If there is one issue right now that all right-thinking Malaysians should stand together on it's to reject outright the MoF proposal to dispose of its share of the IJN to the "Slime "Darby people. These are the same people who are now mired in a lot of corporate muck. I wouldn't give them the time of the day. But the Slime Darby fiasco is another story.
In the first place, why is the MoF even thinking of this ? If it's a question of comparatively poor remuneration for the experts, why don't you just adjust it ? If it's a question of better funding for the extremely sought-after services of the Institute, why doesn't the government simply increase the allocation, or better still reallocate from many other useless provisions ? If it's a question of expanding the service, why don't you build more branches - one in Alor Star, one in Ipoh, one in Johore Baru, and one in Kuantan, for example. IJN is at the heart of medical care in its literal sense.
Have we forgotten the Pantai Medical Centre case? What is there to stop the new private owners from selling IJN shares to another foreign company ?
It's nice to know that the MoF now says the cost to patients would remain "low". Will the new owners honour this promise ? Who can legally stop them if they so decide to revise these costs ?
The way of privatisation for better cost management in this country has been fraught with pitfalls, and usually it's the common people who fall in the pit. Treatment of heart cases have been the bane of the medical profession before IJN was set up. Now the Institute has over the years been a literal life-saver for countless Malaysians who wouldn't have even been able to dream of such treatment without the existence of the IJN. If there is a case for the government of the day to hold on to a public service so that the people who voted it into power can enjoy the valued service, this is it.
A couple of years ago some bright sparks, also in the MoF, mooted the idea of an IPO for Felda. I would put that idea at par with the present IJN idea. Felda is cash rich and deals with two extremely important elements - the primary produce of the country, and a community of land pioneers. There is absolutely no rhyme nor reason for an IPO because Felda doesn't need cash because it's cash-rich. Going public would in fact make Felda vulnerable to unfriendly take-over, the very reason highly successful enterprises become private, the the reverse movement. Fortunately the Minister who was behind this Felda IPO moved out of the Ministry. Now Najib must not fall into the same trap.
The filthy rich need not bother if IJN is there or not. The common Malaysian needs every bit of assistance from his own government, especially in his old age or in his time of need. A government can't wantonly discard its responsibilties. Holding on to the IJN is one such resposibility. Selling out is not just irresponsible. It's criminal !
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1 comment:
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