Prime Minister Abdullah’s claim that Malaysia is currently ranked 8th in the world in terms of competitiveness is deliberately misleading. He just can’t stop misleading everyone. The lie about the dissolution of the Parliament is still very fresh.

Do not compare Singapore’s economy with that of Malaysia’s.

It is like comparing “first-class grapes (Singapore) with first-class apples (Malaysia),” Prime Minster Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said when addressing the Chinese community at the Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH) dialogue session yesterday.

“We are a population of over 20 million and we rank eighth in the world in terms of our competitiveness.

“This is not the Government’s figure and I am not telling you lies. This statistic is from an international survey.

“If I quote statistics from our own surveys, you will not believe us. Everywhere I go, the business community tells me that Malaysia is doing very well. These people are smart. You cannot fool them because they are well-read,” he said, adding that the Government had no reason to lie.


According to the full The World Competitiveness Report 2007 as cited by the Prime Minister, Malaysia is in fact ranked only 23rd in the world. Fifteen of the twenty-two countries ranked above Malaysia in 2007 have populations of less than 20 million people, while seven of the twenty-two have populations exceeding 20 million. It appears that the claim is true only within the category of countries with a population of 20 million or more.

Malaysia’s competitiveness ranking in 2006 was 22nd, and in 1997, it was 17th. Malaysia’s competitiveness is plummeting and where once its economy was comparable with countries like Singapore and Hong Kong; ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively. However, Malaysia is ranked 23rd. It is reasonable for the Mr. PM to discourage us from comparing with two of the “Four Asian Tigers” economies. Both countries have significantly smaller populations, yet they are doing a lot better than Malaysia. Malaysia seems to be like a frog in lukewarm water; not realising that the pot is being heated up. Is the Malaysian Government in its own Matrix?

Prime Minister Abdullah’s decision to resort to such misdirection is a weak attempt to hide the fact that Malaysia’s economic fundamentals have weakened progressively under his government. He also wants to boost his “credentials”. All his has for his credentials now is a B.A. in Islamic Arts from Malaya University, a hoard of deception and corruption in the government. He seems to be in desperation and would do anything to repossess lost ground. Besides, the 12th General Election is looming. Try your best to restrain yourselves from comparing the qualifications our poor PM with the leaders of the two Asian Tigers. =D

“Please trust us – we are your government.”

- Dato’ Seri Abdullah Badawi

Malaysia is clearly in need of a higher calibre of leadership if Malaysia is to realise its full potential as an economy of global stature. Outdated policies that distorts Malaysia’s economy has to be deal with. You won’t fool me albeit I’m well-read too. Fortunately for Mr. PM, I am still ineligible to vote.

VOTE WISELY, OR ELSE… (you will suffer, of course!) STAND UP FOR JUSTICE! DENY BN A 2/3 MAJORITY (which they have been having for the past 50 years, except in 1969. And I still blame the Alliance/National Front for the the May 13 Incident.)