Download PDF - ETP - Pemandu

Sedgwick and Hershman reviewing notes taken from the discussion
Fourth, we think that the GTP and ETP
need to be better integrated. For example,
both education and public service delivery
appear in the GTP and ETP but with slightly
different emphasis. Subsidy reform comes
under the ETP but is also crucial to the
NKRA under the GTP to increase use of
public transport.
Overall, however, these areas for
improvement should not take away from
the impressive start the ETP has made.
Looking ahead, the focus should be on
sustaining it, which implies moving on the
SRIs, and institutionalising both the ETP
and GTP.
Individual comments from
panellists
Michael Hershman
Branding a country like Malaysia is a long
term process. The best way to establish a
Malaysia brand to is have people around
the world get to know a Malaysian.
Because, to know a Malaysian is to love a
Malaysian. People around the world do
not know much about Malaysian and the
country, in many respects, it is because
Malaysia has somewhat taken a low profile
and that is not all bad. It is a peaceful and
safe country; it is a country without a lot of
controversy. But branding has to be proactive,
coordinated with strong messages
overseas, this is an issue educating the
public about the strength of Malaysia, the
fact that the country is a multi-national
country which has learned to live together
in harmony — not too many countries can
claim that.
The importance of civil society cannot be
understated, you must include them in
every level of discussion, I know this is not
easy due to the natural mistrust between
NGOs and government. You must work
hard to overcome that.
Perceptions and criticisms of Malaysia from
abroad often are based on the belief that
Malaysia is unwilling to address difficult
policy issues, for example campaign finance
reform, freedom of information and freedom
of the press.
To be sure, there are others outside of
Malaysia, who have credibility, who
recognise that Malaysia has made progress
in many key areas. It is important that their
views be captured through appropriate
surveys as well as domestic feedback from
the Malaysian citizens.
The work that Malaysia has done to establish
a strong anti-corruption infrastructure in
the country is beginning to be recognised as
a strong indicator of Malaysia’s willingness
to battle corruption. However, this current
effort is only the beginning as corruption is
always changing in nature and scope. Your
anti-corruption efforts must be flexible
enough to keep up with these changes.
“
International Performance Review
The work that Malaysia
has done to establish a
strong anti-corruption
infrastructure in the
country is beginning to
be recognised as a strong
indicator of Malaysia’s
willingness to battle
corruption.
”
Michael Hershman
Fairfax Group, President
and co-founder,
Transparency International
245