KUALA LUMPUR: A former federal minister has called for a Malaysian Economic Congress to find ways to resolve related to the economy, governance and corruption.
"It's a relief that the Bumiputera Economic Congress is over. Let's pray we will not have another one ever again," said Datuk Zaid Ibrahim in a Facebook post.
"What we need is a Malaysian Economic Congress. An honest congress representing all Malaysians who are serious about finding answers to the country's problems."
The former law minister cited the example of the plight of fishermen.
He said since 1970, close to RM80 billion had been spent on the fisheries industry yet over 100,000 fishermen were among the poorest in the country.
Zaid said there was also the issue of some 300,000 padi farmers who less than RM1,000 a month despite billions spent on the sector.
"Productivity is getting lower and lower, and we will never reach the 80 per cent self-sufficiency target set for 2030. We need to find out the answers."
Zaid also said some economists projected that Malaysia has lost RM2.6 trillion due to corruption over the past 40 years.
"Is it enough that we commenced an investigation into one or two super-rich families for alleged corruption and deluded ourselves that everything from now is okay and our system is squeaky clean?
"The people want to know where are the sources of the leakages and how to plug them and put the country back on an even keel."
Zaid however did not name the "super-rich families".
He said there were countless problems which remain hidden due to a lack of access to government reports and data protected by the Official Secrets Act.
"We need a congress where the answers to our woes are not predetermined by dishing out RM2 billion or more, even before the resolutions are read.
"We need a Congress where thoughtful solutions are found through careful deliberations so that large-scale pilferage can be stopped."
Zaid said the people and leaders must take the country's problems more seriously and "start asking questions".
"Our leaders must be willing to change their flamboyant ways and discard failed solutions. Please take the problems of the Rakyat more seriously."