As per everything in Malaysia, the success of any initiative will depend on the plan and more importantly, implementation. Civil servants had always slackened in control and monitoring. Nevertheless, it unfair and repeating past dogmatic mistake to pre-judge any out of the ordinary effort.
The world today is, not just significantly a different environment from the past, but a whole new ecosystem is emerging. It requires new ways of seeing, and thinking. And it need be stressed that the ways and means for success have to be must totally different.
Being indifferent to present reality will lead to failure. Reminiscing over past glory is a sure recipe for disaster. Dato Najib was referring to the leader, the wolf pack he leads and his new associate by mentioning the keyword "move on" as he introduced TN50 in his budget speech.
In a brilliant strategic move, Najib ignored the one-issue political agitators to make a historic visit to China on the third day of budget debate. It moved the debate away despite attempt to tie it back.
In the meanwhile, the leak, that turned a potential landslide into what looks to be a disastrous ending to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, exposed her corporate confidante, George Soros and embarrassed his allies in Tun Dr Mahathir.
TN 50
Mahathir could only play ignorant to claim to not understand transformation. Obviously, he is easily upset with any tampering with his legacy, dynasty and crony.
The successor to his dynasty could only give a layman argument to negate the announcement by speculating on the intention. So did his renewed political associate and daughter. And, his academic mouthpie cum political surrogate too.
While, Dato Ibrahim Ali just didn't get it. Off course, he has distanced himself from Mahathir.
Mahathir must accept that Vision 2020 was a manifestation of the failure of Mahathirism. The idea government or more precisely, himself could have a tight grip on everything - government, people, ruler and business - has run its course.
He can apply his Machivellian political prowess to temporarily divert the public from facing reality. Social trend, globalisation and geo-global politics makes it impossible to sustain. He need to outlive the population to stop them from seeking change.
Mahathirism is not without its strength in a deeply rooted sense of patriotism and nationalism. It is a nation building pursuit and to instill national pride as depicted by the "Malaysia Boleh" slogan.
Problem is it is not possible to have anything a developed nation have in a sort span of time without concern for viability and sustainability.
Too much national pride without deliverable will left one with only ego. The backbone of its policies lies in Malay-centric affirmation action policies but it is not sustainable in a political environment where UMNO is losing grip on power at Mahathir's own doing.
Mahathir failed in his implementation of NEP. By the time he left, Malay wealth increased infinitesimally when compared to where Tun Razak left off.
Marred by corruption, cronyism and nepotism, Mahathir had to deceive the Malay into thinking it was 20% or some insider claimed it was a lower, 18% by including state run companies and fund. Lim Teck Ghee was way off.
Time to move on and out of his endless deception. TN50 is about "soaring upward" to look at Malaysia beyond 2020 to prepare for the youth of today and the elders'anak and cucu.
It is the move beyond 2020 that he offer the opportunity to the youth of today to contribute. By 2050, the youth today will be the elders and the rest of us long gone. They are the majority voters and 65% of today's population.
Mahathir generation and the later ones are on declining relevance and should move aside. Instead of the thinking from another Nordin Sophie, Najib given Khairy Jamaluddin to take the lead to gather the colours and together paint the future for the beneficiary of the plan. That will be the 2016-2020 phase.
It is a slap in the face to Mukhriz. Joceline view it as "a Machiavellian touch on the part of Najib".
It is Khairy's opportunity to do substantive work worthy of his Oxbridge academic and beyond photo op and selfie. He should not squander. Husni Hanazlah is an unmentioned example of failure to deliver and communicate.
Najib is a blue blooded gentleman and would not stoop to the pariah politics of typical Keling. He still gave the respect and diplomatically said Vision 2020 will remain a target.
Only it is not in the way of Mahathir's developed nation pipe dream of pyramid building and ignoring those outside Klang Valley, particularly Sabah and Sarawak. Malaysia would achieve develop nation status by 2020 but in accordance to United Nation definition and in an inclusive manner.
Historic China trip
He witnessed the historic signing of 14 agreements valued at RM144 billion. It was so "yuge", to quote a potential next US President. Some of the projects have been talked about. It is believed there is many more to come that it could reached RM250 billion.
That puts a stop to the argument against the budget. FDI is obviously the answer.
As it is, China investment in Malaysia stands at RM15 billion. Dato Seri Liow Tiong Liow was quoted saying, "This visit will see a lot of ‘firsts’ between Malaysia and China. We are going to sign 16 G-to-G MoUs and more than 15 business-to-business MoUs."
The proudest will be for his Ministry as it was announced China will be the constructing and financing the RM55 billion East Coast Rail Line.
In this biggest deal ever with China, the construction will be awarded to government-owned China Construction Communications Company. There will be 20-year soft loan from China's Exim Bank at a "competitive rate" with no interest and repayment for first 7 years. The project is for over 5-year and is schedule to start next year [read The Star here].
Najib wrote in the China Daily that all the achievement are "fruit harvested from the seed of trust' between Zhou En Lai and our true statesman, Tun Abdul Razak. It culminated into the 1974 trip that was before Richard Nixon met Mao Tse Tong.
In an interview with Xinhua agency, Najib used "strong and stable", "as a true friend and a strategic partner"and "it continuously improves and reaches new heights" to describe the relation with China. The trip saw not only economic cooperation in trade, investment, energy, industrial development, infrastructure, and others.
But also in defense, education and technological innovation.
Malaysia made a significant change to procure four Littoral Mission Ships from China. It will be completely built within 24 months through joint-venture and off-budget funding through savings from the RMN 15-5 Armada Transformation Programme
In the light of territorial tension with China, it was seen by US media CNN as "significant" and NY Times view as an act to miffed at US. Though blown up as Malaysia pivot towards China due to strained relation related to 1MDB, security analysts insisted Malaysia has not tilt away from US.
With DOJ lynch-ed, one should not shrugged anything off and expect the unexpected.
This is Admiral Najib sailing through sea of hostilities with diplomacy as his stealth destroyer. Not withstanding, diplomacy could increase imports of oil palm from Malaysia and directly benefit rakyat.
If US reject TPP, there is likely China could be invited into the new trade block. Thanks to Donald Trump, BRIC could come of age earlier than expected.
One Belt, One Road
Najib's transformation plan may have attracted critics from the comfortably complacent, but diplomacy is an area he has surpassed Mahathir. More things are achieved through diplomacy and friendship than a foul mouth.
The old man's ego must be pulverised to shreds. After all his effort to discredit Najib internationally, Xi Jinping, gave Najib the highest state honours and displays a warm personal relationship rarely seen with other leaders.
And the old man is left with political argument only appreciated by a crowd of country bumpkin forever awed and sold by his deception in some corner of Kedah .
Likely led by newly appointed exco member, Dato Kadir Jasin, the Protoons have been bandying around "Najib jual negara kepada China". Indirectly, the DAP's political partner could not shed the age old Mahathirism argument to accuse the trip as another Najib's pro-Chinese policy.
Kadir should dig up his old writings that defended Mahathir's borrowing of Yen loans. From 1969 to 2001, Malaysia was the biggest recipient of Japanese ODA at RM26.39 billion. [Read here, here, here and here].
It left the country up to the neck to repay the currency that appreciated from 240 to the dollar to 180 in a few years. Mahathir's first hit in the currency market that had currency traders sniggering. Later he found a scapegoat in George Soros. Today Yen is 103.00 to the dollar.
If the worry is China as a superpower, was it not Japan that invaded Malaya during World War II?
Occidental history is based on colonialism, imperialism, racism and slavery. So dealing with superpower is best left to skillful diplomat and not to some foul mouth old man that has passed sell date.
Apparently the sell-out argument came from CIA-PKR collaboration, the news portal Asia Sentinel and the piece, Desperate to Survive, Malaysia’s PM Sells his Country to China by Philip Bowring. Mahathir sold his soul to an enemy of the state.
DAP, the once infested with subversive operative Chinese party, was too shy and got their Indian minion to accuse Najib as putting country at risk. It is a manifestation of an age long animosity between the mainlanders and off-shore Chinese seldom described as banana - yellow outside and white inside.
If so, why then DAP Penang government became a recipient and collaborated with Chinese companies like China Harbour Engineering Company Group. Penang government gave the land reclamation contract to CCCC in 2015
It was Sarawak Report in July that raised the allegation of fraud by CCCC elsewhere. In an effort to scuttle the ECRL deal, they claimed it was jacked up from RM30 billion.
Liow's deputy refuted SR's allegation as argued by Bayan Lepas's Sim Tze Tsin as overpriced using simplistic arithmetic. The opposition was also demanding the not-the-practise disclosure of the FS and FID.
Contrary to Tony Pua's parroting of SR, ECRL was knocked down from RM70 billion and comparatively not over priced.
It would be foolish of Malaysia not to pursue the opportunity from China's ambitous masterplan. Indonesia is clamouring for China's infrastructure fund to be part of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Malaysia will benefit as part of the One Belt, One Road strategy of Xi Jianping. [read here]
Tan Sri Zeti was recently appointed on the Board of Advisor of AIIB that was established for that pursuit. Why should Malaysia look from the side and not participate in the Asian Century under China's leadership?
Najib's infrastructure plan is beyond Mahathir's that only stretches through the choicest real estate. The spending for PLUS then was multiple the amount spend on roads by JKR since the days of Tun Razak but covers a limited stretch and contributed to ever rising transport cost till today.
If executed properly, Najib's transformation will bring development and promote economic activities throughout the country and not focused in the urban areas. Any rakyat willing to work and hard will have a piece of the economic pie and not only to whom Mahathirism allow.
Cavorting with Soros
Xi Jian Peng is man of integrity and made anti-graft the cornerstone of his administration. Within this year, Xi reprimanded a high military official that could politically retaliate.
If a man resolve to fight corruption could be seen him in cordial conversation with Najib while he is left cavort with Soros, the rogue trader he vilified and bread and butter is the financial gain from destabilising governments and "regime change", it must be nerve wrcking.
The ever envious Singapore's Straits Times speculated the trip as Najib seeking China as saviour for SRC. If Duterte could mend ties with China and benefit from it, is there a 1PDB or SPC?
The opposition have been ridiculously arguing the same to create personal link to every leader Najib meet at official visit abroad. As LSS bluntly posed in his FB:
Are you pushing a pro-USA or anti-China agenda now?
"The Asia Pacific remains a high growth region with the notable exception of Japan and Singapore whose economies are actually contracting," he remarked.
"Curiously, Asia Pacific nations allied to the US are contracting faster than non-aligned states. South Korea's economy is slowing down while Taiwan's economic survival will depend on China,"
"The 'Pivot to Asia' should be understood within this backdrop. One by one, Asia Pacific nations are seeing no economic value in being allied to the United States, and they are opting out of the US geo-economic and geopolitical orbits. The Philippines — once penciled as a military anchor of the US pivot — has peremptorily aligned itself with China despite the lingering maritime disputes between them.
More so, China was the white knight for Edra and could list CGN by 2017.Again, what good does sabotaging the Malaysia-China ties do for you or for Malaysia?
Husni asked why China will only pay in 2020. The answer is thanks a million to Bank Negara, SC, Mahathir, Tony Pua, Rafizi, Clare Brown, Sarawak Report, The Edge, Nazir Razak and the list is long for railroading 1MDB. They hated China but had just made them instantly richer. It could have been Malaysia's.
As Mahathir did before with Jack Abram to meet George Bush, he paid lobbyist to get US Attorney General, Loretta Lynch to file the Kleptocrasy case against those he could link to Najib.
Loretta and DOJ got lynch-ed for intervening with FBI investigation into Hillary's e-mail, and allegation of settlement for donation to Clinton Foundation. Hillary's campaign is as claimed by US political pundit, as good as over. Only saving grace will be if the decided not change their mind.
Will the biggest Kleptocrasy case turned out to be the biggest embarassment to DOJ? To be seen ....
Mahathir claimed both candidates are terrible. And Matthias Chang can continue to curse Hillary for the war in the Middle East and accused Hillary as agent of China. He is closely associated with Global Research and anti-Hillary think tank.
It does not hide the fact that Mahathir's new found association with George Soros will link him to Hillary and Lynch. Soros is somewhat of an ideologue to Hillary. And his collaboration with Hillary is contained in the investigated emails.
Soros was revealed recently by DC Leak in a document called the Malaysia Program to bring democratic change to Malaysia through Bersih using color revolution modus operandi. The document clearly mentioned using network of our network to target the outcome of the next election.
Quiet a few organisation have been receiving funds from Soros, including Bersih, Malaysiakini and Bar Council. It is one the reason political funding for political parties and NGO too need be legislated.
If receiving money from OSF is not wrong as Zaid Ibrahim claimed, why are they quiet and afraid? Pointless for Suaram's diversion attempt. Will there be a Bersih 5.0 on October 19th?
If only it is publicly known, be it Bersih or red shirt, it is only someone's money making scam.
Soros may have denied funding to overthrow government and claimed opposition to Islamophobe but he is known for bringing down government. He would later turned up as carpetbagger investors buying bargains to be sold for easy risk free profit later and donate some to Hillary.
Open Society Foundation is part of the instrument of Council of Foreign Relation and works closely with Hillary's State Department.
He used to formerly worked with Nazir Razak and Tengku Razaleigh, and lobbied Obama to distance from Najib.
Mahathir is distancing from the China he built relation throughout his administration. He is already in the loop of US covert op. Will that mean he will be working closely with Soros, indirectly, Hillary for a while and maybe, Israel too?
Not a proud ending to a legacy.