It has been a long time since I last wrote my note on the TPPA. It has been very quiet on the TPPA front, not because the TPPA is not working but because TPPA is turning into TPPA-11. TPPA-11 is not a failure of TPPA, but rather an important plurilateral high standard agreement of a new era, an agreement between 11 Parties, whilst on standby to re-accept a 12th member who has gone into hibernation.
At the home front, there are several incidences of late that have caused great uproar in the society, from the flip-flop of the pilgrimage visa registration system (luckily it is not called IMAN - or rather the lack of it) to the loss of an important piece of land belonging to a Federal agency entrusted to reform the society through social engineering. The two incidences potentially indicate lack of good governance. At the same time, there is a need to re-examine the role of the big government, where the government is supposed to be having a hand in every part of the society including in doing business. Moving towards TN 50, the government of the day has to prepare the younger generation, the leaders of the future, on how to govern the country in a sustainable manner. Note that sustainability is not just about adopting green policies, but also about ever-greening the country and the future of this great nation. As mentioned in the Brundtland Report, sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
In the first case, all new rules and regulations should go through a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). There is a trend among policy makers to rush through polices only to retract immediately after. The visa registration system was not the first, and may also not be the last. If a government department or agency adopts the RIA, as promoted by the Malaysian Productivity Corporation, such flip-flopping would not have occurred. RIA, among others, require public consultation on all new rules and regulations. Note that public consultation means real consultation and not just a one- way traffic seminar or public briefing. Public officials should consider their position after listening the different views from members of the public. As what Malay proverb says "Biar Lambat asal Selamat" or "better safe than sorry". In the era of digital communication, news travel as fast as the light. News travel faster than the speed of sound. Hence, policy makers should listen more to the public.
The article would not comment on the legality of the second incidence. However, this incidence further indicates that the Government or its agency should reduce its role in business. Do what one can do best. The Government's main job is to govern and not do to business. Leave the business to the business people. Mixing governing with business is a risky business, One may lose both the monetary capital and reputation and political capital and reputation. There is always a risk of shooting an own goal, or worse still, shooting once's own foot. The article does not say that a politician cannot be a good businessman vice versa, but the best way forward is to allow the role of specialisation to take its effect. Meaning politicians should focus on politics and businessman should focus on business. Leave business when you are in government and leave government if you want to become a businessman.
In conclusion, the article recalled the words of a former Prime Minister "enter politics after you become rich... and not to become rich by entering politics".
At the home front, there are several incidences of late that have caused great uproar in the society, from the flip-flop of the pilgrimage visa registration system (luckily it is not called IMAN - or rather the lack of it) to the loss of an important piece of land belonging to a Federal agency entrusted to reform the society through social engineering. The two incidences potentially indicate lack of good governance. At the same time, there is a need to re-examine the role of the big government, where the government is supposed to be having a hand in every part of the society including in doing business. Moving towards TN 50, the government of the day has to prepare the younger generation, the leaders of the future, on how to govern the country in a sustainable manner. Note that sustainability is not just about adopting green policies, but also about ever-greening the country and the future of this great nation. As mentioned in the Brundtland Report, sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
In the first case, all new rules and regulations should go through a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). There is a trend among policy makers to rush through polices only to retract immediately after. The visa registration system was not the first, and may also not be the last. If a government department or agency adopts the RIA, as promoted by the Malaysian Productivity Corporation, such flip-flopping would not have occurred. RIA, among others, require public consultation on all new rules and regulations. Note that public consultation means real consultation and not just a one- way traffic seminar or public briefing. Public officials should consider their position after listening the different views from members of the public. As what Malay proverb says "Biar Lambat asal Selamat" or "better safe than sorry". In the era of digital communication, news travel as fast as the light. News travel faster than the speed of sound. Hence, policy makers should listen more to the public.
The article would not comment on the legality of the second incidence. However, this incidence further indicates that the Government or its agency should reduce its role in business. Do what one can do best. The Government's main job is to govern and not do to business. Leave the business to the business people. Mixing governing with business is a risky business, One may lose both the monetary capital and reputation and political capital and reputation. There is always a risk of shooting an own goal, or worse still, shooting once's own foot. The article does not say that a politician cannot be a good businessman vice versa, but the best way forward is to allow the role of specialisation to take its effect. Meaning politicians should focus on politics and businessman should focus on business. Leave business when you are in government and leave government if you want to become a businessman.
In conclusion, the article recalled the words of a former Prime Minister "enter politics after you become rich... and not to become rich by entering politics".
