報館每年都有在新年元旦時出版年刊，每年都撰寫年刊專文，回顧起來時，總會有物是人非的感覺。特別是我近來翻查到我在2004年阿都拉接任首相3個月後就出版的年刊。當時整個國家都陷入新政新氣象的憧憬中。我在兩版的文章中寫出了種種民間的期望──其實也是一種人云亦云的文章，大家當時就是談反貪、減少繁文縟節等的口號。
接著2004時3月時就宣佈大選了。阿都拉正式受到委託施政。然而2008年是轉瞬間就來了，4年裡可說是滄海桑田，可是應該要改變的，並沒有改變。
今年的年刊主題是「阿都拉2008年的挑戰」。我沒有辦法去撰文寫了，太多的欲言而休，所以必須找一些專家來解讀時勢。可是應該找誰來受訪比較好呢？本地的紙上明星來來去去的都是那幾個，至于沉默的大多數，有時卻言之無物。
所以，今年我就找來了黃基明博士。他是《勉強的政治家》（敦依斯邁醫生傳記）的作者，也是在新加坡東南亞研究院中主司馬來西亞事務的研究。另一位則是兩年前在專欄中狠批「Malaysia Bodoh」而成為大馬經典口號的麥可貝文（Michael Backman）。有時我們「此緣身在此山中的」的當局者迷，會讓我們錯過了很多事情的取角。
我是發了兩套大同小異的問題給兩名受訪者。他們都作出了很棒的答案，然而年刊篇幅所限，我只能意猶未盡地摘錄重點來下筆。然而在這裡可以原汁原味地將對答錄騰錄出來，我用不同的字體顏色來劃分出我的譯文。
到底兩人對過去一年的馬來西亞有什麼看法呢？
/*/*/*/*/*----Interview with Dr Ooi Kee Beng
1.Last year we saw Abdullah's predecessor Tun Mahathir 's attack and Abdullah manage to weather it, but looking back year 2007, do you think Abdullah still able to gaining popularity (or winning sympathy) in views of lots of unresolved domestic issue?
Judging from the strong mandate he received in 2004, I think his popularity has been steadily falling. I believe a lot of that downward trend has to do with the administration's unprofessional way of answering questions and criticisms. Either there is silence, or arrogant statements are heard from his ministers. The government shows an inability to explain itself to its citizens, especially the educated ones who wish for a fruitful dialogue and sound commmunication with their leaders.
The lack of a debate culture in Malaysia is a sign of the sorry state of democracy in Malaysia.
The "kind uncle" persona will continue to endear him to many, esp in the Malay community. He will not gain popularity, but the system's stability will shield him from any real danger from outside the BN.
1.問：去年我們看到馬哈迪抨擊阿都拉，而阿都拉挨過，但回顧2007年的大馬許多內政事務懸而未決，你認為阿都拉還繼續受落，或贏得同情票嗎？
答：從阿都拉2004年得到強大的委託看來，我想他的受歡迎度已明顯地滑落。我相信有許多滑落趨勢是與政府行政不專業回應抨擊與提問有很大關連的。
政府不是沉默，就是可以聽到他（阿都拉）的部長作出一些狂妄高傲的言論出來。政府展現出一種無法應對公民的無能，特別是那些知識份，都希望能與他們的領袖來展開有成果的對話與溝通。
在大馬欠缺思辨文化，是大馬民主進程處于可憐狀態的表象。
「親善阿伯」的魅力會讓他繼續受到許多人的愛戴，特別是馬來社群。他不會再受到歡迎，不過整個體制的穩定性，足以庇佑他面臨國陣護罩外的真正危機。
2.What are the thorny issues that concern you most for the whole year? (political landscape, judiciary, public security, racial issues, corruption, democratisation, etc). Any regrets with the way Malaysia tackled domestic issues?
Rising prices will be felt badly by the masses. I think the Abdullah administration has waited too long to carry out proper reforms. It has now found its own level of comfort and will seek to retain the status quo as far as possible. Racial issues can be more easily handled, since the national economy is not doing too badly.
Public security is a problem of course, but not because of demonstrators but because of the rising crime rate and the inability of the police to deal with it. The growing power of RELA is a clear sign that the police department needs reforming.
The government must also realise that the judiciary cannot continue to be used as a political actor. The reputation of the government rests on the public perception that its power is not absolute, and that there are non-political actors who can limit it, and jolt it to its senses every now and then.
2. 問：全年以來哪幾件棘手的事件讓你最為關注？
答：物價飆漲對普羅大眾的沖擊很大。我想阿都拉政府拖拉太久來進行真正的改革。它現在已找到了安全區，而希望能繼續保持原狀。
種族課題相對地可輕易解決，特別是國家經濟並不是那麼壞。
當然公共安全是一個問題。但這不是來自示威者，而是上升的犯罪率，以及警隊無力應對的無能。大馬志愿警衛隊權勢熏天更是清楚地顯示出警隊需要重整。
政府必須察覺到司法不能一直被利用成為「政治工具」。政府的信譽與公眾的看法有莫大關係，而其權力不是專制的，同時有其他不是政治工具可以箝制及撼動它。
3.What are the pluses and minuses would you think of Abdullah Badawi's administration and government governance?
In foreign policy, relations have improved. That is a big plus. The minuses are in the domestic field. Failure to fight corruption and to reform structures that need reforming will in the end undermine the government itself, and the future of the national economy as well.
3. 問：你認為阿都拉的施政與政府治理有什麼是加分與扣分的？
答：外交關係方面是改善了。這是最大的加分。扣分則是內政。無法肅貪及重整體制最后會危害到政府，政府的未來及國家經濟。
4.What are your thoughts on Malaysia's half century's independence? How would you sum it up so far?- What do you think the most significant aspect that afflict Malaysia's nation building along the way?
The country's dreams have changed radically since the days of Tunku Adbdul Rahman. The space -- the secular space if you like -- where cultures and religions meet has shrunk. The concept of "Malaysianness" was once a real experience. That is no longer the case. Today, we are our races first, and our nationality second.
The NEP, of course, but more correctly, the successive government's inability to retain the ideal of Malaysianness while implementing this policy. the result is religous and ethnic segregation.
4. 你怎樣看大馬半世紀長的獨立？你會怎樣總結？你認為是什麼最重要的原因，導致大馬的國家建設沖擊至深？
答：國家的夢想在東姑阿都拉曼后就遽變了。空間──你可以說那是「世俗的空間」──文化與宗教的需要已萎縮了。「大馬精神」的概念曾經是一個真實的體驗，但現在已不是了。
今天的我們，是以種族為先，國籍置后。
新經濟政策，當然正確而言，是政府在執行它時，無法捍衛其大馬精神之后的取代延續，這造成宗教與種族區隔化。
5.What do you think the perception of Malaysia astronaut is?
Malaysia is still at a stage where its government thinks its peoples need symbols to feel united. This is in place of the missing sense of unity on the ground, at the work place, at shopping malls, in restaurants.
5. 問：你怎樣看大馬太空人？
答：馬來西亞還處于一個狀態，其政府認為它的人民需要一個象征來感到團結一致。這就是團結感覺遺失的──不論是在草根階層，在購物廣物，或是在茶餐室都遺失了。
6.Generally there's wide range of sentiments in the society right now, assuming that an early general election next year, what are the atmosphere going to be?
it will be quite heated. anwar ibrahim will be there trying his best to create an atmosphere that the opposition can work together and that UMNO is irredeemable. UMNO will as usual be controlling the mass media, but unable to control the Internet.
I think there will be an atmosphere of hope that a strong message can be sent to the government that there is a lot of worry at the grassroots level if enough support is given to the opposition. BN does not have a strong personality to represent them in a campaign, they will be relying on institutional strength to get them through, and by using threats and bogeymen.
6. 問：一般上如今社會充斥著各種情緒，假設明年就有提前全國大選，那將會是怎樣的氣氛？
答：那將會相當熾熱。安華會盡他最大的努力來制造一個氣氛，以讓所有反對黨可以同仇敵愾，而巫統則是不可救藥的。巫統將如常地控制大眾媒體，可是無法控制互聯網。
我想那時會有一種氛圍，就是希望能對政府傳達訊息，讓政府知道如果基層給予足夠的支持倒向反對黨，已產生許多憂慮。
國陣在拉票競選時沒有一個強大的個人風采人物，他們只背靠體制來讓他們過關──通過威脅或爪牙。
7.Having noted that spate of demonstrations/ rallies lately, do you think the feel-good factors still exist?
No, the feel-good factor is very weak, and with subsidy cuts coming, it will get even weaker.
7. 問：隨著近月來一連的示威遊行，你認為「美好感覺」因素還存在嗎？
答：不。美好感覺非常疲弱，而隨著津貼削減，這因素會更加弱。
8.Some people predict that elections most likely will be held in the fifth year of Abdullah's terms, what do you think?
I think the government will reduce subsidies early next year and call elections late, i.e. during Abdullah's fifth year. Another option is to call early elections so that they can reduce subsidies early, but this second option is now not attractive because of the demonstrations.
8. 問：有人認為全國大選有可能在阿都拉第5年的施政期內舉行，你認為呢？
答：我認為政府會在明年初減少津貼，遲些再宣佈大選，即是阿都拉的第5年在任期。
另一種情況是提早宣佈大選，以讓政府可以提早削減津貼，不過第二種情況已隨著示威事件而看起來並不那麼有利了。
9.What do you think the way the government dealing with increasingly rising goods price?
A growing economy with little trickling down does not make the lower classes very happy. What the government seems to be doing, with bonuses and pay rises, is to buy votes and not build the nation. Quite short-sighted.
9. 問：你怎樣看政府處理日益騰漲的物價問題？
答：一個成長中的經濟卻無法雨露均霑地讓底層社會感到高興。政府現在所做的──給花紅和調薪，是一種買票行為而不是建設國家。相當短視。
10.Do you see opposition party of Malaysia would perform better in 12th General Election? OR do you think UMNO still able to preserve majority?
The opposition will do better than they did in 2004, but of course UMNO will preserve its majority. The rules and electoral structure favour UMNO too greatly.
10. 問：你認為第12屆全國大選反對黨會表現得更好？或你認為巫統會保持著多數票的優勢？
答：反對黨會比2004年全國大選表現來得好。但當然巫統會保住江山。選舉規則與選舉制度過于偏幫巫統了。
11.Economically, how tough has it been for Malaysia as far as competition from the other regional economies ?
The growth of China should not be underestimated. I lived in Shanghai for three months in 2007. You should see how fast things move there, and the energy and determination. That is what Malaysia is up against, but yet, the government continues to perceive non-bumiputeras as the enemy. The "enemy", I can tell you, is global, not local.
11. 問：在經濟層面而言，政府面對其他區域性的經濟體競爭時的挑戰有多艱深？
答：崛起中的中國不能小覷。我在2007年時在上海住了3個月，你可以看到那兒的事與物變化那樣大，還有那種動力與意志。這就是大馬應要追求的，但是政府一直都將非土著視作為敵人。所謂敵人，是全球化，不是本地。
12.From an outsider points of view, what would be the perception of international business community towards Malaysia? ( image of an ineffectual bureaucracy perhaps? Or flip-flop policy making?).
Malaysia's attractiveness for international businessmen is relative to that of other countries. It is about which country is less ineffective, less bureaucratic, less stable, less lucrative in the long and short term. There, Malaysia is losing out. It does not matter that you are doing alright if your competitor nations are doing much better.
12. 問：以一個外人的角度來看，國際商界怎樣看大馬？（一個沒效益的官僚？朝令夕改的政策？）
答：大馬對于國際商家的吸引力是相對性的。這是有關于哪個個國家在中短期內是否少一些昏庸、少一些官僚、少一些穩定、少一些吸引力。
而大馬已輸了。
如果你的競爭對手做得更好，你做得多對也沒相干了。
13.What are the challenges that must be confronted by Malaysia government now? What's going to happen to Malaysians eventually if we don't deal with it tactfully?
Reforms that will improve the institutions, and that clearly involves a process that will make them first-class bodies. For this, political will and vision is required. I think that is missing. Too much energy is being spent on the protection of political interests.
The NEP and the redistribution of wealth among the races rely on a growing economy. Once the economy stops growing, the politics of wealth redistribution will have to change, probably for the worse. The recent demonstrations are signs of this process. Serious reforms is not an option, they are now a necessity.
13. 問：大馬政府現在必須面對什麼挑戰？如果我們沒有好好地處理，大馬人會怎樣？
答：重整會讓體制機構改善，而這將導致這些體制成為第一流。為此，政治意愿與愿景是必須的。但是我發覺這已遺失了──太多的精力放在保護政治利益上。
新經濟政策及種族間財富重新分配是以成長中的經濟為主的。一旦經濟停止成長，財富調配的政治將面臨改變，或者會惡化。
近來的示威就是這種過程的訊號。嚴謹的重整不再是一種選項，但現在是一種必需品了。
14. What do you think of recent and going-to-be economic region projects?
I think the Iskandar project was serious from the beginning, but then the govt began thinking more and more about the elections, and suddenly decided to package the new five year plan in the form of "corridors" of development, and covering the whole peninsula that way.
the five-year-plan covers the whole country anyway, but lacking imagination, they ended up with programs that cover the whole peninsula, which means that they may not be specific enough to succeed.
what they need is financing. presently, no singapore money seems to be going into IDR, for example.
the idea of having zones of development is that you have special conditions in a geographical enclave to draw investments, or that you wish to experiment with a new economy that you hope will then be a model for the rest of the country, like Shenzhen (see my article http://www.iseas.edu.sg/viewpoint/okb6aug07.pdf).
You can't turn the whole country into such zones at the same time. there will be a lack of focus and a dispersal of investments instead.
14. 問：你怎樣看經濟特區計劃？
答：依斯干達經濟特區起初是非常認真的，可是當政府開始對選舉越想越多，突然間就決定將5年發展大計包裝成為「走廊」發展，而涵蓋整個半島。
但這是欠缺想像力的，這只會出現包裹整個半島的計劃，他們並不集中來成功。
這些經濟走廊要的就是資金。可是現在看來沒有新加坡的資金注入。
其實要設立經濟特區，你必須要有一些特別的條件，例如可以吸引到投資的地理環境，或者你想要體驗新的經濟模式，來作為全國的典範，例如深圳。你不能同時將整個國家同一時間轉為這些特區。這將會失焦，也會分散投資額。
/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Interview with Michael Backman
1.Last year you labeled Malaysia as "Malaysia Bodoh", how do you describe Malaysia this year?
I did not label Malaysia as bodoh but some (not all) of the government’s policies have been bodoh. Malaysia is a great place and so are its people. My disappointment is with some government policies and the way in which some government officials behave.
As for this year, no, I don’t see much improvement. Malaysia should be one of Asia’s most interesting and dynamic countries. Rather than building a great country there are too many government officials who have as their main concern making their families and associates rich with government contracts.
1. 去年你標籤馬來西亞愚蠢，你怎樣形容今年的馬來西亞？
答：我並沒有將馬來西亞標為愚蠢，可是一些大馬的政策是非常愚蠢的。大馬與它的人民都是非常良好的。我最失望的是一些政府政策及政府官員的所作所為。
今年，我看不到馬來西亞可成為亞洲其中一個最有趣味及最有活力的國家。在要求打造一個偉大的國家時，有許多政府官員最關心的是如何通過政府合同將他們自己與家人富裕起來。
2.What changes do you see/feel in Malaysia during your recent visit to Malaysia?
The level of satisfaction with Malaysia’s current direction is very widespread. Even members of the government were complaining to me about how things are going. I expected the country to be excited because of the 50th anniversary of Merdeka. Instead, there is a lot of unhappiness. Many want to emigrate.
2. 你最近來馬來西亞，有感受／看見怎麼樣的改變？
大馬人對目前的狀態有很大廣闊的滿意程度。即使許多政府人員也對我投訴。我期望著大馬會因50週年默迪卡而感到亢奮。可是，還是有許多不快樂的事情。許多人要移民。
3.Last year we saw Abdullah's predecessor Tun Mahathir 's attack and Abdullah manage to weather it, but looking back year 2007, do you think Abdullah still able to gaining popularity (or winning sympathy) in views of lots of unresolved domestic issue?
There is no comparison between Mahathir and Abdullah when it comes to leadership. Tun made many mistakes in my view but he was a great leader nonetheless.
3.問：去年我們看到馬哈迪抨擊阿都拉，而阿都拉挨過，但回顧2007年的大馬許多內政事務懸而未決，你認為阿都拉還繼續受落，或贏得同情票嗎？
以領導能力來相比的話，馬哈迪與阿都拉是無法比較的。我認為敦馬哈迪犯了許多錯誤，但是他是一個偉大的領袖。
4.What are the thorny issues that concern you most for the whole year? (political landscape, judiciary, public security, racial issues, corruption, democratisation, etc . )
-Any regrets with the way Malaysia tackle domestic issues?
It disgusts me to see ordinary Malaysians who protest in the streets because they feel that they cannot protest via the media or by other means being beaten by the police and hit with tear gas. This is not the way of a modern country. It does not show leadership on the part of the authorities. No-one should be treated like that.
4. 問：全年以來哪幾件棘手的事件讓你最為關注？
最讓我感到厭惡的是，當許多大馬人無法通過媒體或其他管道來抒發心聲及表達民意，而走上街頭來抗議時，他們被警方施以暴力毆打以及被射催淚彈。這在摩登國家中是不可能的。這根本是當權者施展領導的方法。沒有任何人應該接受這樣的待遇。
5.What are the pluses and minuses would you think of Abdullah Badawi's administration and government governance?
There were too many big projects under Mahathir and many of these did not have good economic merit. Also Tun was very aggressive and often needlessly upset people and other countries. The current prime minister has made improvements on this. However, Abdullah came to office promising a cleaner administration and to be tough on corruption. This has not happened.
The media needs to be freed up. Malaysian should feel free to say what they like and take part in the national debate about every issue. I met earlier this year with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and he told me that he feels that Malaysians should even be free to openly and publicly debate race issues. I think it is absolutely ridiculous and sad that you have to ask me – a mat salleh - these sorts of questions because many in Malaysia don’t feel free to say these sorts of things in their own country. It is not like this in other countries. All countries have problems, all countries have race issues, etc. What makes Malaysia so special?
5. 問：你認為阿都拉的施政與政府治理有什麼是加分與扣分的？
在馬哈迪時代有太多的沒有良好的經濟性理由而啟動的霸型計劃。敦馬是非常激進，同時常常在不必要的時候讓許多人及國家感到失望。現任首相在此已有改進。雖然如此，阿都拉宣誓上任時承諾要打造一個更為廉潔的政府，同時要嚴懲貪腐，可是現在什麼也沒有做到。
媒體需要鬆綁。大馬人想要說什麼時就應說什麼，不應感到拘束，同時針對每項課題來進行國家討論。
我今年遇到東姑拉沙里，他告訴我說大馬人應該更公開地開明地討論種族課題。我認為這是一個絕對荒謬與令人傷心的事，你要問我這個洋人這些問題，就是因為許多大馬人不敢在他們的國家說這些話來。在其他國家不是這樣的，所有國家都有問題，所有國家都有種族問題。為什麼大馬要如此另類？
6.What are your thoughts on Malaysia's half century's independence? How would you sum it up so far?
- What do you think the most significant aspect that afflict Malaysia's nation building along the way?
Malaysia has made a lot of progress but it has not progressed as far as it should have. Also, Malaysians are relatively ignorant. They are not aware of conditions in other countries; they do not appreciate how backward Malaysia is on many fronts and how much work there is to be done.
6. 問：你怎樣看大馬半世紀長的獨立？你會怎樣總結？你認為是什麼最重要的原因，導致大馬的國家建設沖擊至深？
馬來西亞進達到很大的進展，可是其進程並不如其所愿。同時，大馬人是相對地「無知」。他們不察覺其他國家的情況，他們也沒體諒到大馬在許多領域是落于人後，而應該做更多努力來修補。
7.What do you think the perception of Malaysia astronaut is? ( well, other than "stunt'. :) )
Malaysians were very proud of their first astronaut but the event received almost no media coverage outside Malaysia. It’s important to get these things in perspective.
Essentially, the astronaut is a sideshow – a circus. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that Malaysians don’t grow up dreaming to be astronauts but dream that they might speak excellent English. That will be far more useful to Malaysia’s future.
Recently when walking through KLIA on the way to boarding a flight a security announcement came over the PA system and the English was so badly accented that I could not understand it. This sort of ting matters far more than whether or not a Malaysian can be booked a flight n someone else’s space program.
7. 問：你怎樣看大馬太空人？（除了認為這是一種特技以外）
大馬人對他們的第一位太空人感到非常光榮，可是大馬太空人升空在大馬以外幾乎是沒有任何媒體報導。要如何正確地去看待此事是非常重要的。基本上，太空人是一場表演──一個馬戲團。
但這不重要。最重要的是，大馬人並沒有抱著要成為一個太空人的夢想來成長，他們可能夢想要說得一口流利的英語。這對大馬未來的前途更有幫助。
最近我到吉隆坡國際機場登機時，我聽到一個有關保安內容的廣播，而那廣播員的口音太惡劣了，我根本無法明白在說著什麼。
這些比大馬人是否可以「預訂」別人的升空計劃一席位更為重要。
8.Generally there's wide range of sentiments in the society right now, assuming that an early general election next year, what will the atmosphere be?
The government does seem to be having a lot of problems. I hope that all Malaysians who are unhappy or who have constructive criticisms to make don’t just grumble to themselves (or to me with their e-mails) but let the government know how they feel. Governments need a lot of help to govern – they can’t do such a big job on their own. They need advice and criticism. The government after all is there to serve the people, not the other way around.
8. 問：一般上如今社會充斥著各種情緒，假設明年就有提前全國大選，那將會是怎樣的氣氛？
政府目前看來有很多問題。我希望所有對現狀不滿，或是要提出建設性批評的大馬人不要怨天怨地（或電郵我來投訴），可是讓政府知道他們的感受。政府需要很多許多人的幫忙來治理國家──他們無法自己來做，他們需要勸告和批評。政府是服務人民，而不是人民服務政府的。
9.Having noted that spate of demonstrations/ rallies lately, do you think the feel-good factors still exist?
It is evaporating very quickly. Many seem to feel that the government is no longer serving them but prefers to serve itself.
9. 問：隨著近月來一連的示威遊行，你認為「美好感覺」因素還存在嗎？
美好感覺已迅速地蒸發了。許多人認為政府不再為他們服務，而是自己為自己服務。
10.Some people predict that elections most likely will be held in the fifth year of Abdullah's terms, what do you think?
I have no idea.
11.What do you think the way the government dealing with increasingly rising goods price?
I was trained as an economist and so therefore I do not support any form of price controls.
11. 問：你怎樣看政府處理日益騰漲的物價問題？
我研究經濟學的，所以我不支持任何物價統制的手法。
12.Do you see opposition party of Malaysia would perform better in 12 th General Election? OR do you think UMNO still able to preserve majority?
It all depends on the degree to which voters are shifted to marginal seats without their permission, how many phantom voters are put on the electoral roles and what other frauds take place.
10. 問：你認為第12屆全國大選反對黨會表現得更好？或你認為巫統會保持著多數票的優勢？
這得看有多少選民在不經同意下被移植到一些不起眼的選區，有多少個幽靈選民投放在選民冊上，或是其他欺詐事件發生。
13.Economically, how tough has it been for Malaysia as far as competition from the other regional economies ?
It is not tough for Malaysia at the moment. Prices for rubber, tin, vegetable oil, timber, oil and gas are all high. If it feels tough then it is due to economic mismanagement.
13. 問：在經濟層面而言，政府面對其他區域性的經濟體競爭時的挑戰有多艱深？
目前對大馬並非最壞的時刻。橡膠、錫米、菜油、木材、石油及天然氣等的價位都很高。即使這是艱苦，這也是因為經濟管理不當。
14.From an outsider points of view, what would be the perception of international business community towards Malaysia? ( image of an ineffectual bureaucracy perhaps? Or flip-flop policy making?)
Malaysia is seen as corrupt and the bureaucracy as intrusive and meddling. There are too many big scandals such as the Klang Free Trade Zone and then these scandals are not fully investigated. No longer is Malaysia is not seen as making good progress.
I feel a little embarrassed now because for many years I have written about how good Malaysia is and that foreign investors should consider Malaysia over Singapore for example, but now I feel let down by the current government. Corruption is not properly investigated, transparency has not improved and the legal system is an outrageous mess. I though there would be big progress in these areas. In fact, things seem to have gone backwards.
Malaysia’s infrastructure is relatively good however. But then infrastructure is being improved everywhere. What matters more are transparency and the rule of law.
14. 問：以一個外人的角度來看，國際商界怎樣看大馬？（一個沒效益的官僚？朝令夕改的政策？）
大馬看起來是貪腐及官僚無比，甚至到了入侵與管閑事、瞎弄的地步。這裡有太多的大醜聞如巴生港口自由貿易區，而這些醜聞仍沒有全面地調查。
大馬看來不再有良好的進展。我感到有些羞愧，因為多年以來我下筆撰文稱譽大馬有多好而外國投資者應該來大馬，而不是新加坡。可是我對現任政府感到失望。沒有好好地調查貪污、沒有改進透明度、司法制度更是駭人地一團糟。我以為這些都是可以改進的地方，事實上一切看起來都倒退了。
大馬的設備相對地是非常地好。可是每一個地方的基建都進步了，現在最重要的是透明度與法治。
15.What are the challenges that must be confronted by Malaysia government now? What’s going to happen to Malaysians eventually if we don't deal with it tactfully?
Many good, young Malaysians are emigrating from Malaysia. Thousands are resettling in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the US and the UK. A country is only as good as its people and when Malaysians feel that their own country does not offer them the respect, freedom and opportunities that they can get in other countries then Malaysia’s future does not look as good as it could.
15. 問：大馬政府現在必須面對什麼挑戰？如果我們沒有好好地處理，大馬人會怎樣？
許多優秀、年輕的大馬人已移民離開大馬。數以千計的大馬人居留在澳洲、紐西蘭、新加坡、美國和英國。當一個國家的人民認為感覺不到他們的國家可以讓他們享有在其他國家可得到的尊嚴、自由與機會，那麼大馬的前程就蒙塵了。
Michael Backman
December 20, 2007
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