Friday January 2, 2009

Set the right example, leaders urged

By TEH ENG HOCK

PETALING JAYA: Many agree with MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s call for national leaders to be more prudent in view of the present economic climate.

Community leader Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said leaders should set the right example. “They must make sure there is no excessive spending, especially when it involves taxpayers’ money. Everything must be done in moderation.

“They must also be prepared to embark on an austerity drive,” he told The Star.

In his blog, Ong wrote that Government leaders should exercise prudence when carrying out the obligations entrusted to them.

“Care must be taken to ensure that we uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability at every level of governance. Leakages in spending should not be tolerated,” said Ong.

Ong also stressed that Government investment, especially on infrastructure, human capital development and other projects to promote growth was essential for the nation to ride out the economic storm.

Lee agreed that spending was necessary to generate economic activity, but said it should be done wisely and after much thought.

“It must be on projects that have spin-off effects, like low-cost housing which creates opportunities for labour, cement and steel supply and more,” he said.

Transparency International Malaysia president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam concurred that the Government should continue spending, but reduce wastage.

He said it should also introduce a second stimulus package to pump up the economy.

Last year, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tabled a RM7bil financial stimulus package in Parliament.

“The Government should spend, but not be wasteful. The people, on the other hand,should only spend on essentials,” he said.

“It is time to be more liberal with the economy. Quotas and APs (approved permits) should be done away with,” he added.

Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah called for more transparent and reasonable expenditures by the Government.

“All works should be by open tender so that the rakyat gets maximum benefits. We have equal rights to know what is going on and how the money is being spent,” he said.

On the proposal for a second financial stimulus package, he asked: “What happened to the first package?We are not feeling the effects and the Government must update us on how the funds are being spent.”