KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan called on the government yesterday to practise inclusive development for a more equitable distribution of wealth among the various races based on the New Economic Model.
SATU HATI: Muhyiddin (fourth left) raises hands and shouted the ‘Satu hati’ slogan before the start of 39th Gerakan national delegates conference at Menara PGRM. Also seen is PGRM president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (third left). — Bernama photo
Party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the government should at the same time empower low and medium income groups by increasing their capacity.
This emphasis should not only be quantitative and race-based, but more qualitative in terms of knowledge, skills and attitude, he added at the 39th Gerakan National Delegates Conference here.
The conference at Menara PGRM was opened by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who represented Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Koh said: “We should focus more on the actual impact and outcome for the target groups and not merely on the input of funds which may be abused and wasted.”
Koh, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said the government must implement an approach that is more effective and inclusive based on necessity and merit and not solely on race.
Strategies have to be drawn up to help small and medium-sized enterprises of the various communities, he added.
He called for a strategy encompassing initiatives and incentives with mentoring and monitoring to encourage more genuine 1Malaysia partnerships and joint ventures which he said should be duly recognised.
To attract greater investment, Koh said, Malaysia needed a more conducive trade environment, a more liberalised economic sector, greater deregulation and a clear decrease in business costs.
The Gerakan president also spoke on the leading role of Barisan Nasional in promoting the politics of moderation.
Koh alluded to the recent call by the Prime Minister for the politics of moderation world-wide, and suggested that the government to start such a movement within the 1Malaysia concept.
He believes that a 1Malaysia moderation movement could stir and encourage a sense of responsibility and worthiness among the minorities.
“We should do this immediately because the voices of extremism have been rising the past few months and seeking mass attention.
“This has led to adverse reaction not only in the media and Internet, but also caused restlessness and anger among the people,” Koh said.
Koh told the 1,360 delegates at the conference that he visited Najib at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital yesterday morning, and he sent them his greetings. — Bernama