The Philippines can catch up with the rest of the world if it would be able to control population growth, create more jobs by attracting more foreign direct investments (FDI) and having a “stable” government.
This was the response of Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, “the man who made Malaysia,” to the BusinessMirror’s question of how the Philippines could catch up with the rest of the world shortly after he disembarked from a Malaysian Airlines plane on Thursday afternoon.
When told that the Philippines used to be economically advanced than the rest of Southeast Asia in the not-too- distant past, Mahathir said: “Leaders must always care for the people and work for the people; leaders never work for themselves.”
Mahathir is in the country for an overnight stay on the invitation of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex), according to its president, Benedicta Du-Baladad. Baladad said the conference’s theme is “Barriers in Asian Financial Integration.”
“We thought we will invite Mahathir to get some thoughts from the man who made Malaysia and who made a big contribution in this part of the world,” she said.
Baladad added that Mahathir and former President Fidel V. Ramos were invited to grace the Asian Leaders Forum, that will be held at a hotel in Makati City on Thursday night. Mahathir will be leaving for Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
The BusinessMirror asked Mahathir what he would talk about during the conference, and he replied it would have something to do with economics and Asean countries.
When it was pointed out that the Asean seems fragmented and could not manage to get a solid voice on sensitive topics, such as the South China Sea, Mahathir replied: “Because leaders nowadays change very frequently. So, when leaders change, that kind of camaraderie they develop through discussion and understanding are no longer available.”
He added, however, a caveat that a leader staying too long in office could also pose a problem.
Queried for the ideal term, he said: “Two terms would be ideal.”And, yet, Mahathir’s term of 22 years was one of the longest in Asia, having ruled the Malaysian Peninsula from July 16, 1981, to October 31, 2003.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes, Alysa Salen
1 comment
The Government isnt the wholly body of job creation.When the Philippines brings in these foreign companies,the incentives shouldnt be just corporate welfare.These companies must be mandated to re-invest in the societal circles of which help these companies reap profits for opening shop here.Acedemic & Vocational programs and training instilled from early school yrs to grad day.This applies for jobs all across the communications,IT,Pharmacuetical,Assembly&Manufacturing etc fields.To ignore the facts that Artificial Intelligence is making its way into the world,whereas it will have an profound impact on tax revenues,and job positions.Therefore,as an island nation taking the first step to implementing population control laws would outpace bigger countries that are also ignoring this fact that people dont want to discuss.Tubal ligations and vasectomys should be an public market option at the age of puberty.Immigration also needs to statute legislation mandating same if folks plan to migrate to philippines to reside.And also a 1child per family law mandated-no matter the income,status,or wealth.To keep on a falsehope dream of be fruitful and multiply in an time that conveniences,including intelligence,will be shaping our society-then the cup has runneth over a very long time ago..its time to mop it up.