MARCH 20 — An previous man is droning about how we have to assist companies and profitable businessmen as a result of the wealth will “trickle down”.
Promoting
Promoting
Somebody in energy is boasting about Malaysia’s potential as a digital hub and pledges to speak to all the massive tech names.
An enormous sum of cash and a number of grants are promised to empower the Bumiputera.
Pardon my deja vu however the 12 months 2024 feels prefer it occurred 20 years in the past, when the very same issues occurred.
Humorous too, is that even then multi-level advertising and marketing (MLM) was a factor.
MLMs are so entrenched on this nation that once I hear of one more native superstar hawking skincare, well being dietary supplements or cosmetics I assume it’s simply one other MLM.
As somebody stated as soon as, these so-called superstar entrepreneurs rely upon recruitment and never a lot purely product gross sales.
Sniff round sufficient and you will see that lots of the nouveau riche coming from comparable origins; not earning profits from their companies a lot as connections.
That’s the deepest drawback with Malaysia and the way, normally, Malaysians suppose. Beneath the bluster and spiritual posturing, nobody really cares how you make the cash as long as you make sufficient of it to matter.
Nonetheless, why is our economic system minister’s head nonetheless within the early 2000s? His aspirations to supposedly make us a digital hub is laughable once we had our probability way back however we squandered it.
Grants went to the undeserving, tasks had been dreamed up as a canopy simply so somebody might afford a Lamborghini and a mistress and in the meantime good colleges stayed unbuilt and college students in Sabah needed to do homework in timber.
We rely a lot on native so-called outstanding businessmen for concepts on earning profits however they’re the unsuitable folks to ask.
They know methods to generate profits, however just for themselves.
The system is as previous as capitalism. Pay your employees as little as you will get away with, hold elevating your costs even when wages can’t sustain with them and skim loads off the highest with the assistance of your keen accountant.
Phrase of recommendation: at all times watch your accountant or monetary controller as a result of from my private expertise they’re very a lot vulnerable to temptation. In the event that they’ve out of the blue acquired an Audi, test your organization accounts.
There may be one easy motive many worldwide corporations don’t arrange store right here: our market is simply too small.
It’s easy, on paper. Assist Malaysians work out methods to promote outdoors our borders or practice them to be proficient at working remotely with each technical and language abilities.
As a substitute all Madani is providing is unimaginative concepts corresponding to merchandising machines and a brand new, contemporary pot of cash for cronies to struggle over.
It’s fairly the ridiculous notion, looking for prospects primarily amongst already cash-strapped Malaysians and it’s very similar to MLM saturation.
As soon as you may not discover folks keen to purchase into your scheme disguised as a possibility, the enterprise will founder together with solely the folks on the prime earning profits whereas the unfortunate new recruits are caught with merchandise they’d be fortunate to promote.
We’re caught in some insidious time warp with our leaders recycling what the then-leaders stated greater than 20 years in the past, and a few of these leaders are nonetheless round as a substitute of retiring.
We actually want some form of time period restrict, if you happen to ask me.
New concepts, individuals who care extra for the nation than their egos or aren’t so simply excited by buzzwords — that’s the best way ahead.
Recycling is an effective factor however recycling concepts? Not once they’ve been confirmed to not work however alas, like previous males of yore, our previous males of in the present day nonetheless suppose shouting issues loudly will make one thing work.
Shouting loudly may also be an indication of deafness so my finest recommendation to this authorities is probably it’s time to really hearken to the individuals who really care.
* That is the private opinion of the columnist.