Monday, February 18, 2008

Of Sour Grapes and Green Apples


Malaysian Prime Minister said yesterday that it is not fair to compare Malaysia with Singapore.

[Quote:]

"It is like comparing "First-class Grapes" with "First-class Apple".

"We are a population of over 20 million and we rank 8th in the world in terms of our competitiveness."

"I am not telling you lies. This statistic is from an international survey."

"Everywhere I go, the business community tells me that Malaysia is doing very well. These people are smart. You cannot fool them because they are well-read."

"Please trust us - we are your government."

""Nobody is happy to see prices rising but this is out of our control."

"The private sector is dominated by the Chinese and I want to say a big 'thank you' to the community for creating so many job opportunities." [unquote]

Grapes and Apple? We are grapes, they are apple?

I think it's more of Rats and Lions.

This is the year of the Rat; so using the analogy of Rat is more appropriate.

I always thought a bigger population will create a greater mass and greater domestic consumption which can fuel the economy. This is why the USA economy had thrived; largely on greater domestic consumption. But America's economy thrived on innovation and creativity, and attracting foreign investments to the tune of trillions of dollars, due to the laissez-faire doctrine. Malaysia thrived on Crony-Capitalism and Kautimism. Singapore had no natural resources except human capitals, and they thrived on trade and financial services. Most of all, Singapore invested their national funds in the global economy, buying good companies and generating billions of profit from these investments. This, we had failed, and failed miserably.

Grapes? Ya, sour grapes! The apple remains green...

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

actually malaysia "could" do better coz singapore become developed because majority talented malaysians are working there! even some of their 1st class cabinet are ex-malaysians. the acting PM statement actually hold some truth, if only this old man resign, and other capable ppl to take over and revamp the whole cabinet and administration, malaysia of course will be much much better than singapura. better sill dissolve bn and form multi-racial party like gerakan.....

Anonymous said...

First class Buffoon claiming to be first class apple?!

Anonymous said...

If M'sia is so great why is it so jealous of Singapore? This is hardly a secret for decades, especially for Johor State. Only a true dullard would fail to notice/conclude this fact about on which side of the causeway the green-eyed monster dwell.

Helen said...

The rat and lion comparison is so apt. The lion do kill, but at the same time they serve a greater purpose by preserving the balance in the wilderness.

The rat? They steal, period.

Anonymous said...

1st class grape to 1st class apple?

comparing lee to bodowi, its more like...

south african abalone to usa (ulu sepetang area) 'si ham'

seriously, what else could this 70 years haggard old bugger do for this country.

Anonymous said...

MC Leong (formerly BATC): Hey Dr Yeoh...can email me your contact no. to leongmc@time.net.my. Got a potential Construction PM course jon for you. MC Leong

Hope said...

Why can't we compare?

The government always compare us with other countries when it comes to subsidies and all..

And he's claiming that we are first-class?? Oh, please... flattering himself again...

Jefus said...

"On January 15th the governments of Singapore, Kuwait and South Korea provided much of a $21 billion lifeline to Citigroup and Merrill Lynch, two banks that have lost fortunes in America's credit crisis."

link:
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10533866

someday, somebody will notice that the Citibank in KL belongs in part to our neighbor whom we love to bash.

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

More like "First class grapes" and "Rotten apples".

Anonymous said...

1st class apples vs 1st class grapes?

ROFL. I can't stop laughing. In fact, we are NONE.

Looking at some basic facts about Malaysia governmental COST to start a business here
http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/StartingBusiness

I almost turn the table. Start a business in Singapore only cost them 0.8% per capita while in Malaysia, it cost tax payer 18.1% per capita.

That's mean 1 Singapore government worker are EQUAL to 22 Malaysia government servants in cost efficiency. Singapore only take 24 working day to do the work while Malaysia use 5 working days.

In comparison, China spend 8.4% per capita even it took them 35 days. That means after open the market, 1 China government servant are able to perform 2 Malaysia government servant works.

Perhaps 1st class liars. Abundance of it.

Anonymous said...

Correction, the paragraph that say
"Singapore only take 24 working day to do the work while Malaysia use 5 working days. "

should be
"Singapore only take 5 working day to do the work while Malaysia use 24 working days. "

Maverick SM said...

Denzook,

The world has passed into an era on Globalization and the management of Human Capital.

It doesn't matter which Country; human capital traverse the globe and capital traverse the globe in search of competitive advantage.

Wits0,

Malaysia is not jealous of Singapore. Malaysia believed that they are No.8 in the survey on Competition; Semua OK!

Helen,

The lion don't kill unless they are harmed. The rat don't steal; they eat away.

Maverick SM said...

Hopeful,

We can compare, but on things that we are better off; We're 1st Class; 1st Class in boasting.

Jefus,

Citibank may have a new owner but Maybank is still Malaysia's own; kalah tak apa; eksen mau!


Kak Ton,

Thanks for being here and it's an honor to have you to pen a comment here.

The apple may be rotten, but we still believed it is 1st Class rot.

Maverick SM said...

Moo_t,

Thanks for the link; it was great information.

The cost to do business may cost the tax payer 18%, but semua ok; business as usual.