[Malaysia] Sharingthe economic pie

Economic pie sharing not zero-sum game
SK Wong, Malaysiakini, Jul 28, 05

A few thoughts about the just concluded Umno general assembly.

1. To continue harping on percentage and quota is the wrong approach. The government could tomorrow decree that every non-Malay should give 30 percent of their possessions to the Malays, and this will achieve the goal of the bumiputera's 30 percent equity in the shortest possible time, but it doesn't improve the competitiveness of the recipients.

Similarly, handing out diplomas without properly training the students doesn't make them better graduates. It only demeans the diplomas. Quantity is pointless if not accompanied by quality.

2. NEP was never abolished. It was rebadged as the NDP. To call for a revival of NEP is correct only as far as the name change.

3. If the kampung folk (regardless of ethnicity) are still backward after 48 years of Barisan Nasional governance and 35 years of implementation of the NEP/NDP, who's fault is it? It is ironic that failure can be used as a justification for continuation of the same failed regime.

4. The sharing of economic pie need not be a zero-sum game. The approach of government policies like the AP scheme simply parceling a portion of the wealth from one group of people to another without creating more wealth. I am also puzzled how this scheme benefits the said kampung folk.

5. Umno practically constitutes the entire government, yet they still harp on parochial attitudes. Either they are not confident in being truly Malaysian or they are bankrupt of ideas.

6. Brandishing a keris at the podium doesn't an inspiring gesture make, if one views it as a symbol of a crutch.

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NEP: Umnoputeras have betrayed nation
Yue-han, Malaysiakini, Jul 28, 05

The call to revive the failed New Economic Policy (NEP) is, to say the least, reactionary because it is premised on the outdated assumption that the alleged backwardness of the Malay community is attributable to a negative role played by non-Malay Malaysians and Western colonialism of the past. Let us critically examine and dismantle this outdated assumption.

While it was true that Malaysia was once colonised by the Portuguese, Dutch, British and Japanese (and again British) imperialism, it is also equally true that Malaysia has achieved independence since 1957. And in the past 48 years, Malaysia has benefitted from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), technology transfer, military assistance as well as foreign aid for economic development.

Thousands of Malaysian students and academics, including many bumiputeras, have received scholarships and study grants from developed countries to upgrade themselves.

Therefore, the "West" has paid back and to continue to harp on the past injustices of the colonial times does not seem to be very honest.

Also, non-bumiputeras had suffered enough during the 20-year implementation – and gross abuse – of the New Economic Policy from 1970 to 1990. Thousands of qualified Chinese and Indian youths were deprived of higher education opportunities in their own country.

Many families were tremendous financial strain because of the need to send their children to Britain, Australia, the United States, Singapore, Canada or New Zealand for further studies. Businessmen, meanwhile, had to struggle not only against foreign competition, but also domestic discrimination.

Meanwhile, the exclusionist policy of the civil service with regards to recruitment ensured that non-Malay Malaysians could not rely on the state for a government job.

Personally, I think the sacrifices made by non-bumiputeras could have been considered worth the while had the income, wealth and economic opportunities of the country been distributed productively and equitably within the bumi community. But what happened?

The income, wealth and economic opportunities sacrificed by non-bumis for the bumis has been milked by a clique of Umnoputeras to enrich only themselves and their children besides being wasted on conspicuous and vainglorious consumption by a tiny portion of the crony class.

Is it fair to now ask the non-bumis to sacrifice and suffer again for this sin of betrayal and breach of trust committed by the Umnoputeras against the bumi community?

Look at Putrajaya. How many - bumis and non-bumis alike- have actually benefitted productively from it? The same can be said of other white elephants.

Look at the AP list. How many squatters, fishermen, hawkers, taxi drivers, policemen, soldiers, factory workers, farmers, small-and-medium businessmen, teachers, nurses and lower ranking civil servants – be they Malay or non-Malay Malaysians – have benefitted from this lucrative handout from the state?

Seen in this light, it is clear that any revival of the NEP would be tantamount to a repetition of a known failure. Why repeat a known failure? Are we out of our mind?

It is time Umnoputeras come to their senses and ask for the forgiveness of the whole nation for the sins they have committed against their fellow citizens over the past 35 years. It is time Malaysian for all races to unite and say no to the predatory greed of these Umnoputeras.

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Poverty the problem, not meritocracy
Help All Poor People, Malaysiakini, Jul 28, 05

Johor Umno delegate Dr Mohd Puad Zarkhasi - in the report Scrap meritocracy if Malays are lagging - was right to point out that people living in poverty could not compete on the same level as those who are not. He cited the cases of schools in Malaysia which lack electricity and water supply.

He should be applauded for suggesting that the government should help those in poverty. The government should heed his suggestions and truly get the infrastructure to supply water and electricity to rural schools. The government should also provide monetary assistance to these students.

Many, if not all readers, would agree that meritocracy is not the problem in Mohd Puad’s deliberations. The problem is poverty and it is not specific to a particular race. The government should help those who are poor, regardless of race. Mohd Puad should reflect on this and analyse more of what he has said. There are also many poor Chinese and Indians in Malaysia.

Mohd Puad has wrongly identified the problem. It is not meritocracy that is the problem. It is poverty and poverty knows no racial boundary. I do hope the government realises this and comes up with the right policies to create a great atmosphere for all Malaysians.

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Poor Malays must be helped, Indians as well
R Rama Chandran, Malaysiakini, Jul 28, 05

The prime minister must be heartily congratulated for his soul-stirring speech at the recent Umno assembly. His priority to lead a corruption-free government should be highly lauded. His concern for the poor and needy is touching.

There are many Malays, other bumiputeras, and Indians who are very poor. In this land of plenty, many go hungry. It is indeed sad to read of such news in the papers. So this means our economic planing and strategies are not equitably and fairly implemented.

There is no fairness in distribution and acknowledgment. Take university places. Bumiputeras get 60 percent of the total places, Chinese 35 percent and Indians (and others) five percent. Whilst these allocations reflect more than fairly the two major races in terms of their population strength, the Indians are left out miserably compared to their population strength of 10 percent.

Besides this, their stake in the national wealth is only 1.5 percent and has been for many, many decades. The repeated calls by the MIC at every party annual assembly have fallen on deaf ears especially during the reign of Dr Mahathir Mohamad who largely got away by citing Ananda Krishnan (AK) as one of the richest men in Malaysia.

Actually this 1.5 percent belongs all to him. I am sure Pak Lah, being a highly spiritual and God- fearing man, will personally look into the problems of Indians as he tackles the Malays’ problem seriously as well. He must earn his name as the man who eradicated poverty totally from the face of Malaysia.

And ironically, the Indians only take the lead in the jails where they make up 30 percent of the prisoners. They largely become gangsters upon leaving the fragmented estates and jobs are not available for them in the urban areas.

Many have red identity cards out of their sheer ignorance or apathy though they are born here. So Mr Prime Minister, help the poor Malays that you must not forget the poor Indians and others in the same category. God bless you.