By Haris Ibrahim,
Khairy Jamaluddin has taken exception to Lee Kuan Yew’s suggestion that Malaysia is a failed state.
“For cynics who say Malaysia is a failed state: I was a war correspondent in Taliban Afghanistan. I know a failed state when I see one. We’re not” , Malaysiakini reports KJ as having retorted.
I think KJ is right.
We are not a failed state.
Not yet, anyway.
We’re well on our way there, though.
FreeMalaysiaToday quotes former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh as saying that our ‘existing political and administrative system as heading towards a “failed state status” within the next 20 to 30 years‘.
I think Harris is being optimistic, time-wise.
More like 10-15 years, if you ask me.
Wikipedia offers 12 indicators of state vulnerability to a nation falling into failed nation status.
In my view, at least 5 of those 12 indicators are already clearly visible in our country.
Do we not have a serious problem of ‘brain drain’ of professionals and intellectuals?
Has not the NEP inflicted upon us a sustained uneven economic development along group lines?
Is the nation not languishing under “endemic corruption or profiteering by ruling elites and resistance to transparency, accountability and political representation”? Is there not ‘widespread loss of popular confidence in state institutions and processes”?
Have we not, since the days of the Mahathir administration, endured an authoritarian, dictatorial rule in which constitutional and democratic institutions and processes are suspended or manipulated?
Are we not seeing, even to this day “fragmentation of ruling elites and state institutions along group lines by the use of aggressive nationalistic rhetoric by ruling elites, especially destructive forms of… communal solidarity”?
Khairy opines that “If we followed the Singaporean model, Malaysia would today be a failed state. We are not practically homogeneous and not the size of a postage stamp…Which is why 1Malaysia must succeed. Neither Lee’s model nor Perkasa’s ideas can take Malaysia forward” .
1Malaysia must succeed, did you say, KJ?
And PERKASA stands in its way?
Tell us, Khairy, who approved the registration of PERKASA in double-quick time?
Who approved PERKASA its permit to publish its news bulletin?
Why don’t you just go back to reporting in Afghanistan, KJ?
Khairy Jamaluddin has taken exception to Lee Kuan Yew’s suggestion that Malaysia is a failed state.
“For cynics who say Malaysia is a failed state: I was a war correspondent in Taliban Afghanistan. I know a failed state when I see one. We’re not” , Malaysiakini reports KJ as having retorted.
I think KJ is right.
We are not a failed state.
Not yet, anyway.
We’re well on our way there, though.
FreeMalaysiaToday quotes former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh as saying that our ‘existing political and administrative system as heading towards a “failed state status” within the next 20 to 30 years‘.
I think Harris is being optimistic, time-wise.
More like 10-15 years, if you ask me.
Wikipedia offers 12 indicators of state vulnerability to a nation falling into failed nation status.
In my view, at least 5 of those 12 indicators are already clearly visible in our country.
Do we not have a serious problem of ‘brain drain’ of professionals and intellectuals?
Has not the NEP inflicted upon us a sustained uneven economic development along group lines?
Is the nation not languishing under “endemic corruption or profiteering by ruling elites and resistance to transparency, accountability and political representation”? Is there not ‘widespread loss of popular confidence in state institutions and processes”?
Have we not, since the days of the Mahathir administration, endured an authoritarian, dictatorial rule in which constitutional and democratic institutions and processes are suspended or manipulated?
Are we not seeing, even to this day “fragmentation of ruling elites and state institutions along group lines by the use of aggressive nationalistic rhetoric by ruling elites, especially destructive forms of… communal solidarity”?
Khairy opines that “If we followed the Singaporean model, Malaysia would today be a failed state. We are not practically homogeneous and not the size of a postage stamp…Which is why 1Malaysia must succeed. Neither Lee’s model nor Perkasa’s ideas can take Malaysia forward” .
1Malaysia must succeed, did you say, KJ?
And PERKASA stands in its way?
Tell us, Khairy, who approved the registration of PERKASA in double-quick time?
Who approved PERKASA its permit to publish its news bulletin?
Why don’t you just go back to reporting in Afghanistan, KJ?
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