Teoh: NEF2019 participants eager to find solutions

PETALING JAYA: Shared prosperity will come from growing the nation’s economic pie with the triple bottom line in mind – profit, people and planet, according to National Economic Forum 2019 (NEF2019) organising chairman Teoh Kok Lin.

In a statement on the NEF2019 which was held on Aug 29, Teoh said conversations spurred by the forum should be continued between decision-makers in the public and private sectors.

“In our Malaysian context, we think that a quote from Tan Sri Lim Kuang Sia from the forum – ‘to help our small and medium enterprises (SMES) is to help the B40’ – best applies.

“The need to have such conversations is especially prevalent against the current backdrop of uncertainties: on the global front, the escalating Us-china trade tensions and a slowing global economy; and closer to home, a new government juggling election promises, economic growth and racial tensions,” he said.

Teoh added that the large turnout at the forum showed how decision-makers in the private sector yearn to have honest, straightforward and active engagement with ministers, policymakers and representatives to generate solutions in weeks and months, instead of three to five years.

The panel sessions during the NEF2019 were frank and practical – cutting to the chase to get solutions for Malaysia’s most pertinent issues, be it looking outward at the nation’s external trade position, or zooming in to topics such as filling the skill gaps of Malaysia’s future workforce.

The NEF2019 was organised by the constituent chambers of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, comprising the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Malaysia, the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia, the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers.