one-party
state
November 14, 2007
<http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/14/asia/AS-GEN-Malaysia-Outspoken-Diplomat.php>
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: The European Union's outgoing ambassador has
soundly criticized Malaysia, describing it as a virtual one-party state
that discriminates against minorities and foreign investors by openly
favoring the majority Malay Muslims.
Law Minister Nazri Aziz dismissed the accusations by Ambassador Thierry
Rommel, who left his post Tuesday after 4 1/2 years, saying he is an
outsider who does not understand the country. "I treat his opinion as
uninformed and ignorant," said Nazri.
Rommel's blunt message - in a recent interview with The Associated Press -
comes as Malaysia and the 27-nation European Union are getting ready to
start negotiations next year for a free trade agreement. Rommel's advice
will heavily influence policy makers in the EU, which is seeking a broad
relationship with Malaysia that includes democratic governance, rule of
law,
human rights, civil freedoms and fair trade.
In the interview, Rommel said the multiracial Malaysia, which takes pride
in
its ethnic harmony, is becoming polarized due to the Islamization of the
society. He said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has allowed ethnic
tensions to increase in the last four years he has been in office.
"There is a situation of increasing inequality in Malaysia," Rommel said.
"Non-Muslims feel increasingly marginalized and (feel) their
constitutional
rights (are) jeopardized."
Today in Asia - Pacific
Rommel, whose outspokenness has irked the Malaysian government in the
past,
gave the interview on the condition that it would be released after his
departure from the country to avoid further diplomatic trouble.
Rommel was especially critical of a 37-year-old affirmative action program
for Malays, who form about 60 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people. The
Chinese are 25 percent and Indians 10 percent.
The affirmative action program, known as the New Economic Policy, provides
privileges to Malays in jobs, education, business and other areas. It is
also used to enforce mandatory Malay equity in companies and in awarding
government contracts. Foreign investors have long complained that this
amounts to protectionism.
"This is definitely a policy that is discriminatory, that is projectionist
and which hinders fair competition and a level playing field," Rommel
said,
adding that foreign investors are also reluctant to come to Malaysia
because
the rule of law is not of international standards.
"You don't know as a foreigner, or a Malaysian citizen, where you exactly
stand in terms of your rights," he said.
He warned that the NEP could jeopardize the proposed free trade agreement
that both sides were hoping to conclude by 2009.
Rommel's comments echo that of Malaysia's weak opposition parties, who say
that the NEP has become a vehicle of patronage for Prime Minister
Abdullah's
United Malays National Organization party.
The UMNO is the dominant force in the ruling National Front coalition,
which
also comprises smaller Chinese and Indian parties. Critics feel the UMNO
will never dismantle the NEP because it would lose its power base.
"The country is not run by three political parties, it is run by one party
-
UMNO," said Rommel. The Chinese and Indian parties in the coalition "have
no
real authority and I think, no genuine input in decision making. UMNO runs
this country like its own backyard. This is a one-party state," he said.
Rommel also said that in Malaysia the executive is "all-powerful and not
accountable" while the judiciary remains beholden to the executive because
the appointments are directly made by the prime minister.
"The parliament (is) useless. No fair elections, no freedoms. Police is
unaccountable. Internal checks and balances? Forget it. So where do you
find
characteristics that (represent) democracy?"
Nazri, the law minister, defended the NEP, saying it has helped Malays
rise
from abject poverty in the last 30 years.
"Without the NEP, it will go back to square one. It will come back to a
situation where Malays will be left behind again. This is a social
contract
for Malaysians to decide, not for foreigners to interfere," he told the AP
on Tuesday.
"I don't think foreigners are concerned about this because whenever there
is
opportunity to make money, they will come," he said.
Nazri also dismissed complaints that Malaysia is becoming more Islamic.
Critics have pointed at a string of recent court cases over religion, in
which verdicts have generally favored Muslims. Many Indians, who are
Hindus,
have also complained that their temples have been torn down without
warning.
"If Malays have become more passionate with religion, it is not
necessarily
a bad thing," Nazri said.
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