10 
news without borders
Malaysia unlikely to achieve
Vision 2020, says Dr M
by Maria J. Dass
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr
Mahathir Mohamad doubts Malaysia will achieve
Vision 2020, which was mooted during his time.
He attributes his pessimism to weak govern-
ance, lower growth rate, and political instability.
The objective of the vision is to achieve the
status of an industrialised and a fully developed
nation by 2020.
Responding to questions after speaking on
“Global Financial Uncertainties and the Future of
Malaysia” at the Bridges Dialogues Towards a Cul-
ture of Peace, facilitated by the International Peace
Foundation, here yesterday, he said: “I don’t think
we will be able to achieve Vision 2020 because,
unlike most other countries in this region, we are
facing political instability for the first time.
“This is something we are not familiar with
and we have to resolve all these and focus on
achieving our growth target.
“So, at the moment, I don’t think we will be
able to achieve Vision 2020.”
Mahathir said that when the 30-year plan was
launched, Malaysia had a growth rate of 8% per
annum over the 10 years before that.
“Then the 1997/98 economic crisis pulled us
back and we also did not anticipate the radical
changes to the administration of the country.”
He described the present government as weak
and pandering to the demands of some quarters
in a bid to regain its popularity.
“The result of this is not a liberal society but we
are seeing some resurgence in racism involving
all ethnic groups and this will affect the country’s
UEM accepts RM1.3b
contract to co-build bridge
UEM Builders Bhd has finally accepted the
Penang state government’s offer of a RM1.3
billion contract to co-build the Penang Second
Bridge after it was given several extensions to
take up the offer, Nanyang Siang Pau reported
yesterday.
The daily, which reported that Jambatan
Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) managing director Tan Sri
Zaini Omar had confirmed UEM’s acceptance
of the offer, said the company had reached a
preliminary agreement with JKSB to build the
super-structure section of the bridge.
“Yes, it is still them (UEM). We have reached
a deal, they have agreed to undertake the
project,” he said.
Zaini disclosed that UEM had accepted a
preliminary offer of the contract about a month
ago, but said that even if the company asked
for another extension, it would not affect the
whole project as work on the super-structure
would start only five months after work on the
sub-structure had begun.
The RM2.2 billion contract for the sub-
structure and mid-span has been awarded
to China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd
(CHEC).
Zaini also disclosed that negotiations bet-
ween JKSB and UEM on pricing – the sticking
‘Bosses should do more for staff well-being’
by S. Tamarai Chelvi
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian workers believe
employers should be responsible for ensuring
their health and fitness in the workplace, and one
in four said their work had a negative impact on
their health.
These were among the findings of a global
survey on workforce health conducted by Kelly
Services Inc. The survey found that 87% of Ma-
laysian respondents believed employers should
contribute to their employees’ well-being by
enabling flexible hours, access to gym facilities
and less workplace stress.
The survey sought the views of 115,000
people in 33 countries including more than 2,000
employees in Malaysia.
The respondents also identified issues such
theSun | FRIDAY DECEMBER 12 2008
economic stability,” he said.
This will make the handling of the economic
crisis more difficult.
Mahathir said he doubted the success of the
growth corridors launched by the government as
the infrastructure and preparations in the targeted
areas seem to be neglected. “It is over-priced and
much of the money involved will not be going into
construction,” he said.
He said the solution does not lie in increasing
salaries to help people cope with the rising costs.
The key is reducing expenditure without
hurting too many people, he said. “We have to
downsize and reduce costs involved even in the
government for now and allocate funds for things
that can contribute to growth,” he said.
Mahathir said the global economic crisis this
time should be handled together by all countries in
the world and there needs to be focus on revamp-
ing the global banking and regulatory systems and
international monetary regime.
The handling of the crisis by small groups of
countries will see these countries coming up with
solutions which benefit them, he said. If this is not
done, all other solutions will merely be cosmetic.
Prof Robert Fry Engle, Nobel laureate for Eco-
nomics and the Michael Armellino professor of
finance at New York University’s Stern School of
Business, who also delivered his theories at the
talk, agreed.
“We are all in this together, so there is a need
to look for a cooperative situation to resolve the
situation,” he said.
He said he could not determine how long this
crisis would last but said the key to resolving it
was cooperation.
Press Digest
by Kong See Hoh
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
point in their earlier talks – have entered the
final stages.
The two parties are expected to ink the deal
next month.
Barring any turn of event, UEM will begin
work on the super-structure section of the
bridge in April next year, to enable the project
to be completed by 2011 as scheduled.
Zaini’s confirmation that UEM remains
CHEC’s partner in the bridge project quashed
earlier speculation in the media that JKSB, a
government-owned special vehicle, had been
scouting for another builder to work with
CHEC.
Earlier press reports said UEM had demanded
RM1.5 billion instead of the RM1.3 million it had
been offered.
Zaini, during a briefing on the Second Penang
Bridge to the state government on Sept 16, had
said UEM had been given two weeks to accept
the offer, failing which it would be offered to
other parties by restricted tender.
as long working hours and unreasonably high
expectations as causes of health problems, stress
and sleepiness in the workplace.
Kelly Services (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd vice-presi-
dent and country general manager Melissa Nor-
man said the study showed workplace influenced
the way in which people viewed their health and
well-being.
“For many employees, their work has a sig-
nificant impact on their health, and with people
spending a great deal of their time at work, it’s
worth looking at ways to better integrate work and
health,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.
“There is no question that employers play
a significant role in improving health in many
workplaces,” Norman said.
She said organisations that offer health and
fitness benefits to staff help to generate a more
productive and motivated workforce.