屋檐下的四眼仔: November 2006

华陀铁打
最近，因为打 badminton 而弄伤了背部，很痛。连弯腰、转身都感觉得痛。回家自己搽了几天药，还是不很"掂"。最后还是乖乖的跑去看跌打。这间跌打馆并不是一般传统的跌打馆。店内装璜得很得体，付费可以碌卡，而且还有 Website 的添。但羊毛出在羊身上，我忍痛给他扭两下，敷了帖药，就要了我 85 块，真他妈的"死别"贵!! 50块填补在馆子的装修和 maintain website & hosting 吧! 真的是疼在心里、痛在背上。可怜...
如果黄飞鸿在世，他的宝芝林应该会比较便宜吧!他们应该向黄师傅学习，赠医施药、以济贫苦，所谓医者父母心。

While Malaysia Fiddles, Its Opportunities Are Running Dry
By Michael Backman
The Age

http://www.michaelbackman.com/LatestAgeColumn2.html

超赞!当我读到这篇论言，我就马上发送给朋友们分享。尤其是那段什么建Olympic Stadium in London 啦, 送太空人升空，之前还说要在太空上抛 roti canai, 玩teh tarik. Bullshit!! 好心，简直是有辱我们人民。花这么多人民的钱，去搞一些不切实际的东东，简直是不知所谓。自己的本事还没到家，却以假借旁人的本领而引以为荣，自欺欺人! 其实旁人只会摇头、一笑置之。连太空梭是怎么样、怎么驾、该往那里走都不清楚，就要吵着上太空，就好像搭 Taxi 去太空。可怜...

有时，也很喜欢读他的blog - LIM KIT SIANG 林吉祥
在他的blog里的Economics category,你也可以找到同这个课题的Post. 当中有90 多人给予comments.

以下是Michael Backman 回应马来西亚读者的详文:

Malaysia Boleh II..Michael Backman's Response
Michael Backman
November 17 2006

The response to my recent column 'While Malaysia fiddles, its opportunities are running dry', published in The Age newspaper on November 15 has been overwhelming. I've received hundreds of e-mails and messages, many from Malaysians both in Malaysia and outside, of which perhaps 95% have been supportive. Thank you for these. It seems that the column has given voice to concerns that many Malaysians have.

I'd like to emphasise (and as many of you realise already), that I wrote the column as constructive criticism. I like Malaysia very much. I visit often and have many Malaysian friends of all races. I've also written a lot that is positive about Malaysia in the past, most notably in a previous book of mine - The Asian Insider: Unconventional Wisdom for Asian Business, which has no less than five chapters to explain to people outside Malaysia why I feel that Malaysia should be given more credit than it gets.

There have been many achievements. There is much about which Malaysians can be proud. Malaysia, for example, is far more politically mature and developed than is Singapore. The media is more open too (but of course not as open as it could or should be.) Malaysians are more entrepreneurial too. AirAsia started in Malaysia and has revolutionised air travel across Asia. In Singapore, there is very much a sense that the government has to do everything.

I also believe that the NEP, which has seen special advantages given to bumiputeras over other groups, has been important for Malaysia. It has been essential for nation building. Malaysia is peaceful and while the various groups may not mix much there is clear mutual respect between them. That is a huge achievement.

However, the problem as I said in my column, is waste. And also the use of statistics that are blatantly wrong. Malaysia also has a big problem with transparency. Too little account is made of how other people's money is spent. The police too are way too corrupt for a country as developed as Malaysia. The rote learning that is practiced in the schools also needs to be done away with. Generations of Malaysian children are missing out on an education that should teach them how to be creative and critical - this is what a truly modern, boleh country needs. Again, my comments are meant to be constructive. And I make them as a non-Malaysian largely because many Malaysians feel rightly or wrongly that they cannot say these things themselves in their own country.

Since my column was published, plans for a new RM400 million Istana have been announced and the Agriculture Ministry parliamentary secretary has told Parliament that Malaysia's first astronaut will be playing batu seremban and spinning tops and making teh tarik while in space. There are countless scientists around the world who would give anything for the opportunity to go to space and do real experiments.
For the Malaysian government to send an astronaut into space to play Malay children's games serves only to re-emphasise my point about waste. Not only that, it makes Malaysia look infantile in the eyes of the rest of the world, which is a great pity when Malaysia has made so many real achievements. The world is getting more clever, more competitive and more dynamic every day.There are too many in Malaysia who don't seem to understand this.

Of course my views are just that: my views. But I have spent most of my adult life analysing and writing about Asia. I am direct and critical; I do not veil my criticisms because I don't want to waste my time or yours with readers trying to guess what I really mean. Open debate is absolutely critical for all modern, dynamic countries. The free flow of ideas and information helps to make countries rich. Political leaders cannot do everything on their own be they in the UK, Australia or Malaysia. They need help. Otherwise they make mistakes. And when they do, whose fault isthat? Those who prefer to stay quiet? And should I as a non-Malaysian be commenting on Malaysia? Of course. Malaysian political leaders and commentators routinely comment about other countries. That's how the world is now, an inter-dependent, global world. And the world is much better for it.

I will write another column about Malaysia soon.