Introduction

1. On behalf of the party, I would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to YAB Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Chairman of BN and the Prime Minister of Malaysia, for his presence. He has proven to be a steady hand in guiding the nation. Parti Gerakan would like to assure him of our unshakable confidence and trust in his leadership. We are very inspired and motivated by the reforms and national rejuvenation plans that his administration has introduced and undertaken. In addition, I am confident that his reform minded administration will take us into a new chapter of excellence and greater successes.
   
   
2. I would also like to welcome Barisan Nasional leaders, honourable guests, all delegates and observers and members of the media.
   
   
3. Unlike in previous conferences, this year's event is a monumental one for all Gerakan leaders and members. We want to depart from the usual rhetoric of change. We want to actually implement change. We want to identify the right strategy and the winning path that the party can embark on.

 

Delivering Promises

4. Saudara-saudari, it is without a doubt that the BN has found no equals in terms of leadership quality and governance capability in the country. However, we must realise that people's expectations of what the government could or should deliver are also running high. A better educated society creates more demanding customers. Hence, promises made to the electorate must be delivered.
   
   
5. At the top of the agenda of the BN Government and of Gerakan is an all out fight against corruption. A corrupt society is a 'sick' society. A 'sick' society is often economically and politically weak, low spirited and infested with self-centred opportunists. This is hardly the kind of society we want to foster. We want Malaysia to be a first-world society with a first-rate mentality and morality.
   
   
6. Our fight against corruption has started with a number of arrests and prosecutions. But this is not enough. It has to be a long-term and sustained effort. In this regard, the Government especially through the Institute of National Integrity should redouble its effort in moulding a new culture of zero tolerance against corruption. This new culture must be supported with an effective mechanism and system and political will to identify, stop and eradicate corrupt practices from the whole spectrum of the society. Coming from a medical doctor background, I intend to argue that prevention is more effective and less costly than cure. Hence, a good preventive programme needs to be introduced to foster a culture of hatred against corruption. Our younger generation should be taught that those who give and accept bribes are national traitors.
   
   
7. One of the most significant reforms made by our Prime Minister is the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry into the police force. The aim of the commission was to enhance the operation and management of the Royal Malaysia Police. Gerakan has conducted a thorough deliberation and review of the royal commission report. We supported the proposed 125 recommendations and would like to urge the government to especially consider the immediate implementation of recommendation no. 12 which proposed the establishment of an independent oversight mechanism. We believe that the establishment of an independent police complaint bureau will lead to a more transparent police service.
   
   
8. I want to reiterate that this call is not intentionally made to put down the police. We appreciate their service and sacrifice to keep the society out of harm and danger. We understand the needs of policemen and the danger they face in the line of duty. However, the implementation of the recommendations made in the report will help to transform the Royal Malaysia Police into a respectable, trusted, potent and modern unit. I urge the public to throw their full support to the initiatives to transform and reinvigorate our Royal Malaysian Police. To the Royal Malaysian Police, I urge you to move forward with your chins up.
   
   
9. In his recent address to the UMNO assembly, the Prime Minister outlined a 10-point strategy under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010). One of the points highlighted the need to improve the public sector delivery system. Although we have witnessed significant improvements in some departments e.g. passport and national registration (NRD), overall the public sector's performance still lags behind that of developed nations.
   
   
10. Gerakan endorses the need to enhance the quality and speed of the public sector delivery system. An effective public-private sector partnership is often measured as an indication of a nation's competitiveness. A sustainable competitive economic environment needs the support of an efficient and expedient delivery system.
    
    
11. However, the effort to improve the public sector delivery system is not the sole responsibility of the government. Malaysians must also contribute their part to make this effort a success. In short, we want you to become demanding but fair customers. While the people deserve a quality and expedient delivery system, the public sector personnel deserve to be treated with respect.
    
    
12. Gerakan proposes the setting up of a compliant and feedback section within each department. This section should handle direct feedback from the public on its delivery system and transmit them to the head of department with copies to the Public Complaint Bureau. The public sector personnel should understand that in order to improve, they need a customer-centric feedback mechanism to help evaluate their performance. Most private companies have a similar mechanism within their organisation.

Enhancing Economic Competitiveness

13. In his UMNO general assembly address, the Prime Minister noted, "…nations are not given special treatment when faced with global challenges and as a small nation, Malaysia must compete under the same rules as major economies".
    
    
14. We should embrace the same spirit when looking at our own internal development. We ought to identify weaknesses in our socio-economic development in view of the ever changing global economic situation. The world is not bothered to provide us with a level playing field. We must learn how to compete and work vigorously hard in order to leapfrog competition.
    
    
15. Saudara-saudari, what made us successful in the past won't be in the future. Using an old approach would not create a new outcome. It has become fashionable for us to respond to the challenges we are facing in terms of race-centric agenda or solution - Malay Agenda, Chinese Agenda or Indian Agenda.
    
    
16. Today, I intend to be deeply unfashionable. I intend to argue that this approach is simplistic and counter-productive. In order to thrive against the forces of globalisation, we need a collective agenda which aims to foster national unity and a closer partnership amongst all communities in Malaysia. Let's embrace a

Malaysian Agenda!

17. A New Malaysian Agenda does not promote a zero-sum game. It is a synergistic approach which combines the best attributes and qualities of all communities in Malaysia to create a new competitive culture. It should strive to correct and rehabilitate our entrenched get-rich-quick attitude, subsidy mentality and rent-seeking culture. In return, it should foster a new knowledge-based culture of hard work, entrepreneurship, innovation, excellence and smart partnership.
    
    
18. Meanwhile, we need to address the growing inequality in the society: both inter and intra-community. The New Malaysian Agenda should promote a merit-based equality and focus on closing the widening gap of class disparity. This can only be achieved if we have the political will to address the current weaknesses and injustice in our distributive system. The current system is too elitist. It enriches a few individuals but neglect the lower strata of the society where help and assistance is needed most. We cannot achieve the status of a developed nation by year 2020 if nothing is done to correct the system.
    
    
19. We need to focus on collaborative partnership amongst all communities in Malaysia to grow our economic pie. A growing population needs a bigger economic pie. Our only way forward - to grow this pie - is to work together and to help each other through mutual understanding, knowledge sharing and win-win partnership. Recent calls for the revival of the New Economic Policy should take cognizance of this spirit. There may be differences of opinion but I am sure we do mean the same thing- to create an equitable and prosperous Malaysia where the wealth of the country can be shared by all Malaysians.
    
    
20. I support the Prime Minister's proposal to explore new sources of economic growth. The government has identified biotechnology, ICT, advanced manufacturing, halal food production, health care, tourism and others as new growth areas. Again, initiatives aimed at cultivating and harnessing these sectors must be well-planned and well-executed. We should provide the right impetus and assistance to facilitate SMEs' participation in these new growth areas. Here, I would like to urge the government to conduct an immediate review of all legislative barriers which hinder the growth of SMEs e.g. the Industrial Coordination Act 1976.
    
    
21. On top of that, we need to expand and strengthen our regional economic hubs in the country e.g. Penang for the Northern region, Klang Valley for the Central region and Johor Baru for the Southern region. These economic hubs can play a significant role in channelling resources and expertise into adjacent areas and to catalyse the socio-economic development and industrialisation of these areas. For example, the economic growth of Klang Valley has a positive impact on Negri Sembilan and Melaka through the spill-over of industrialisation and the creation of job opportunities for people living in the state.
    
    
22. Gerakan has provided leadership to the Penang state government since 1969. Since the formation of the BN in 1974, our party continues to receive the trust of the BN leadership to lead the state. The state has been transformed from an economic backwater into an industrial and manufacturing powerhouse, hosting numerous multinational companies such as Intel, Motorola, Dell, Bosch, BenQ, Sony and many others. Penang was touted as the 'Pearl of the Orient' for its impressive economic development. However, lately it has been taunted as a pearl losing its shine and lustre, after being hit by electronics industry downturn, September 11 incident, SARS, Tsunami and keen competition from China, India and Vietnam. As a party entrusted with the responsibility to provide leadership to the state government, we are duty bound to strive to do more and do better for all the people of Penang.
    
    
23. As an Anak Pulau Pinang himself, I am sure our PM is very much aware of the need to reinvigorate and rejuvenate the socio-economic development of Penang. For Penang to compete effectively in the new era of globalisation, more federal funds are needed to finance new infrastructures and to improve the public transportation system. We must also offer new impetus and incentives to attract investors and service providers and to boost the local small and medium enterprises.
    
    
24. Consistent with the 10-point strategy under the Ninth Malaysia Plan outlined by the Prime Minister, we want to accelerate the building of a knowledge-based economy in Penang. We want to further consolidate Penang's position in the region as a high-technology manufacturing base, a tourism hub and an important engine of growth for the country. Hence, a federally-funded Centre of Technological Excellence should be established to promote high-technology R&D in various areas such as ICT design, advanced manufacturing and biotech. Results of the centre will be shared with and benefit other states. At the same time, steps must be taken to narrow the emerging "digital divide".

Capacity Building through Education

25. The most important pillar supporting a knowledge-based economy is human capital. Harnessing enough highly skilled and knowledgeable human capital is one of our main priorities in the 9th Malaysia Plan, to move up the economic value chain.
    
    
26. China has made impressive stride in their human capital development, producing more than 100,000 new doctorate degree graduates ready to contribute to its economic development. India is becoming the undisputed software and ICT development hub in Asia. Most of the global software companies are either using Indian expertise or outsourcing their software development projects to India.
    
    
27. The emergence of these countries as economic powerhouses signals the need for us to seriously review and revamp our present education system. As policy makers, we must be ready to answer tough questions. How many unemployed graduates are there? Why are they not employable? Why do we have to spend millions to retrain graduates who have just completed their tertiary education? What are the fundamental weaknesses in our education system?
    
    
28. Gerakan is ready to back any government initiative aimed at addressing the weaknesses of the education system. An independent royal commission on education reform should be established to review the current system and to formulate a more comprehensive and effective National Education Policy. This policy should aim to establish a world-class education system for all Malaysians. It should promote equal and fair access to education opportunity, democratisation of information, knowledge acquisition, multilingualism, multicultural understanding, character development and entrepreneurship. We, politicians, should reach a consensus among us to depoliticise education. Education is a national interest. We should place national interest beyond our own political interest.

Fostering National Unity through 'Bangsa Malaysia'

29. New Economic Policy and Bangsa Malaysia are complementary and not contradictory. One of the main objectives of NEP, to erase the identification of economic function with race is non-racial in essence. Today, we can find Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban policy makers, professionals and entrepreneurs in Malaysia.
    
    
30. We will have a better success rate in forging national unity and creating a truly Bangsa Malaysia if our policy formulation and implementation process is focused on helping the lower strata of the society to obtain better life chances in education and economic participation, regardless of race and creed.
    
    
31. We should not deny the fact our multiracial Malaysian society is founded in common history, culture and principles. It was forged in our great struggles against imperialism, colonialism and socio-economic injustices. It stands now as a beacon of a plurality, democracy and diversity in a world filled with racial and religious extremism and genocide.
    
    
32. Saudara-saudari, we should learn to count our blessings. We should appreciate and preserve our rich cultural heritage which makes Malaysia truly Asia.
    
    
33. Our broader shared common interests, objectives and goals are more important than menial and destructive racial disputes or frictions. Gerakan believes that it is not difficult at all to forge a truly united Bangsa Malaysia if each of us can spend some of our valuable time to find out how similar we are. Why pick on some differences when we have so many commonalities?

A Commitment to Reinvent Gerakan

34. As a political party, Gerakan is facing an important transition, especially in its political direction. Like all other organisations, we have to be ready to embrace change. In fact, we do not have to seek 'change', it will naturally find us! I would rather it is us, Gerakan leaders and members, who make the effort to do so. We do not want 'change' to find us and help to spell out our party's fate: politically irrelevant and extinction!
    
    
35. In reinventing the party, leadership renewal and rejuvenation is inevitable. As faithful party members, we have to accept that none of us is indispensable. As a mortal human being, we cannot rule and lead forever. Those who have had a chance to lead must be willing to pass down the torch to the next generation of leaders. Only through a proper and systematic process of leadership renewal and power transition, a political party can hope to continue and sustain its struggle into the future.
    
    
36. One of the challenges facing the party is money politics. During the state-level election, I have received some complaints of money politics. Those who practiced money politics are only interested in their own self-interest. Such practice, if proven to be true, must be condemned in Gerakan! A special committee to investigate the allegations have been set up and it is headed by Saudara Tan Sri Chan Choong Tak. The committee is given immediate executive power to act against any members found guilty of money politics and corruption.
    
    
37. A step-brother of money politics - poison pen letter - is rearing its ugly head in the party. If you are telling the truth, you do not need to hide in anonymity. Only the people who dare not stand up and defend their allegations have to resort to poison pen letters. This is a cheap and irresponsible form of politics.
    
    
38. Saudara-saudari, money politics and poison pen letter are not and never will be part of our Gerakan culture. We must reject these dirty tactics and reject the people who practiced them.
    
    
39. In this regard, I would like to share with you the right attributes of a future Gerakan leader:

1. He/She should be a team player. He/She must work well with all leaders and members of the party. National, society and party's interests must come first and not his/her individual interest.

2. He/She should demonstrate a good understanding of issues affecting the nation and the society. He/She should be able to use his/her intellectual capacity and knowledge to find viable solutions and strategies to help our nation overcome any challenges and adversities.

3. A Gerakan leader should have good and effective communication skills. He/She must be able to articulate his/her thoughts and ideas in a concise and confident manner. An effective communicator can become a good motivator to other party leaders and members, especially the younger ones.

4. He/She should have a good PR sense and skills. Being a small party, a good leader should know how to cultivate good relations with leaders of other component parties. He/She must be persuasive in discussions and dialogues in order to get the party's views considered and accepted by other partners.

5. Finally, but not exhaustive, he/she must be committed to the projects that the party has undertaken, including efforts to reinvent and to strengthen Gerakan's management, operations and membership base.

40. On the last point, the party is currently building the Menara PGRM 2 and its completion should be ahead of schedule. This is to increase the number of properties owned by Gerakan and should contribute positively to its financial health. As a political party, we need a strong financial position to fund our operations and activities, including services to the society.
    
    
41. Wawasan Open University has received an approval from the Ministry of Higher Education on the 15th July 2005 for its establishment. Our quest to offer more education and skills development opportunities to all Malaysians especially those already working but without tertiary education, is just beginning. Logistics need to be provided, buildings to house the study centres (in Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Johore Bahru) need to be constructed and lecturers need to be employed. We need adequate financial resources to fund these preparations. After that, courses and academic curriculum would have to be in place before the university can start to accept its first batch of students by the later part of 2006.
    
    
42. As a political party, we need both quantity and quality to sustain our political influence. In the last NDC, we have amended the party's constitution to make way for our expansion by allowing 18 branches per division instead of 12 branches. This decision was made to attract more new members into the party.
    
    
43. Saudara-saudari, I would like to request for your commitment and full support to ensure these projects and initiatives are implemented successfully.

Conclusion

44. Since this is an election year, I intend to keep my presidential speech short but precise and decisive. I urge you to give change a chance as we approach a critical transition. You get to decide which path should the party take. I trust that your sense of direction is clear and unclouded. We must choose the best path which ensures the success of the party.
    
    
45. I would like to thank you again for your support, words of encouragement and trust in me to lead the party. I now have great pleasure in inviting Y.A.B. Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia and Chairman of Barisan Nasional to address us and to officiate Parti Gerakan's 34th National Delegates Conference, 2005.
    
    Thank you.