The Leadership of Prime Ministers Malaysia

THE LEADERSHIP OF PRIME MINISTERS MALAYSIA Prepared for KRISHNAN A/L NARAYANAN, Tutor of OUM Open University Malaysia Jalan Tun Ismail, 50480 Kuala Lumpur By BONG KEE HONG, Student OUM 381a, Lorong 7a, Jalan Semaba, 93250, Kuching, Sarawak 871019526779001 25 June 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACTPage 2 1. 0 INTRODUCTION Page 3 2. 0 Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad 2. 1 Background and CharacteristicPage 4 2. 2 Policies: Vision 2020 (Wawasan 2020)Page 5 2. 3 Challenge and Objective of Vision 2020Page 6 2. 4 The Effect of Economic and SocialPage 8 3. 0 Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak 3. 1 Background and CharacteristicPage 10 . 2 Policies: One Malaysia (1Malaysia)Page 11 3. 3 Aspect and Objective of One MalaysiaPage 12 3. 5 Focusing of Economic and SocialPage 13 4. 0 Comparisons Advantages of Both Policies in Unity DevelopmentPage 14 5. 0 CONCLUSIONPage 15 BIBLIOGRAPHIC Page 16 ABSTRACT This report focus on the policies bring out from our prime ministers. Malaysia has been led by six prime ministers. Among all of them, the two famous policies was introduce by forth prime minister Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad with “Vision 2020” and present prime minister Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak with “One Malaysia”.
Characteristic of both prime ministers will be discussed. This report will focus on the objective of each policy and the challenge to archive the goal. This report also will make comparisons both policy advantage in developing unity among Malaysians. 1. 0 INTRODUCTION Since year 1957, Malaysia independence led by our first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman. From our first prime minister until present minister (sixth) Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, many policies has been bring out from each prime minister. Each of the policies is to develop our country to a new era either economic or socially.
For example, present Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak introduce “One Malaysia” and forth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad with “Vision 2020”. Each of the prime ministers has their own ability and leadership characteristic to lead our country. 2. 0Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad 2. 1 Background and Characteristic Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad born year 1925 in Alor Setar. He did his early and secondary education in his home town. In 1947, he gained admission into the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore. He became active in he United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in 1946. He enter parliament in 1964 by general election but lose it on 1969. After Tunku Abdul Rahman resigned, Mahathir re-entered UMNO and parliament, and was promoted to the Cabinet. By 1976, he had risen to Deputy Prime Minister. In 1978, he won the Deputy President seat. In 1981 was sworn in as Prime Minister after the resignation of his predecessor, Hussein Onn. Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad became the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 16 July 1981 and stepped down as Prime Minister on October 31st 2003.

He held the post for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, making him Malaysia’s longest serving Prime Minister. His political career pned almost 40 years. As Prime Minister, Mahathir was credited with engineering Malaysia’s rapid modernization and economic growth, and initiated a series of bold infrastructure projects. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad opened the country to foreign investment, reformed taxation, reduced trade barriers, the privatization of numerous state-owned enterprise, besides creating a world-class physical infrastructure. He also sought to bridge Malaysia’s ethnic divides by increasing general prosperity.
Mahathir’s record of curbing civil liberties and his antagonism to western diplomatic interests and economic policy made his relationships with the likes of the US, Britain and Australia difficult. As Prime Minister, he was an advocate of third-world development. In 1991, he launched the New Development Policy, which emphasized industrial and commercial development and the elimination of poverty. Under Tun Dr. Mahathir’s leadership, Malaysia developed into one of the most prosperous and dynamic economies in Southeast Asia. Always with one eye on the future, Tun Dr.
Mahathir Mohamad unveiled Vision 2020 in 1991, a blueprint for Malaysia’s journey to becoming a developed economy and a mature democracy by the year 2020. 2. 2 Vision 2020 (Wawasan 2020) Vision 2020 or “Wawasan 2020” is a Malaysian ideal introduced by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad during the tabling of the Sixth Malaysia Plan in 28 February 1991. Prime Minister has presented a paper entitled “Malaysia-Melangkah ke Hadapan” (Malaysia-Heading Forward) which contains a framework for thinking and a goal to achieve as a developed nation by 2020. The purpose of this paper is o present before you some thoughts on the future course of our nation and how we should go about to attain our objective of developing Malaysia into an industrialized country. Also outlined are some measures that should be in place in the shorter term so that the foundations can be laid for the long journey towards that ultimate objective. The vision calls for the nation to achieve a self-sufficient industrialized nation by the year 2020, encompasses all aspects of life, from economic prosperity, social well-being, educational world-class, political stability, as well as psychological balance.
Vision 2020 is not a specific policy but a reaction to the economic, social and political conditions prevailing at the national and international levels that have a great challenge to the country. This vision was put forward as a guideline and framework on which approach should be taken in initiating measures for the long journey to be taken by the state. 2. 3 Challenge and Objective of Vision 2020 Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad outlined 9 strategic challenges that Malaysia must overcome before year 2020 to achieve “Vision 2020”. Challenge 1: Establishing a united Malaysian nation made up of one Bangsa Malaysia * Challenge 2: Creating a psychologically liberated, secure and developed Malaysian society. * Challenge 3: Fostering and developing a mature democratic society. * Challenge 4: Establishing a fully moral and ethical society. * Challenge 5: Establishing a matured liberal and tolerant society. * Challenge 6: Establishing a scientific and progressive society. * Challenge 7: Establishing a fully caring society. * Challenge 8: Ensuring an economically just society, in which there is a fair and equitable distribution of the wealth of the nation. Challenge 9: Establishing a prosperous society with an economy that is fully competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient. The first issue generate is formation of union races (Satu Bangsa Malaysia) in our country. Malaysia is a country contains many different races. A sovereign country cannot classify their people by race, ethnicity or skin color. The formation of union races is the prerequisite to achieve vision 2020 because without the idea of nation in people mind, any form of cooperation will not go forward. The term like national unity, loyalty to country, harmony and tolerance must be understood and practiced time by time.
Second issue is the countries consider a developed nation status if they can manage to change the pattern of economic from farm to be an industrial life. Vision 2020 requires people to continue transform since independence because the present achievement is still in the middle of the requirement. The reason of transformation slower because this process involves not only the transformation from farming to industrial life but it also involves changes in technology, economic, social and cultural. The skills and expertise in science and high technology community are important to developed countries.
They not only can copy or modify from others but they must be able to create and update. It is certainly related to the contribution of trade and commercial sectors and directly involves capital, investment, competitiveness, quality of employment, independence and consistency challenges. In this stage, the role of the private sector is enormous because it will be the main growth. Social and economic justice also one of the important issue happen in achieving Vision 2020 and the most harder part to united and developed nation.
This is because in a developed country should not have a big wealth gap between their people. This vision statement is to solve the issues major concern like socio-economic balance between people, between regions, between states or between urban and rural areas. The passion to achieve this balance was subsequently translated into the national development policy objectives and implemented through programs and projects of the Sixth Malaysia Plan. The forth issue are moral and ethics society. The concept of the developed countries is characterized by a materialistic but our Vision 2020 is to uilt a developed countries style ideally guided by the philosophy of high morals and ethics based on religious beliefs. High philosophy of moral is important for material advancement because without moral values ?? and ethics will not create peace and harmony society. Practice of moral values ?? (as in the policy application of Islamic Values) will be the internal barrier that does not abuse the skills or wealth. Families form the basis of society and society will be the basis of nation-building. This means that the strength and progress of a country started on families and communities.
Family and the community will shape the quality of individuals who are either national or leaders of a country. The culture encompasses values ?? and the way to desired goals in this vision should be driven from the outset. This requires people to realize the importance of family institutions in developing countries and take necessary steps to create a family and the perfect society. 2. 4 The Effect of Economic and Social Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was making Malaysia economy grew strongly and the name of country outshine internationally.
Throughout his 22 years of leadership Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who knew as Asia Little Giant by western country leading in Malaysia. During his term as Malaysia Prime minister, he turned Malaysia into a regional high-tech manufacturing, financial, and telecommunications hub through his economic policies based on corporate nationalism, known as the various “Malaysia Plans” which set out the government middle-term objectives. These policies remained in effect almost to the end of his tenure in office.
The example of his projects have included Perwaja Steel, an attempt to emulate South Korea and Japan, the Proton car company, and Astro, a satellite television service. He is credited with spearheading the phenomenal growth of the Malaysian economy, now one of the largest and most powerful in South East Asia. Growth between 1988 and 1997 averaged over ten percent and living standards rose twenty-fold, with poverty almost eradicated and social indicators such as literacy levels and infant mortality rates becoming on par with developed countries.
During the leader of Mahathir, he done many contribution to our Mayalsia, for example, the North-South Highway, which has cut transport times in half on the west coast of Malaysia; the Multimedia Super Corridor; Port of Tanjung Pelepas; the glittering Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, and an adjacent Formula One circuit; the Bakun Dam, meant to supply all of the electricity needs of the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak; Olympic-class stadium in Bukit Jalil; and the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world, and the world’s tallest building from 1997 to 2003, that have become symbolic of modern Malaysia. While such projects have their benefits, corresponding high costs have made some Malaysians reluctant to engage in more of such ventures, believing that the money can be better spent on other areas of development. On the other hand, Mahathir has always argued that such projects yield a direct return to the economy, apart from just serving the national pride, as government spending in turn creates jobs along with other multiplier effects. 3. 0 Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak 3. 1 Background
Dato’ Sri Najib, the eldest son of Malaysia second Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, was born 23 July 1953 in the district of Kuala Lipis, Pahang. He received his primary education at St John’s Institution and continued secondary education at the Malvern Boy’s College, Worcestershire, England. Upon completion of his secondary education, Dato’ Sri Najib enrolled at the University of Nottingham and graduated in 1974 in industrial economics. Dato’ Sri Najib joined the national oil company, Petronas, as an before he taking the chances into politics in 1976. Dato’ Sri Najib win an election with unopposed as Member of Parliament at the very young age of 23. Dato’ Sri Najib was appointed the Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications nd Posts and also served as Deputy Education and Deputy Finance Minister. In the 1982 general elections, he stood in the state seat of Bandar Pekan and was subsequently appointed the Menteri Besar of Pahang until 1986. In 1990, Dato’ Sri Najib was appointed Defence Minister, a senior position within the government by the Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad. In 1995, Dato’ Sri Najib was appointed as Ministry of Education. During the 1999 general elections, Dato’ Sri Najib received a major majority votes. Following the elections, he was appointed Defence Minister for the second time and preceded with the modernization of the Armed Forces which came to a halt following the financial crisis of 1997.
In 2004 general elections which came a few months after Dato’ Sri Najib elevation as the Deputy Prime Minister, him winning his parliamentary seat majority. He remained as Defence Minister until September 2008 when he took over as Finance Minister in 2008 from Dato’ Seri Abdullah. Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib was appointed as Malaysia’s 6th Prime Minister on 3 April 2009 but he still holds the Finance Ministry post. He succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who did not seek reelection as Umno President. 3. 2 One Malaysia (1Malaysia) The one Malaysia concept comes from Dato Sri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, the sixth Malaysia prime minister.
This concept complementary approaches are available for strengthen unity to ensure stability, to progress and higher development of the people and Malaysia. One Malaysia having a slogan “People First, Performance Now”, this concept fulfils the aspirations of Malaysians in line with the allocation enshrined in the Federal Constitution and National Principles. The slogan ‘People First, Performance Now’ is a concept in administration that suggests government leaders execute their tasks efficiently, trustworthily and responsibly for the sake of the people. To achieve development for the country, the people must progress first and this begins with creating an attitude of acceptance among the different races that will lead to unity.
Globalization wills raises many victims isolated from the speed of development. Malaysia having different races and religion, we need to act as one race, Malaysia race towards a same goal to built Malaysia progressive and peaceful. The One Malaysian concept seeks to strengthen relationship and cooperation among racial-ethnic people in this country as the main instrument to thwart the various threats and challenges that aim to threaten and disrupt the sanctity of their lives. One Malaysia emphasize attitudes among people understand races, in which people receive a unique race another patch so that we may live together in peace mutual respect as citizens of a country.
Our foundation is the principle of justice for all races, which means that the fate of all races will be taken care of, and none will be marginalized. Justice must take into account the status of the progress of the generations are at different levels. One Malaysia is the continuation of nation-building agenda. The pre-condition to achieve developed country by Vision 2020, the most important condition is that country citizens united strong and stable. 3. 3 Objective of One Malaysia One Malaysia concept is having 2 main objectives, implementation of core element blend and application of the aspiration values. The first objective implementation of core elements blend, government try to applying elements of unity as a culture and practice of all Malaysians.
The thrust of this unity is the basic component that strengthens the unity among people of all races. Unity is supported by the core values ?? that should underpin the way Malaysians live. There will be 3 main core unity apply to achieve objective. First, acceptance, one Malaysia emphasize acceptance of the attitude of people of all races, in which a people accepted the uniqueness of the others so that we can live together in mutual respect as a people of one nation. It is a significant increase from just tolerance. Secondly, all races Malaysia learn from the based national principles federal constitution and rukunegara. The last core unity is social justice.
All people would be taken care of and no one will be marginalized. This justice must take into account the standards of the races are at different levels. Therefore, government policies and the provisions of the Constitution which gives the defense the needy will continue to be implemented. The three core unity is supported by values. The values are respect, humility, simplicity and being language. The second objective will be application of the aspiration values. These values ?? are founded on the concept of aspiration 1Malaysia; there are the values ?? that should be on a progressive and dynamic community that will drive the country towards achieving developed nation status.
Aspiration values ?? will help in creating a workforce that is viable and able to compete in the global environment and in turn help boost the national economy to a more sturdy and robust. There will be 8 aspiration value, among there are high performance culture, culture accuracy, culture knowledge, integrity, perseverance, loyalty, wisdom and innovation culture. 3. 4 Focusing Economic and Social Our present Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Najib since year 2009 has introduce many economic policies among them, the most famous are new economic model, economic liberalization, reform of government subsidies, free trade agreement and stimulus package.
The goal of new economic model was transform Malaysia economic become high income and quality growth by 2020. By 2020 Malaysia will not only have the GNI per capita of a high-income economy, it will also have a number of the key characteristics of a high-income economy. To achieve the goal by 2020, transformation team PEMAMDU try to increase the service sector account from 58% of GDP in 2010 to 65 percent in 2020. The domestic consumption will be a key driver of growth because private sector will account 59% of GDP by 2020 compare to 54% in 2010. This situation will bring Malaysia as a developed economic country as well as Taiwan and New Zealand.
The structure of economic Malaysia will be less dependence on resource-intensive industries such as oil and gas exportation. Malaysia will become more urbanized country because the population will increase from 64% to 70% growth in main city, Kuala Lumpur. The achievement prove that our country is in the way to the goal while greater Kuala Lumpur will be a primary engine of economic growth, there will also be growth opportunities elsewhere in the country such as the development of the solar industry in Sarawak, the development of a global biodiversity hub to attract more tourists to Sabah and the commercialization of paddy farming and improvements in palm oil yields.
Malaysia will have grown a number of new national and regional champions by 2020. These companies will drive long-term growth in areas including financial services, business services and healthcare. In addition, SMEs will play a more significant role across the economy. For instance, in education, agriculture and electronics and electrical, SME participation will be actively encouraged through financial support, better access to research and technologies and improving infrastructure. 4. 0 Comparisons Advantages of Both Policies in Unity Development The advantage of One Malaysia is the idea of harmonizing the various races in the country without changing the identity of these groups.
The first challenge in vision 2020 establishing a united Malaysian nation made ?? up of one nation Malaysia. One Malaysia remains the characteristic of each races and unity our nation. Both of the polities is toward to the unity our races but One Malaysia only specified it to remain the specifically of each races. Both of them having advantage compare to the concept of Malaysian Malaysia is a policy that continues to thwart the basis of the existing social structure. Justice proclaimed in the concept of Malaysian Malaysia taken blindly. Unity is described by One Malaysia very different from the concept as practiced in other countries where ethnic identity is removed and replaced with a similar national identity.
As we know our county contains different ethnic with different culture. Concept One Malaysia press on acceptance that our entire nation should accept other’s culture and characteristic. The Challenge number 4 in vision 2020 that establishing a fully moral and ethical society. These make sure our society will respect other’s ethic morally. Both of the policies create peaceful society to unity our nation. Concept 1Malaysia appreciates and respects the principles of the Constitution and ruku negara. The ethnic identities of each ethnic group in Malaysia and regard them as assets to be proud of. But Vision 2020 more on fostering and developing a mature democratic society.
This will give vice from each group of ethic to voice out and protect their right. Both of the policies bring unity to our country but just in a different ways. In Vision 2020, the challenge number right ensuring an economically just society, in which there is a fair and equitable distribution of the wealth of the nation. This is the justice more on the economic way to unity our nation. In Concept 1Malaysia also emphasizes the integration and the creation of nation Malaysia on the third core unity concept – social justice. Both of the policies is unlike the Malaysian Malaysia is limited to equality regardless of the reality and history of Malaysia. 5. 0 Conclusion
At first glance seem to Vision 2020 is a purely economic vision as it concerned the question of economic development for Malaysia to become an industrialized nation, but if it is actually more refined than that because it touches on matters related to social aspects and ways of life such as the formation and the nature of race, morality and ethics, national culture, human resource development and others. Vision 2020 is not a slogan proclaimed, but it is a framework for action framework of action for every citizen to take measures and ensure that Malaysia become a truly prosperous and progressive. In this context the vision requires a number of important challenges, including the quality of ork produced by the education system, changes in attitudes and values, emphasis on scientific and technological circumstances, planning, and the role of the private sector more dynamic. 1Malaysia concept brings the aspiration to strengthen race relations to ensure that Malaysians can forge closer unity as outlined. Things should be created in the spirit of solidarity is the sense of mutual respect and trust between people. People need to understand and practice that all actions necessary to satisfy the national interest. All people need to assume that they are Malaysian race where everything should be enjoyed together. Malaysia is a country where there is no society or people who are marginalized from enjoying the development and defense of the government.
Indeed, all people should be the underlying fundamental principles of togetherness and belonging to the success of both policies concept. Bibliography Hasnah Hussiin, Dr Seri Lanang Jaya Hj Rohani. (2008). Malaysian Studies. Malaysia: Meteor Doc. Sdn. Bhd. Mohamad, T. D. (1996). Wawasan 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2011, from Wawasan 2020: http://www. wawasan2020. com/ N. A. (2008, November 14). Perspektif Wawasan 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2011, from 1 Klik: http://pmr. penerangan. gov. my/index. php/component/content/article/88-dasar-dasar-negara/255-perspektif-wawasan-2020. html Razak, D. S. (2009). 1 Malaysia. Malaysia: Pejabat Perdana Menteri.