(Penang, Friday): The National Economic Action Council (NEAC), which has been assigned the task of charting and implementing the national economic recovery strategy, must be frank with Malaysians by telling them to be prepared for the worst six months of the national economic crisis instead of creating an euphoria that there could be economic recovery in the next six months to a year.
There are those who think Malaysians cannot stand the blunt and brutal facts of life, that they must be mollycoddled, which is probably why the radio and television networks banned the use of the word "crisis" for fear that it might frighten and panic Malaysians although it is not a secret that Malaysia is facing the worst economic crisis in history.
I disagree with such a policy of misinformation and disinformation. I believe Malaysians are capable of a higher threshhold of pain if they are told the truth.
I believe Malaysians are capable of rallying together and be galvanised if they are told that they are facing the worst economic crisis in national history, and the completely unexpected nature of the crisis which has come so fast and hit the country so hard, caused by a combination of external and internal factors.
I believe that Malaysians regardless of race, religion or party differences can rise up to the challenge to unite and put the national interest above everything else if they are taken into the full confidence of the government about the full facts of the national economic crisis and the remedies necessary to overcome it.
It is time the government let the people know the truth about the gravity of the national economic crisis and the hard times they must go through and to summon up the grit, determination and commitment of all Malaysians to put the shoulder to the wheel to achieve an economic recovery and turnaround in as short a time as possible with the minimum of avoidable hardship, suffering and pain to the people.
(23/1/98)