser: My guess is that there would be a set of parameters set by professionals which would fit Malaysia's expectations. So that there would be no need to keep comparing ourselves with other countries, ie, we would be comparing our performance with our own expectations.

But once again it's the insecure members of society who don't have any self-confidence and who need an ego boost by constantly comparisons with other countries. For example, you would need to be crazy in the head to compare yourselves with South Korea, Japan or Singapore at a financial level. Or with Afghanistan or Turkey on a moral level. There is more to developed nation status than just money.

Casey: Malaysia is inarguably one of the richest countries, in term of natural resources per capita in Asia Pacific. Yet, beneath the Umno government’s self-proclaimed success, our economy is fast slipping behind as result of misconceived socioeconomic policies, the propagation of a corrupt culture, the gross usurpations of civil liberty, and the systematic erosion of democratic principle.

Back in 1980, the average income of Malaysians, as measured in purchasing power parity or GDP PPP per capita of approximately US$2,300, was comparable to that of South Korea and Taiwan. But alas, 34 years on, South Korea and Taiwan's GDP PPP per capita has grown at a multiple of 15 and 17.6 times to about US$34,500 and US$41,500 respectively. Our GDP PPP per capita, on the other hand, grew less than half the pace to US$18,500.

The fight for economic existence is an ongoing war. But BN's aversion to change and complacency in dismantling the failed doctrine of Mahathir Mohamad's socioeconomic policies - with its fundamental and structural flaws - is leaving us lagging further and further behind in a fast-changing world.

In fact, these structural flaws are now hanging like the sword of Damocles - threatening to derail our continuing progress as a nation and our future. Our dated socioeconomic formulas no longer work. And if mismanagement continues to be tolerated and left unchallenged, it is almost certain that we will lose the war.

Fairplayer: Losers have that weak tendency to compare with those weaker than them, while winners are challenged to compete with those stronger than them!

When I was studying in a Chinese primary school in the late 50s, our passing mark was 60 out of 100 marks! Later, when I was transferred to a Christian Mission school in 1959, the passing mark was 50 out of 100, which remained so in all other schools till 1979, when even Mission schools accepted 45 as passing mark.

Today, a lot of school kids are happy if they make it to 40 marks (latest passing mark!) out of 100. Pathetic. How to compete in a globalised world?

David Dass: It is nonsense to compare ourselves with backward nations. We have a different history. We are a wealthy nation. We are a democratic society. We have a written constitution, an independent judiciary and we generally adhere to the Rule of Law.

We have set a target for ourselves. We want to be a developed nation by 2020. So we cannot lower our expectations. We cannot pander to those who are insecure and mediocre.

We must push the brightest, inspire them to do their best, give them the tools they need to learn and develop their skills and potential. And that must include the English Language. University learning is largely self learning. Ninety-nine percent of library books are in English and knowledge accessible through the Internet is also largely in English. Or in French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Chinese, etc. So we must be at least bilingual.

Who are our competitors ? They were Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan. Now they are Thailand, Vietnam, India, the Philippines and Myanmar.

World citizen: You will find Malaysians of all races who are reliable and hardworking. Unfortunately they are led by imbeciles and fourth world politicians.

Ex-PJ: Be careful, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, very seditious talk! No criticism allowed.

Fair&Just: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, you reap what you sow. After decades of corrupt, dishonest, cheating and evil dishonest practices, this is the outcome and more negative traits are forthcoming. Good constructive advise fell on deaf arrogant and corrupt ears. Oh yes, this is their culture anyway, and will not be heeded. Just brace for the onslaught of justice and retribution.

Anonymous_3f4b: Typical DAP reaction to things that don’t sound good to Malaysia. Always criticising and condemning but offer no constructive solutions except to work up the emotions of the electorate. Has the DAP ever praised the government for doing something good? Nay, never in your lifetime.

These DAP politicians enjoy all the perks of office in a safe and secure environment due to the good development and economy brought about by the government but always find something to put the government down.

Matter of fact if not for the low international rankings that Malaysia holds, people like Teresa get voted in not because she is good and intelligent but because the voters are dissatisfied and want change and will vote in any opposition monkey, PAS included, to Parliament.

Teresa would not have won if the government had been strong and on par with the developed countries as the voters will then be thankful for the excellent leadership of the Barisan government and have no reason to change.

Anonymous #19098644: The BN idiots can only compare themselves with losers and bigger idiots than themselves, that’s why.

Middle path: Don’t think they have the good of the nation in mind. Corruption is tolerated, or rather, practiced, to enrich those with power. As for falling behind other nations, think they care? Personal pockets filled to the brim being all that matter.

Beh Tahan: We are good. Top 500 here, Top 1,000 there. Fantastic. We are first (from the back).

Anonymous_Ingrates: PM where have time for you, Ms Kok. He is abroad on a holiday again.

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