Learn from China: Malaysian ex-PM tells India

[beijingwalker]

Learn from China: Malaysian ex-PM tells India

Updated Dec 02, 2011 at 01:36pm IST

New Delhi: Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammad said that India needed a much stronger Central Government and less powerful federal structure to make rapid economic progress.

"India would be like China if it was little less democratic," Mahatir said

in New Delhi on Friday at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit while speaking on the topic Challenges of Change in the 21st Century.

Claiming that Singapore has done tremendously well in the economic sphere because of limited democracy, Mahatir said that sometimes democracy can paralyse Parliament.

"We can't force countries to accept democracy even if it's the best form of governance," he said.

His comments on democracy hindering India's economic growth comes during a period of stalemate in Parliament over the Central Government's decision to allow foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.

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[RezRoll]

Mahathir.

He was a great leader in his prime but his recent statements have been a tad crazy.

This one is 100% spot on though. India could learn from China on the economic model.

But more importantly, I think Malaysia ought to follow Singapore's system. There are so many flaws in our current political and economical system.

Perhaps Mahathir should focus on what is closer to home.

 

[tony singh]

How can you be less democratic? stupid words, India is not China we have diffrent economic models.

 

[Avisheik]

Although his words are right, this statement cannot be used for india, as it will result in looting of the public by the Indian ministers.

 

[RezRoll]

How can you be less democratic? stupid words

Sometimes for national interest, not all the rules of democracy have to be followed.

It's all for the greater good of the country. See this part :

His comments on democracy hindering India's economic growth comes during a period of stalemate in Parliament over the Central Government's decision to allow foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.

Had there been a less democratic set-up, such decisions could have been implemented much faster. Don't you agree?

 

[tony singh]

Sometimes for national interest, not all the rules of democracy have to be followed.

It's all for the greater good of the country. See this part :



Had there been a less democratic set-up, such decisions could have been implemented much faster. Don't you agree?

How does a country which is a democracy become less democratic? it makes no sense

---------- Post added at 05:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:39 PM ----------

The whole purpose of Democracy is people power where votes matter.

 

[true_indian]

That's not gonna work for India. India is lot more diverse than any other country in this world. A north Punjabi would not understand the sentiments of south Tamilian. Any decisions of central government which is dominated by northies would be seen as invasion of south and their rights. That could lead to further problems. Its better this way.

 

[tony singh]

If you don't follow the rules of being a democracy that makes it dictatorship like when Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency

 

[Polemos]

Federal structure and democracy is crucial for India, otherwise there will be a civil war. In addition to usual differences that exist in other countries like rich-poor, urban-rural, we have massive differences of caste, religion and language. To make national integration possible, everyone has to have a say.

BTW WE have already gone through an emergency in 1975, when both federal structure and democracy were curtailed. And it was roundly rejected by the people.

 

[Controlled Pair]

India is a democratic state that doesn't torture its own people and make human rights campaigners 'disappear'.

This is what makes a country strong. Over a Billion people choose their government in India. A massive logistical success, never mind a democratic success.

The idea that India needs to emulate anything that the criminal Chinese do, is ridiculous.

Of course China has a centralised government, it's a bloody dictatorship.

 

[Starblazer]

How can you be less democratic? stupid words, India is not China we have diffrent economic models.

Let's not kid ourselves here what India has is demockracy not democracy. The social development of it's society is not at the level where it can produce a meaningful and productive government of this form, it's as meaningful as Nigerian democracy. The problem India has to realize is it's not the form of government but the people itself and the people they put in government.

 

[RezRoll]

That's not gonna work for India. India is lot more diverse than any other country in this world. A north Punjabi would not understand the sentiments of south Tamilian. Any decisions of central government which is dominated by northies would be seen as invasion of south and their rights. That could lead to further problems. Its better this way.

Ridiculous logic.

Malaysia is a multi-racial society with quite a number of minority Chinese and Indians. We are more diversed than India.

Everyone will have their rights in a centralized government if they consider themselves Malaysian first, above anything else.

 

[Starblazer]

India is a democratic state that doesn't torture its own people and make human rights campaigners 'disappear'.

This is what makes a country strong. Over a Billion people choose their government in India. A massive logistical success, never mind a democratic success.

The idea that India needs to emulate anything that the criminal Chinese do, is ridiculous.

Of course China has a centralised government, it's a bloody dictatorship.

India is still a country where the rich can buy votes and the poor are willing to sell. You can even pay to have your opposition threatened or silenced, this not an environment where you can have a true or meaningful democracy. Democracy only flourishes when you have the proper social constructs, without them it could be a hindrance. Even democracy itself is a flawed system, it literally translates into mob rule, which is incompatible with personal liberty, but that's another discussion.

 

[beijingwalker]

India is a democratic state that doesn't torture its own people and make human rights campaigners 'disappear'.

do google search and come back to talk,you are so ignorant.

 

[RezRoll]

India is a democratic state that doesn't torture its own people and make human rights campaigners 'disappear'.

This is what makes a country strong. Over a Billion people choose their government in India. A massive logistical success, never mind a democratic success.

The idea that India needs to emulate anything that the criminal Chinese do, is ridiculous.

Of course China has a centralised government, it's a bloody dictatorship.

One question.

Which country has a better standard of living and economy?

That should answer you well enough.

---------- Post added at 08:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:55 PM ----------

Federal structure and democracy is crucial for India, otherwise there will be a civil war. In addition to usual differences that exist in other countries like rich-poor, urban-rural, we have massive differences of caste, religion and language. To make national integration possible, everyone has to have a say.

BTW WE have already gone through an emergency in 1975, when both federal structure and democracy were curtailed. And it was roundly rejected by the people.

China is a much bigger land with a much bigger population.

If central governance can work for them, it can work for you.

But everyone needs to set aside their differences and what not.. and consider themselves has equal citizens of the country. That might help.

Chinese people are much more united than Indian people. You could learn that from them.