KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been made an unofficial adviser for the four PAS-governed states of Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis — dubbed as the “State-Government 4” (SG4) — however can he assist bring in overseas buyers to those four states?
What would Dr Mahathir’s position be as unofficial adviser? Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar mentioned on September 14 that Dr Mahathir would supply recommendation on environment friendly administration and approval of initiatives in the four states as inefficiency had turned away buyers, and that the ex-PM would hyperlink up buyers from international locations such as Japan and Korea to those four states.
However, political observers who spoke to eNews Malaysia have been divided on how efficient Dr Mahathir could be in his new position.
Datuk Jayum Jawan, professor of political sciences at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), mentioned any recommendation given by Dr Mahathir as an unofficial adviser for the needs of drawing in buyers to the four states could be “wasteful”.
Jayum mentioned it’s because Dr Mahathir could be performing outdoors of the established framework the place international locations deal straight with one another for finance-linked issues, as an alternative of dealing individually with states inside a rustic.
Asked if Dr Mahathir’s new position would assist the four PAS-ruled states to draw buyers from Korea and Japan, Jayum indicated this might be unlikely.
“Mahathir has lengthy handed his prime in politics and nation constructing. He has had his second probability to right what he might have finished in another way in the primary 22 years as PM when he turned PM the second time in 2018. But he made one blunder after one other and in the top confirmed his true color, a Malayan chief who couldn’t rise above the 3R in order to stay related in Malayan-dominated politics of Malaysia,” Jayum mentioned, referring to the 3R acronym for “race, faith, and royalty” points and Malaya that’s now Peninsular Malaysia.
“His appointment as unofficial adviser to four PAS-ruled states doesn’t add any weightage in phrases of nationwide as effectively as worldwide political processes. He might as soon as be very revered in the East by international locations such as South Korea and Japan, however that’s hardly the case anymore,” he mentioned.
Jayum additionally cited the Federal Constitution’s Ninth Schedule’s List I (in any other case recognized as the Federal List), which outlines what issues fall throughout the federal authorities’s jurisdiction, and particularly cited Item 7 (regarding finance) and Item 8 (regarding commerce, commerce and business) in List I. List II is a separate shorter listing that outlines the issues that fall throughout the restricted jurisdiction that state governments have.
“Furthermore, finance and something to do with cash is a federal matter (Item 7, Ninth Schedule/ Item 8, regarding Trade, Commerce & Industry), and due to this fact state and area can’t do any exterior engagements with cash issues with out the approval of the federal authorities.
“Thus, South Korea and Japan or any nation for that matter might not need to take care of any state or area in Malaysia straight, however by way of established protocol, that’s by way of the official nationwide authorities and that’s the Unity Government and Anwar Ibrahim,” he mentioned, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his federal authorities now generally recognized as the unity authorities.
“Thus, any advising outdoors the scope of that is wasteful recommendation and will not augur for good federal-state relations,” the guy on the Academy of Sciences Malaysia mentioned.
Asked if having Dr Mahathir as the four states’ unofficial adviser would assist each PAS and PN, Jayum replied: “No, it’s higher that PAS and PN recruit professionals who’re extra in tune with present sentiment and in contact with current financial realities to assist their four states take care of financial matter in the respective states.”
Malaysia is a federation composed of states and territories (Sabah and Sarawak) as effectively as federal territories (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Putrajaya), with Jayum noting that there are established strategies below a federal association for how every state held by a unique political get together offers with its counterpart on the federal stage.
UPM professor of political sciences Datuk Jayum Jawan mentioned any recommendation given by Dr Mahathir as an unofficial adviser for the needs of drawing in buyers to the four states could be ‘wasteful’ as Dr Mahathir could be performing outdoors of the established framework the place international locations deal straight with one another for finance-linked issues, as an alternative of dealing individually with states inside a rustic. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at Singapore Institute of International Affairs, mentioned the four states do want investments, and mentioned it was attainable for Dr Mahathir’s new position to assist PAS and PN if any investments that come in last more: “If the investments come and keep for quite a lot of days, maybe it might assist.”
“These four states, being understandably a number of the most backward after extended PAS rule, definitely want a whole lot of funding to even simply meet up with the remainder. So if Dr Mahathir might work his magic and appeal to lengthy overdue investments from Japan and Korea, hopefully it might go a great distance towards resuscitating these impoverished states.
But when requested if Dr Mahathir would be capable to appeal to funding from international locations like Japan and South Korea for these four states, Oh mentioned: “I extremely doubt it, as overseas buyers is probably not interested in the extremely religiously charged general social environments in such states.”
Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun mentioned the four states do want investments, and mentioned it was attainable for Dr Mahathir’s new position to assist PAS and PN if any investments that come in last more: ‘If the investments come and keep for quite a lot of days, maybe it might assist.’ — Picture courtesy of Oh Ei Sun
Kartini Aboo Talib@Khalid, a professor from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), nonetheless, believes that Dr Mahathir will nonetheless be capable to draw in buyers to the four states.
“Tun Mahathir is the mastermind cum enterprise architect for Malaysia, from heavy industries to the Look East Policy, his artistic concepts, impartial considering, and meticulous methods deem him invaluable to Malaysia. His enterprise networks are huge and have been constructed primarily based on belief and long-term companions.
“Making him the unofficial adviser of the PAS-ruled states will appeal to companies to circulate to those states with dependable capital and buyers. Japan and South Korea worth belief and respect friendship, particularly from a long-term companion. Tun Mahathir might change into a dwelling relic of belief to draw buyers from Japan and South Korea,” she mentioned.
Kartini mentioned Dr Mahathir’s enterprise networks usually are not restricted to only Japan and South Korea, however are all around the world, and mentioned the overseas direct funding that may be drawn in could possibly be in many varieties as an alternative of simply capital, noting for instance {that a} hub for storage of products and commodities may be created and with transactions ensuing in multimillion {dollars} of revenue if finished appropriately.
With Dr Mahathir’s new position, Kartini mentioned: “Eventually it should assist these states to be taught new concepts and progressive methods from a really skilled statesman. It is best to not underestimate Tun Mahathir’s enterprise networks and capital.”
Asked if having Dr Mahathir as an unofficial adviser to the four states would assist PN, Kartini mentioned it might be mutually advantageous to each PN and Dr Mahathir, as it might additionally allow the latter to contribute.
“For PN, it should increase and strengthen capital, as a result of politics want capital to flourish and survive. For Tun M, patriotism and love of Malaysia are what holds pricey to him, and continues to contribute to the final finish,” she mentioned.
“I consider he’ll do his finest, until the final ounce he has to assist the companies in these states. For ruling Malaysia for greater than 22 years, he’s the mastermind of all data about enterprise tycoons. These states want info and data is energy,” she mentioned.
Umno politician and former federal minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak mentioned he believes the appointment of Dr Mahathir as the unofficial adviser of the four states is definitely a transfer by PN to make him its de facto chief. — Picture by Hari Anggara
Can changing into an unofficial adviser assist Dr M?
On September 14, Umno politician and former federal minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak mentioned he believes the appointment of Dr Mahathir as the unofficial adviser of the four states is definitely a transfer by PN to make him its de facto chief.
But Jayum mentioned such an advisory position to the states is just too small for Dr Mahathir whom he described as an individual “as soon as dubbed as a statesman”.
“The position is just too small for an enormous man. As a statesman, his position might solely be on the regional and worldwide stage, advising regional and worldwide organisations and never throughout the nationwide boundary,” he mentioned.
Asked if being made an unofficial adviser would assist Dr Mahathir, Jayum mentioned the previous prime minister’s “time has lengthy handed”.
“He would acquire extra respect as a statesman by being a statesman and let youthful individuals run the state/ nation. He might have learnt a bit from former prime ministers such as Pak Lah, Hussein Onn, and Tunku; they saved to themselves when their occasions handed.
“Lately, he’s additionally not saying something clever reflective of his stature as a statesman, however pushing Malaysia and Malaysian politics into the Malayan period the place race and faith dominated,” he mentioned.
“Malaysia wants reconciliation, and embracement of range transferring ahead as a multi-ethnic nation. Malaysia wants to provide the Unity Government and Anwar Ibrahim alternative and a while to make that adjustment. Malaysia can’t and should not permit any narrow-minded people and leaders to push them again to the period of 1940, Nineteen Fifties Malaya when politics expounded on race and faith,” Jayum added.
As for whether or not being an unofficial adviser to the four states would assist Dr Mahathir, Oh bluntly mentioned: “Dr Mahathir has nowhere else to go, so as the Hokkien saying goes, ‘when fish isn’t accessible, prawn can be acceptable’.” The saying implies that it’s acceptable to settle for one thing much less or that it’s higher to have one thing than to don’t have anything.
Oh agreed that Dr Mahathir “might effectively be” merely enjoying a ceremonial position as the unofficial adviser, as if he’s pleasant to PN he would pose no hurt to them.
As for whether or not being unofficial adviser would result in Dr Mahathir enjoying an even bigger position in PN such as changing into its de facto chief, Oh mentioned: “If he might resuscitate their ailing financial system inside his ripe lifespan, maybe he would.” But Oh later additionally identified the fluid and fast-changing nature of politics.
Asked if the brand new position might assist Dr Mahathir regain his relevance in politics or assist along with his political legacy, Oh mentioned: “He must at the very least cling on to some political straws in the intervening time. But politics is quick altering these days.”
As for Kartini, when requested if being an unofficial adviser would assist Dr Mahathir along with his political legacy and to regain his relevance after dropping his deposit whereas contesting for the Langkawi seat in the fifteenth common elections, she mentioned: “He is a legend each good and dangerous. He will stay related as the architect of contemporary Malaysia.”
