theSun | FRIDAY APRIL 24 2009 13

speak up!

t h e s u n s a y s

The way forward

THE government’s decision to liberalise the
services sector by lifting the 30% requirement
for bumiputra equity is long overdue. For too
long, the contributions of this sector had not
been given due recognition despite it being a
steadying influence and a major contributor
to economic growth. The prime minister’s
pronouncement should be welcomed by
every right-thinking Malaysian as it is the way
forward to stimulate growth with clouds loom-
ing over the economies of our largest trading
partners in the West.
While bumiputra participation in business
and commerce has been a major arm of the
New Economic Policy, the decision to do away
with this requirement in 27 sub-sectors effec-
tive Wednesday is a milestone indeed. Over
the years, bumiputras who have held stakes
in such companies have acquired the skills
and expertise and many have ventured out on
their own. While there may be detractors to
this new policy, the government should make
it a point to emphasise that it is the only way
forward and it complies with the country’s
membership in the Asean Business Community
and the World Trade Organisation.
But more importantly, all arms of the gov-
ernment must work in tandem to draw foreign
investments. While the Malaysian Industrial
Development Authority and other government
agencies woo investors, there have been
complaints that there is too much red tape.
While Pemudah had done its part by simplify-
ing procedures for licence and immigration
procedures for investors, there are still some
agencies, local governments in particular,
which need to change their ways. While all ma-
jor issues can be sorted out at federal level, it
is the minor issues that become irritants in the
whole process. Issues like certificate of fitness,
water supply and other infrastructure come
under the purview of local agencies; it can be
sometimes a long and winding process.
There’s nothing wrong with “one-stop
centres” which help facilitate requirements
of investors. On the contrary, it’s the people
who man these centres who cause the prob-
lems with their interpretation of government
policies. Therefore, it is pertinent that those
who deal with investors are well-versed not
only with the law and policies but also more
importantly, the intentions of the government.
If these issues are addressed, the targets set
by the government should be easily met.

What price peace, security?

by Sonia Randhawa entrusted with keeping us safe
in our beds at night, could pos-
I’VE NEVER had to do it, not to a sibly be guilty of such a heinous
person – take their life. The clos- crime. It doesn’t help tackle the
est I’ve come is with a stray puppy perception of increasing crime
that found its way to my garden. and lawlessness that there has
It suffered from mange, and was been no investigation into how
half-paralysed. I took it to the two such hardened individuals
vet, and stroked it while the vet managed to rise through the
administered a lethal injection. I ranks of the police force.
don’t know how much comfort I It’s a question that drives
gave the puppy, but I was in tears. full-force into the argument for
The vet, on the other hand, was Freespace the death penalty. Because the
professional. The dog was suffer- Where young views rule whole rationale behind legally
ing, and he was providing relief. killing people is that the rest
If he didn’t administer the injection, the dog of us (other than mothers, fathers, brothers,
would maybe last a week, unable to digest sisters, children, husbands, wives, execu-
food, and slowly starve to death. Not a nice tioners, judges, lawyers ...) will sleep more
way to go. soundly, knowing that the criminal elements
But imagine if that puppy had been a per- in society are scared into compliance with
son. And it wasn’t suffering. It was a young, the law by the threat of loss of their own lives
fit healthy man, who was being put down. It’s hanging over them.
great for a vet to be able to detach himself or It seems unlikely – and this is backed up
herself from the sufferings of the animal on by evidence – that people contemplate calmly
the table. But, what, I wonder, does it take to whether their actions are likely to result in
be able to do that to a human being? the death penalty. Either they think they can
Sadly, the question is far from rhetorical. get away with it, or they are so accustomed
In a detached and remote way, I’m doing it to to crossing the lines involved, death has
people on a regular basis. Because I’m a Ma- become an ever-present reality to them. As a
laysian citizen, and in my name, the law takes deterrent, study after study shows the death
away the lives of people that it has deemed no penalty is ineffective.
longer fit to live. It’s called the death penalty. So why do we kill them? Why do we take
And directly, or indirectly, we all administer it. part in a business so sordid that even in these
Some, the judges, the lawyers, the execution- days of spectacle, it’s carried out behind
ers, less remotely than others, but one way closed doors, silently, shamefully? Because
or another, if just by our silence, we are all the only answer I can formulate to that is that
complicit in killing people, people who could we do it for revenge, to exact vengeance on
otherwise perhaps live a long life. those who have injured our body politic. And
The reality of this was slammed into me vengeance is a shameful, degrading business,
when I received news of three murder con- particularly if conducted through the pomp
victions in one day. If the charges are true, all and ceremony of a court of law.
three were horrendous cold-blooded killings.
The first murderer and his accomplices had Sonia thinks liberty and equality are the only
hunted down a man and stabbed him repeat- real guarantors of security. Comment: letters@
edly. There were no mitigating circumstances, thesundaily.com
but the accomplice was under 18 at the time
of the murder, so couldn’t be sentenced to
death. The murderer was 18.
He wasn’t old enough to vote, because
under electoral law he was considered We believe that the young
too immature to make decisions about should have a say in how things
who should govern the country. Yet, he’s are run, because they have
considered mature enough to take the
ultimate responsibility for his actions, to everything at stake in our
pay the ultimate price under laws he has future. This column creates that
had no say in formulating. space for our panel of bright
The other two convicted killers are rath- young sparks to debate a whole
er more infamous. Their victim, a foreign
national, was blown apart with high grade
range of issues that they feel
military explosives. And their convictions strongly about.
have raised as many questions as they have
answers, not least how police officers, those