COMMENT | We have now seen one of the bigger documents the new government has come up with on the overall direction of the nation and its economy.

Let’s start our review of the 11th Malaysia Plan (RMK11) mid-term review by glancing over some of the highlights.

One of the most encouraging reports, if true, comes from Economic Affairs Ministry secretary-general Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid, who states that 57 of the 60 promises in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto have apparently been incorporated into RMK11 (the other three are allegedly not relevant or suitable for the plan).

This is definitely a welcome step. As previously argued, even though the Harapan election manifesto may not have been meticulously put together, it still represents an important opportunity for politicians to demonstrate integrity.

Among the manifesto promises apparently integrated include term limits for heads of state. I’m not quite sure how this fits into a Malaysia Plan as any real such limits might involve the need for legislation.

In any case, it would be a welcome move and it falls to the rest of us to scrutinise the government to see that it is kept.

Other news such as more attention for opposition states, a carbon tax and the breaking of monopolies are also very welcome.

On a personal level, few will be thrilled at the introduction of a digital tax as it will probably mean more out-of-pocket expenses. That said, from a macro perspective, it is, of course, fairer as the lack of such a tax would provide disproportionate benefits to those who are tech-savvy while disadvantaging those who are not.

Outdated ethnocentric approaches

It appears that the government’s approach is to continue providing the bumiputera community specific aid while also giving targeted aid for specific ethnic groups.

I suppose this is something of a mild step up from the previous way of doing things.

Ultimately though, I think we still have much further to go in this regard.

I believe the end game on this front is to stop looking at development from an ethnic perspective.

It would be disingenuous to ignore ethnicity completely as a factor. That said, it feels like if we keep approaching development by looking at different ethnic groups separately, we will not have made a significant departure from the BN model.

Taking an ethnocentric approach to development is like taking an ethnocentric approach to politics. Eventually, we will start seeing everything - including, importantly, every conflict - through an ethnic lens.

This is the worst way to nurture national unity.

A better approach towards development is to realise that when you look beyond the surface, a poor Malay and a poor Chinese may have more in common than a poor Malay and a rich Malay, for instance.

Thus, tailoring development towards certain classes, rather than towards specific ethnic groups, creates more of a sense that we are all in this together.

Importance of transparency

A number of initiatives in the new RMK11 involve transparency and this is indubitably another welcome development.

While not mentioned specifically in regard to RMK11, this may be an opportune moment to think about the third national car and the crooked bridge in Johor.

One danger the current government faces is the perception that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has a personal preoccupation with these two projects, presumably they being close to his heart.

Mahathir seems particularly convinced that manufacturing a national car is some sort of lifeblood key to a growing economy.

It should not be surprising that many raised their eyebrows at this notion. We are in an era that is extremely environment-conscious, where transport ideology leans heavily towards the notion of public transport.

It is simply not quite in economic fashion any more to focus so much on manufacturing cars or a similar heavy industry - it doesn’t seem to be the economy of the future as it were.

All that said, I, for one, am certainly not a qualified expert on these things.

My recommendation would be that should the government intend on embarking on projects such as the third national car or a crooked bridge, it should back up its plans with independent, thorough research.

At present, much of the debates surrounding such initiatives seem to be long on hyperbole and rhetoric and short on facts and figures.

I think most Malaysians would be open-minded enough to consider any reasonable venture that can be backed up with independent research that clearly outlines the pros and cons.

This type of transparency can also serve as a different type of lifeblood - not only for the country but for the entirety of our New Malaysia.

NATHANIEL TAN is hoping to write a series of articles on deaths in custody.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.