Nampaknya Singapura mendapat banyak pujian di APEC. Malaysia pula menerima kutukan demi kutukan. Kemana agaknya Rafidah hendak menutup muka? Atau buat-buat tebal muka macam diktator yang tua?

Kalau ya pun janganlah 'buang angin' sewaktu bersidang, kesian "penjaga tandas" yang sudah geli membasuhnya.... Kalau sakit perut kenapa datang, aroma bau itu merosakkan ketenteraman walaupun hotel seribu bintang!

KAIN TERBUKA MULUT MENGANGA?

Belum apa-apa Rafidah sudah tutup pintu tapi datang juga tunjuk muka. Kalau ya pun hormatilah sedikit kerajaan Brunei, bukankah Mahathir asyik ke sana bila tertekan jiwa..... seolah-olah ada bini aje kat sana. Terpaksalah Brunei cuba merapatkan kerenggangan itu daripada merosakkan persidangan.

"A Malaysian attack on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum's ability to set the trade agenda left host country Brunei's efforts to forge a show of unity in tatters." - AFP

Akibatnya Rafidah terkena sebiji dua kata oleh Downer, perdana menteri Australia. Kita nasihat kan Rafidah jangan selak kain lagi dah lerrr. Nanti malu seantero dunia!

KALAU BENCI KENAPA DATANG PULA?

Kadang-kadang kita mengeleng kepala melihat telatah wakil negara kita ke sidang APEC. Mereka agaknya sudah lupa huruf 'C' itu bermakna 'Cooperation' atau berkerjasama. Bagaimana mahu berkerjasama kalau belum apa-apa sudang mula menyerang sini dan sana. Kenapa tidak "belah aje". Barulah aman sikit dunia....

Apa yang berlaku ialah negara sengaja mengambil yang sedap sahaja padahal orang lain pun nak makan juga. Sebab itulah perlunya berkerja sama, kerana adalah sukar mencari formula yang dapat membuatkan semua pihak menang dan gembira belaka. Padahal untungnya tetap ada walaupun terbocor sekali sekala. Itulah resmi dunia niaga!

"Peranan APEC terus-menerus surut seiring meningkatnya jumlah negara anggota, dan semakin lebih banyaknya negara yang cenderung tak menepati persetujuan dagang bilateral," kata Takeshi Nobehara, Manajer Umum Pusat Riset Asia pada Institut Riset Jepang." (Reuters/sha) - Kompas

BRUNEI YANG ASYIK TERCANAI

Semasa sukan Komanwel dulu, Sultan Brunei tergesa-gesa pulang bila kehadiran beliau tidak diperdulikan. Sejak itu hubungan kedua-dua negara tidak menjelma dalam tulisan-tulisan. Yang menarik Mahathir ke sana sebelum sidang bermula tetapi tidak ada apa-apa kedengaran. Yang ada cuma Brunei melahirkan harapan agar Malaysia memainkan peranan. Malangnya sungguh, Malaysia nampaknya mempermainkan sidang APEC pula.

'KAK FIDAH' JADI BAHAN KETAWA

Sidang APEC kali ini akan dihadiri oleh Clinton dan mungkin Madeline Albright juga. Tentu kita belum lupa bagaimana Rafidah pernah membuka "kain" satu waktu dulu gara-gara berbalah dengan Albright. Terbahak-bahak rakan-rakan ketawa, termasuk yang umno juga. Tambah gelak bila ia turut diabadikan oleh Wak Amin Sapiro.

Saya petik kembali Rencana Wak pada satu waktu dulu: KM2: 2757

Rafidah Aziz tak segan malu sanggup bergaduh ?singkap^ kain? depan Madeleine Albright Setiausaha Amerika.^ Satu dunia ketawa. Cerita Rafidah bukak kain^ dikhalayak ramai jadi bahan ejekan antarabangsa.^ Itulah contoh terbaik WANITA UMNO!! Tak cukup dedah^ kepala, ?benda? tu pulak nak suruh orang tengok!^ Beghapa punya ?Ngok??!! Hehe?. Musibat nyeeeeee?.!!^ ^
Berkata seorang pemandu teksi di Kuala Kangsar. ?Bukan^ elok beno ghupe ?mende? nye?? ^
^
?Ha..ah!! Deme kate, macam tombong beghuk mak-ye^ aheheheh..?, mereka ketawa terbahak-bahak!! Mengejek.^ Meluat!! Betina makan suap!!

MUKA RAFIDAH SUDAH CEMEK?

Seperti yang kita ketahui, tinggal dua bulan sahaja lagi sebelum rekod pelaburan tahun ini berakhir. Itulah baki yang tertinggal untuk Rafidah menonjolkan kelebihan beliau menguruskan perdagangan negara ke dunia antarabangsa. Malangnya dia gagal menggunakan masa yang tiada itu untuk membuka pintu yang lebih mesra. Tahun ini sahaja dia telah beberapa kali rimas bercampur "irritated" diserang dengan pelbagai soalan dari pelabur sehingga menjawab dalam nada yang begitu takabbur.

Gelagat Rafidah ini menjadi bualan bila Asiaweek KM2 2752 merekod kata-kata beliau di Korea itu:

"Clearly, that is not happening in Malaysia and its leaders are worried. On a recent trip to Seoul, I wandered into hotel ballroom after a lunch interview to find Malaysian Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz addressing Korean businessmen.

She seemed irritated at the questions they were throwing at her about political stability, corporate governance, transparency and above all capital controls. "Why can't you just invest in Malaysia and see for yourself," she said. If only it were that simple.

NEGARA PANDAI BERHUTANG

Tahun ini sahaja sudah pelbagai lapuran negatif menunjukkan ekonomi Malaysia hanya bergantung hidup kepada dua sahaja faktor yang penting iaitu ekspot elektronik dan harga minyak. Sejak akhir-akhir ini tidak ada pelaburan FDI yang baru, yang datang cuma pelabur tradisi yang sudah lama berpijak ke sini. Setiap kali Rafidah, Pak Lah dan Mahathir keluar negara, mereka memuji-muji ekonomi sendiri, malangnya pelabur masih tidak yakin lagi. Dikatakanlah kononnya Malaysia pandai mengurus ekonomi tanpa perlu menelan pil IMF, padahal dana Petronas sudah semakin surut, sehingga ia terpaksa melutut mengeluarkan bon pada kadar yang terlalu tinggi supaya dibeli. Sebenarnya Malaysia "pandai" mencari khidmat pelobi supaya senang meminjam - siapa lagi yang diupah jika tidak kumpulan Yahudi (lagi!) iaitu Salomon, Smith and Barney. Mungkin kita belum lupa kerajaan BN pernah mengupah Saachi & Saachi semasa pilihanraya. Oleh itu lawatan pemain kriket Israel itu memang "guest of honour" kerana kroni Mahathir pun bermain wang di sana (Israel) juga.

Baru-baru ini negara sudah bercadang untuk meminjam dalam matawang Euro dengan isu Bon Euro. Matawang Euro dipilih kerana kelemahan nilainya. Malaysia merupakan negara kedua di Asia meminjam dengan kaedah ini, selepas Filipina. (IHT, Nov 1, 2000). Menurut pakar Malaysia memilih kaedah ini kerana mahu mencari pelabur eropah juga ("new investor following in Europe").

SUDAH TERHANTUK MASIH SEGAR LAGI?

BBMB sahaja sudah disuntik beberapa kali, tetapi tidak segar-segar. Macam-mana ia nak segar, siberhutang dari kroni tak pernah membayar! Mengapa tidak didedahkan pemiutang tersebut di seluruh dada akhbar, baru lah senang nak mengejar. Kerajaan nampaknya lebih berminat untuk mendedahkan nama peminjam pelajaran MARA sahaja sedangkan jumlahnya tidaklah sebesar bukit sehingga menjahanamkan MARA. Tetapi pinjaman lapuk kepada bank sudah memampuskan bank beberapa kali itupun kerajaan masih tidak sedar lagi! Malah bank itu masih memberi pinjaman kepada orang yang sama lagi - dan lagi - dan lagi.

Inilah dia sistem ekonomi kroni atau K-Ekonomi negara. Memang padanlah Malaysia tidak mendapat pujian di APEC walaupun sudah berbilion (duit Petronas lagi) digunakan untuk membina pelbagai kemudahan di atas bumi, sedangkan yang lebih penting ialah menyediakan kepakaran dalam benak otak rakyat terkini.

MUKA SINGAPURA LEBIH CERIA

Singapura dipuji kerana memajukan K-Ekonomi (KE). Negara itu telah memperuntukkan S$10 bilion untuk pelaburan dalam venture capital di bawah program Technopreneurship 21. Negara itu juga dipuji kerana Program Latihan Kepakaran Buruhnya untuk menghasilkan pakar IT iaitu melalui SRP (Skills Redevelopment Programme).

Lapuran APEC juga menyebut Singapura mempunyai bilangan tertinggi pekerja KE, setelah membandingnya dengan A.S., Australia, Kanada, Jepun dll.

Singapura nampaknya lebih pandai menggunakan wang - mereka membina dan memajukan kepakaran kerana di situlah akan berputik kemahiran dan daya saing. Mereka juga menjanakan permintaan supaya kepakaran sentiasa dapat di salurkan. Mereke berbelanja lebih untuk pembangunan R&D, khususnya di universiti, kerana di sinilah selalunya lahir teknologi terkini.

SIAPA BERMURAM SEWAKTU BERSIDANG?

Saya serahkan kepada pembaca untuk memerhatikan siapakah nanti yang pulang dengan muka yang muram bercampur masam. Kita tertanya-tanya mengapa Mahathir pergi ke sidang OPEC dulu sebelum APEC. Itupun dia sudah 'booking' Presiden Vladimir Putin dari Rusia - sebab 'deal' beli helikopter agaknya?

Di OPEC tiada berita mengancam Mahathir di sana... Mungkin pemimpin OPEC pun dah geram kepada beliau.. Apakah Mahathir mahu harga minyak dinaikkan lagi kerana ekonomi Malaysia amat bergantung kepadanya? Bukan ekonomi sahaja, malah keseronokkan Mahathir berbelanja mega dan merantau mengelilingi dunia dengan global ekspress pun sebab naik "minyak" juga.

Satu hari nanti minyak itu akan kering juga. Rizab minyak negara tinggal 15 tahun cuma. Ketika itu meranalah negara dengan hutang dan jaminan bon yang sudah tinggi bunganya. Siapakah yang akan membayar hutang itu jika tidak rakyat juga?. Kenaikkan harga minyak kepada pengguna tempoh hari sudah cukup menjadi petanda bahawa kekayaan negara sebenarnya sudah surut akibat terlalu bergaya bak kata pepatah melayu yang asyik bergema: "Biar papa asal bergaya"?

Sumber: http://asia.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/ asia/afp/article.html?s=asia/headlines/001111/ asia/afp/
Australia_says_Malaysia_out_of_step_with_APEC_criticism.html

Saturday, November 11 2:40 PM SGT

Australia says Malaysia out of step with APEC criticism

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov 11 (AFP) -

Simmering divisions within APEC exploded into the open Saturday as Australia accused Malaysia of being out of step by criticising efforts to open a new round of World Trade Organisation talks.

A Malaysian attack on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum's ability to set the trade agenda left host country Brunei's efforts to forge a show of unity in tatters.

APEC leaders including US President Bill Clinton will meet here next week and are expected to demand a new round of global trade liberalisation talks.

But Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz poured cold water on the proposed consensus declaration, arguing there could be no new WTO agenda while several issues from previous rounds remained unresolved.

Her claim that there was no sign of "a credible agenda of interest to both developed and developing countries" brought a sharp response from Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.

"It doesn't make sense for Malaysia not to want better access to developed markets," Downer said.

"Of the 21 economic members here, most would see that it made common sense to have better (global) market access," he said.

"We think that the fastest and most efficient way to do that will be to launch a new WTO round."

He dismissed Malaysia's fears that globalisation will do more harm than good to developing economies.

"It's not in the interest of developing economies in APEC to stop the campaign to get better market access," he said.

"They urgently need better market access to developed markets."

A meeting of senior trade officials, which opened the week-long APEC forum on Friday, agreed on the need for a new WTO round, but failed to resolve whether a timetable should be set or whether to state the talks should be held "as soon as possible."

The officials' recommendations shape the leaders' declaration to be released at the end of the forum.

A two-day ministerial meeting starting Sunday, which both Rafidah and Downer will attend, will review the wording of the communique.

Downer's criticism is expected to further incense Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who earlier this year accused Canberra of being a "bully" and said Australia should behave like the small nation it is instead of trying to teach Asia how to go about its business.

Downer said "APEC has to show leadership," and Australia will continue to push ahead with efforts to get the Pacific-rim alliance to carve out a trade agenda that will eventually kickstart a new WTO round.

APEC groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

http://www.kompas.com/kompas-cetak/0011/08/LN/kred02.htm

Rabu, 8 November 2000

Kredibilitas APEC Merosot

Tokyo, Selasa

Pemimpin-pemimpin ekonomi Asia Pasifik (APEC) yang akan bersidang di Brunei Darussalam pekan depan, diharapkan menelurkan keputusan-keputusan dramatis agar menghentikan kemerosotan kredibilitas forum ini di mata anggota-anggotanya. Selain semakin berada di bawah bayang-bayang organisasi perdagangan dunia, WTO, kredibilitas forum APEC juga semakin surut berkat menjamurnya blok-blok perdagangan regional di Eropa dan Amerika.

"Tugas terpenting pertemuan tingkat menteri APEC (12-13 November) adalah mencari cara untuk menghentikan APEC sendiri dari kemerosotan," ungkap Fukunari Kimura, profesor perdagangan internasional pada Keio University, Tokyo seperti diungkapkan Reuters, Selasa (7/11).

Pertemuan tingkat menteri APEC nanti diharapkan akan menyusun agenda, dan dalam artian luas merumuskan kesimpulan untuk dibicarakan pada pertemuan tingkat kepala negara yang dijadwalkan berlangsung di tempat sama 15-16 November.

Menurut rencana, pemimpin-pemimpin dunia seperti Presiden AS Bill Clinton, PM Jepang Yoshiro Mori, dan Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin akan hadir di sana. Kehadiran mereka akan menutupi kelemahan yang belakangan ini dirasakan pada forum APEC.

Mula pertama didirikan dengan 12 anggota, tahun 1989, APEC dibentuk untuk mempromosikan pasar terbuka serta globalisasi. APEC semula berperan sebagai pendorong dihapuskannya hambatan-hambatan perdagangan dalam skala luas, dan kini anggotanya telah berkembang menjadi 21 negara.

Dengan adanya Amerika Serikat, Jepang, Rusia, Kanada, dan Cina-negara-negara dengan tingkat perekonomian kuat di sekitar Pasifik-APEC meliputi 60 persen produksi domestik kotor di seluruh dunia, serta 45 persen perdagangan dunia.

Akan tetapi, lantaran penekanan dalam konsensusnya di samping juga untuk menyelamatkan muka anggota-anggotanya, demikian menurut para analis, APEC tak mencapai tujuannya untuk membuat persetujuan-persetujuan yang mengikat pada perdagangan bebas, serta investasi. Ini tidak seperti yang dilakukan organisasi perdagangan dunia, WTO.

Target APEC menonjol, yang disepakati di Bogor 1994, adalah untuk menggalakkan perdagangan bebas serta investasi di kawasan ini, selambat-lambatnya 2010 untuk negara-negara yang sudah berkembang (maju), serta 2020 bagi negara anggota yang tengah berkembang.

Namun, tampaknya hanya sedikit saja anggota-anggota forum itu yang peduli dengan kesepakatan ambisius itu, demikian menurut para analis.

"Peranan APEC terus-menerus surut seiring meningkatnya jumlah negara anggota, dan semakin lebih banyaknya negara yang cenderung tak menepati persetujuan dagang bilateral," kata Takeshi Nobehara, Manajer Umum Pusat Riset Asia pada Institut Riset Jepang. (Reuters/sha)

http://asia.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/asia/cna/article.html? s=asia/headlines/001112/asia/cna/
APEC_report_singles_out_Singapore_for_KBE_progress_.html

Sunday, November 12 12:05 AM SGT

APEC report singles out Singapore for KBE progress

An APEC report on the progress made by member countries towards a Knowledge-Based Economy has singled out Singapore as having the highest number of knowledge workers.

Singapore was rated against countries like the US, Australia, Canada and Japan, amongst others.

The report on Knowledge Based Economies adds that high performing Asian economies have been increasing educational access and promoting acquisition and the use of knowledge.

It says in Singapore about S$10 billion have been allotted for investment in private venture capital firms under the Technopreneurship 21 programme.

APEC says much scope exists for co-operation among member economies and it suggested establishing a knowledge-clearing house to exchange various types of knowledge.

The report also proposed a KBE status indicator to provide information regarding how APEC countries are progressing towards a Knowledge Based Economy.

http://asia.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/ asia/cna/article.html? s=asia/headlines/001111/asia/cna/ APEC_report_praises_two_manpower_initiatives_ by_Singapore.html

Saturday, November 11 10:05 PM SGT

APEC report praises two manpower initiatives by Singapore

Two manpower initiatives introduced by Singapore have been praised in a report to be presented at the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Brunei on Sunday.

These are the strategic manpower conversion programme to make workers more IT-savvy and the Skills Redevelopment Programme, better known as SRP, to re-train workers facing retrenchment.

The report, prepared by the APEC economic committee, says APEC economies can learn from such good policies.

It says as part of the Manpower 21 initiatives, Singapore introduced a number of programmes to encourage and facilitate training in leading edge high growth industries for mature and laid-off workers.

It also highlights the region's economic trends and prospects, saying overall economic growth of APEC countries is likely slow down to about 3.5 percent next year, from 4.3 percent this year.

The report says since the slowdown is largely due to the moderation of growth in the US to a sustainable pace, the positive trends of APEC economies will continue next year.

However, it expressed concern over the growing trend of regional trading arrangements.

It says while there is a case that these arrangements promote multi-lateralism, protectionism against non-members of such arrangements remains a credible threat.

http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,39800,00.html

Asia's Next Tech Hub: Singapore

by Amy Wu

2:00 a.m. Oct. 28, 2000 PDT

HONG KONG -- Singapore has officially launched its bid to compete with other Asian countries to become the No. 1 technology hub in the region following a government announcement that it will inject S$7 billion into the tech and science sector over the next five years.

The government also announced the creation of a biomedical and science and engineering research council that will manage public-sector research and development.

The announcement by Singapore's National Science and Technology Board that it will increase its tech funding by 75 percent was cheered by the industry and analysts.

It also heats up the competition for tech supremacy with Hong Kong, which has its own aggressive plan to be a new-economy hub.

"I came to Singapore because the government has always had a very strong sense of purpose of where it stands and where the country is going towards," says Jim James, the founder of dot-com startup go-events.com.

Go-events.com, like most other Internet startups in Singapore, has benefited from frequent, government-sponsored forums called Techventure.

The government also plays matchmaker between Internet startups and venture capitalists, and is generous with seed money.

The NSTB's latest announcement fortifies a dramatic shift the 9-year-old board made two years ago when it launched its original tech plan, which included an infusion of $1 billion in overseas talent and capital.

Other new incentives that the government has implemented since 1999 include extensive tax holidays, a speedier process for attaining a work visa, discounts on prime office space, subsidized space for Internet startups and, most recently, subsidized government flats designed for foreigners and expatriates.

The initiatives appear to be paying off. Last year there were an estimated 500 startups in the Lion City, a 70 percent rise from the year before. Approximately 200 of the startups received seed money averaging S$200,000 and totaling S$250 million.

Among the early winners: music portal Soundbuzz.com, in which EMI recently took a 5 percent stake.

Another company taking advantage of Singapore's liberal tech policies is SAS International, one of the world's largest dataware housing companies. SAS began to use Singapore as a regional hub about a year ago, and the company says that because of government support, overhead runs 30 percent lower than in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong isn't sitting idly by. In July, the city set up the Innovation and Technology Commission, which also has a fund that invests in promising startups.

ITC Commissioner Francis Ho says that Singapore may have better marketing, but in the end Hong Kong comes out ahead with its entrepreneurial spirit. "When there are kids with colored hair and body rings in Singapore I'll begin to worry," Ho said.

But Sybase CEO John Chen says that after looking at several Asian cities as research hubs, his company chose Singapore. Chen thinks that the Hong Kong government could take some lessons from Singapore.

"We decided that Singapore came out ahead. Part of it is government attitude, but the other part is Singapore has about 12 universities that actually do some research and they have a community," he says. "Of course, Singapore does a better marketing job than the Hong Kong government."

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-3292990.html?tag=st.ne.1003.thed.ni

Singapore targets $4 billion to promote science, tech

By CNET News.com Staff
October 25, 2000, 11:15 a.m. PT

SINGAPORE--The National Science and Technology Board (NSTB) has received $4 billion (S$7 billion) from the Singapore government to boost the island's local science and technology efforts over the next five years.

The new budget for the Science & Technology 2005 Plan, or S&T 2005, was announced by Trade and Industry Minister George Yeo at the official opening of the Institute of Material Research and Engineering facility Wednesday.

Yeo noted that the budget was a significant increase from the previous $2.28 billion during the last five-year plan, covering 1996 to 2000.

"The S&T 2005 will help focus and strengthen capabilities here and further encourage the private sector research and development efforts, as well as establish an effective system for technology transfer and intellectual property management," Yeo said.

The S&T 2005 will also aim to "recruit global talent, nurture local talent and develop strong international relationships and networks," he said.

According to NSTB's Adams Yau Lee Ying, assistant managing director for operations, half of the budget provided by the government will be channeled into technology development and research and development, while 30 percent will be used to encourage corporate labs to set up research centers here.

The remainder will be pumped into broad-based manpower development, which includes fellowship training and postgraduate scholarships, Adams said.

http://www.iht.com/IHT/TODAY/SAT/FIN/atk.2.html

Paris, Saturday, October 28, 2000

Singapore Air's Profit Rises

The Associated Press

SINGAPORE - Singapore Airlines Ltd. said Friday that first-half net profit jumped to 1.14 billion Singapore dollars ($649.5 million) from 590.5 million dollars a year earlier.

The airline credited the economic recovery in Asia and a one-time gain for the jump in profit for the period ending Sept. 30.

The results were at the top end of analysts' expectations.

Singapore Airlines' profit included a one-time gain of 575 million dollars from the sale of shares through the initial public offerings of two subsidiaries, SIA Engineering Co. and Singapore Airport Terminal Services Ltd.

Revenue rose 15 percent to 4.96 billion dollars, while expenses rose 13 percent to 4.04 billion dollars, because of a rise in jet fuel prices, the airline said.

The company's earnings also included 121 million dollars in contributions from associated companies, including Virgin Atlantic Airways of Britain. Singapore Airlines owns 49 percent of Virgin. But the earnings did not include any contribution from Air New Zealand, of which Singapore Airlines owns 25 percent.

The airline said it expected the second half of the year to be ''strong,''but it added that rising jet fuel prices remained a ''major concern.''

APEC: Malaysia's Mahathir To Meet Russia's Putin Nov 16

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei (Dow Jones)--Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will hold bilateral talks on Nov. 16 with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the APEC summit.

Both leaders are expected to discuss important bilateral issues, including trade and global matters, according to government officials, Bernama news agency reported.

Mahathir, who is scheduled to arrive in Brunei on Nov. 14, is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with other leaders of developing countries.