tag:chedet.co.cc,2008-12-30:/chedetblog//1 2011-07-02T03:36:56Z Movable Type 4.23-en tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.449 2011-07-02T03:12:39Z 2011-07-02T03:36:56Z

1. Kita tak dapat nafi bahawa berdemonstrasi mempunyai tempat dalam pengamalan demokrasi. 2. Saya baru kembali dari lawatan ke Mesir. Seperti kita semua maklum satu demonstrasi besar di Kaherah telah berjaya menjatuhkan Kerajaan Hosni Mubarak. 3. Tetapi kesan demonstrasi tidak...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. Kita tak dapat nafi bahawa berdemonstrasi mempunyai tempat dalam pengamalan demokrasi.

2. Saya baru kembali dari lawatan ke Mesir. Seperti kita semua maklum satu demonstrasi besar di Kaherah telah berjaya menjatuhkan Kerajaan Hosni Mubarak.

3. Tetapi kesan demonstrasi tidak terhad kepada kejatuhan Kerajaan. Ekonomi Mesir merosot dengan amat teruk. Mesir, yang banyak bergantung kepada pelancongan mengalami kemerosotan 80 peratus semasa demonstrasi berlaku. Hari ini pun pelancong belum kembali dan banyaklah hotel yang kosong.

]]> 4. Serangan terhadap polis adalah satu jenayah. Sudah tentu jika polis diserang, maka polis terpaksa menggunakan kekerasan. Jika polis guna kekerasan maka ini akan dijadikan isu oleh yang berdemonstrasi.

5. Mungkin kerana ingin mengelak daripada tindak balas maka polis diarah berundur dan tinggalkan tempat demonstrasi tidak dikawal. Keadaan ini merbahaya kerana orang awam tidak mendapat perlindungan polis lagi.

6. Sudah tentu pemulihan ekonomi terganggu. Pelancong tidak kembali dan jauh sekali pelaburan oleh pelabur tempatan dan asing. Pengangguran bertambah dan yang miskin menderita bertambah.

7. Walaupun demonstrasi diterima dalam demokrasi, ia tidak boleh diguna dengan sewenang-wenangnya. Jauh daripada memberi manfaat kepada rakyat, ia menambah masalah bagi rakyat.

8. Pihak tertentu merancang untuk mengadakan demonstrasi besar-besaran pada 9hb Julai ini. Apakah benar demonstrasi ini bertujuan untuk membersihkan proses pilihanraya?

9. Jika disemak tuntutan yang dibuat lebih merupakan tuduhan terhadap Kerajaan dan bukan tuntutan sebenar. Tujuannya ialah untuk memburukkan Kerajaan supaya meraih sokongan dalam pilihanraya akan datang.

10. Walaupun pengurusan pilihanraya di Malaysia mempunyai beberapa kelemahan tetapi hakikatnya di Negara ini parti lawan boleh menang. Demikianlah pentadbiran pilihanraya di Malaysia sehingga pada tahun 2008 parti lawan dapat menawan lima buah negeri, satu wilayah dan berjaya mengurangkan ahli Dewan Rakyat sehingga tidak tercapai matlamat dua pertiga seperti yang biasa dimenangi oleh parti Kerajaan.

11. Bandinglah dengan pilihanraya di Negara-negara lain termasuk jiran terdekat kita di mana parti bukan Kerajaan tidak dapat wakil dalam dewan sama sekali. Yang menang daripada parti lawan akan dituduh dengan pelbagai tuduhan dan dihadapkan ke mahkamah. Maka mahkamah pun menghukum mereka salah dan tidak dapat mengambil tempat mereka dalam dewan. Ada yang dibenar masuk tetapi tidak berani bercakap. Kalau bercakap tidak akan dilapor dalam media.

12. Ada pula diwujudkan kumpulan pembangkang dalam parti Kerajaan. Ini adalah satu sandiwara politik.

13. Dalam pilihanraya yang baru lepas pun banyak tekanan digunakan oleh Kerajaan berkenaan. Sebab itu jumlah calon pembangkang yang menang amat kecil.

14. Malangnya terdapat di Malaysia parti yang berasas dari parti negara jiran ini yang ingin supaya negara ini juga menerima contoh pentadbiran negara jiran. Seperti dengan parti di negara jiran, pada mulanya janji dibuat untuk mendirikan Kerajaan yang baik dan adil. Apabila sahaja rakyat memberi kepercayaan jenis pemerintahan yang didirikan jauh berbeza daripada yang dijanjikan.

15. Memang pun ada sekatan tertentu di negara ini terhadap kebebasan liberal yang didapati di negara barat. Sekatan ini diperlukan kerana mengelak daripada huru-hara berlaku.

16. Pada 1969 berkempen dibenar sepenuhnya iaitu enam minggu. Pada masa kempen, parti politik menggunakan perkauman untuk menarik sokongan. Parti-parti Kerajaan pun terpaksa menggunakan soal perkauman. Balas-membalas berkenaan isu ini dalam kempen menyebabkan ketegangan antara kaum-kaum. Dengan itu berlakulah 13 Mei yang berdarah.

17. Untuk mengurangkan kemungkinan kempen membakar hati, maka dikurangkan masa berkempen. Lagi pun parti pembangkang berkempen sepanjang masa. Perhimpunan dalam rapat parti pembangkang lebih kerap daripada parti Kerajaan. Demikianlah kebebasan di Malaysia.

18. Tidak ada sebab kenapa demonstrasi perlu diadakan di negara ini. Wakil Rakyat parti lawan begitu ramai. Jika kajian perlu dibuat berkenaan undang-undang dan pengurusan pilihanraya, peluang yang banyak terdapat dalam dewan-dewan untuk membangkit dan membahas perkara-perkara ini. Tetapi peluang-peluang ini tidak digunakan sepenuhnya. Sebaliknya demonstrasi hendak diadakan. Apa tujuannya? Membersihkan pilihanraya atau mencuba memburukkan imej parti Kerajaan.

19. Di Mesir saya ditanya kenapakah pentadbiran negara Islam tidak ada yang baik. Saya terpaksa mengaku yang orang Islam mudah diperalatkan.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.448 2011-06-28T00:30:50Z 2011-06-28T00:54:13Z

** This article was written for a talk I was to give to a forum. I could not deliver it as I was sick. Maybe it would be of interest to some people.** 1. I do not know whether the...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad ** This article was written for a talk I was to give to a forum. I could not deliver it as I was sick. Maybe it would be of interest to some people.**

1. I do not know whether the 21st Century would be an Asian Century or not. But what is certain is that Asia would play a greater role in the political, economic and socio-cultural affairs of the world during the century.

2. The world has been Eurocentric almost as soon as the Europeans reached Asia via the Cape of Good Hope. This happened because of the aggressiveness of their culture, which ensured the supply of trade goods through force and conquest.

3. The conquered territories were ruled largely through the European system of Government. It became clear that their system was superior, so that the countries that remained free such as Japan, China, and Thailand adopted the system gradually.

]]> 4. The acceptance of the European system extended to the ideologies and culture so that Europeanisation became almost total.

5. Of the Asian countries that Westernised, Japan was the most extensive. It was able to industrialise and to build up its military forces.

6. However, it was only after World War II that the European-style industrialisation took hold and spread to Taiwan, Korea, China and the countries of Southeast Asia.

7. Japan demonstrated an ability to outshine the European and shortly after came Korea and Taiwan. Now India has followed suit.

8. It became clear that the Asian countries of the East are capable of outstripping Europe. Such is their ability to compete in the manufacture of goods that Western products were swept off the world market.

9. Basically the Western countries gave up on manufacturing, except for certain niches, and switched to the financial market. Inventing numerous intangible products, the West seems to continue to grow. But in reality there was no growth as the financial products did not give rise to real business.

10. While the GDP and Per Capita Income figure seems to indicate continued growth and wealth creation, actually the West was in decline. Much of the skills in management and in productions have disappeared.

11. What is clear is that not only is Asia, East Asia in particular growing but the West is actually declining. Eventually the bubble bursts and despite all the efforts put in, the West cannot regain its old capacity to compete with the East, with Asia.

12. It would be wrong however to assume that the world will become Asia centric. Despite the decline of the West, the Europeans are not about to lose all their influence. They would still have a role to play in the affairs of the world.

13. The Asian countries will not be exclusively Asian. It would be shared with the Europeans. But the European will not be as aggressive as they used to be. Recognising the economic power of Asia with its mastery of technology and production capacity, the West will gradually reject any form of military confrontation because this strategy will no longer work. Indeed it can pose great danger to the West.

14. For its part, Asia would do well to realise the futility of open confrontations and war. Asia will not try to emulate the US during its heyday when the threat of force figures much in its policies.

15. The result may be greater respect of the multilateral organisation like the United Nations. China as one of the permanent five will be less likely, to disregard the moral pressure of the United Nations. It is even likely that the United Nations would not be forced through the manipulations of the permanent five. Certainly the United States would not be able to continue dominating or ignoring the United Nations.

16. When the power of Asia balances the power of the west, there would be less tension affecting the world. There could be a period of calm and prosperity for the world.

17. The diplomats of the East and West will have to try to maintain this period of peace and prosperity for as long as possible.

18. This is what the 21st Century will be about. It will be neither an Asian century nor a European century. It is more likely to be the century of the world.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.447 2011-06-20T11:07:13Z 2011-06-20T11:10:14Z

1. Saya berterimakasih kepada Amin Tan yang memperingati saya bahawa saya bukan ulama. Justeru itu saya lebih baik tumpu kepada bidang yang saya miliki kebolehan, seperti bidang perubatan dan pentadbiran. 2. Tiap kali saya sentuh hal-hal yang bersangkutan dengan...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. Saya berterimakasih kepada Amin Tan yang memperingati saya bahawa saya bukan ulama. Justeru itu saya lebih baik tumpu kepada bidang yang saya miliki kebolehan, seperti bidang perubatan dan pentadbiran.

2. Tiap kali saya sentuh hal-hal yang bersangkutan dengan agama Islam saya menerima peringatan ini. Saya umarak dan bukan ulama. Jangan bercakap berkenaan agama Islam.

3. Apakah seorang Muslim tidak perlu faham akan ajaran Islam barang sedikit pun? Apakah seorang Muslim dikehendaki mengikut secara buta-tuli apa sahaja yang didakwa oleh orang yang berpelajaran agama walaupun dakwaannya jelas bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam seperti yang diketahui oleh semua orang Islam?

]]> 4. Jika hari ini ada ajaran sesat, sebabnya ialah kerana pengikut terima apa sahaja yang disampaikan kepada mereka oleh orang yang mereka anggap sebagai terpelajar dalam agama Islam.

5. Jika hari ini ada puak Assabiah, sebabnya ialah kerana puak ini menerima dakwaan oleh orang tertentu tanpa soal.

6. Apabila sesiapa menyoal, bukan hujah dibelakang soalan itu yang diberi perhatian. Yang ditumpukan ialah siapa dianya yang menyoal.

7. Bahawa hujah dan soalan tetap tepat dan sesungguhnya boleh disahkan melalui rujukan kepada Al-Quran dan Hadith yang sahih, tidak dipedulikan. Yang diutamakan ialah siapa yang berhujah dan menyoal. Jika ia bukan ulama maka ini bermakna ia tetap salah dan perlu ditolak tanpa usual periksa.

8. Sifat inilah yang ada pada puak fanatik kepada kumpulan mereka dan pemimpin mereka. Terdapatnya Assabiah ialah kerana ada orang yang seperti ini. Kerana taksub dengan fahaman puak mereka, akal fikiran yang dianugerah oleh Tuhan kepada manusia diketepikan.

9. Kerana tidak tahu mengguna akal fikiran kurniaan Tuhan, maka tak dapatlah mereka menghurai dan menjelas kenapa dakwaan dan soalan terhadap pegangan mereka salah. Selalunya jawapan terhad kepada "kamu tidak tahu, kerana kamu bukan layak berhujah". Kamu bukan ulama, kamu umarak.

10. Saya percaya petikan ayat dari Al-Quran yang saya perturunkan di bawah ini juga akan ditolak kerana saya umarak.

11. Lagipun ia dalam bahasa Melayu justeru ia akan dikatakan bukan dari Al-Quran.

12. Ayat ini berbunyi, "Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, jika datang kepada kamu seorang fasik membawa sesuatu berita, maka selidiki kebenarannya supaya kamu tidak menyampaikan sesuatu kaum dengan perkara yang tidak diingini dengan sebab kejahilan kamu, sehingga menjadikan kamu menyesali apa yang telah kamu lakukan." Al Hujarat ayat 6.

13. Ayat ini ditujukan kepada orang yang beriman, tidak khusus bagi orang yang terpelajar dalam agama Islam. Dengan perkataan lain ayat ini ditujukan kepada umarak bersama ulamak.

14. Yang ditekankan ialah mereka beriman. Tidak sesiapa boleh dakwa hanya ulama sahaja yang beriman.

15. Ayat ini jelas menyuruh orang yang beriman menyoal berita yang dibawa oleh orang yang fasik akan kebenaran berita itu. Umpamanya apabila orang itu mendakwa mengundi sebuah parti politik akan menjamin syurga bagi orang berkenaan dan lain-lain lagi.

16. Apabila saya membuat teguran terhadap dakwaan yang tidak berasas apakah ini bermakna saya menentang ajaran Al-Quran. Atau apakah saya patuhi kehendak agama Islam seperti yang ternyata jelas dalam Surah Al Hujarat ayat keenam?

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.446 2011-06-15T06:35:39Z 2011-06-15T07:03:05Z

1. Kita sebagai orang Islam menerima semua ajaran Islam. Tetapi kita tidak dapat faham dengan mudah semua ajaran islam yang terdapat dalam Al-Quran dan Hadith yang sahih. Justeru kita terpaksa bergantung kepada orang yang faham untuk terjemaahan dan tafsiran....

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. Kita sebagai orang Islam menerima semua ajaran Islam. Tetapi kita tidak dapat faham dengan mudah semua ajaran islam yang terdapat dalam Al-Quran dan Hadith yang sahih. Justeru kita terpaksa bergantung kepada orang yang faham untuk terjemaahan dan tafsiran.

2. Mereka ini memang arif kerana mereka mendalami dalam bidang agama, termasuk membaca kitab-kitab tafsir selain dari Al-Quran dan Hadith. Tetapi mereka bukan Nabi. Sebaliknya mereka adalah manusia biasa. Dan sebagai manusia biasa mereka lemah dan terdedah kepada kemungkinan membuat kesilapan dan kesalahan. Sebab itulah kita dapati perbezaan antara tafsiran-tafsiran yang dibuat oleh mereka berkenaan perkara yang sama. Kadang-kadang perbezaan tafsiran mereka begitu ketara sehingga mereka dan pengikut mereka sering bermusuh dengan yang lain sehingga membunuh dan berperang. Kita baca berkenaan pengebom Syiah menyerang dan membunuh puak Sunni dan sebaliknya. Demikian juga dengan pengikut-pengikut pentafsir lain, Ahmadiah umpamanya.

3. Agama Islam yang dibawa oleh Nabi Muhammad s.a.w hanyalah satu. Sekarang terdapat banyak puak-puak atau mazhab Islam kerana mengikut ajaran dan tafsiran imam dan ulama yang berlainan.

]]> 4. Dinegara kita terdapat Arqam, Ayah Pin umpamanya kerana mengikut ajaran pemimpin. Sekarang mereka menubuh Kelab Isteri Setia yang bertujuan bersaing dengan pelacur. Pengikut As-Shaari dan Ayah Pin amat fanatik kepada mereka iaitu taksub kepada ajaran sesat mereka. Apabila sudah taksub, umat sukar untuk memperbetulkan fahaman mereka. Sesungguhnya mereka adalah golongan Assabiah kerana ketaksuban mereka.

5. Dalam politik juga terdapat kumpulan Assabiah ini. Kerana taksub dengan ajaran pemimpin, mereka tidak lagi menyoal apa sahaja ajaran yang disampaikan. Mereka terima dan telan, bahkan mereka akan bermusuh dengan sesiapa yang tidak percaya dengan ajaran pemimpin mereka.

6. Setelah taksub sebarang penjelasan akan kesilapan dan kesalahan ajaran pemimpin mereka akan ditolak secara buta-tuli. Ini ajaran pemimpin mereka, maka inilah sahaja ajaran yang betul. Jika pemimpin kata yang hitam itu putih maka mereka akan angguk "Ya, itu memang putih". Demikian puak yang taksub ini, puak assabiah ini. Hidung sudah dicucuk dan di mana diheret mereka turut dan pergi.

7. Berpecahnya umat Islam adalah kerana taksub kepada ajaran pemimpin. Al-Quran secara jelas memang menegas orang Islam itu adalah bersaudara. Tetapi apabila pemimpin berkata Islam menyuruh orang Islam berpecah-belah, yang taksub kepadanya akan berkata "Ya, benar Islam menyuruh orang Islam berpecah belah", seperti kata pemimpin mereka.

8. Apabila pemimpin berkata mereka disuruh tolak perpaduan dalam Islam untuk mendapat sokongan bukan Islam, mereka yang taksub akan terima bulat-bulat dakwaan pemimpin mereka. Biarlah bagaimana terangnya ajaran Al-Quran berkenaan dengan persaudaraan dalam Islam, ajaran pemimpin mereka dianggap lebih Islam dari Al-Quran.

9. Dahulu pemimpin mereka berkata bekerjasama dengan bukan Islam menjadikan orang itu kafir dan mereka kata "Kafir! Kafir!". Hari ini pemimpin mereka yang sama berkata mereka mesti bekerjama dengan orang yang kafir. mereka bersetuju dan terus berkerjasama dengan orang kafir. Mereka tidak lagi ambilkira dakwaan dahulu bahawa mereka akan jadi kafir.

10. Demikianlah dengan puak Assabiah, puak yang fanatik setia kepada pemimpin dan kumpulan mereka. Yang utama bukan ajaran Islam walaupun amat jelas. Yang diutamakan ialah kata-kata pemimpin mereka.

11. Hari ini umat Islam berpecah-belah kerana fahaman yang berbeza-beza berkenaan ajaran Islam. Di negara tercinta ini juga orang Melayu Islam berpecah-belah. Mereka berpecah dan menolak sebarang usaha untuk menyatupadukan mereka mengikut ajaran Islam yang terdapat dalam Al-Quran. Pemimpin mereka dan cita-cita besar pemimpin mereka untuk ke Putrajaya lebih utama bagi mereka dari ajaran Islam. Oleh itu Islam dan ajarannya yang sebenar boleh diketepikan untuk tidak menakutkan orang bukan Islam kerana sokongan mereka ini lebih utama daripada negara Islam dan hukum-hukumnya.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.445 2011-06-10T05:40:23Z 2011-06-10T06:07:09Z

1. Saya tertarik dengan penjelasan Nik Aziz kenapa selepas 30 tahun mengguna "perjuangan untuk Negara Islam ala PAS" untuk mendapat sokongan orang Melayu, sekarang PAS menggugurkan Negara Islam dan hukum Hudud. Kononnya Nik Aziz berpandukan Al-Quran dan Hadith. 2. Apakah...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. Saya tertarik dengan penjelasan Nik Aziz kenapa selepas 30 tahun mengguna "perjuangan untuk Negara Islam ala PAS" untuk mendapat sokongan orang Melayu, sekarang PAS menggugurkan Negara Islam dan hukum Hudud. Kononnya Nik Aziz berpandukan Al-Quran dan Hadith.

2. Apakah Nik Aziz baru saja baca Surah Al-Baqarah dan sedar yang Negara Islam PAS menimbul salah faham dan menakutkan pihak tertentu? Jikalau kerana kesedaran ini akan menakutkan pihak tertentu (orang bukan Islam - Karpal Singh) maka PAS menggugur Negara Islam PAS, maka benarlah yang pengguguran ini bertujuan untuk menghapuskan ketakutan mereka ini, supaya mereka akan sokong PAS dalam pilihanraya, dan bukan kerana agama membenarkan atau tidak.

3. Kerana UMNO tidak menyokong Negara Islam PAS dan hukum Hudud PAS, Nik Aziz tidak terima UMNO.

]]> 4. Tetapi bila DAP dan Karpal Singh tidak bersetuju dengan pendirian PAS, Nik Aziz semak semula Surah Al-Baqarah dan tiba-tiba selepas 30 tahun, mendapati bahawa Negara Islam dan hukum Hudud boleh dibelakangkan dan diganti dengan Negara kebaijikan PAS.

5. Demikianlah Nik Aziz lebih bersedia akur kepada pendapat DAP dan Karpal kerana ingin mendapat undi bukan Islam. Penyokong PAS akan turut dimana sahaja pemimpin PAS bawa mereka. Gugur Islam pun mereka akan undi PAS.

6. Untuk perpaduan Melayu dan Islam Nik Aziz tidak sanggup berganjak walau sedikit pun. Biarlah orang Melayu Islam berpecah dan hancur kononnya kerana bagi Nik Aziz perjuangan PAS untuk Negara Islam dan hukum Hudud tidak boleh dibelakangkan atau digugur. Jika ada usaha untuk merapatkan hubungan dan kerjasama politik antara PAS dengan UMNO, Nik Aziz dengan tegas menolak kerana UMNO tidak Islam.

7. Tetapi kita sekarang dapat lihat bagaimana mudahnya PAS dan Nik Aziz menolak Negara Islam PAS dan hukum Hudud PAS kerana ingin bersekongkol dengan DAP untuk mendapat undi bukan Islam.

8. Wahai orang Melayu yang semuanya beragama Islam. Bukalah mata kamu dan lihatlah bagaimana PAS mempermainkan Islam. Bukan Surah Al-Baqarah yang mendorong PAS menggugurkan Negara Islamnya. Nik Aziz sendiri berkata yang mendorong PAS ialah ketakutan orang bukan Islam kepada Negara Islam. Untuk kemenangan pilihanraya ketakutan orang bukan Islam mesti dihilangkan dengan menggugurkan perjuangan Islam PAS.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.444 2011-06-06T23:41:10Z 2011-06-07T03:31:27Z

1. Dalam pertandingan tentu ada yang menang dan yang kalah. Pertandingan jarang menghasil keputusan "Menang Menang", dengan semua yang bertanding berjaya. Demikianlah juga Muktamar PAS yang baru lepas - terdapat yang menang dan yang kalah. 2. Katanya yang kalah...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. Dalam pertandingan tentu ada yang menang dan yang kalah. Pertandingan jarang menghasil keputusan "Menang Menang", dengan semua yang bertanding berjaya. Demikianlah juga Muktamar PAS yang baru lepas - terdapat yang menang dan yang kalah.

2. Katanya yang kalah ialah puak ulama. Yang menang ialah puak kopiah hitam, penyokong Anwar. Syabas.

3. Tetapi yang menang besar ialah tokoh yang tidak hadir dan bukan pun ahli PAS. Ianya ialah Karpal Singh. Perjuangannya supaya PAS gugurkan matlamat untuk mendiri negara Islam PAS yang akan kuatkuasakan hukum hudud sudah pun tercapai. Karpal tidak perlu mati untuk PAS langkah mayatnya. Belum pun ia mati PAS sekarang sudah menjadikan perjuangan untuk negara Islam dan hukum hudud tidak lagi perkara utama. Sekarang PAS akan berjuang untuk negara kebajikan.

]]> 4. Tidak ada banyak laporan berkenaan perbincangan atau perbahasan berkenaan dengan pengenepian asas penubuhan parti PAS - iaitu mendiri negara Islam. Dengan begitu mudah asas ini digugurkan.

5. Kenapa? Kerana ingin menghalalkan kerjasama DAP, khusus Karpal. Lebih tepat lagi ialah kerana PAS tidak sanggup berhujah dengan Karpal Singh.

6. Syabas dan tahniah kepada Karpal. Akhirnya perjuangan mu menentang negara Islam PAS sudah berjaya.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.443 2011-05-23T05:15:56Z 2011-05-23T05:41:42Z

1. Malaysia is blessed with a climate and soil that enables trees to take root and grow very fast. Our success in the plantation industry is due to this. The trees we grow, rubber, oil palm tree and cocoa are...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. Malaysia is blessed with a climate and soil that enables trees to take root and grow very fast. Our success in the plantation industry is due to this. The trees we grow, rubber, oil palm tree and cocoa are foreign to Malaysia yet they grow better here than in the countries of their origins.

2. However, the success of our plantation industry has totally affected out thinking. We know that by planting trees in perfect rows, with the trees separated from each other by a specific distance, we maximise the potential for growth and render the extraction of the latex or the fruits easier and more efficiently. We miss none of the trees when we tap rubber or bring down the fruits.

3. But forest trees do not grow in rows. They are scattered haphazardly. It is this which gives the forest their special appearance or character.

]]> 4. For various reasons we have to reaforest the forest we had raped. We also need to create new forests.

5. But because we are so addicted to planting trees in orderly rows, when we want to reaforest or to create a new forest, we plant the forest trees in the same way. Even when we plant teak and other trees on the road shoulders, they are planted in perfect rows. Our secondary man-made forests look nothing like forests at all. They look like tree estates.

6. But there are times when planting on the road sides, we want to create an avenue of trees. Then we should plant just one row of trees or palm trees perfectly aligned and separated. The tree should be the same all the way through. But when we want to recreate forests let the trees be scattered haphazardly like in the forest.

tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.442 2011-05-11T22:56:39Z 2011-05-11T23:24:22Z

1. The dollar i.e. the US dollar has been depreciating against the Ringgit. It is now hovering just below RM3.00 to 1 USD. Obviously this currency crisis is not over yet. Obviously the US is still in trouble. Europe is...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. The dollar i.e. the US dollar has been depreciating against the Ringgit. It is now hovering just below RM3.00 to 1 USD. Obviously this currency crisis is not over yet. Obviously the US is still in trouble. Europe is also in trouble and so is the rest of the world. This is the longest financial crisis in history. It is now in the fourth year.

2. This crisis started in the US in 2008 with the banks going bankrupt because the sub-prime loans defaulted and Lehman Brothers went bankrupt. Since then the US Government has been printing money by the trillions to bail out banks, insurance and automobile companies.

3. Currently Greece is still unable to repay loans caused by the switch to the Euro.

]]> 4. Malaysia appears to have escaped much of the crisis. Our currency is in fact getting stronger and our economy is growing at a good rate.

5. Why has a serious currency crisis affected the developed countries and not as much the developing countries? The answer is that we have not been trying to get rich quick through playing the money market.

6. I am not a financier of course and my knowledge about finance can be written on the back of a postage stamp. So no one should take what I say about finance seriously.

7. Still, I would like to hazard a theory.

8. The US was, after the Second World War, the richest nation. They have companies like General Motors, General Electric, Caterpillar Tractors, McDonnell Douglas & Boeing, great manufacturers of household appliances, radios and television, machine tools, precision instruments and of course a massive weapons industry.

9. They were so confident of the superiority of their industries that they did not mind teaching the Japanese the importance of quality and expertise in manufacturing.

10. To cut a long story short, the Japanese mastered manufacturing so well that their high quality but competitive products displaced those of the Americans and much of the Europeans in the world market.

11. After Japan came Taiwan, South Korea and then China. The products of these countries even displaced American and European products in their own countries. The last straw is the invasion of East-Asian cars into the American and European markets.

12. Instead of trying to compete, the Americans in particular, and the Europeans opted to surrender the markets to the Asian newcomers. But American and European economies continued to grow and they remain as prosperous as ever.

13. To remain ahead in wealth the Americans and Europeans invented a new market - the money market. They invented ways of making money from money. These they call products although they cannot be eaten or used.

14. The banking system they created was for the purpose of lending money to finance business enterprises. To do this the banks were allowed to lend more money than they have as capital, assets and deposits. In effect this means the banks could create money. In fact in the past banks issued banknotes to pay for goods and services. Later the banknotes were replaced by cheques. Everything can be paid with cheques. No cash is needed any more.

15. It was fine as long as the Government oversees the money created by the banks and limits it to ten times the banks assets. Then the American Government decided that it should not supervise the banks. The market would regulate itself.

16. Freed of Government oversight the banks began to lend far more than ten times their assets. They lent even to people with no income and no capacity to repay the loans, especially for houses.

17. The loans were then either mortgaged or insured. The belief was that they were safe. In any case if the borrower defaulted the property would be worth more than the loans as property prices seem to appreciate all the time.

18. Other ways of making money were invented. Hedge funds, carry trade, currency trade, mergers and acquisitions, investment in 'emerging markets' (formerly known as developing countries), junk bonds, securitised mortgage, commercial paper, short selling, index funds, sub-prime loans, private equity funds, repo market, structured investment vehicles, etc etc

19. Any of these things can give huge profits. For the astute players any of these things can make them millionaires or billionaires overnight, practically overnight.

20. The money market products yield nothing substantial. They create no jobs, no tangible products, no trade in goods or services, no spin-offs in terms of business, no transportation of goods by land, sea or air.

21. Yet the size of the transactions in monetary terms is mind-boggling. The trade in currencies is said to amount to four (4) trillion US dollars a day. It is the size of the total German productivity for a year. Yet no jobs are created, no goods or services are produced, no movement of anything is seen.

22. Of course the people involved in the trade make billions of dollars. Operating out of tax free havens, they report to no one and pay no tax.

23. The money market players and the billions they make contribute to the high GDP and the Per Capita incomes of America and Europe.

24. Then came the collapse. The bubble bursts. And there was nothing spilling from the burst bubbles.

25. The money market players know nothing about other business, about the production of goods and service, about real trade in these things. Actually all of them have become poor.

26. And so they resort to printing money, to remain rich. But the money they print is as valuable as toilet paper.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.441 2011-05-06T02:45:31Z 2011-05-06T03:13:50Z

1. It is great to watch Kuala Lumpur grow. We see everywhere the cranes marking the sites of new development. There are skyscrapers in every corner, great skyscrapers of fantastic shapes and heights. Kuala Lumpur now looks like other great...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. It is great to watch Kuala Lumpur grow. We see everywhere the cranes marking the sites of new development. There are skyscrapers in every corner, great skyscrapers of fantastic shapes and heights. Kuala Lumpur now looks like other great cities of the world.

2. But if you look again you will see that it is still quite green, greener than most other cities. New landscaping with mature trees have contributed towards this greenness.

3. But there are here and there patches of forests, as dense as the well-known tropical forests of Malaysia. They are thick with undergrowth which make them as impenetrable. The trees are tall and so leafy that they cut off all the light of the sun in the day time. You cannot see through these miniature forests and I think you cannot walk through them either.

]]> 4. They make Kuala Lumpur truly green and at times you feel as if you are driving through a forest. How wonderful to be able to drive through forests right in the middle of the city. Then you emerge to see the towers of the skyscrapers, the shopping complexes and the manicured streets once again.

5. The experience is unique and it is characteristic of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

6. Sadly I have seen these forest patches disappearing one after another to be replaced with hard concrete and granite towers of development. I fear in time, in not too long a time, the forests will all disappear. Their green will no longer colour Kuala Lumpur. They will no longer give shade to passers-by. The sunlight will be hard and hot, bouncing off tarred streets and concrete pavements and heating up the air above.

7. We need to develop. But we need to care also for the environment. The patches of forests of Kuala Lumpur are unique. We should try to preserve them even if it will cost us a lot of money.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.440 2011-04-29T01:45:52Z 2011-04-29T02:16:58Z

1. What does the ordinary man imagine a no-fly zone is about? I believe he would imagine a sky without any planes flying. At most he would expect to see only military aircrafts of the enforcing nations flying over the...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. What does the ordinary man imagine a no-fly zone is about? I believe he would imagine a sky without any planes flying. At most he would expect to see only military aircrafts of the enforcing nations flying over the zone to ensure the aircrafts of the targeted country are not flying over the zone.

2. In the case of the Iraqi no-fly zone, the enforcing nations apparently believed that "no-fly zone" is about blockading the zone to deprive it from receiving supplies of all kinds including food and medicine. As a result an estimated 500,000 Iraqi children were born deformed or were still-born due to the affect of bombs and shells with depleted uranium used in the Gulf War against Iraq.

3. Now once again a "no-fly zone" has been declared over Libya, this time by the United Nations. The Arab countries have also supported this resolution.

]]> 4. News reports now tell of bombs being dropped and targets being shelled by the Americans and their allies against Libyan forces and civilians. There is no report on Libyan aircrafts being shot down or chased out of Libyan airspace. Some reports claim that weapons have been supplied to rebels.

5. Are all these things included in the term "no-fly zone"? If they are were they stated in the resolution by the United Nations? Were the representatives of the Arab countries aware that this is the meaning of "no-fly zone".

6. If they were not stated and the Arab nations were not told, then why did the Americans and their allies take all these warlike actions.

7. It would seem that the United Nations needs to state carefully the meanings of the resolutions passed by its "organs". Otherwise the innocent members may be conned.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.439 2011-04-21T23:00:09Z 2011-04-21T23:25:34Z

1. Every time I mention DAP's racism, the hackneyed rebuttal is that UMNO is a racial party, more than DAP. 2. UMNO, MCA and MIC are racial parties but they contest elections not under their own party names but as...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. Every time I mention DAP's racism, the hackneyed rebuttal is that UMNO is a racial party, more than DAP.

2. UMNO, MCA and MIC are racial parties but they contest elections not under their own party names but as the Alliance or BN coalition. As a member of a multi-racial coalition they cannot promote only Malay, Chinese or Indian interests. They have coalesced into one political entity and their struggle is for all the races in that entity. The race based parties working together in the interest of members of all races lose their racial character.

3. The DAP, like the PAP, claims to be multi-racial but everyone knows the overwhelming majority of their members, supporters and their leaders are Chinese. And their struggle is principally against anything Malay and for what they claim to be Chinese rights. Their disguise that they are for Malaysians is exactly that - it is a disguise. No one is taken in by their claim to be multiracial.

]]> 4. The slogan Malaysian Malaysia clearly reflects that in their minds Malaysia is presently not for all races, that it is for Malays only. That the Alliance and the BN have representation from all races is ignored. That the parties share power in the Government is also ignored. That for 50 years the coalition has brought prosperity to all races, with the Chinese getting the biggest share because of their skills and ability is deliberately disregarded.

5. Before independence, the races were deeply divided. They were antagonistic towards each other. Because of this they formed race-based parties. Multi-racial parties just could not get the support of all races. Invariably they would be dominated and supported by one race or another. In elections they all lost.

6. But Tunku Abdul Rahman, the President of UMNO, together with Tan Siew Sin and V. T. Sambanthan decided that the races could cooperate more effectively if they form a coalition of racial parties. In a coalition the identities of the races would be retained and they can ensure that their interest and concerns would be heard and given serious consideration by the other racial parties. They felt more secure even if they made up a minority. In fact they were given equal representation in the High Council of the Coalition.

7. Assured that none would be side-lined, the race-based parties were willing to work together. There can be no doubt that this formula has resulted in Malaysia avoiding the kind of racial violence that are seen in other multi-racial or multi-religious countries. With the ensuing stability, Malaysia was able to develop and prosper. Can anyone deny that?

8. Only the blind and the bigoted would fail to see the success of the coalition of racial parties and the power-sharing Governments that they form in Malaysia. In fact the opposition parties have realised this and are trying to form a coalition. But so far they can only co-operate during elections. They now don't contest against each other. But each party is still racist, concerned only with its own race once the election is over.

9. Maybe one day everyone will forget their racial origins and regard themselves only as Malaysians. But that day has not arrived yet. Until then only the BN coalition can represent all the races in Malaysia.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.438 2011-04-18T03:44:43Z 2011-04-18T04:11:42Z

1. I would like to congratulate Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the chairman of Barisan Nasional in Sarawak for the victory achieved by the party in the recent election. 2. Dato Seri Najib and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also deserves...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. I would like to congratulate Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the chairman of Barisan Nasional in Sarawak for the victory achieved by the party in the recent election.

2. Dato Seri Najib and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also deserves to be congratulated. The two were on the ground campaigning almost throughout the whole campaign period. They worked very hard and they had good supporting staff from the Peninsular as well as Sarawak.

3. I congratulate the DAP for bringing its racist politics to Sarawak. Before this all races co-operated well with each other for the good of Sarawak. Now we see clearly that the Chinese community in Sarawak has rejected multi-racialism.

]]> 4. Perhaps the SUPP are at fault but others in the BN also committed many wrong things. But the rejection is almost entirely by the Chinese community.

5. They have become infected by the virus of Chinese racism that is the guiding principle of the DAP. In the past DAP was almost totally rejected in Sarawak.

6. The DAP will talk about Malaysian Malaysia i.e. Malaysia for all Malaysians. But its appeal had always been to the racialist sentiments of the Chinese. Those Chinese who reject the DAP seem to be considered as non-Chinese by the DAP.

7. Malaysia faces a grave danger of being divided by two parties - one Malay dominated by default and the other Chinese by choice. This will not be good for Malaysia. But this is what the DAP is striving for. A two-party system based on race will not contribute to stability much less national unity.

8. The presence of a few Malays in the DAP is just window dressing. It is the same as in Singapore where the PAP Government side lined their Malay supporters completely. The Malays make up 15 per cent of the island's population but their share of political power and wealth of this very prosperous nation is about one per cent. Of course Singapore is ruled by Singaporeans. The same would happen in Malaysia should the DAP rule this country. It would be ostensibly Malaysian.

9. I will be called a racist for pointing this out. For more than half a century the races in Malaysia had worked together to build the nation. The world saw stable BN Governments with power and wealth being shared by all races quite fairly. None of the races got everything that they considered they were entitled to - not the Malays, nor the Chinese, nor Indians, nor Ibans, Kadazans etc. All had to give up something. That is the essence of sharing.

10. Now the DAP has destroyed this power and wealth-sharing formula by separating the Chinese from the rest.

11. Soon we will be holding the 13th General Election. I pray and hope that the Sarawak pattern is not repeated in this beloved country. Let us all think carefully whether we want to split up this country or we are prepared to sacrifice something of our own in order to maintain the stability and growth through the BN coalition.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.437 2011-04-11T05:06:40Z 2011-04-11T05:46:31Z

1. We hear a lot about litigation these days. Everyone is suing everyone else for hundreds of millions of Ringgit for alleged libel. Almost all the litigants are politicians. The courts' time is taken up with these cases. Some...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. We hear a lot about litigation these days. Everyone is suing everyone else for hundreds of millions of Ringgit for alleged libel. Almost all the litigants are politicians. The courts' time is taken up with these cases. Some go on for years as the litigants appeal to higher and higher courts.

2. We hardly ever hear any of these litigations ending with the courts awarding the sum claimed by the complainants. In most cased the complainant would lose the case and ordered to pay cost.

3. The public usually do not have a high regard for these litigants. The disparaging utterances against them would not damage their reputation at all. Maybe justice demands that the whole legal process be gone through and a judgment be made by a court and the appeals be heard. But on the other hand, in some instances in order not to waste the time of the courts, the case may be curtly dismissed, and appeals disallowed. One wonders why there is this extreme disparity in the treatment of these cases.

]]> 4. Although the defendant may feel sure that he will not be ordered to cough up the hundred millions of Ringgit or failing that be made a bankrupt, nevertheless there is still the odd possibility that he may lose the case and be bankrupted. And so for the years of trials and appeals he would be mentally stressed. Of course he would be impoverished also as he has to pay lawyers to defend him. Additionally he loses his freedom of speech with regards to the matters before the courts.

5. For all his sufferings he would if found not guilty be awarded cost (minimal and not actual). By comparison to the hundreds of millions he was sued for, the cost awarded him would be a minute amount. And he has to part with it to pay his lawyers. For the defendant, he gains nothing but will certainly lose something. Yet in the eyes of the public the libel charges were obviously frivolous and a waste of the time of the courts.

6. There is something unfair in this even though it may be regarded as just. You are threatened with being made a bankrupt if you lose but when the complainant loses, he has to pay a minute fraction of the amount he was suing for.

7. With this prospect people can sue with impunity. There is nothing to lose and much to gain. And if you are a politician you get a bonus by effectively shutting up the mouth of your opponent for years and years.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.436 2011-04-06T05:10:00Z 2011-04-06T05:39:11Z

1. The concept of globalisation; of a world without borders; of unrestricted movements of capital, goods and investments across borders was promoted during the late 80's and early 90's when the world economy seemed set to grow forever. 2....

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. The concept of globalisation; of a world without borders; of unrestricted movements of capital, goods and investments across borders was promoted during the late 80's and early 90's when the world economy seemed set to grow forever.

2. The growth would be even greater if the poor but resource-rich countries would abolish the restriction on the movement of foreign capital to exploit opportunities presented by them. In addition to the opportunities there was cheap labour to help reduce cost.

3. The poor countries would also gain from globalisation as foreign capital invested in the extraction of raw material and simple components manufacturing would create jobs and increase the income of the people and the revenues collected by Government. Globalisation would seem to benefit everyone, the rich foreign investors and traders and people in poor countries.

]]> 4. Despite the seemingly win-win promise of globalisation, negotiation in Doha, Qatar and other places have not yielded agreements. The poor countries seem to be suspicious or unconvinced of the benefit of globalisation to them.

5. Unable to make progress the rich countries proposed bilateral free trade agreements between selected countries. The first agreement on bilateral free trade was between a highly developed country and a country which had already been practicing free trade. This agreement was lauded as a successful example of the benefits of free trade for both countries. Every country should therefore adopt free trade through bilateral agreements.

6. On closer examination it was discovered that the junior partner was not going to lose anything since it has always been a free-port and was not going to lose import duties which it did not have. Nevertheless many developing countries were persuaded that bilateral free trade agreements were good for them.

7. These agreements could possibly be less likely to result in exploitation of the poor by the rich partner. But it is still very likely that the absence of import duty would leave local products of newly industrialising countries incapable of competing against imports from the more powerful trading partner. And the Governments would lose revenue from import tax.

8. If most countries have these free-trade agreements with each other then effectively the globalisation of the world in terms of free-trade would have been achieved.

9. The G-7 (later G-8) was set up by the rich countries to enable them, among other things to manage the world economic practices so as not be detrimental to their own growth. But in 2008 the whole of their banking system collapsed. This was followed by the onset of the most severe financial crisis in the history of the world. Such is the crisis that the G-8 felt it was necessary to include other countries in the management of the world's economy. Thus was the G-20 created. The powerful but troubled economic powers merely invited countries of their own choice to be members of the G-20.

10. One of the first things agreed to by the G-20 was not to protect their economies. But everyone of them reneged on their undertakings. Yet they keep on preaching free market and globalisation to the world.

11. Malaysia seems to be unaware of what is happening. It is still pushing on religiously with dismantling its trade related taxes inspite of the failures of the Qatar rounds of negotiations on globalisation. Malaysia has entered into several bilateral free trade agreements and is proposing to go into more of such.

12. Perhaps the officials have done a thorough study of the benefits of tree trade in terms of revenue, exports and the effect on Malaysian companies competing against imports.

13. Many Malaysians support easy access of foreign goods into the Malaysian market. They can buy more foreign made cars for example. But they must know that Malaysian cars find entering foreign markets extremely difficult. It is not just the price that is unattractive but in many instances condition and regulations effectively become trade barriers.

14. Yet we are planning on removing or reducing taxes on imported cars. Obviously Government revenue from imports would be greatly reduced if we do this. Additionally there will be a great deal of money flowing out of the country to pay for the imports and much less flowing in.

15. Importing cars into the country must erode sales of locally produced cars. The profitability of local automotive companies will also be affected. Not only will the producers of cars lose their sales volume and profits but the vendors, the dealers and the agencies will also lose their sources of income. There will losses of jobs in the automotive industry including among the vendors, dealers and agents.

16. It is important to study thoroughly the benefits and the losses to the national economy which will result from tax-free agreements and globalisation. Figures such as the GDP and per capita income will be very misleading. It is far better to rely on the value of exports and imports, the reduction or increase in Government revenue, the profitability or losses by local companies and industries resulting from loss of competitiveness in the local market against possible gains from exports, jobs created and other figures which are more indicative of the true results of changes of economic policies such as globalisation and free trade agreements.

17. Only if the figures are positive should we enter into negotiations for free-trade or for globalisation. It is important to remember that when Malaysia agreed to AFTA (Asean Free Trade Agreement) in which 40% local content would qualify as national product and should be tax exempt into ASEAN countries, non-Asean car makers from Japan, Korea and Europe shifted their production to ASEAN countries so as to gain national status after including 40% local contents.

18. Malaysian national cars have 90% local contents which increase production cost. They don't have economies of scale. As a result our exports cannot compete with those foreign brands produced in ASEAN countries with 40% local content.

19. We have made many mistakes in negotiating agreements with other countries and in drawing up foreign contracts. The costs have been very high. I hope our negotiators will bear this in mind and not allow anxiety to be compliant to the so-called universal practices promoted by globalisation and free trade to affect our better judgement.

]]> tag:chedet.co.cc,2011:/chedetblog//1.435 2011-03-31T00:35:05Z 2011-03-31T00:15:07Z

1. Recently someone complained that Malaysians have to pay high prices for cars because the Government is protecting Proton. 2. Actually the high price for imported cars was fixed before Proton to reduce gas-guzzling cars from being imported. Thus cars...

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 1. Recently someone complained that Malaysians have to pay high prices for cars because the Government is protecting Proton.

2. Actually the high price for imported cars was fixed before Proton to reduce gas-guzzling cars from being imported. Thus cars with big engines are taxed (import duty) by 300%. Other cars are also heavily taxed to reduce import of petrol.

3. When Proton was introduced the price fixed was lower due to lower tax being charged. The buyers profited from the lower price so that those who could not buy a car before could now buy a Proton car.

]]> 4. Still the tax on Proton yielded 18 billion Ringgit in government revenue over a 10-year period. This is simply because more people bought Protons who before could not afford to own a car. The rapid growth in the ownership of cars is due to the cheapness of the Proton.

5. Today Proton's share of the market is less than 30%. A lot of foreign cars are being imported because Malaysians are richer now. Despite Mercedes and BMW costing three times more in Malaysia than in Europe, Malaysia is one of the best markets for these huge luxury cars. They buy these cars because they just like them and do not mind the high price. It has nothing to do with protecting Proton.

6. Is the Government doing something that other Governments are not doing? I list below the measures taken by other countries to protect their economy.

7. Singapore : Buyers have to pay a high price for a certificate to import cars.

8. In America US$74 billion in Government funds were used to bail out automotive companies. (Without this bailout General Motors would close down. Americans would have to buy foreign-made cars).

9. France: Government doled out billions to automakers to keep the automotive industries alive.

10. Spain : Interest free loans were made available by the Government to support local industries.

11. UK : Millions of pounds were given to businesses and banks to prevent them from closing down. Still all British car companies have closed down.

12. Germany : Financial incentives were given to scrap older cars so that people can buy new cars.

13. Italy : Subsidies are given for purchase of "green scooter".

14. Russia : Direct subsidies are given to auto companies and tariffs imposed on used cars to protect industry.

15. China, South Korea : Policies and subsidies are used to protect local automakers.

16. Russia, India and Turkey use import tariffs to protect local industries.

17. China, India, Russia, Vietnam, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil all have tariff barriers. The United States imposed 35% tariff on China-made tyres.

18. The G20 resolved against protectionism but all of them provide protection in various forms for their businesses, contracts and products.

19. So, is it wrong for Malaysia to protect local industries? Actually our protection is minimal.

20. We believe in competition but we are up against countries which protect their industries against foreign products. In Europe standards are raised every year to keep foreign cars out of their markets. The cars and other products we import are cheap because of subsidies and protection by their countries.

21. In America, if there is a slight defect in the product, selling the product in the US market would be stopped. Because one person got rashes from wearing gloves made of Malaysian rubber, all Malaysian gloves were banned.

22. Millions of Toyota's hybrid cars were recalled because one car had defective brakes.

23. We can close down Proton and buy only foreign-made cars. Roughly 50,000 people would be thrown out of work. Their families would be deprived of a bread-winner. Many other industries including component suppliers, transport companies etc will suffer. Economic growth would be effected.

24. If we think that without the need to protect Proton, foreign cars would be cheaper, we are wrong. Without the tax on foreign cars and on Proton cars, Government revenue would be smaller. There would be little money to finance infrastructure, universities, scholarships etc. Generally standards of living could decline. So the Government will have to continue with high taxes for imported cars. It is not Proton which is causing foreign cars to sell at high prices.

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