Economic crises normally start due to negligence, mismanagement or a shortage of resources. The main indications of an economic crisis are a shortage of essential goods, excessive or improper employment of manpower and excessive and unproductive investments.

During any economic crisis, the countries which are immediately and severely affected are those in the company’s of developing nations without much natural resources. The developed nations (normally) will be the last to be affected.

This is due to the fact that mostly, it is the developed nations which invest in the developing nations.

Hence, if at all an economic crisis takes place, it is the main priority of (most) investing companies from the developed countries to manipulate their overseas investments to ensure the company’s sustainability, stability and resistance.

Only when the restructuring of overseas investment is confirmed to be not adequate will the corporations from these developed nations move on to restructure their home-based companies.

Normally, in developed countries, financial bailouts by the government would normally commence following critical international developments which are on the verge of affecting the local parent companies and their related investments and manpower.

The basic rule for a nation’s balanced and resilient economic structure should have the following economic concoction:-

1. One-third comprising natural resources and agriculture products

2. One-third comprising manufacturing and industries

3. One-third made up by the service industry

If the above is maintained, then the country could survive most world economic glitches (if proper strategies are enforced, monitored and controlled).

On a related note, the nations of the world generally have been neglecting the need for adequate food supply even though they are aware of its necessity.

It is just that they feel that investments in food products are costly and time-consuming for returns. This is what most of the countries feel and eventually a shortage of food is inevitable.

Due to this ignorance, we can see that the price of vegetables are more expensive than those of meat items (due to the demand and supply mechanism). Unless the attitude of the world’s nations changes, the price of food will escalate.

Malaysia has been a food producer ever since independence and after providing for its own consumption, it exports the excess to countries like Singpore, Hong Kong etc.

However, I would ask Malaysia to venture aggressively into the vegetables and fruits industry. This could be done at a lower cost by converting about 10% of our oil palm plantations into vegetable and fruit farms.

The conversion would mean replacing the currently lesser desired oil palm with the much needed greens (food products).

The environmentalists, too, would welcome this idea as we are not clearing the jungle to build golf courses or changing it into concrete jungle.

Unless the world unites sincerely, without any greed or hypocrisy, the future of our children would be jeopardised.