A dynamic Ninth Malaysia Plan
M.K. Megan
January 25, 2006
New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR, Tues. A more equitable distribution of wealth and a fairer approach to ethnicity will form a major thrust of the soon-to-be announced Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said there will also be three other main principles in the programme listing out the country’s development strategies for the next five years.

They are:

• More incentives for the private sector in crucial areas such as agriculture, life sciences, information and communications technology, tourism, health and education;

• Greater effort to put human capital development as the number one priority and build a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and ideas; and,

• Further improvement of the public service delivery system and cutting the cost of doing business in Malaysia.

"We are beginning to see signs where countries traditionally regarded as laggards, including some of our neighbours, have improved by leaps and bounds. Unless we change, it will be just a matter of time before we are overtaken," Najib said.

"In strengthening the government machinery, we will not compromise on the deeper issues of building integrity, eliminating corruption and instilling ethical values and behaviour among Malaysians."

Najib was speaking at the Eighth Malaysian Strategic Outlook Conference 2006, organised by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute, on Strengthening Competitiveness and Resilience Through Regional Co-operation and Economic Integration.

He reminded businessmen that in the next phase of economic development, Malaysian companies would increasingly need to become multinational corporations themselves.

"Our early forays abroad in the ‘80s and ‘90s were useful lessons, and were perhaps borne out of our geopolitical advantages rather than deep commercial strengths.

"In this second round, Malaysia Incorporated will need to be more hard-nosed, more analytical, and more discriminating in establishing our global footprint of assets, investments and talents."

On another matter, he said setting up a Cabinet Committee was not the solution to social ills faced by Malays.

"We should take a holistic approach in solving the problems."

He said law enforcement could not solve social problems. Education and the family institution also played important roles.

He said Cabinet committees had been set up to study and solve social problems in the country.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Wednesday/National/20060125084221/Article/index_html