What does the WEF stand for and what does this mean for Malaysia?

Malaysians voted for Pakatan Harapan and got the WEF instead

Rafizi Ramli, the latest enthusiastic convert to the WEF.

Malaysia’s long relationship with the World Economic Forum reached a milestone last year where a joint office, the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Malaysia (C4IR) was set up to accelerate the green transition and digital transformation.

Earlier this year in Davos, then later Saudi Arabia, and just recently in Dalian China, a host of Malaysian ministries and agencies are all represented. Leading the Malaysian charge is the minister of international trade and industry (MITI) and the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA). Other agencies lining up for Davos include the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), and the Ministry of Finance, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

In addition, Petronas, Sime Darby, Pemodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), and Khazanah Nasional will be in Davos. A host of business leaders who interconnect with the government are all members of the WEF. These include Abdul Razak Baginda Malaysian Strategic Research Centre (MSRC), Nazir Razak CIMB, Lim Thian Kiat Multi-Purpose Holdings, Halim Saad Renong/UEM, Sarina Aman-Karim Multimedia Development Corporation, Justin Leong Genting, Anthony (Tony) Fernandes Air Asia, Tong Kooi-Ong The Edge Media Group, Ricky Wong Asia Media, Rohan Ramakrishnan ASEAN Post, Rohana Rozhan Astro Holdings Malaysia, and amongst others Shahzad Bhatti Axiom Learning.

Current trade minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz were most probably the two principal purveyors of the WEF to the Malaysian scene. Tengku Zafrul is an unofficial nexus between to current government and rulers.

There are also a number of ministers and politicians who are members of the WEF. Until very recently most openly acknowledged their association with the WEF, but a number have asked the organization to take their names off the WEF official website. However, in searching names there are records of meetings they attended and/or spoke at. Current members of the WEF in the government include Azalina Otham Said, member since 2003, Nurul Izzah Anwar, a member since 2012, Steven Sim, a member since 2012, Hannah Yeoh, a member since 2018, and Yao Bee Yin, a member since 2019.

Even Syed Saddiq is a member of the WEF.

Just over a year ago, Malaysian politicians were proud to associate themselves with the WEF. However, as the policies of the WEF are becoming more known to the public, many have asked the WEF to takedown their membership webpages from the WEF website.

Amir Hamzah Azizan is the chief apparatchik for implementing WEF ideologies within the finance ministry.

WEF affiliation is becoming a prerequisite to awarding of contracts from the Madnai government

Since Anwar Ibrahim came to office, many directly negotiated contracts are being awarded to WEF affiliated corporations. Bumiputera companies no longer getting the most important contracts from government today.

Over the last twelve months, Bumiputera companies are no longer obtaining the lucrative and strategic contracts from the government.

Just in the last few months, a subsidiary of YTL Corporation, KJS-SEP Synergy (M) Sdn. Bhd. was awarded a concession that gave the company control over revenue of toll-way concessionaires, with the installation and implementation of multi-lane free flow (MLFF) systems in all Toll-Way exits across the country. This important strategic contract was not tendered out, nor was the responsibility to install them ever discussed with the concessionaires. YTL is an affiliated company with the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The real concern about BlackRock is not about its Israeli connections. The real concern about BlackRock is that the corporation is a senior strategic partner of the WEF.

According to Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, BlockRock has invested RM27.5 billion in Malaysia.

Read

Companies involved in strategic land swaps with the Selangor State Government in exchange for work undertaken involve companies involved with the WEF. Berjaya Corporation involved in the Selangor Maritime Gateway, is a member of the WEF, as is its founder Vincent Tan. The architect and equipment suppliers for the new national digital ID system, Frost & Sullivan and NEC are both companies affiliated with the WEF.

Industry 4.0

Malaysia’s pursuit of Industry 4.0 as a means to improve productivity is not a job creation strategy. In a country such as Malaysia where there is both a large informal sector and labour-based production economy, Industry 4.0 will actually reduce job availability and increase unemployment. Only a handful of corporations in hi-tech industries will reap the benefits of Industry, as most companies in Malaysia don’t have the necessary capital available to acquire and implement Industry 4.0 concepts. Its also doubtful whether the necessary indigenous innovation is available to capitalize on Industry 4.0. at present.

Enhanced role of GLCs

The WEF strongly believes in stakeholder-capitalism, where corporations and government partner in the running of government and designing the future nature of society. The Madani government has strongly affirmed the future role of GLCs in Malaysia. GLCs are now agents of the government, which has outsourced much MSME development to GLCs to undertake.

Digital Identification

The Madani government is very much pro-identity digitization and is currently introducing a national identity system that will link citizens to all government (and some corporate) databases. This is now happening at an acerated rate in Malaysia.

Economic policy

Current economic policy is focused upon building up corporate economics. Policies that enhance community power and wealth are ostentatiously missing from Madani economics. Madani economics is not tackling national debt and increasing it to introduce its programs.

Public Health

Malaysia currently has a pro-Covid-19 vaccine policy, and appears willing to accept the authority of the World Health Organization (WHO) over health policy. This means future governments will be bound by edicts made by the WHO.

Government ministries now rely to a great degree of WEF studies and research. The nation’s think tanks are also becoming WEF influenced, where the outcomes they suggest are consistent with WEF ideas. One of the potential issues is that many WEF ideas may not be suitable for the Malaysian environment. Some WEF premises on industrial automation, public health, and climate change should be publicly discussed before accepted as givens.

The future direction of WEF policy can be seen in the topics that are being discussed in regular WEF meetings around the world. Sessions include regulating non-banking financial systems, developing alternative energy production, living with less energy, developing AI, reskilling the workforce, mapping solutions for extreme weather, preparing for disease X, collaborative surveillance, disinformation and freedom of speech, and the US role in the world. Let’s hope the Malaysian bureaucrats who attend the sessions, do so critically.

The WEF is now becoming an element within Malaysia’s deep state.

Subscribe Below: