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I refer to the Malaysiakini report Jomo: Time for joint global action on economy.

Regular, consistent, and persistent contributors to articles for nation-building in Malaysia on Malaysiakini will wholeheartedly welcome KS Jomo’s views.

Although Jomo’s speech was directed at changing the current international system and made in the capacity as member of the UN Commission of Experts on Reforms, it is my contention that this scenario has special relevance to Malaysia.

In the first place we need to recognise that Dr Mahathir voiced serious reservations as to Jomo’s appointment to the commission on the grounds that the latter’s academic and professional contributions were essentially that of a critic of government policies.

It is not for me to speak up for Jomo, but suffice it to say that academic research and publications normally fall within the domain of ‘theory building’ and that the objective is certainly not to produce prescriptions or indeed to make predictions.

But what is more important is Jomo’s response to acknowledge that Dr Mahathir’s pivotal path-breaking policies during the financial crisis of the mid-1980’s, had in fact reformed certain hitherto held entrenched economic theories, some of which now appear to be supported by some European governments in the present monetary and financial crisis.

Jomo’s wake-up call therefore that "there must be a commitment to bring in as many voices and stake holders (so that they may have a say) to reform the financial crisis" is absolutely crucial.

He also pointed out there was a sense of urgency in ensuring that those at the policy- making level have the capacity and the capability to deliver, otherwise "the reforms needed will either be postponed indefinitely or may never happen at all".

Many Malaysiakini readers will recognise the relevance of Jomo’s call for Malaysia and it would be tedious to repeat them here. It must be pointed out, however, that there seems no question that, particularly as an aftermath of the March GE results, reforms in political, economic and social institutions geared towards nation-building are absolutely imperative across the board.

Perhaps I should add that Malaysia is lucky to have Jomo on the commission. He would now have the opportunity to do in practice what he has always suggested in theory in the estimated 50 odd books and documents I think he has produced.

Indeed, I would go so far as to say that based on my own experiences in rural and urban development, Malaysia has the basic social infrastructure for reforms that can be built on.

What is desperately needed is to involve the private and corporate sector to jointly work with the government and NGO’s from the grassroots level, drawing on hands-on experiences in a bottom-top strategy for nation-building.

Perhaps Jomo may consider ‘adopting’ Malaysia as a UN case study.

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