A Voice of Tea Party Patriot

I came across to several Tea Partyers websites recently to suggest a model of desirable movement in this country. I also read opinions from various perspectives regarding the third force whereby too much description such as what would be this movement looks like. Whether the force is to be something else, political or non political, popular or non popular, in my thought, these pundits analyses are vehemently underestimating the wishes and choices of every individual. These are, of course objectives statements which they attempts to soothe both Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional. What are they fear with?

I must say start somewhere in small but beautiful probably lead to the open door of the cause of freedom and liberty. I wrote an article in Merdekareview few days ago as a ‘soft launch’ for greater project in times to come. Solid perception of our people towards so called two party systems remains hopeful and many Keadilan's politicians conversation which I participate, they says that there is high possibility for Pakatan Rakyat to unseat Barisan Nasional in Putrajaya instead, we, being perceived as mirage or someone told me ideologues are not the primary objectives therefore you are likely taking huge risk as a repercussion of what we are committed. Not well accepted by the people ? Ignoring us?

However, it will be never ties us down completely ever. I personally believe the man like me is ready to take the fight against despotism government at the apex. I believe we are in the right path to see the ordinary citizens of Malaysia contributing and defending our land from excessive violation and intrusion by the government.

While I suggest our role in current system, we shall not condone anyone including both parties that are not shares our faith and principles. What do we want exactly? We want a democratic country you respect the principles of individuals. Fundamental freedom naturally defines to every one of us must not taken away by the government no matter how. I must be allow to accumulates wealth and own my property and engage in free voluntary trade. Economic freedom and market deregulation are the subjects to boost our country economy for present and future generations. All of us enjoy the fruit of labor. Hard worked is reward in efficient system. Put effort to encourage competition among the businesses benefiting consumers in price. Government and business are separated interest and managed on their own. Rampant and squandering taxpayers’ money for subsidies must be restructured and ensure new system does not carry heavy regulation. Household income increase as wages lies on productivity and efficient allocation of market resources. And I hate bailouts.

The Tea Party Movement in the country also endorses fiscal cuts across the government agencies and constituencies. In many writings, bigger government tends to hijack capitalism for cronyism and enriching wealth of the few. This is treason. I wonder why every politicians votes for bigger spending no matter what particularly in the name of people? I give you bridges, I give you houses, I give you welfare assistance as long as you vote me win, I give you contracts, I wish to increase education fund for better access of education. Want to know why they doing this? Market failure and therefore incentives distribute to unfortunate people assuming as moral behavior. Yes, politically moral and market immoral. And yes, you are noble and respected man. A tea party patriot absolutely repudiates the idea of vote to expanding government. We claims vote to smaller government. I realize that it is hard appeal and my intention solely to discourage our peoples to vote and forget everything.

Tell me, where we could find a bold Malaysian politician like Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne who announced dramatic spending cuts of 25% for all department of government – the steepest reductions in eight decades! He actually has take whatever necessary policy for greater discipline fiscal spending and it was a laudable effort. Rationalizing oil prices and other items? Yes, they must and should adjust according to market price. Unfortunately, they are not serious in rationalizing subsidies for Independent Power Producer (IPP’s). Unfortunately, they are not serious in reducing expenditure in annual budgets. Unfortunately, they are not serious to return in small size of government and overstaffed. Unfortunately, they do not have political will to address corruption and institutional reform. Now, given all these episodes, how much weightage of profligacy money spending cost compare to the amount saving through rationalizing of oil prices?

Dear Zaid Ibrahim and like minded patriots, I have no ashamed to call upon you on common principles and interest; democracy, individual liberty and free market, let us become a new movement bringing true reform based on remarkable faith and sincerity.

Medecci Lineil is 24 years old activist who wish to set up a Tea Party Movement in Malaysia in alliance of Zaid Ibrahim.

My Tea Party Has Just Begun

Aku Seorang Patriot

Aku seorang patriot

“…political freedom cannot exist without economic freedom; a free mind and a free market are corollaries” – Ayn Rand (1961)

Aku mungkin mewakili pandangan yang agak terpinggir dari arus aliran pemikiran nasional. Aku sentiasa berharap agar masyarakat sedar dan menerima pasaran bebas dan individualisme dengan lebih rasional, bukan emosional. Seolah-olah aku melakukan suatu jenayah yang cukup besar pula apabila aku mempertahankan premis ini. Aku cuma berniat mendidik rakyat mengenai “the righteous of free market, individualism and democracy”

Seorang sarjana sains politik Amerika, Adam J. Berinsky pernah berkata “In the battle between facts and partisanship, partisanship always wins” Benarkah begitu? Aku rasa ramai yang berfikiran bahawa menumbangkan Barisan Nasional adalah misi utama Pakatan Rakyat. Ada pula yang tidak segan silu menyuarakan agar rakyat mengenepikan aliran pemikiran, sebaliknya bersatu mengalahkan kebesaran Barisan Nasional dalam pilihan raya umum yang akan datang. Aku tidak tahu hendak berpolitik, akan tetapi aku tahu untuk melakukan sesuatu yang betul dan tertakluk kepada amalan individualisme, demokratik dan pasaran bebas. Aku tidak kisah sangat dicemuh dan dikritik senyap-senyap kerana aku tidak sempurna.

Populariti kerajaan besar

Di Malaysia umpamanya, fakta adakalanya diketepikan demi meraih populariti undi rakyat. Kerajaan pula seakan-akan dikerah menjadi tempat mendapatkan segala bentuk kebajikan dan wang ringgit mengakibatkan daya kebergantungan terhadap institusi kerajaan bertambah tinggi. Semakin besar kerajaan, semakin bahagia masyarakat Malaysia. Aku bertambah bimbang dengan sistem kerajaan hari ini yang sentiasa menyelamatkan apa jua yang menimpa rakyat semacam Superman. Tidak perlu aku jelaskan segala jenis kebobrokan penyelamatan yang dibuat oleh kerajaan khususnya ke atas pemberian subsidi, projek-projek bernilai berbilion-bilion atau korporat kronisme, atas nama rakyat! Inilah kesannya daripada amalan kerajaan besar.

NEM adalah fakta gerun

Model Ekonomi Baru (NEM) adalah berlandaskan fakta dan betapa gerunnya fakta tersebut apabila ia mampu menggugat mana-mana kuasa politik sekiranya mengambil sikap memejamkan sebelah mata terhadap cadangan-cadangan laporan itu. Walaupun laporan tersebut berjaya dikompromi dalam beberapa hal (hak-hak Bumiputera dikekalkan dek lobi kuat kelompok tertentu), namun dalam kebanyakan kenyataan yang digariskan amat jelas; kerajaan harus kembali berperanan terhad dan bertenaga, sistem ekonomi dipacu oleh pasaran dan sekurang-kurangnya laporan ini telah melontarkan cadangan kritikal untuk meletakkan negara di atas landasan yang tepat. Kawalan dan perancangan pusat ekonomi adalah gagal. F.A Hayek (1944) pernah menulis bahawa ”Economic control is not merely control of a sector of human life which can be separated from the rest; it is the control of the means for all our ends. And whoever has sole control of the means must also determine which ends are to be served, which values are to be rates higher and which lower, in short, what men should believe and strive for.”[1]

Antara Barisan Nasional dan Pakatan Rakyat?

Sekali lagi, keazaman politik mana yang paling kuat yang sanggup mengambil cadangan laporan tersebut sebagai ketetapan rasmi dasar? Barisan Nasional atau Pakatan Rakyat? Ketuanan Melayu atau Ketuanan Rakyat? Janganlah mempersiak-siakan usaha dan titik peluh ahli-ahli ekonomi terbaik dalam dan luar negara yang terlibat dalam penghasilan dokumen tersebut. Sekiranya kerajaan tidak mengendahkan nasihat mereka, apatah lagi mendengar rintihan rakyat berpatriotik macam aku, petani, nelayan, pencuci, penyapu sampah, dan pelayan.

Seseorang yang berpatriotik harus berdiri menegakkan kebenaran dan menegur pemerintah bilamana kesalahan dilakukan tanpa mengira mengira parti politik. Aku hairan, bagaimana Pakatan Rakyat dituduh sebagai tidak patriotik dan anti nasional hanya kerana kerap kali mengkritik Barisan Nasional dalam dan luar negara? Agaknya Barisan Nasional keliru di antara entiti sebuah negara dan entiti sebuah kerajaan walhal Pakatan Rakyat berbuat demikian untuk menyelamatkan Malaysia yang disayangi daripada dipunah oleh kerajaan yang semakin terdesak.

Kagum kisah politik Ron Paul

Aku amat mengagumi Ahli Kongres Amerika, Ron Paul dalam bukunya berjudul Mises and Austrian Economics: A personal view yang menghuraikan bagaimana beliau menceburkan diri dalam politik negara kuasa besar itu setelah melihat keruntuhan sistem ekonomi dan politik yang ternyata tidak memihak kepada prinsip Mises. Harga dikawal oleh kerajaan yang ketika itu ditadbir oleh Nixon, akhirnya meranapkan sistem gaji dan pekerjaan pula tergugat. Ron Paul tidak memerlukan restu daripada Ketua Umum atau Mursyidul Am untuk bertanding, sebaliknya restu keyakinan dan kepercayaannya telah mendorong beliau untuk mewakili puak Republikan pada awal tahun 1970 an

“At the time I was convinced, like Ludwig von Mises, that no one could succeed in politics without serving the special interests of some politically powerful pressure group. Although I was eventually elected, in terms of a conventional political career with real Washington impact, he was absolutely right. I have not developed legislative influence with the leadership of the Congress or the administration. Monies are deliberately deleted from routine water works bills for my district because I do not condone the system, nor vote for any of the appropriations.”

Inilah perbedaan yang ketara di antara demokrasi matang Amerika dan demokrasi separuh masak Malaysia. Aku memang berharap agar kuasa ketiga yang pernah digembar gemburkan berupaya menggugat status quo sistem dua parti sebelum ini dari segi memiliki kualiti; memperjuangkan kebebasan individu, kerajaan kecil sementara memperkasakan negeri dan mengangkat martabat pasaran bebas.

Harapan keunikan kuasa ketiga

Alangkah malangnya seandainya kuasa ketiga yang bakal diterajui oleh Zaid Ibrahim terus mengikut rentak politik populariti semasa untuk mendapatkan kuasa. Mengapa tidak diusahakan terlebih dahulu idea ini sebelum beralah? Apakah prinsip kebebasan individu, kerajaan kecil dan pasaran bebas tidak mampu dipopularkan sepertimana rasuah, kronisme dan diselitkan dengan amalan sosialisme? Seseorang harus meletakkan batu asas kepada penubuhan gagasan tersebut, biar kecil namun menawan.

Medecci Lineil adalah individu yang bercita-cita ingin menubuhkan Tea Party Movement di Malaysia.

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[1] F.A. Hayek, The Road to Serfdom, page 68

Small And Energetic Government

Friedrich von Hayek: His Life And Thought

The Solutions For Malaysia - NEM

Great document crafted by National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC); It is honest, it is bold and it is a way forward recommendation leaving outmoded economic policy which impeding our true potential for too long!

I need something refreshing. I am in reading the final part of New Economic Model until page 55 (public sector transformation). The sublime thoughts to put market and private sectors lead the growth is pivotal ticket in our movement. As I emphasize previously, to succeed, market-driven economy is inevitably principles to ensure everybody’s blessing while present thoughts; peoples first has misconstrued us with taxpayers or citizens on the hook. In short, authoritarian government has jeopardized our own liberty to save, spending and setting up businesses in very perilous manner.

Choice of strident words motivates me to read deeper. A reflection of free economy sounds taking its root here, in Malaysia. The words such as removal subsidies, fairer competition, rationalizing government linked company, liberalizing economic sectors, and more important small businesses are pretty well defined. Now, it is up to the government to take this proposal as official policy or otherwise. But I personally believe the tendency for pick and choose always a preference especially when political weightage been taken hardly.

So far, I truly commend the suggestion for GLC’s divesting their investment, adopting competition model and reducing and eliminating stakes control from the government. In other words, it suggests reforming GLC’s into supportive mode to the role private sector. There are 445 GLC’s in the country which is Federal government owned 332 GLC’s and State government owned 113 GLC’s. In 1987, there were more 1,000 entities of GLC’s. Government must stay out of business once and for all. The era of government knows best is over. Economic planning authority based does not work

Secondly, deregulation of economic activities. It is a burden, costly and painful process. Nobody prefers overregulation. The Malaysia Administrative Modernization and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) has identified a total of 896 agencies at the federal and state levels that administer over 3,000 regulatory procedures. The time needed for getting regulatory approvals in nearly 50% of procedures is about 14 days each. What’s next? Remove them. Remove all unnecessary legal and acts that holding us down.

Thirdly, small business plays vital role in our economy. They create jobs. They create wealth. They are representing 60% of total workforce and approximately one third of GDP. Help them to grow the profits, you help them create jobs. More jobs more employment. Wage increase and low income groups gradually enjoying nascent standard of living. You feel good and you do not need government subsidies for assistance. You are independent.

However, still Bumiputra courses apparently the intractable issues to deal with. Why there is always political havoc if meritocracies fully apply? Implementation is the key. A policy which benefit only targeted Bumiputra in needs, not fancy Bumiputra; the implementation with greater transparent and accountable to all of us. Good decisions only turn up then because of available information.

Few hours ago, I chatted with Prof Danny Quah in Facebook, man behind the scene of NEM. I questioned him whether this document might alter the entire Malaysia economic policy at least for gradually? And he replied, we will see. Skeptical, I suppose?

What if Pakatan Rakyat succeeding Barisan Nasional in the future? Possibility to embrace free market, individual liberty with DAP and PAS? Yesterday was a dramatic Friday. A Friday of price hike, a Friday of Anwar Ibrahim suspension from Parliament, a Friday of Prime Minister Najib’s release final part of NEM at Putrajaya. I can see many people out there are outrage and frustrate over government decision to raise the price of petrol and sugar. Yes, democracy is fine and hard to exercise. A hint for the government, if you raise the price with the intention to not distorting the economy, I shall say I agree. But if you raise the price to profligate spending money habits, I strongly say I oppose! Whereas I suggest, you raise the price to get a market price, preventing distorting market and reducing expenditure. Get your government in ‘S’ size. Small is beautiful.

Hayek's Scholar Behind NEM - Danny Quah

Doing good for society

By YVONNE TAN

ONE look at Penang-born Professor Danny Quah and you can tell he fits in perfectly with what one already knows about him. He is one of the world’s highly respected economists and head of department and professor of economics at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Quah, a regular contributor to economic journals and highly praised for some of his views on economic growth, is unwaveringly articulate in his mild British accent. In addition, his wave of salt and pepper hair lends him an air of gravitas.

Quah: I try to set an example in doing quality research and speaking out on how I think the world can be improved through my works

Having clearly reaped the benefits of good and solid education, he speaks animatedly about his hopes to extend similar opportunities to others.

“Doing good for society – that drives a lot of what I now do, whether it’s through facilitating excellent higher education and training, or through research and speaking out on how to repair parts of society that have failed,” Quah enthuses.

Giving back

“Where I am (LSE), many of our students come from countries in the world that are rapidly developing but still poor. Providing the best training and education to them is high on my list of priorities.

“Equally important is to figure out how to extend this kind of higher education to individuals in parts of the world that require it desperately, but that cannot come to the LSE,” he tells StarBizWeek in an interview.

Research, which can be academically rigorous and scientifically top-class addresses immediate, real-world problems, Quah says.

“I try to set an example in doing quality research and speaking out on how I think the world can be improved through my works,” he explains.

No doubt, his position at LSE allows him numerous opportunities to travel and share his knowledge and views.

Communicating one’s work

In the early days of his career, Quah recalls that he was regarded as simply a “technical expert”, implying greater focus on technical skills than on communication expertise.

He was determined to “repair” that, which he evidently has.

“I’ve put a lot of effort into that. Over time, I tried to go outside academic economics and sought to engage with stakeholders more generally…holding different views on what constitutes scientific progress, or the concerned public, other professionals, or even interested policy-makers,” he says.

Quah has a string of achievements to his name. He is among other things, specialist adviser to the treasury committee at the UK House of Commons, governor at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research and associate editor of the Journal of Economic Growth.

Some of his weightless economy writings, his pet topic, have been translated into over 15 different languages.

The former consultant to the World Bank has published and continues to publish internationally acclaimed works on pertinent areas of economics like income distribution, intellectual property rights, information technology, inflation and business cycles.

For his efforts, Quah has been featured in the Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in Economics (1997).

Indeed, not too shabby at all for a Penang boy from Dato Keramat. But Quah, who schooled at the island’s Penang Free School and Francis Light School, exudes humility when asked how he made it and modestly attributes it to the luck factor.

“I was lucky to be pulled out of a small tropical island and given a scholarship to study at a top world university. I was lucky to be given good technical advice and lucky to be taken under the supervision and guidance of the world’s leading economists,” he says.

“Now, I am just so fortunate to be able to engage with the world’s most respected academics and learn about solving important problems, and communicating properly and persuasively.

“I know many individuals who would by any objective criteria be more deserving than me,” he adds.

Penang boy makes good

After excelling in his Sixth Form examinations, Quah left Penang to study engineering at Ivy League Princeton University in New Jersey, US. After brief flings with engineering and physics, he finally decided on economics.

“Economics strikingly provides the kind of tools, training and insight that allows someone to contribute in many different ways: in academics, in business and corporate life, in policy – both local and global.

“Very few academic areas – technical ones at that – let you do that,” he says.

Having studied and worked in six different cities in the US before moving to London to join LSE in the early 1990s, Quah, surprisingly, still has plenty of Malaysia left in him.

“I love char kway teow,” he gushes. An obvious choice really, given his roots.

On a more serious note, he says that Malaysia has come very far since his days here.

“I think Malaysia has become more confident, self-aware and cosmopolitan over the years.

“But it needs to find its place in the world – it was once the world’s largest exporter of rubber, tin, palm oil...but perhaps, now it needs to be something different, perhaps a centre for Islamic finance or a gateway between cultures.”

He says for the country to continue to move forward, it needs to unleash research and creative thinking at all levels - in particular, in higher education. “If it is going to move ahead in knowledge-based economic activity, it has to allow both dissent and creativity,” Quah adds.

Moving to London has made him more aware of and open to developments in the world.

“Issues, problems, and people from the rest of the world show up at LSE routinely, and I think my research and work interests have become global since my moving to the LSE.

“Britain long ago gave up pretending to be a world power. It stopped thinking it would continue to impose on the rest of the world by force of will or otherwise. Instead it is generally accepting of world sentiment and global outcomes, and takes in ideas and people from everywhere else.”

Balancing act

For this former state gymnast, it is pertinent to lead a balanced life.

“I do martial arts which help keep me fit and alert,” he says, adding that he practices the sport with both his teenage sons – Carter and Mason, with whom he shares a very close relationship.

Does he expect the boys to follow in his footsteps? “That is not important. As long as they are happy, I am happy.”

Perhaps more than their love for martial arts, the father and sons also share similar music preferences.

Quah unflinchingly admits that he likes teenybopper music and lists among his favourites “Girlfriend” by Canadian pop punk singer Avril Lavigne.

“The lyrics are really funny, and I am impressed by the fact that she can sing the song in so many languages,” he says, dispelling very quickly the notion that academics prefer “serious music”.

What are his plans given that he has accomplished so much already? “Well, I enjoy my work a lot so I don’t think I will stop doing this for a long time to come.”

Quah says he wouldn’t mind eventually moving back to Malaysia. His parents still live here while all four siblings are in other parts of the globe.

“We have this joke among us – the one first in a country is supposed to shift to a different country when another one moves in – but so far two other brothers and a sister have moved closer to me in London.

“I’m not going anywhere. But of course, the pressure is now on – will I move back to Malaysia?”

Danny Quah

Age: 51

Place of Birth: Penang

Qualifications: Phd in Economics from Harvard University in June 1986 and undergraduate degree in Economics,magna cum laude, Princeton University in June 1980

Career: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (July 1985 - June 1991) - Assistant Professor of Economics LSE (Oct 1991 - present) -Lecturer (Aug 1996 - present) -Professor of Economics (Aug 2006 - present) - Head of Department of Economics

Hobbies: Taekwon-do, reading

Favourite author and book: Neal Stephenson - Snowcrash

Values: Tenacious, Optimistic and Loyal

Animal Sign: Dog