[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 05 Aug 1999
Time: 05:19:43
Remote User: -
Mahathir: Malaysia needs world-class 'new talents'
By Esther Ng and Hazel Ong
KUALA LUMPUR: World-class "new talents" are needed to steer the country into the next millennium, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.
Launching the National Economic Consultative Council (NECC) II at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday, he said the challenge now was to have high achievers to further reduce the imbalance between the races.
In the past, he said, the country had wasted a lot of resources training unqualified individuals.
"We had not taken into account the capabilities of those given opportunities or exposed them to enough experiences.
"Because of this, many of our efforts have failed and there was wastage. Although there were successes, they did not meet the investments put in," he said.
Due to this, one of the major objectives of NECC II was to reduce the economic gap between the races.
"When we implemented the National Economic Policy (NEP), we were inexperienced in restructuring society. We tried anything which we thought would improve the bumiputras' chances to keep up with the others," Dr Mahathir said.
"In the previous two policies (NEP and New Development Policy), the focus had been to churn out local bumiputra businessmen but now we want to mould world-class entrepreneurs," he added.
Dr Mahathir also pointed out that the import of food was the biggest source of funds outflow.
He said that while the concentration had been placed on the development of rubber estates, oil palm and cocoa plantations, other yields such as vegetables, fruits and flowers were far more lucrative.
He said the country should exploit other agriculture fields.
Lamenting the lack of confidence in Malaysian-made products, the Prime Minister called for a change in attitude.
He said Malaysian products were made to suit the country's climate unlike goods from abroad which did not meet the people's cultural and religious standards.
NECC II, made up of 155 members, is an official forum to look into the achievements of the NDP and formulate the country's new socio-economic policy after 2000.
Members comprise farmers, fishermen, doctors, lawyers, corporate leaders, petty leaders, pensioners, and student leaders.
Also in the council are representatives of political parties, minority groups, women's organisations, chambers of commerce and industry, trade unions, and environmental groups.
The NECC II covering the period 2000 to 2010 will take off from the NDP and the second outline Perspective Plan.
During a press conference later, Dr Mahathir said representatives from opposition political parties in Sabah and Sarawak have also been included as members.
The NECC II is expected to submit its first report to the Cabinet in September next year.