ID :
147447
Tue, 10/26/2010 - 11:27
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MALAYSIA NEEDS TO ELABORATE ON DISTRIBUTION IN TRANSFORMATION PLANS

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia needs to elaborate on
distribution in the government's transformation plans to attain a long-term
sustainable growth.

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Mukhriz Mahathir, said it
would be a mistake to focus on growth at all cost as the country would never be
sustainable in the long term.

"This will lead to disparity between the various ethnic races in the country and
give rise to social and political problems," he said after chairing the
executive talk programme with Just Faaland on "The Relevance of Affirmative
Action Under the 10th Malaysia Plan and the New Economic Model(NEM)" here
Monday.

Faaland, a Norwegian political economist, was instrumental in the
formulation of the New Economic Policy back in 1970.

He is an emeritus senior consultant attached to the Chr. Michelsen Institute in
Norway, an independent centre for research on international development and
policy.

Mukhriz said there were many strategies and plans abour boosting the country's
growth, but not enough focus on the distribution level.

"Prime Minsiter Najib Razak has explained on the distribution earlier in the NEM
and it was also mentioned in other transformation plans.

"But what Faaland is referring to is that although the distribution has been
mentioned, it is not enough, as it is the key driver to achieve growth in the
long term," he said.

Meanwhile, Faaland said it was important for Malaysia to have equal
distribution and policies have to be in place to ensure this.

"I am impressed with the transformation plans Malaysia has for future growth.

"However, in achieveing growth, it is not all about just reaching positive
growth but having a sustainable one is vital," he said.

Faaland said in ensuring a sustainable growth, equal distribution must focused
more on avoiding disparities and social political problems.

He said there must be greater emphasis on dialogues between private sector and the government.

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