POLITICAL TOPSY-TURVY SITUATION IN MALAYSIA

 18^th December 2020.
 PRESS STATEMENT BY:-
TAN SRI DATUK ROBERT PHANG MIOW SIN.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
CHAIRMAN – SOCIAL CARE FOUNDATION

Malaysia's decline and slipping down the ladder from a once key destination for foreign investors among ASEAN countries should be a cause for concern by the Government of the day.  And by all other stakeholders as well as Malaysians as a whole. To top it up, the Fitch Ratings' downgrading of Malaysia's credit rating from "A" to "BBB+" will have an adverse impact going forward into the New Year and in the near future.

Why are we after years of enjoying the status as among the “darlings” for trade and investments and good ratings now on a banana skin path?   The latest rankings show that  Malaysia has fallen behind Vietnam and certainly Thailand in ASEAN.  People who manage our economy and the corridors of power must ask this question and do whatever it takes to put the country back on track.

It’s obvious that the seemingly endless political upheavals in the country are taking its toll on the economy and all of us.  And certainly aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic.    We have seen before our eyes throughout this pandemic year, instead of acting responsibly to help mitigate the devastating impact, many politicians from both sides of the political divide are taking the country further South.  And on their business as usual mode of causing political instability.

While the nation is engrossed in trying its level best to flatten the Covid-19 curve, most, unfortunately, Sabah once again triggered another round of nothing short of a political pandemic when the State election had to be held in September just to accommodate the whims and fancies of some power-crazy politicians.  As we all know, this then led to many new clusters of Covid-19 infections.  Is it too much for all right-thinking veteran Malaysians like myself and my fellow citizens to ask our quarrelsome politicians to stop their antics and further erosion of international confidence in our nation?

I have been personally receiving queries from some major potential business organisations from China, for example, about their readiness to invest in a solid way in Malaysia. And they are waiting for signs of political stability and stronger corporate governance as pre-conditions to do so.  I appeal to all to close ranks in these most challenging times and to put the interests of the nation and the rakyat first and above selfish interests.

 

“HUMBLENESS IS A GOOD VIRTUE, ARROGANCE SHALL FALL AND THE MEEK WILL RULE THE WORLD”.

 

Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin.
Justice of the Peace.