By Rosli Khan
The reality is that, by and large, Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s economic policies mostly benefited the wealthy.
In hindsight, it is now apparent that many of these policies displayed the worst traits of capitalism – enriching a few at the expense of many. They created a handful of billionaires under an assumption that their wealth would eventually trickle down to the poor.
We now know that this was a fallacy – the trickling down never happened, and it never will. Instead, much of the wealth generated by these billionaires has been stashed abroad.
Meanwhile, the poor in Malaysia, including the marginalised Orang Asal, have seen no improvement in their conditions.
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We learned during the recent Nenggiri by-election that residents in the constituency did not even have access to an ATM, let along banking facilities, until days before they cast their votes.
Despite over six decades of independence, the plight of the poor remains unchanged, with little hope of relief in many areas outside of Klang Valley, including the regions of Sabah and Sarawak.
Starting point
Misguided policies in the transport sector have to take a share of the blame, specifically those that relate to highways, railways, airports, ports and shipping.
The dismantling of these policies can be considered low-hanging fruit, which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim can easily take advantage of.
If Anwar continues these policies, he will not only be perpetuating the same old issues but also risks their continued exploitation for private benefit.
In a government composed of multiple coalitions, parties and individuals with diverse interests, there will inevitably be those who seek to capitalise on the status quo.
By maintaining Mahathir’s outdated economic framework, Anwar would inadvertently provide fertile ground for the various individuals, parties and coalitions that form part of the administration to form their own networks of cronies.
They would be likely to aim to secure lucrative government projects and contracts, replicating and perpetuating the cronyism and nepotism that have plagued the nation for decades.
This scenario could lead to a dangerous cycle where government resources are funnelled into the hands of a few, while ignoring the needs of the masses and stifling competition and innovation.
Just and equitable society
The creation of new cronies would not only drain public funds, as reflected by the current national debt of RM1.5tn, it would also erode public trust in the government.
It would reinforce the perception that the rich and powerful continue to thrive at the expense of the ordinary people, undermining Anwar’s Madani (civil and compassionate) vision of a more just and equitable society.
To prevent this, Anwar must break decisively from Mahathir’s legacy.
By implementing transparent, merit-based policies, he can ensure that government projects and contracts are awarded fairly and resources distributed more equitably.
This would compel his coalition partners to align with his reform agenda, rather than seek to exploit the system for personal gain.
In doing so, Anwar would send a clear message that his administration is committed to dismantling the old order and building a new Malaysia that truly serves all its citizens.
Toll highways
One of the more straightforward actions Anwar can take would be to halt and eventually dismantle the toll highway system.
He could announce that his unity government has decided to review the toll highway privatisation policy initiated by Mahathir in 1984.
After nearly forty years of toll collection, which has done little more than burden the people, Anwar’s government should put an immediate stop to further approvals of new toll highways.
His focus should be on a more equitable policy – one that does not impose tolls, is not car-centric, and does not place a burden on the people unnecessarily.
This policy review should include the following measures:
- Suspend approvals for new toll highways until a new policy is devised
- Abolish toll collection for highways owned by government-linked companies such as Plus, Amanat and Prolintas, some of which have lapsed or are nearing the expiry of their initial 30-year concession term
- Increase transparency by removing highway concession agreements from protection under the Official Secrets Act to allow for public scrutiny without the risk of legal repercussions.
- Ensure that all privately held toll highways revert to the government upon the expiry of their concession agreements
- Do not grant renewals or extensions to toll operators for concessions that are reaching their expiry
- Do not allow current operators to hike toll rates
Implementing these changes would surely resonate deeply with the people and win their immediate support. It will also solidify Anwar’s leadership and credibility as someone who delivers on promises.
By aligning the right policies with the needs and aspirations of the people, Anwar can create a strong foundation of trust and loyalty, which will be crucial as he looks to the next general election and beyond to secure his legacy.
Anwar must begin the process of freeing us from the archaic toll highway policy and make us all truly merdeka or independent. – Free Malaysia Today
Rosli Khan, a traffic planning consultant, has a masters in transport planning and a PhD in transport economics from Cranfield University in England.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
It’s all a question of investment, and whose money is involved, if it is private, then profit is the main criterion. Public projects funded by the Government need to be scrutinized closely to avoid corruption.