Article 2
Malaysia on the path to recover, revitalise,reform
Source: NST, December 23, 2020 @ 7:09pm
With the aim of leaving no one behind, the PN government hasshown that it cares for our lives and livelihoods greatly amidthese trying times. - Bloomberg pic
LETTER: Malaysia is back on the path ofrecovering, revitalising and reforming after being battered by thedeadly Covid-19 pandemic.
Not only the Perikatan Nasional government has introduced asuper friendly-budget that focuses primarily on getting the peopleand the country back on their feet, it has also garnered theirsupport via the RM305 billion package, said to be one of thehighest in Asia.
Indeed, the bold and giant steps taken to safeguard the peopleand prop up the economy will make them even better to marchforward. The PN government's focal priority has always been on thefight against Covid-19 with something for everyone and to ensurethe rakyat's prosperity, business continuity and economicresilience remains the focus during these unprecedented times.
And so, when the accusations in the form of an article came,with the headline "Malaysia – a country in decay?" as carried by anews portal, I was truly devastated and angry. In his article, thewriter, a local, claimed he was asked by an expatriate friend whyhe came back to Malaysia after living in the United States as hisfriend had labelled Malaysia as a racist nation.
The writer blamed Covid-19 travel restrictions as the reason hewas still working from Malaysia. Hope he would not end up likeother Malaysians who had given up their Malaysian citizenship onlyto repent later! I strongly feel that as a Malaysian, he shouldhave been more nationalistic and patriotic in his writing. Ofcourse, he is free to write just about anything else in this wholewide world but he should give credit where it is due.
Saying Malaysia is in decay, he went on pointing out that thecountry was experiencing a massive brain drain, the reason whyhighly-skilled people were leaving the country in droves,unfavourable business climate for investors, overdependence onforeign workers and lastly, the country's education system which hesaid was in shambles. On education, he also said the deterioratingstandards and uncomfortable emphasis on religion had driven thenon-Malays to abandon national schools.
Surely, he doesn't even know what he is writing about? If thiswriter strongly feels this way, then he should aptly settle downelsewhere, definitely not this country which has given him so muchfor what he is today! No one could have predicted that Covid-19would raise a perfect storm, hitting Malaysia and the world overhard this year! Instead of condemning the government throughsweeping and general statements, he should have given constructiveopinions or ideas on ways to help people badly hit by the virus,especially the vulnerable groups, instead of the other wayround.
The virus has very much cancelled everything for everyone. Liveswere upended, livelihoods under strain. I am wondering why only nowhe is hurling all sorts of allegations against the government whichhas been around less than a year. He should have been fair andresponsible!
As it is, in less than one year, the PN government, in myobservation as a responsible citizen, has done and is still doingits best to develop the nation. If the pandemic had not struck, Istrongly believe that it would have done far better in running thecountry.
The World Bank, in its blog, stated that despite myriadchallenges, there were encouraging signs that Malaysia was ridingit out comparatively better as its economy rest on strongfundamentals.
It also said recently that a diversified economic structure, asound financial system, an effective public health response andproactive macroeconomic policy support have all helped soften theblow of the pandemic. It also said despite the enormous uncertaintyover the timing of a return to economic growth, there is light atthe end of the tunnel.
The blog also stated, the government is set on not just gettingout of the health crisis but also trying to get into better shapethan it was before, so it is able to withstand the next one. Amulti-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic country, Malaysiais not a racist nation but one that is moving forward with optimismin terms of intercultural and interreligious relations.
Generally speaking, for the writer's information (in case he haslong forgotten his Malaysian root), we, Malaysians, arepeace-loving people who for the most part have lived harmoniouslyfor centuries and who have been keeping the country together.Multi-ethnicity is an asset and a challenge for us all but weunderstand it very well.
With the aim of leaving no one behind, the PN government hasshown that it cares for our lives and livelihoods greatly amidthese trying times. Malaysia will show a better ending than what wehave anticipated if all its people work hand-in-hand to help eachother. So, stop making sweeping statements or generalising thatonly border on provocation as this could derail racial integrationand harmony of this country.
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