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By my standards, Tawfik is rich man. Material gains are not a yardstick of one's success. The integrity of a family and the good name of a family is worth more than gold.

I support the TDI Foundation for the growth of intellectuals however the danger of politicising this foundation remains. No point building monuments that can be crushed and let untended...

Perhaps Hishamuddin and KJ be made the champions in UMNO to explain to its UMNO members why the sacred cow need to be slaughtered for the benefits of all Malaysians.

The Star Online > Nation
Friday March 23, 2007

Musa: Brief Umno on why it has to give up NEP

By MEERA VIJAYAN

JOHOR BARU: Umno should have a special briefing to explain to its members why it was time to give up the New Economic Policy (NEP) for the success of the Iskandar Development Region (IDR).

Iskandar Development Region Authority (IRDA) advisory council member Tun Musa Hitam who proposed this also volunteered to be one of the speakers at the briefing.

He said that there were already hundreds of Malays who had the capability to do business and on merit.

As someone who had been active in Umno for several decades, Musa said, he realised that there was a need to have a change in mindset to draw investors to the country.

“The briefing should explain what the IDR is, its implications to the country and to the Malays,” he said during a press conference at Danga Bay after the book launch of The Reluctant Politician: Tun Dr Ismail and His Time.

In the last few decades of the NEP, the country used to have an Ali Baba way of doing business where Ali would give his name and Baba would do all the work.

“As time went on, Ali and Baba became equal and Ali was able to deliver as much as Baba. Now, there are even Alis who are using the Babas not as sleeping partners but as equals,” he quipped.

Musa also said that foreign investors who came to the country were not interested in the NEP, cronyism or nepotism as their primary focus was on making money.

He suggested that instead of imposing conditional approvals, a more palatable method would be to provide potential foreign and local investors with a list of Malay entrepreneurs who were capable of doing business and leaving it the investors to decide.

Musa said that he had already asked for a computerised master list of all Malay entrepreneurs to be drawn up and the list would include their current grades as well as their past performance and track record which would be made available to any investor.

“The IDR is an opportunity to demonstrate that we have arrived and we are able to do this,” he said.

I got to know about this book and the late Honourable Tun through excerpts of his book from NSTP. I have managed to hunt down this book in Borders Time Square (under Asian History section). I was sad that none of the major bookstores carried them (perhaps they are carrying them now)

Being born post Tun Ismail era, I don't know about this man. My primary school hall bears his name "Dewan Tun Dr Ismail" but I don't think we know who this person is at that time and until now.

This is a must-read book for anyone who is interested in post-Merdeka events that have shaped the country and more so post-13 May. Impartial and principled-centered, Tun showed us the middle path and brought sanity to the nation. Yet, despite his contributions to the nation, which in my views, exceeds any present leaders and politicians, are left unknown. He espoused the idea Malaysia Malaysian as well as the calling for NEP to be time-bound for the sake of the said race.

As the PM recognises Raja Mohar as a national hero, let us recognised the late Tun Dr Ismail as one of our founding fathers and that he should stand tall among the Prime Ministers of Malaysia. He should not be the no. 2 or no. 3 person, forever lost in our memories. Although he was not the kind of person who seek glory or fame, the nation forever owes its debt to this man for his contributions and sacrifices in health to us. Malaysia at 50 years old should make him THE towering Malaysian for all to emulate.

Jeff,
A correction is required here.
Tawfik Ismail was *NOT* an MP for Johor Baru. He used to be an MP for Sungai Benut.
SabaM

JEFF OOI says: Thanks for correcting the errata. Appreciate it.

After reading the book, the guy seems too good to be true. I mean, the guy actually said no to Tunku Abdul Rahman by responding to a request with this:

"I think you know the rules"

Whoa.....

JEFF OOI says: The essence of a mature reader is, besides reading for information, to reach for wisdom therein.

"Why waste that kind of money? I am a taxpayers, too,"

Speaks volumes of the integrity of the son. He has done proud of his father by upholding principles and maintaining the honour and integrity of Tun Dr Ismail.

My hats off to you, Encik Tawfik.

On my next vist to a "major" bookshop, I will purchase the book.

off topic...
I am one of the few from that generation who gets peeved when people refer to TTDI without so much of a thought to the man whom the Taman is named after.

It is rare to find influential politicians’ children not to get involved in direct politics but they are still well connected to get things done. Tun Musa’s call for future leaders to emulate Tun Dr Ismail is a noble one and would be just a call only. Who would want to be “straight and follow rules & principles only and have to beg one day?” as the saying goes.
His book launch has eclipsed his sounding in his Bloomberg interview (Mar 21st) suggesting the abandonment of the NEP to kick-start the Johor IDR which is in the doldrums since its launch. This was a well orchestrated move, as immediately PM Abdullah in a keynote address at Invest Malaysia 2007 Conference announced several measures to boost the equity market, property sector and the South Johor Iskandar Development Region.
Apparently the leaders have come to their senses now. Now WHY can’t they swallow their pride and announce them right from the launch date of IDR? Precedents have been set in the MSC companies where they gave exemptions from Foreign Investment Committee rules, freedom to source capital globally and unrestricted number of foreign employees. Meekly you find even MB Ghani supporting such measures and the task is now to explain to the grassroots especially the greedy Bumiputra Conractors who saw the opportunity to grab all but no substantial investments came in to offer work.
Another interesting development is the establishment of Exchange Traded Funds (ETF's) -to be listed on Bursa Malaysia by year-end. GLCs would participate in these ETF's by selling a portion of their portfolios in exchange for units in the ETF's.
More details of Abdullah wide ranging goodies in a bid attract new private sector and FDIs at:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2007/03/abdullahs-new-measures-attract-private.html
and the support for these crucial measures

I recommend everyone to read the book. Books that give insights during the 60s are somewhat rare in Malaysia, since this book also gives the rare thoughts of Tun Ismail, it was a must buy for me!

To me it showed a different Malaysia, before more conservative UMNO leaders took over the party; gone were the days of the party loving, drinking malay politicians...

anyway jeff, i read a blogsite (sipm.blogspot.com) that made fun of this posting: it referenced the word "plague".

JEFF OOI says: Ah Anonymous bloffers aka 'Penembak Pencuri? Thanks for contributing to my traffic count. ;-)

Maybe you meant "plaque"?

a "Q" instead of a "G"...

JEFF OOI says: "G" seems easy target on punchbag.

This is the best Malaysian political bio I have ever read. Better than Tunku's. The one which comes closest is Tan Sri Dr Tan Chee Koon's.

It brings new insights to the May 13 tragedy and the subsequent NEP. More important it highlights what a great Malaysian Tun Dr Ismail was and where we could have been as a nation - streets ahead - if he had lived. And yes, we would not have Mahathirism and its consequences.

I disagree with an earlier writer that it is a shame that bookshops do not carry the book. I have tried a few months ago to buy the book and went from shop to shop. Only to be greeted with a 'sold out' smile. I believe this book is one of the best selling bio of a Malaysian. It subsequently went into reprint. I bought five copies to give away.

To Malaysian of all races, please read the book if you have the chance. It shows the vision of this great man and where we should be heading (and do).

My fave part - Annuar Ibrahim the student leader was leading a demo and a crowd when out from the door at the back of the police van opened to reveal Dr Ismail with his pipe - he was Home Affairs Minister. Annuar continued forward without realising that his fellow demonstrators have ran helter skelter upon seeing Dr Ismail. Class act !

Peace
pengembara