Malaysians should prepare for the new millennium by laying strong foundations for an equitable, competititive and civil society which will not only propel Malaysia to a world-class developed status but also be a world model of a harmonious and civilized multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious nation.
Towards this end, let Malaysians focus on four areas in each of the next three years before the new millennium to strengthen the national foundations for such goal.
For 1997, let Malaysians focus on the following four areas which will strengthen the moral fibre, democratic institutions and national competitiveness:
1. National war against corruption.
Although other countries, most notably South Korea, had courageously dealt with the demon of corruption in high political and public places, Malaysia has still to grapple with this problem.
1996 is ending with one question uppermost in the minds of all Malaysians - whether tears shed by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamed at the UMNO General Assembly in October when he warned that money politics can lead to the ruin of the party, race and country, would be in vain for the lack of a follow-up crusade against corruption in high political places.
It is no exaggeration to say that the handling of Muhammad Taib’s case has become a test case as to whether Malaysia will finally grapple with the demon of corruption in high political places - or whether this will have to wait until the next millennium under a different administration.
2. Restoration of public confidence in the independence of the judiciary.
Public confidence in the independence and integrity of the judiciary was severely battered in the past year, especially with the 33-page “poison-pen” letter making 112 allegations of corruption, abuses of power and misconduct against 12 judges.
The restoration of public confidence in the independence and integrity of the judiciary and the reconciliation between the Bench and the Bar should be regarded as the two top priorities in the administration of justice in the coming year.
3. Launch a nationwide “IT For All” campaign
As Malaysia’s future, our competitiveness, prosperity and place in the world would be determined by the ability of all Malaysians to take a quantum leap into the Digital Age as master Information Technology (IT), the country should launch a nation-wide “IT For All” campaign to promote IT-literacy.
The “IT For All” campaign should have as its twin objective to ensure:
4. Promote democratic culture and human rights
There must be a conscious national effort to promote a democratic culture and human rights, as in allowing greater press freedom in both the printed and electronic media, more space for dissent and NGOs, encouraging the development of grass-root democracy as in restoration of elective local government system and a review and reappraisal of the functioning of the system of parliamentary democracy where Parliament can play a more meaningful role in the decision-making processes of the nation.
(31/12/96)