THE much anticipated new economic model launched by the Prime Minister yesterday is a disappointment because it has missed out on strategies on alleviating regional imbalances in national development.
For example, a key disadvantage to Sabah’s economic competitiveness is our higher freight charges caused mainly by the federal Cabotage Policy which favours shipping lines based mainly in Peninsula Malaysia. This issue has been completely left out of the NEM.
Of the eight key sectors, only oil and gas, oil palm and tourism are directly relevant to Sabah. And even then, the potential of these three key sectors are because of Sabah’s own natural resources-oil and gas, land and eco-tourism assets. These are the assets of Sabah that have contributed to the national economy and not the other way round.
It is also worrying that the NEM has omitted forestry as a key sector. Although state revenues from timber royalties has dropped over the years, forestry remains a key sector in Sabah because of its great potential in terms of scientific research, environment, eco-tourism, carbon trading and employment in wood-based industries. Forestry remains one of Sabah’s biggest factors in our economic development. This should not have been omitted.
To boost confidence in Sabah, it would have been timely to commit the federal government to the building of the Labuan Bridge in the 10th Malaysia Plan or at the latest the 11th Malaysia Plan. The NEM also missed out on any strategies to enhance maritime activities and trade in East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). These are macro issues that are relevant to Sabah’s well being but not included in the NEM.
Our new economic model should have answers on the crisis of youth unemployment, over reliance on foreign workers, living wage and escalating costs of living. Sadly, these are lacking in the NEM. Another area that the NEM is lacking in is an energy policy. On the one hand, the government talks highly of green technology but on the other hand, Tenaga Nasional (TNB) insists on a coal power plant for Sabah.
SAPP feels that it is responsibility of the BN governments, at both the state and federal levels, to rectify these shortcomings and defects in the NEM. Failure to do so would condemn Sabah and our people to another decade of economic backwardness, misery and dependence on federal hand outs.
By: YONG TECK LEE (sabahkini)
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
NEM MISSES OUT ON SABAH’S INTERESTS
About sabahdaily
It seems unfair to say that this plan (NEM) is bad or misses out Sabah interest since it was just being announced & not fully implemented yet. The good & bad side of this plan will not going to be seen until it is implemented for 1-2 years. Making assumption will not going to change the 'filling' of this plan, but it can hamper the efforts to organize & run this plan because of the 'bad feedback' from the public.
ReplyDeletein my opinion, we should wait for this plan to be fully implemented & see whether it has successfully delivered the impact to the relevant field/sector...
* 1) Menyuburkan kembali sektor swasta untuk menerajui pertumbuhan ekonomi;
ReplyDelete* 2) Membangun tenaga kerja yang berkualiti dan mengurangkan kebergantungan kepada pekerja asing;
* 3) Mewujudkan ekonomi domestik yang berdaya saing;
* 4) Memperkukuhkan sektor awam;
* 5) Melaksanakan tindakan afirmatif yang telus dan mesra pasaran;
* 6) Membina infrastruktur yang berasaskan pengetahuan;
* 7) Meningkatkan sumber pertumbuhan ; dan
* 8) Memastikan pertumbuhan yang mapan.
refer this link: http://pemudasarawak.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/teks-ucapan-pembentangan-meb-oleh-pm/
whether we get advantages or disadvantages, better we read together and make your own conclusion of what is contained in the NEM. do not depend on the conclusions of others who tend to oppose it.
that's right, do not be influenced by any negative opinion, while it has not been implemented yet to avoid bad feedback. as Lucas said it may interfere with the government's efforts to run this plan.
ReplyDeleteSabah has always been neglected.
ReplyDeleteLemme continue roxy's sentences.
ReplyDeleteSabah has always been belittle and look-down at. why? WM feels inferior towards EM..
But we will wait and see what will happen when the plan be implemented. It will be one helluva of a day..;)
True Lucas. We should wait & see first. Don't simply make negative assumptions before the plan fully implemented.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, let every economic model has it's own pros and cons. I hope Najib make the right moves by introducing NEM..
ReplyDeleteApa yang menarik perhatian saya terhadap isu ini ialah tentang hasil-hasil perhutanan untuk diketengahkan sebagai penjana ekonomi Sabah. Bukankah sekarang ni industri perhutanan semakin malap? Saya setuju jika industri perhutanan tu melibatkan hanya melibatkan konsep agroforestri dan bermaksud pokok-pokok komersil seperti Acacia dan Teak dll. digunakan sebagi sumber ekonomi Sabah. Terus terang ramai penyelidik Sabahan actually melanjutkan kajian penyelidikan di hutan-hutan di negeri ini pada peringkat Ijazah Sarjana dan PhD dengan dibiayai oleh negara-negara seperti UK, Jepun, Holland dll. Ramai pelancong berkunjung ke Sabah adalah kerana keindahan hutan yang dimiliki. Selain tu income yang didapati juga adalah baik untuk negeri ni? Jadi khazanah hutan yang sedia ada adalah wajar untuk dipulihara. Cadangan, fokuslah kepada industri AGROFORESTRI?
ReplyDeleteSabah leader regardless their politic background must stand firm to fight for our right. If there are unfair to Sabah, they should stand together to claim what should we deserve to have.
ReplyDeleteWalau Sabah terutamanya kawasan bandar banyak dibangunkan, hakikat yang tidak dapat dinafikan, kita jauh ketinggalan berbanding negeri2 lain di Malaysia.
ReplyDelete