At the seminar on Innovative Pahang 2010 : The Chief Minister asserts that...

Fair and equitable distribution of wealth among the rakyat is more vital

SPEAKING HIS MIND... The Chief Minister is seen here in action, while delivering his keynote address cum opening speech at the seminar.

MAIN HALL, PAHANG FOUNDATION COMPLEX, TANJUNG LUMPUR, KUANTAN - Innovation is the topic of the day but being the ever rakyat-friendly Chief Minister, Dato' Sri Adnan Yaakob insists that whatever means to further boost the economy hence wealth of the country; they must benefit the masses and not the selected few.

"Expansion and creation of wealth alone are not important, but fair and equitable distribution (of the wealth) is more vital.

"It is pointless to have wealth created but are monopolized by selected few and yet we find the majority are looking, thinking about (where would) their own next meal (come from).

"That is the bottomline to me," Dato' Sri Adnan said in his 22-minute keynote address cum official opening speech at the seminar on Innovative Pahang 2010 held here, Wednesday, 26 May.

The one-day seminar organized by the State Government through Pahang Foundation especially its fully owned IKIP International College, was attended by more than 300 people from among state assemblymen, heads of departments and captains of industry in Pahang.

BLEAK FUTURE IF TO DISCARD INNOVATION/CHANGE

Guest speaker at this seminar is world renowned Indian-born strategy and globalization expert, who was also an ex-Harvard Business School graduate, Prof Anil Kumar Gupta.

A & A WALKING ALONGSIDE... Double A - Dato' Sri Adnan and Prof Anil (or Prof Gupta, if the surname be the preference) walking alongside into the main hall of this complex.

Dato' Sri Adnan added that the Prime Minister, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak has on 30th March, launched the first part of the country's New Economic Model (NEM) with the objective to see radical changes in our economy.

"The Prime Minister being a visionary (leader), has seen the fact that if we are not changing, if we are not innovative enough; our nation will be left behind.

"As it is now, in terms of income, we are still struggling at the low or middle level as compared to countries like (South) Korea or even Taiwan and Hong Kong. And if we carry on with our present policy, then there will be a very bleak future for the nation," he reminded.

Realizing the importance of innovation and change, Dato' Sri Adnan said, the Prime Minister formed the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) that was made up of also experts and scholars from within and abroad such as from the London School of Economics, United Kingdom.

KEYWORDS; INCLUSIVENESS & SUSTAINABILITY 

No doubt that the NEM as proposed by this NEAC he said, is aimed at turning the country into a high income nation but this would be based on important elements such inclusiveness and sustainability.

"... inclusiveness, meaning to say this policy (the NEM) will take care of all the people in the country regardless of race, religion, creed and beliefs.

"NEM will also focus on sustainability. In terms of Pahang, we have the forests, we have the water resources; and in terms of the country, we have the natural resources which we need to manage properly in order that (not only) we (the present generation) can enjoy the benefits, but also our future generation," the Chief Minister said.

Dato' Sri Adnan goes on to say how certain other areas needed to be tackled like the education system in which it's inevitable revamp should also include moves to introduce courses that are tailored towards the actual needs of the labour markets.

FREE-STYLE... Equipped with the stick-on wireless microphone, Prof Anil is seen here giving his talk to the attentive audience.

"As it is now Prof, we have so many square pegs in the round holes. We have churned out so many graduates who are unable to find suitable jobs because of the lack of skill," he argued.

A NO-NO TO CORRUPTION AND POWER ABUSEMENT

Apart from that Dato' Sri Adnan asserted, there is also the need to stamp out corruption and abuse of power not only among politicians but also the civil servants who serve in the country's civil service.

"The civil service must facilitate not frustrate. I see that innovation can be implemented by the government departments as well as the local authorities. We can innovate in order to facilitate so that people can do businesses at a faster rate, (and) at a cheaper rate," he added.

Also present at the seminar were the spouse of the Chief Minister, Datin Sri Junaini Kassim; State Executive Councillor in charge of information, science, technology and innovation, Dato' Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin;

State Legal Adviser, Dato' Mat Zara'ai Alias; State Excutive Councillors - Dato' Hoh Khai Mun, Dato' Ishak Mohamad, Dato' Soffi Abdul Razak, Dato' Wan Rosdy Ismail, Dato' Mohd Sahfri Ab Aziz, Dato' Fong Kah Fue, Dato' Wan Adnan Mamat and Dato' Shafik Fauzan Sharif.

So were State Assemblymen, and heads of departments. Being the co-organiser, Pahang Foundation's General Manager, Dato' Saariah Saad, and IKIP International College's President and Chief Executive Officer, Encik Abu Bakar Hashim were there too. 

 SOON TO CALL A POST-MORTEM MEETING 

 Speaking at a media conference during a short break later, the Chief Minister mentioned about the importance of holding intelectual discourse such as this Innovative Pahang 2010.

"We have been having this intellectual discourse for the past two years. This is the fifth time that we are calling renowned speakers but Prof Anil Gupta, is the best (world renowned) speaker that we have ever invited.

RAPT ATTENTION... Besides hosts, Dato' Saariah and IKIP International College's Vice President, Encik Airulamri Amran (far right); also seen in this photograph are Dato' Hoh, Dato' Tan Mohd Aminuddin and State Financial Officer, Dato' Norzan Ahmad.  

 "This is part of a programme to fit in with the Prime Minister's intention to create a New Economic Model and then to embark on changes that will be beneficial to the nation," he added.

On what would be the follow-up action by the government after this, Dato' Sri Adnan said, "God willing, insya-Allah, I'll be calling a meeting of all the heads departments so that we can have a post-mortem session,

"Where we try to condense all that we have listen to, all that we have discussed; that can be a guideline to complement what we had so far, so that we can steer the state into a new era, insya-Allah".

MEETING MEDIA-PEOPLE... Both Dato' Sri Adnan and Prof Anil is seen here engaging with media-people, taking questions and answering them polite- and professionally. - DM 

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