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We are a nation obsessed with rankings - rankings of any kind - from university quality, human development, quality of life, environment, national competitiveness to gross domestic product (GDP) and income level.

Each time a ranking or an index of any sort was published, there would be arguments and counter arguments over its representation, accuracy and authenticity.  The latest controversy was the QS Quacquarelli Symonds rankings of our universities.

I wish life is that simple - we can reduce our long and hard work to a few numbers compiled by some external agencies which probably have no clue how a country is best managed and administered. I think it is time Malaysia ditches its obsession with ranking numbers and concentrate instead on the real work. The ranking numbers will take care of themselves once real work is done consistently and untiringly over time.

We can’t talk our way to high ranking numbers. It is also useless to manipulate or do some short-term measures to massage the numbers we desire. It is meaningless to do something transient or superficial to get the numbers up. What we need to do are sound policies consistently and tenaciously applied over time.

Take for example the high-income economy that we have been tossing about for years now.  High-income economy is a ‘desired state’; it is not a process. There is no specific methodology that we can get it off the bookshelf for us to achieve high-income economy. If it were so simple, there would be no low-income or poor economy around the world any more.

High-income economy is the result of creative and prudent application of sound economic policies over time. It is not inflating the economy, borrowing more money and giving people more Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M). It is about our consistent ability to get rid of distortions and ‘fat’, create high value-added jobs and being innovative and productive.

That is why it is never easy; that is why we need the least those consultants who are still wet behind their ears.

For universities, we don’t count the number of research papers published or the number of foreign students present in our universities in order to get a higher ranking. We build the quality of our faculties over time by strict adherence to merits and standards. We strictly apply student admission and graduation standards. We don’t reduce standards to meet social economic objectives like the New Economic Policy (NEP).

We meet social economic objectives by giving more opportunities to students to re-sit exam again and again till they qualify.

Ranking is high, but water queues a common sight?

Do we have to look at quality of life ranking or human development index by country to know whether Malaysia has arrived? So what if the ranking is high but queues with pails and watering cans for water trucks are a common sight in Malaysia. Imagine the situation for those who live in a flat with no lift and there is water rationing.

What environment protection index are we talking about when almost every one of our rivers, ponds and lakes is polluted?  How often have we seen rivers to our water catchment areas/treatment plants polluted which resulted in water rationing? How often have we seen haze and polluted air engulfing our environment despite the endless talks among Asean countries?

Why focus on the intricacies of an index and forget the fundamental stuff we need to do?

Why bother so much on Malaysia’s international competitiveness when so many things we do domestically are counter competitive and anti-competition? Just look at the monopolies on essential products and services now pervading in our economy. Look at the distortions through undue restrictions on imports. Look at the unfettered and indiscriminate entry of foreign workers now permeating into every sector and facet of our society.

We must focus on building the resilience over in the long term. Short term ranking numbers and indices are meaningless. While criteria used in compiling rankings and indices can be used as the guide, these are not fire-fighting measures. These are usually long-term efforts requiring careful planning and execution. Do the fundamentals, the peripheries will take of themselves.  

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