Strategist Cover.eps - Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute

LAUNCH OF THE MERDEKA STATEMENTVIETNAM INVESTMENT FORUMCPPS Chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam presenting memento to Tan Sri Bernard Dompok Minister inthe Prime Minister's Dept whilst Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and Mr. Mirzan Mahathir looks on.Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam.Mr. Mirzan Mahathir President ASLI, Mr. Nguyen Bich Dat Vice Minister of Planning & Investment, DatoDr Micheal Yeoh and Dr. Phang Director General Foreign Investment Agency, Vietnam.Berjaya Group Chairman, Tan Sri Vincent Tan receiving a memento from Vice Minister of Planning &Investment, Vietnam.Ms. Ivy Josiah, Dato Seri Megat Najmuddin and other participants at the Launching.Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam moderating the Panel discussion on the Merdeka Statement.The Official Launch of the Merdeka Statement organised by the Centre for PublicPolicy Studies (CPPS), Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) was held on2 nd August 2007 at the Eastin Hotel.As stated by Tan Sri Dato' Dr Ramon V Navaratnam, Chairman of the Centre forPublic Policy Studies, in his welcoming address, the Merdeka Statement is aproduct of consultations between the CPPS and over 40 different organisations. Itbegan as a draft prepared by Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam and has now grown intoa broad consensus document, representing a diverse and wide cross-section ofsociety. Dato' Dr. Michael Yeoh then shared the rationale and history behind theformation of the Merdeka StatementThe Merdeka Statement was officially launched by En Mirzan Mahathir, thePresident of ASLI who emphasised that the Merdeka Statement is a 'living document'and hopes that it will continue to be discussed, debated and improved upon.Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Bernard Giluk Dompok, Minister in the Prime Minister'soffice delivered the keynote address. He began his speech by reminding all who werepresent that Malaysia is in actual fact only 44 years old as the nation was officiallyformed on 16 th September 1963 by the union of Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore andMalaya, The Minister's speech focused on national unity and how he longed for theday where all Malaysians would see themselves as Malaysians first instead ofidentifying themselves with any particular ethnic group. For example, we should bedescribed as Malay Malaysians or Kadazan Malaysians with the stress being onMalaysian and with ethnicity being merely a description or an adjective.The Minister stressed the importance of relying on the Rukunegara and the FederalConstitution as a constant reminder of the objectives and principles that were reliedon by the founding fathers when Malaysia was formed.The official launch was followed by a brief overview of the Merdeka Statement's8 strategic thrusts by Tricia Yeoh, Senior Research Analyst at the Centre forPublic Policy Studies, which are as follows: 1. Strengthening National Unity, 2.Enhancing International Competitiveness, 3. Creating an Innovation Economy, 4.The Merdeka Statement Roundtable at Lim Kok Wing University in London From left: Tricia Yeoh, Prof.Kamarul Rashdan Salleh, Wan Mohd Firdaus, Mohd Raimi and Wan Zaiful.Redressing Imbalances, 5. Reinforcing Institutions, 6. Reforming Education, 7.Ensuring Quality of Life, and 8. Improving Governance and Fighting Corruption.A lively panel discussion followed on the Merdeka Statement by Rev Dr HermenShastri representing the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity,Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism; Ms Ivy Josiah, Executive Director of the Women'sAid Organisation; Mr Andrew Khoo representing the Malaysian Bar Council andDatuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim, Member of Parliament for Kota Bahru who wasrepresented by Mr Dipendra Harshad Rai.All the panelists emphasised the importance of national unity and how no groupshould be left behind in the development of the nation. Both Dr Hermen Shastri andMr Andrew Khoo lauded the suggestion in the Merdeka Statement for a Truth andReconciliation Committee to be set up as there were hurts that had been sustainedby different communities that needed to be ventilated and acknowledged before thenation can move on.Ms Ivy Josiah, speaking on women's rights reminded us that although manypolicies, government bodies and laws were in place to protect women's rights, theimplementation on the ground still left much to be desired. She stated thatalthough on paper, women's rights were protected to a certain degree, thereremained however a deep seated attitude amongst all levels of society that womenare somehow not equal to men. She reminded us that the Merdeka Statement inpromoting gender equality includes all the women living in Malaysia including therefugees, migrant workers and trafficked women in our midst.The question of implementation became a topic of discussion during the dialoguesession with several participants from the floor questioning how the MerdekaStatement would be monitored and the necessity for a report card process toassess its efficacy.The lively discussion ended with the expression of hope that the MerdekaStatement would be a document of reference for civil society organisations to chartthe progress of the nation for the next 50 years. The Merdeka Statement will bedistributed and also made available on the CPPS website and further commentsand input are welcomed from all.Although Malaysia has no doubt progressed over the past 50 years, the CPPS isof the view that a new paradigm is needed to take the nation forward for the next50 years. There has been an erosion in national unity as well as trust andconfidence in the Government and corporate leadership. These need to be built upand regained and therefore new ideas and thinking are essential. The CPPSbelieves that the principles encapsulated in the Merdeka Statement are importantin ensuring that Malaysia remains at the forefront of its social, economical andpolitical development as one of the more unique multicultural, multilingual andmulti-religious countries in the world.The Merdeka Statement Forum was also held in London at the Lim Kok WingUniversity London Campus. It was organised by the Malaysian Think Tank Londonand CPPS-ASLI. The speakers included Ms Tricia Yeoh of CPPS, Wan MohdFirdaus former President of the United Kingdom and Eire Council of MalaysianStudents (UKEC), Prof Kamarul Rashdan Salleh of Badan Perhubungan UMNOUK, Mohd Raimi of ABIM and Wan Zaiful of Malaysian Think Tank. An interestingand stimulating discussion took place.Mr. Stuart Dean President GE Southeast Asia addressing the Seminar.ASLI and the Ministry of Planning & Investment, Vietnam jointlyorganised the Vietnam Investment Forum in Hanoi recently. Vietnam'sremarkable economic transformation has made Vietnam a majorinvestment destination. Vietnam has chalked up impressive economicgrowth over the past several years. With a population of over 80 millionpeople, Vietnam provides an abundant pool of human capital for foreigninvestors. Vietnam is also richly endowed with natural resources such asoil and gas, gold, coal, tin, titanium and hydro-electric power. In addition,it is blessed with many tourist sites including the World Heritage site atHalong Bay.The Vietnam Investment Forum provided an opportunity for theinternational business community to be updated on the VietnameseGovernment's economic plans, investment incentives and policies.Participants were briefed on business and investment opportunities inthe Northern Provinces as well as in manufacturing, construction andinfrastructure development and in the tourism sector.The Deputy Minister of Planning & Investment, Vietnam Dr. NguyenBieh Dat delivered the Opening Keynote Address on "Opening Vietnamfor Business - Transforming the Economy". The Deputy Minister ofTrade & Industry, Dr. Huu Itao spoke on industrial development inVietnam. Dr. Phang Huu Thang, Director General of the ForeignVietnam's Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry addressingthe Seminar.Mr. Lai Voon Hon CEO Ireka Development and ASEANAProperty addressing the seminar.Vietnam's Director General of Foreign Investment Agency in the Ministry of Planning & Investmentmoderating the CEO Session.Investment Agency spoke on Investing in Vietnam - Investment Lawsand Policies. A CEO Forum on Investing in Vietnam - Perspectives fromForeign Investors was also held. The forum was informed that Vietnamhas attracted more than USD16 billion in foreign investments in 2007, upfrom USD10 billion in 2006 and USD6.4 bill in 2005. Vietnam's economygrew at 8.5% in 2007 and expected to increase to 9% through to 2009.Speakers at the forum included Mr. Stuart Dean, President of GeneralElectric International Inc, Southeast Asia; Mr. Lai Voon Hon, ExecutiveDirector, Ireka Development/CEO, Aseana Properties; Mr. lan Lydall,Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Hanoi; Mr. Tong Quoc Dat,Vice Director General, Infrastructure and Urban Development; Mr.Nguyen Doan Khanh, Chairman, Phu Tho Provincial People'sCommittee; Mr. Tran Xuan Loc, Chairman, Ha Nam Provincial People'sCommittee as well as the Vice Chairman of the Ha Tay ProvincialPeople's Committee.The forum's main sponsor was the Berjaya Group. Other corporatepartners include SP Setia and Ireka Development.The Chairman of the Berjaya Group Tan Sri Vincent Tan led adelegation of senior Berjaya executives to the forum. The MalaysianAmbassador to Vietnam Madam Lim Kim Eng also attended the forum.Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees at the Seminar.2627