Look East Policy: Is it that good?

[CS Chua]

Many have praised Dr M's Look East policy. Has it been that beneficial to Malaysia? Would a Look West policy have done better?

I raise this question because of the concept of zaibatsu in Japan. Here is a short description:

The keiretsu of Japan arose out of the prewar zaibatsu but differed from the zaibatsu in essential ways. The zaibatsu were family-owned conglomerate businesses that were promoted by the Meiji government of Japan. When the government ran out of funds to carry out major projects for the development of Japan the government commissioned private businesses, often one which had business dealings with the court, to carry out those projects. The businesses received in return monopolies and special privileges from the government. http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/keiretsu.htm More reading: http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/zaibatsu.htm

This sounds eerily like what is happening here. Government got no money so they privatized to companies and companies get monopolies for donkey years. And in return, they show their gratitude regularly to them masters.

If he had look West, democratic principles like transparency, equitable distribution, law abiding, anti-monopoly laws, equality, etc etc would have embedded themselves in our society. But now, a more dangerous feudal system has been entrenched. One of masters and slaves system. No price for guessing who are the masters and who are the slaves. Even the Western Highway will take 3 generations to pay them off, provided they do not extend it to 100 years later on. So, in my book, the Look East policy is a failure and wrong.

[Hiliary]

The Look InSide (yourself) policy is best.
Somehow politician school teaches people how to ignore their own conscience and concentrate on greed and subjugation policies

[zinglicious]

Korek! Just by looking at the direction by Apanama from West ( Arabian ) to East ( Japan ) by TDM. North ( Pole ) to South (Africa ).
What are the things that he see and adopt? Calling himself anti apartheid for South Africa, but admitted himself to be a racist. And implement the NEP to ensure 5% discount policy to own Tumberry Villa costing Rm3.8 million to ensure it is not a Malay Delimama to ensure housing affordability for rich Bees N Gees.
Looking at Japan, but aint not doing like Sony, Toyota or Panasonic been doing where innovation is the key. Malaysia looking to East policy is to get make sure somebody gets the Approved Permits to start enriching the cronies by rebadging the name of Mitshibushi to Mieseebullshit.

And finally for those who praise the look east policy - I remember that the previous Proton remarked that the assembler were talking on hand phone on one hand and screwing the nuts on the other. Apanama ini? Could it be coinincidence where this same GM who were driven in the taxi where the driver opened the door to pay the toll instead of winding the window. Asked why? "Tak Lasak, Boss".

Looking inside out, are we seeing anything that we see in dynamic working attitude and culture like Japanese from thier civil service and public transportation

Looking East is good but it taste bad when my Boleh Sushi tasted rubbery or Teruk Shashimi when it is being cooked by Apanama and his merry Bees.

( To be a sushi chef, the apprentice has to undergo the pratice of dishwasher, mopping floors, peeled prawns shells for years before he is allowed to hold the Sushi knife to slice the meat and roll his first sushi. To be upgraded for preparing Sashimi, this guy has to roll out thousands of sushi before he can serve Sashimi Toro ).

[CS Chua]

( To be a sushi chef, the apprentice has to undergo the pratice of dishwasher, mopping floors, peeled prawns shells for years before he is allowed to hold the Sushi knife to slice the meat and roll his first sushi. To be upgraded for preparing Sashimi, this guy has to roll out thousands of sushi before he can serve Sashimi Toro ).[/QUOTE]

Digressing a bit, this is where I am always baffled. What has dish washing, mopping floors, peeling prawn shells for years gotta do with making sushi? It is not like if you mop more floors, wash more dishes, and peel more prawns then your future sushi will taste more delicious. This is exploitation at its worse. Same with olden days mechanics. My friend who was an apprentice washed bolts and nuts for 3 years before he could learn anything. He should have gone to a vocational school and came out a better mechanic but then, he was a lazy student.

Back to thread, I wonder whether Anwar or the new PM will start a new Look policy. If so, Anwar will start Look US policy.

[zinglicious]

See the karate kids where the kid was asked to pick up his clothes to the rack.Mopping has everything to cooking as it involve discipline. If the chef is clueless about peeling prawns, hoiw is he going to make the cut and serve fresh Sushi? It is not exploitation per se. Otherwise, why kids have to study science or maths since they are not going to be a medical doctor or engineers?

In fact, my nephews who were the top medical students in NZ used to flip and mop at Subway. And that takes discipline to earn and pay for thier college expenses where they did not ask for a single dough from thier daddy who happened to do the same. He is the head of enginnering dept at Wellington council. In fatc, they have enpough funds to travel overseas before they started thier medical careers.

And I have personally ask those Tailored Students paying Rm50K to be a chef. They even asked me how to do mash potatoes served to them. My QUestion to them after thier Rm50K lessons - "how many potatoes have you guys peeled? And what happened if you makes mistakes? Answers -The lecture would have this to say - " it is okay, try better next time." In real situation, many Chef are like Gordon Ramsay - they dont just say @@#$%^$& but throw you out of the kitchen or thro pans at you. One even got kicked out physically by the Chef bodyguards in a Philadelphia stars rated restaurant where I worked. And many customers just dun come back for your serving if you are clueless or make mistake. In movies of Karate Kid - we have seen the kid was asked to put up this shirt on the rack. It didnt just show him the right attitude but to reinforce the Kung Fu stance. In other professional college real life - wannabe loyar after being grauduatd have to undergo apprenticeship before have a chance in court action. Meanwhile, they are just carrying bags with paper works and buying Teh Tarik for thier Masters.

Back to the issue - The signs and symptoms are the same - They look east but doing south with thier attitudes. BTW, Japanese workers start with a national anthem and company song with a brief exercising assembly before they start to work in Japan and Korea. Here, they start to rock with the hip and hop.

[zinglicious]

The major problem of looking East to Japan as a model of success is we practice MAS system right here. The Mesti Ada Saudara croynism is the root where companies like MAS or Proton failed to deliver the excellence of TASK. However, it was a success to some MAS private companies where they just rebadge thier AP products and sell with the monopoly.

Seriously, I have worked under the Japanese direction where the TASK factor, work ethics and passions surpassed others miles away. The same dedication see me doing and washing dishes as chef owner as often as I can.. And this ensure not only the meals is healthy and hygiene, but all my plates are throughly cleaned. Just like the Japanese, my son are made to do mopping and dishing before they are standard 1.

[starrnorth88]

they look east not because they think east is good. it's because they are against west

[zinglicious]

But Air Asia is buying Queen Park Rangers, buying Lotus, buying apartments in London high end. I thought It was Buy British Last, then Buy American Last then they bought those flag and demosaksi it at respective years ago. But govt was using Windows 1, 2 3. to Windows Me. iSayman, is TDM family using iPhone?

[CS Chua]

they look east not because they think east is good. it's because they are against west

I believe you are right too. Is it because of religious influence?

[bslee]

To my understanding, the Look East Policy came about after grinding axes with the Brits which resulted in the "Buy British last" policy, anyone remember? Yes, all these mooted from apanama, because you flers don't and will not understand anything apanama is capable of doing. Do first, no questions later. Look East Policy ended up a flop....period! What is learnt since then...NOTHING!

[eddychan]

To my understanding, the Look East Policy came about after grinding axes with the Brits which resulted in the "Buy British last" policy, anyone remember? Yes, all these mooted from apanama, because you flers don't and will not understand anything apanama is capable of doing. Do first, no questions later. Look East Policy ended up a flop....period! What is learnt since then...NOTHING!

absolutely right.. many people fail to interpret the words "Look East Policy" as actually meaning.. "DON'T LOOK WEST". or in other words.. look everywhere except West. for all we know, it could have been Look South, Look North, or Look Up or Look down

[currymee]

absolutely right.. many people fail to interpret the words "Look East Policy" as actually meaning.. "DON'T LOOK WEST". or in other words.. look everywhere except West. for all we know, it could have been Look South, Look North, or Look Up or Look down

AIYOH following your logic ... like that, it meant we had "LOOK BEHIND" and decided that FEUDAL WARLORD SYSTEM of Governance is the way forward for BN and UMNO .... no wonder all messed up 25 years later ....

[eddychan]

like that, it meant we had "LOOK BEHIND"

Look Behind.. not recommended.. since it can get u into lots of trouble with your driver or personal aide

[CS Chua]

absolutely right.. many people fail to interpret the words "Look East Policy" as actually meaning.. "DON'T LOOK WEST". or in other words.. look everywhere except West. for all we know, it could have been Look South, Look North, or Look Up or Look down

I am not sure that is accurate because Japan was cited often in those years. And the Japanese funded lots of our projects, of course, with the proviso that their companies do the job. Clever, isn't it? And the gomen sent many to be trained in Japan but not in other countries, or least they were not publicly announced. I have also read of Japanese politicians commenting on our Look At Them policy but never from the Koreans or others. At that time, Korea and China were nothing. And Taiwan does not have diplomatic relationship with us. And Singapore? Fat hopes. And Indonesia or Thailand? Guess pride will not let them look at them. So, where else will Dr M look to? Australia? In his book they are Americans' lackey. So, only left Japan. And the zaibatsu's idea is all part of the Look East policy. Privatization came after the Look East policy was implemented, right? That is a zaibatsu concept as the implementation here was exactly like the zaibatsu blueprint in Japan. So from zaibatsu, they have Mitsubishi, Misui, Suzuki, Sumitomo and many others. Here, we have Proton, Perodua, Scomi, DRB Hicom, Plus, Indah Water etc. Of course in those ealry years, we have Halim Saad, Daim, Tajuiddin, Amin Shah, and many others.

I feel that the early years, if Dr M had invested in companies like the zaibatsu in the Meiji era, he would have succeeded. Instead he decided to make billionaires over night whose only method of running businesses is by getting contracts from the government. When the contracts run out, they fall like humpty dumpty. Today they have some successes by trying to build world class companies but some are not of their creation like YTL, Genting, and Petronas.

[zinglicious]

It is good to look East as in Japan. I am looking at the frequency where Nippon Prime Ministers can kicked out and Ministers get to resigned themselves when faced with corruption, ineffiencies and even act of Gods.