By KINIBIZ
As the 58th National Day comes this year, to be followed with the 52nd Malaysia Day anniversary in a little more than two weeks after, spare a moment to reflect on the nation’s journey so far.
Our economic growth story has been remarkable, at one time dubbed an economic miracle with astounding growth rate year after year. The fundamentals remain sound to this day despite the recent turbulence which affects many other countries due to factors beyond our control.
On the flipside, however, we have much to mourn. Extremism and racial tensions rise as liberty remains curtailed. Governance standards increasingly become a mirage while our public institutions face a crisis of public trust.
The recent twists in a RM2.6 billion “donation” scandal followed by a ridiculous banning of Bersih – and now the absurd banning of Bersih T-shirts – is but a culmination of the slippery slope we began slipping down so many decades ago.
So how do we go about repairing this beloved nation of ours from here? It is an immense undertaking. And likely never to complete, likely going beyond our lifetimes to that of our children.
But start we must. Because this nation does not only belong to us, but we owe it to our children to leave behind a somewhat better place for them to call home.
Meantime here’s a selection of our best news, analyses and comments this past week for your reading pleasure:
The AirAsia-MAHB feud. Low-cost carrier AirAsia and airport operator Malaysia Airports have always had a testy relationship, but things escalated sharply with a recent letter of demand for RM409 in damages dating back years. Where did it go wrong and what is the feud really about? KINIBIZ delves deeper in a three-part series. Click here, here, and here.
The kampung boy who made good. Johor-born Puan Chan Cheong only experienced electricity and piped water at age 13. Since then it has been a long and arduous journey for the self-made entrepreneur, who eventually founded two well-known companies in the Malaysian tech industry. Follow his journey from the beginning here, here, and here.
DEIG to improve ‘passive’ MBI flaws, says CEO. The proposed state investment arm Darul Ehsan Investment Group (DEIG) will improve the flaws and shortcomings of Menteri Besar Selangor Inc (MBI), says MBI group chief executive officer (CEO) Raja Shahreen Raja Othman to KINIBIZ. Find out more here.
Missing persons from that economic committee. On Aug 25, the prime minister announced a special economic committee “to ensure growth and momentum will continue… in this challenging times”. But several key persons, including the prime minister himself, and other funny details raises a quandary. Read here.
A tale of two airlines? The turnaround of ailing five-star carrier Malaysia Airlines thus far would remind many observers of how Australia’s Flying Kangaroo or Qantas started its own turnaround. Can new man in charge Christoph Mueller do what a fellow ex-Aer Lingus alumnus did down under? Read here.
A radioactive bank to be welcomed. In the 1960s world leaders made a mistake: they did not constrain uranium enrichment and plutonium processing. While the aftermath has seen much debate, an important development is a new fuel bank in Kazakhstan, launched Aug 27. How significant is this? Read more here.
What should China do? The Chinese government’s heavy-handed efforts to contain recent stock-market volatility – the latest move prohibits short selling and sales by major shareholders – have seriously damaged its credibility. What should — and can — the authorities do in lieu of its questionable approach so far? Read here.
The emerging market currency rout. With the currencies of Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico hitting record lows recently, currency traders around the world are asking: How much further can emerging market currencies weaken? Unfortunately the turmoil looks set to stay. Read here.
Like these stories? Get more for just 87 sen a day. At a promotional price of RM318 per year, you can have full access to KINIBIZ online for your daily dose of business updates plus a free copy of our fortnightly KINIBIZ magazine. Click here.
Because whether you prefer online or print, morning coffee tastes so much better when you have the sharpest reads in town to sip to – for a sweet deal at that.
— by Khairie Hisyam Aliman, News Editor
You must be logged in to post a comment.