The follow through strategy that I wish to share covers a complete cycle starting from the educational phase, nurturing phase, development or growth phase until expansionary to the international level. As an example, the construction companies from China or Korea although not owned by the their respective government, continued to receive the support from their government eventhough they have reached the MNC (Multi National Corporation) status and the business have gone International. During negotiation for projects, their government representative will also be on hand to lobby for the company.
The Government Commitment
This is the kind of the Chinese or Korean government commitment that ensures and contributed towards their local companies actually succeeding and reaching the MNC status. There is a sense of belonging, responsibility and pride attached to the companies owned by their nationalities. This is the kind of full government commitment needed by our entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs will be proud of this kind of government commitment. The entrepreneurs will be thankful to the government forever and ever. This is actually the main concept behind the Malaysian Inc policy introduced by the former Prime Minister YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at one time. Now this concept can no longer be heard. This is another example of not following through strategy by our government. It is actually a good government policy which is very friendly, supportive and facilitating towards the corporate sector, entrepreneurs and businessmen.
The Continuous Government Support
Each of the phases requires support from the government not necessary in the form of financial contribution. Support can be in the form of policy, training, trade missions, international or local trade expo, lobbying, advisory services, government guarantee, government commitment, repair and renewal, ICT support, promotion, a tax friendly structure etc. At the nurturing phase for example, there should be close monitoring and support for the entrepreneurs and their businesses by the government. The entrepreneurs require capital, packaging advice, market expansion, training, advisory and most important the graduation programme. The graduation programme is important to ensure that the entrepreneurs exit from the nurturing phase and continue to expand until the last phase i.e. to become an MNC that is able to penetrate the international market.
The Entrepreneurs Care For The Government
When this happens, as I mentioned earlier, this company will repay the kind deeds extended by the government, by training and having vendorship programmes for new entrepreneurs under its umbrella. This is an act of gratitude that must be passed on by the successful entrepreneurs to the new entrepreneurs. When the entrepreneurs felt that the government care for them, the entrepreneurs will forever care for the government. When this happens , it will be the starting point of the multiple effects that will expedite the country’s economic growth process to achieve a developed nation status.
The Data Bank
In implementing the follow through strategy, a concerted effort by all related parties must exist. We do not want our players to always OB, always entering the bunkle or into the pool of water since there is no one driving them to always be on the right track. A database need to be developed so that all information on interested parties can be kept and updated all the time so that it will always remain relevant. The database should contain information on the players, government agencies responsible for making and implementing the policies, related institutions and the specialist reference group. The specialist reference group should include the Islamic Scholars, Prominent Pensioners, Academicians, Historians and Politicians. These group of people has a lot of good and practical ideas that can be implemented for the benefit of our countrymen.
The Reference Group
This reference group is important and they should continue to play their role in organizing seminars, congress, discourse so that all the time there are resolutions, suggestions and new ideas on a continuous basis that can renew, upgrade, enhance and increase the performances of the players. All seminars, congress and discourse as I mentioned earlier should be carried out in a more dynamic approach. All resolutions, proposals and ideas as far as possible should be implemented quickly and not kept as confidential by the organizers any more.
Should Not Have A Feeling Of Frustration In Nurturing Entrepreneurs
We cannot afford to be frustrated and giving up hope easily in helping our countrymen. The follow through strategy must be out in the open and transparent. We cannot be apologetic. We need not worry that other communities will make the same demand. This is about rights and realities. Everybody knows that our countrymen have all the rights to be assisted. Other communities should not envy, should not have any ill feelings as they know jolly well that they are more successful. We have to remind them that they are more successful in all economic activities in the country compared to our countrymen. Therefore, all the government bodies that are involved in developing entrepreneurship should not have a feeling of frustration in nurturing our countrymen’s entrepreneurs. Eventhough in many cases, the percentage of those failing is more than the percentage of those successful.
The Big Tycoon Never Stop Receiving Government Favors
In actual fact and in reality, the government is assisting the “towkeys” from the other communities in a far more greater manner. Before government assistance, these ‘Big Big Tycoon’ are just normal businessmen. Just look at how Ir Dr Cheong Thiam Fook, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan, Tan Sri Jeffrey Chia, Tan Sri Lim Kim Yew, Tan Sri Tony Fernandez, Tan Sri Yeo Tiong Lay, Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong and hundreds more of the same caliber or slightly below started. Before government assistance, they were just normal people like most of us. As soon as they received the government favors and support they became super rich. They received a variety of licenses or contracts or assets from the government for various businesses such as telecommunications, private TV stations, IPP,LRT track, airlines, gambling licenses, and many more. There are also those who received land not a few but in thousands of acres in strategic locations in the Klang Valley.
Wealthy But Worthless
If we just add up the assets of the people I mentioned earlier not including the hundreds of other wealthy people, my rough estimate being, the value of their assets can easily be more than the assets owned by the millions of Bumiputra villagers and other communities like myself. If we average the per capita assets of the Malaysian population, it will not be surprising that we will also be categorized as wealthy. Wealthy but worthless. This is because the assets of the super rich “towkeys” are the ones that increases our average per capita. They should be the ones feeling apologetic and not my countrymen. I do not think they feel guilty and apologetic, in fact their reply would be the wealth was acquired through sheer hard work and effort. I do not question their wisdom. My only argument is that the assistance and support received from the government far exceeded the amount received by my countrymen. Many a times the politicians and NGOs from the other communities, writers, International critics are still stating and accusing the government of giving special treatment, providing too many assistance, benefits and subsidies to my countrymen.
Shoulder Collective Responsibility
Why do we need to feel and act cautiously, humbly, apologetically and discreetly to implement all the agendas to help our countrymen? Don’t do this to our community. Don’t wait until our community have to resort to staying at the hillside and deep in the jungle, only then we offer our assistance? It will be too late by then. By that time, our community will be the indigenous people to the immigrants. Before it is too late, let us shoulder collectively the responsibility to rake our brains to organize various strategies and programmes to assist and to continue to assist our community. We have a lot of strength but we are not wise enough to use all our strength. Why is it that we are not wise in utilizing all the resources that we owned? Needless to say, politically, my countrymen are divided and not united and therefore cannot agree among ourselves. No doubt we cannot be united because of our different ideologies and understanding. However, this does not mean that we cannot cooperate with each other for the sake of our own common causes and goals.
Cooperate, Cooperate And Cooperate
We need to find ways to cooperate, cooperate and cooperate. We need to have an open mind to find ways to work together. When we are seen to cooperate and work together as promulgated in the Islamic religion, other communities will not dare to push for unnecessary and illogical demand. The other communities will not dare to openly criticized our community as in now. They will not have the room to question our rights. Now, even the constitution and the ruling monarchs power are being criticized and commented upon. Not that we do not want to entertain them, but let the demands be logical. We do not intend to illtreat or victimize any communities. We are just pushing for a fair treatment for our community. We need to have our own agenda. We also want to have many super rich amongst our countrymen just like the other communities. I am fully confident that when we cooperate and work together all the agendas either openly or discreetly can be implemented comfortably without doubt and hesitation. The follow through strategy and programmes for our community will be more successful and effective. We need to think big dream high and have a strong heart.
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