Tonight, Malaysians will be celebrating the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016. In the west it is a time when we reflect on the year gone-by and make our New Year Resolution, which invariably is aimed at improving ourselves. We resolve to stop smoking or to lose weight and so on. Most times, though, we do not achieve these aims and just continue with our bad habits into the following year.
Making New Year Resolutions is one thing. Having the resolve to achieve those targets is something else. It is basically a contest against our own desires, urges and weaknesses and whether we have the willpower to stay committed to those aims. It is all about sacrifices, and unless we have willpower, sacrifice is impossible.
2016 is going to be a critical year and a year full of challenges, not only for Malaysia but also for the entire world. With the continuing war in the Middle East, the ‘war alert’ in Europe, the tension in the South China Sea region, the almost collapse of the oil price, and much more, it is going to be a tough year ahead of us.
Even countries such as Saudi Arabia that has never known what the word ‘recession’ means has just withdrawn subsidies, increased petrol prices by 50% and is expected to become a borrower in five years’ time if the situation continues. And if Saudi Arabia sneezes that can only mean countries like Malaysia would catch the flu, especially with the Ringgit so low.
MUST READ: Ministry will make broadband internet affordable and with higher speed
The English proverb is we must cut our coat according to our cloth. And when that cloth shrinks the coat must definitely be smaller. But how do we squeeze into a smaller coat when we have an excess of body fat? That invariably means we need to shed some fat if we are going fit into that coat. And that is what my Ministry will have to do if we want to make ends meet. We will need to revise our plans and see what ‘fat’ needs to be cut from our spending so that we can ride out the year unscathed.
It is easy to blame the government for our problems and accuse the government of mismanaging the economy. But there are times when we are victims of circumstances beyond our control. And while we can control what happens in Malaysia we have no control over what happens in the rest of the world, which ultimately affects our country as well.
MUST READ: Cheaper, faster, and wider coverage for all
My Ministry has made plans to improve the Internet services in Malaysia. I have already mentioned what these plans are so I need not repeat them here again. Suffice to say that in spite of the expected hard times ahead of us we will not compensate on providing better Internet services to Malaysians. This is my New Year Resolution, which I aim to keep.
YB. Senator Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Salleh Said Keruak is Malaysia's Minister of Communication & Multimedia. This article is featured on his personal blog.
Salleh Said Keruak
Thu Dec 31 2015
Better Internet services for Malaysians in 2016, despite expected hard times ahead.
Mangsa banjir di Kota Tinggi kekal 300 orang
Kesemua mangsa yang terjejas merupakan penduduk dari Kampung Temenin Baru dan Kampung Desa Makmur.
AWANI Ringkas: PM ikrar noktahkan miskin tegar di Kedah
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Mengambil manfaat daripada kisah lampau menerusi ziarah luar
Beberapa kepentingan Ziarah Luar termasuk mengambil pengajaran tentang sirah atau sejarah Rasulallah untuk dimanfaat secara bersama dalam konteks hari ini diterapkan semasa program Ziarah Luar yang dirangka Tabung Haji kepada petugas yang menjalankan operasi sempena musim haji tahun ini, 1445H/2024M.
Isu Gaza dijangka dominasi Sidang Kemuncak OIC
Pengerusi OIC tegaskan wujud keperluan mendesak untuk membincangkan konflik berpanjangan di Palestin dan kemusnahan akibat perang di Gaza.
Kepentingan ziarah luar di Madinah semasa musim Haji
Ikuti perkongsian Editor Astro AWANI yang juga petugas media musim haji 1445H/2024H mengenai kepentingan ziarah luar di Madinah bagi jemaah dan petugas haji sebagaimana ditekankan oleh Pembimbing Ibadat Haji Madinah, Ustaz Mahmad Zukri Mat Hassan.
AWANI Pagi: AWANI Pagi: Berita tumpuan & menarik di astroawani.com [5 Mei 2024]
Antara fokus Awani Pagi bersama Geegee Ahmad & Nursyazwani Saiful Sham;
Pesawat ringan terhempas di Tanjung Malim, dua mangsa selamat
Fakulti AI pertama negara dirasmikan 10 Mei ini - Zambry
Laporan menjelang musim Haji 1445H/2024M
Pesawat ringan terhempas di Tanjung Malim, dua mangsa selamat
Fakulti AI pertama negara dirasmikan 10 Mei ini - Zambry
Laporan menjelang musim Haji 1445H/2024M
Lelaki hina wajah anak Caprice tampil mohon maaf bersemuka
Pemuda bernama Irfan yang datang dari Johor dengan menaiki bas itu dilihat bertemu dengan Farra sambil melutut meminta maaf.
Isu Gaza dijangka dominasi Sidang Kemuncak OIC
Konflik di Gaza dijangka menjadi agenda utama di Sidang Kemuncak Pertubuhan Kerjasama Negara-negara Islam, OIC yang berlangsung di Gambia.
Sadiq Khan dipilih datuk bandar London untuk penggal ketiga
Sadiq Khan dari parti buruh, berjaya menewaskan calon dari parti konservatif dalam pilihan raya tempatan, menyaksikan beliau dipilih sebagai Datuk Bandar London untuk penggal ketiga.
Bursa Malaysia dijangka diniagakan dalam jajaran kecil minggu depan
Penganalisis pasaran jangkakan Bursa Malaysia diniagakan dalam jajaran kecil minggu depan, disokong oleh minat belian dalam saham wajaran tinggi.