Failures of NEP must be addressed

Failures of NEP must be addressed
LETTER: Eric Koh, Malaysiakini
Nov 14, 2005

My company was formed with a "muhibbah" mindset and we the board of
directors and shareholders were bent on providing jobs to all races
without prejudice. The company was registered with the Treasury to enable
us to be a registered vendor with Petronas.

Th Petronas license for a vendor is good for two years before it is
reviewed. At each review, new rulings would apply. At the first review,
it was said that the number of bumiputeras in our company should comprise
30%.We met the requirement.

At the second review, we were advised that bumiputera-owned shares in our
company must exceed 51%. In this instance, we complied.

At the third review, they said that our board of directors would have to
comprise a majority of bumiputeras. My chairman turned down the request
and automatically we are de-registered.

Now, I understand, Petronas prefers to deal with only 100 percent bumi
companies. Those non-bumi contractors who have worked and grown with
Petronas over the years will feel cheated.

What NEP are we talking about? What irks the public - especially the
non-bumis - is that government policies are never monitored and each
time, the elite class cries out for more goodies and wants the NEP
maintained. The government of the day just succumbs to such pressures.

Will those super-rich bumis share their wealth with the poor bumis in the
kampungs? Will the government of the day be bold enough to say enough is
enough?

Look at our corruption index. Look at our unemployed graduates. Look at
our educational system. Look at the "untouchable" ministers tainted by
corruption. What is our PM doing about this?

Divide and rule is what the government cares as along as they are in
power. The loss of trust and suspicion does not happen overnight.

We do not need the Chinese Chamber of Commerce nor do we need the Malay
Chamber of Commerce nor do we need the Indian Chamber of Commerce. What
Malaysia needs is a Malaysian Chamber of Commerce.

Do we honest Malaysians think that we are going to achieve the developed
country status by the year 2020 with racial, religious and ethnic
segregation and discrimination by the government?

Our PM has a very important role to play. If he keeps on keeping mum on
the issues at hand and allows them to take its own course, in no time,
the country will plunge deeper into oblivion.

The failures of the NEP since its inception over the last 35 years must be
addressed and for this the government has to be realistic and bold. Not
only for all Malaysians but also for the future generations.

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