Notes From Datuk Nicholas S. Zefferys

This website and the e-newsletter reflect modernisation of how we communicate with you. The technological age of interactive communication ‘any place - any time’ through a variety of devices is today’s reality. It is AMCHAM’s aspiration to become an invaluable channel for your timely use and to meet your needs and challenges.

Notes From Datuk Nicholas S. Zefferys
Past President AMCHAM, Past Member NEAC, Member Pemudah

Welcome to AMCHAM’s new Website and e-Newsletter.

This website and the e-newsletter reflect modernisation of how we communicate with you. The technological age of interactive communication ‘any place - any time’ through a variety of devices is today’s reality. It is AMCHAM’s aspiration to become an invaluable channel for your timely use and to meet your needs and challenges.

The world as we know it is undergoing accelerated change. Some say ‘The World is Flat’.  In any case, it is certainly changing at an ever more rapid pace. The table below, for example, shows a dramatic global shift from West to East:

% Of World Economy GDP - Adjusted for Purchasing Power

The level of competition faced by countries to attract and retain both investment and talent is intensifying. This is a challenge for developed as well as developing countries.

With this brief backdrop, Malaysia has been proactive in developing the path forward to achieve the goals of Vision 2020. For example I was privileged to be appointed by the honorable Prime Minister to a 23 member Public-Private Task Force in 2007 called Pemudah. Pemudah’s aim is to improve Malaysia’s public delivery system regarding the “Ease of Doing Business”, as measured by the World Bank (WB) in its annual Report. In 2012 Malaysia ranked 18th out of 170+ countries (23rd in 2011). In recent years the Prime Minister has expanded Pemudah’s role to include improving the welfare of the people.

Based on Malaysia’s success with Pemudah, the WB is now recommending all countries assemble a similar public-private partnership and are including this in their global comparative measurements. Malaysia has gone a step further and is asking the Private Sector to, also, seek ways to improve the ease of doing business with their clients and consumers in order to improve the overall business climate.

AMCHAM member companies are welcome to bring any ‘ease of doing business’ issues to my attention. Similarly, I would welcome any insights on what our members are doing to improve the relationship with their consumers/clients.  

Pemudah has a website (www.pemudah.gov.my) you can use to raise issues, complaints, and to make suggestions. It also issues an annual report that is available from the AMCHAM office that lists its many extraordinary accomplishments.

Another major undertaking that I was honored to take part in was the development of the New Economic Model (NEM).  The model was developed over a period of two years by the 9 members of the National Economic Action Council (NEAC) and consisted of 8 Structural Reform Initiatives or SRI’s. These have since been consolidated into 6SRI’s and their implementation has been assigned to Pemandu, as part of the Government and Economic Transformation Programmes (i.e. GTP and ETP). The SRI’s and attendant measures relate to raising income levels, achieving economic and environmental sustainability, and doing so with inclusiveness. Collectively, these will improve the ‘Quality of Life’ for all Malaysians.

Going forward and more than ever, AMCHAM plays a critical role as the voice of its Membership in Malaysia. The transformation efforts underway are a work in progress and the journey includes new efforts as they develop. AMCHAM offers a network that keeps you posted and up-to-date, as well as being a conduit and advocate for your issues and concerns.

AMCHAM’s new website and e-Newsletter are an important new beginning in this regard. Let’s begin the journey together.