Perdana Podcast | Tan Sri Azman Hashim

1. Malaysian Competetiveness

Tan Sri Azman Hashim says Malaysia is strong in the financial sector but not in education, where many aspects need to be improved. Revising regulations will also help with competitiveness. Subsidies need to be reduced because they are so costly and they lead to corruption. But most important of all, political stability and racial harmony need to be affirmed, otherwise all that we have achieved will go down the drain.

2. Keys to Success

Tan Sri Azman Hashim emphasizes the importance of English because that is the language of learning. In an ever-competitive globalised world, it's important to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit. He finds that the Chinese tend to have entrepreneurship as part of their culture. The Malays who want to succeed in business must learn not to be contented too easily.

3. Economic Crisis of 1997

Tan Sri Azman Hashim says the economic crisis of 1997 was an attack by certain forces such as hedge funds and ratings agencies which even caused the toppling of some governments in this region. Tun Dr Mahathir defied the IMF, and did the opposite of what the IMF prescribed at the time.

4. Bumiputras & NEP

Malays have come a long way since the 50s and 60s when the Malays were not involved in the business sector. Access to credit was a problem then. TS Azman Hashim says the Chinese have also benefited from Malaysia’s economic progress, and despite the presence of the NEP, the climate for entrepreneurship in Malaysia is still good.