Balai Ikhtisas Malaysia

Warm greetings from the BIM Secretariat.

BIM, at 36 years of age, should be at the height of its potential – mature but still youthfully agile and alert. It should be taking on the world with enthusiasm to make it a better place for all of us. How well has BIM actually performed since its formation?

Although BIM is the umbrella body for professionals in the country, and thus represents an important segment of the country’s citizenry, its contribution to national development is not altogether obvious. Maybe, it is because we are all volunteers with good intentions to serve, but are constrained by a busy daily schedule of attending to our careers and other personal responsibilities.

Hence, the secretariat has to cope, on its own, on the routine matters of administration, organizational work and even some basic research. This frees the elected committee to play a leadership role in planning meaningful projects and developing policies and activities to serve society at large.

With a new Centre Director in Mr Anthony Koshy, who has a wealth of experience in the corporate sector and with degrees in economic and law, we hope to move the BIM secretariat to a new level to better serve its membership.

BIM was formed in 1973, not long after the nation went through its worst crisis of the May 13 racial riots in 1969. The nation learnt the bitter lesson that policies of the past era had not had the effect of uniting the country. Loyal Malaysians were determined to build a nation on more stable moorings. The nation took cognizance of the socio-economic imbalances that were creating instability to the fabric of society and affecting sustainable economic growth. Malaysian society, it was perceived, would have to be restructured to remove the identifi cation of race with vocations and eradicate poverty. The people were committed to move forward for the national good.

Soon, our economy recovered and was vibrant again. In the 1980s, Malaysia was considered one of the fi ve Asian Tigers together with South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

But for some years now things have not been all that good. Today, we fi nd ourselves left behind whilst the other “tigers” have attained developed country status. We are now competing with the likes of Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines and not doing too well even against these erstwhile laggards.

At the same time huge nations like China, India and Brazil, which were never expected to have the
potential for high growth - because of their huge populations, diverse ethnic make up and differences in culture, religion and language, and rampant poverty in their midst - are changing the world’s economic landscape. These countries, which were once considered diffi cult to govern effi ciently, are posting huge rates of economic growth. Today, China and India and Brazil are in the top league of developing countries.

Malaysia, on the other hand, with its leisurely walk in its economic efforts, is being left behind. For all the great potential that was and is available to us, in terms of natural resources and human capital, we have not much to show the world in terms of results. Instead, the dominant topics of discussion in all strata of our society are the prevalence of rampant corruption, unethical professional practices, and shady corporate deals, transfers of money overseas and similar practices. These continue to undermine the nation’s economic performance.

These negative developments in the socio economic conditions in our country must be addressed if we are not to fall further behind the other developing countries. Is there a role for BIM in this effort at national rejuvenation? BIM should make some efforts to play a role.

As a year comes to an end, we often wish for better things to come and adopt New Year resolutions to serve the community or to be a better person. We view a new horizon ahead, hoping for a better society.

I wish you a very Happy New Year and success in all your undertakings in 2010.

Dr Tan Yoke Sing(MDA)
President
Balai Ikhtisas Malaysia (BIM)
Malaysian Professional Centre