Multi-ethnic exploration of national economy

As I was told by my uncle earlier, the English-language public forum on the Malaysian economy and Budget 2007 held in Ipoh's Hotel Excelsior last Thursday was a successful event.

It featured Parti KeADILan Rakyat's new Treasurer General Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim (left) who was a former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Guthrie Group as well as Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB). His presentation was said to be very well received by folks in town, including many small and medium businessmen as well as professionals.

Speaking on the same panel was Tian Chua and Dr. Lee Boon Chye (left), PKR's Vice President and a UK-trained heart specialist who has been practising in Ipoh for many years, moderated the dialogue. On Friday evening, Khalid also spoke at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall with Tian Chua, MTUC's Syed Sharir and Oriental Daily's economics columnist Soon Hoh Sing.