| The New Malay Dilemma |
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| Written by Our Correspondent | |
| Monday, 08 March 2010 | |
 Premier Najib needs an economic policy that unfortunately will offend a major part of his constituency
THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on March 11 told reporters that he will go ahead with the release of his new economic plan in two stages and dismissed speculation printed in local media that it had been postponed. The first will be released on March 30 during an investment conference, the second to coincide with the release of the 10th Malaysia Plan. Najib appears to be confronted with a widening gap between what he would like to do as an economist and what a major chunk of his United Malays National Organization constituency wants. What they want is not only to not go forward but to repeal the limited reforms he has already put in place, and they are increasingly angry about it. That is playing havoc with his so-called 1Malaysia campaign, designed to bring the country's fractious ethnic groups together and rebuild the flailing national ruling coalition. One pessimistic aide to a prominent UMNO politician told Asia Sentinel it is even possible that UMNO could be superseded by a growing organization of 80-odd Malay superiority non-governmental organizations cobbled together in recent weeks under the title Malay Consultative Council, which is seeking to push the government to maintain so-called ketuanan Melayu, or Malays first, a slogan embraced by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who remains active at age 84 and despite his endorsement of Najib is a growing thorn in the prime minister's side, as he was with his predecessor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whom he helped to drive from power. Mahathir appears to be shifting to the right to make an alliance with the righists, according to longtime political observers in Kuala Lumpur. In order to modernize, Malaysia, a country of 28 million people, needs to do away with a wide variety of subsidies and perks to ethnic Malays that are enshrined in the New Economic Policy, an affirmative action plan for ethnic Malays that was put in place in 1971 in the wake of disastrous 1969 ethnic riots that took the lives of hundreds of people on both side of the racial divide. The NEP supposedly ended in 1991 and a new National Development Policy was put in its place. It was largely the NEP under a different name. The NDP initials never took off. It is still called the NEP. Among other things, the NEP was designed to give ethnic Malays 30 percent ownership of private companies, which led to what has been called an "Ali Baba" system, in which "Alis" – ethnic Malays, or bumiputeras – became the figurehead owners or chief executives of companies actually run and owned through by "babas" – the nickname for Straits-born Chinese. The Ali Baba title, of course, brings to most people's minds the title of the tale "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves." Non-Malays are largely shut out of the university system and overseas scholarships. Malays are given ownership of government-linked public company shares and housing. As a result, the NEP is held responsible for creating a rentier system in which some – particularly top officials of UMNO --became rich overnight by skimming the share ownership while the average Malay in the kampung, or rural village, got very little. The education system has suffered because bumiputeras are largely passed through the system with very low standards. The country has also been afflicted by both a problem with capital flight and a brain drain as reported by Asia Sentinel, with Najib acknowledging that anywhere from 300,000 to 500,000 professionals are working abroad, about 40 percent of them in Singapore, which actively recruits ethnic Chinese students in Malaysia. Others put the figure far higher. Both Mahathir and Badawi talked incessantly about the need to create a high-growth economy built on technology and industrialization, Mahathir by establishing the so-called multimedia super corridor and the national car, the Proton, as well as a long series of other projects, many of which were largely unsuccessful. Badawi sought to attract investment in high-tech industries including pharmaceuticals and medical technology as well as bioscience. But many economists argue that without removing the impediments of the NEP, Najib will be as unsuccessful as his predecessors. Najib first talked about a new economic plan a year ago, but its introduction has been pushed back several times. Even as late as Feb. 8, during a two-day conference in Kuala Lumpur, Najib told reporters that his administration is open to suggestions for what would go into the policy. Principal elements are expected to be the removal of subsidies and further liberalization of the economy that appear certain to bite into Malay privilege. Many of Najib's cabinet want nothing to do with the plan, concerned that the voter rebellion that began in disastrous March 2008 elections will grow. The Malay NGOs are streaming into a perceived political vacuum for Malay ultranationalists, according to a source in Kuala Lumpur. No one really knows at this point how strong they are despite the noise they are making. There has been no independent polling. They are feeling marginalized by Najib's centrist politics and would like to take the country back to the days of absolute UMNO rule, the course say. So they remain frustrated and angry. Any time word gets around that the fundamentals of the NEP are being tampered with, UMNO politicians rush to the microphones to say it isn't true. Mukhriz Mahathir, the former premier's son and a deputy International Trade and Industry Minister in Najib's government, for instance, was the latest to insist to reporters that the new policy "is in line with previous policies particularly the New Economic Policy." Najib has repeatedly said the country is confronted by a new reality, given the stagnating economy, which shrank by 3.3 percent in 2009 and faces relatively anemic 3.7 percent growth in 2010 and 5.0 percent in 2011. Last year, he removed a requirement mandating ethnic Malay participation in 27 economic sub-sectors as well as removing a requirement that 30 percent of shares in IPOs go to ethnic Malays. That has played a major role in stoking ethnic Malay anger, although some observers say the leaders of the Malay Consultative Council are actually UMNO wheelhorses who fear the loss of their perks instead of the wider community. One of the leaders of the Malay rights groups is an NGO called Perkasa, which is headed by an independent member of parliament named Ibrahim Ali, a long time Mahathir ally and former UMNO stalwart. It has been holding strident rallies across the country, demanding close adherence to the Malays-first policy. Some pessimists say Perkasa members are trying to provoke the Chinese into a confrontation with the Malays that will result in the imposition of the country's draconian Internal Security Act ISA. One Malay businessman told Asia Sentinel that "UMNO leaders who are not particularly sympathetic to its aims are climbing onto the speakers' platforms to endorse them because they're afraid not to." Others say they aren't particularly concerned and that the Malay Consultative Council and its member organizations more resemble the Tea Party movement in the United States, which is loud, angry and vocal but which almost certainly will remain a splinter group. Asked about the concern that the Malay Consultative Council would grow big enough to replace UMNO, and particularly Perkasa, a political analyst said that "Perkasa's appeal is not broadly based. They may shout the loudest but it will take more than that to replace UMNO. UMNO needs other component parties in Barisan to sell their multiracial appeal. I doubt the component parties in Barisan can work with Perkasa as closely as UMNO."
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Can every one stop being venomous to Ibrahim Ali and Mamak as provocators that will see a new Malaysia rise where hard work instead of recieving handouts become a foundation of nation building. Ibrahim is a time bomb planted by Pakatan Rakyay to create hatred so malays as well as non malays will turn their back against the corrupt regime. Thank you Ibrahim for being an agent provocatuer. History book will remember you as a catalyst that destroy a once formidable Barisan.
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I ask my Malay friends : WHAT ARE THE MALAY WEALTH GENERATORS ? If all the Chinese left Malaysia, then who among the Malays will generate wealth in Malaysia ?
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I am a Kadazan and a Real Orang Asli here in Malaysia * I AM even Discriminated..................
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 written by Raman , March 17, 2010
Is Najib a fool or what? or Is this a big joke? Turn it around and taste the ladah yourself and you'll understand sensitivity.
Votes: +1
How can there ever be ONE 1Malaysia when Malaysians are officially divided between the state -favored "Bumiputras" (descents of Muslim immigrants from Indonesia, S Philippines, India & Middle East) and state-discriminated "Non-Bumi" (the non-Muslim Indian, Chinese & Eurasian descents).  report abuse
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written by Donna , March 17, 2010
You don't require mother nature resources to do well. Look at resourceless Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, etc.
Votes: +3
In Malaysia with the Chinese paymasters i.e. taxpayers and natural resources, the country is stiill a developing country after half a century of indepedence unlike its southern tip tiny red dot. Productivity is in the "Kekuatan Melayu" (Malay Supremacy) slogan coupled with high birth rate. That's about the only productivity they know. And the greatest beneficiaries of the apartheid NEP rest with the Muslims, descents of the Indian sub_continent and Middle East who all embrace themselves in the 'Malay" race for state handouts & entitlements. report abuse
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It is the loudest chick that gets the mother eagle attention when it comes to feeding time. That's how it works for the BN. However, the D-day comes when the mother throws the chick off the nest. If it doesn't fly, it will be a one-way trip down. The chinese malaysian knows they are not the favored (except the elites) and have sharpened their survival skills, while passing it on to their next generation. That is how I am taught. In natural world, the nature will throw everybody off the nest, one way or another. Take the 2004 tsunami in Andaman for example. It wiped out the pirate bases in Sumatra, devastated Banda Aceh, and the Malaccan straits has never been calmer. The media calls it disaster, some call it the judgement day. Guess who survived the waves ? The indigenous tribes, who learned from their ancestors, about the "retreating seas".
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written by Nonya , March 17, 2010
You don't have to be a mathematician.
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The 30 per cent Muslim Malay equity 'More than achieved' said the minorities - The Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute (ASLI) issued a report calculating Bumiputra-held equity at 45% in 2006. The CEO concerned was relieved later for the disclosure. 'Not achieved' by UMNO. How to achieve? The Maths is not there. When the number of crutch people keep on increasing over the wealth creators, how on earth can the target be achieved? Chinese Malaysians were 44% in the 60s in Malaysia. Today it's only 22%. It's only primary school maths. Illustration - There were 10 mangoes to be shared by 20 crutch people in 1960. 1 crutch person gets half a mango. Today there are 20 mangoes to be shared by 100 crutch people. 1 crutch person gets one-fifth mango. Understand? So, with the Malay population continues to explode through high birth rate, polygamy, immigration, easy talaq, etc., and the Chinese population decreasing through low birth rate and emigration, you don't need a smart person to predict Malaysia's future. It's all written on the wall unless the Malays decide to stand on their own two feet. report abuse
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It's really sad watching these people still desperately trying to get a bigger slice of an ever shrinking pie. 15 years ago Malaysia was forging ahead and on the threshold of great opportunity. That opportunity has simply been frittered away. So sad.
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written by Jalil , March 14, 2010
I recommend every Malaysian to read the Malaysian Maverick by Barry Wain. It is an eye opening. It will expose how evil, cunning, opportunist, murderer, liar, arsehole and crook mamak pariah Mahathir is. He was the modern version of Hitler. It is speculated that Hitler has Jewish background. To suppress his Jewish bloodline and to be more German, he acted the most heinous act towards the Jewish. There is a parallel to mamak pariah Mahathir. To make him a champion of Malay and to suppress his Indian bloodline, mamak pariah Mahathir prosecuted the Indians and the Chinese. What an arsehole. Couldn’t wait for him to mampus. I will pee on his graveyard right on his maggot feasting face. Tunku Abdul Rahman called him Pakistani… Yes, nice one Tunku…
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Hei pariah Ibrahim Ali. Stop criticizing the Chinese. You were slaving for them and made your fortune of them. Quit be the dog that bites the hand that fed you, arsehole… pukima… makan tahi babi pun takada otak. Anak celaka. report abuse
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written by Roslee , March 12, 2010
The only company that makes money in Malaysia without government's patronage is Petronas. But black gold is fast running out.
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Human resource is also running out and has been running out. What's left are the wealth consumers, people on cruthces, multiplying by the millions over the years. The outlook for Malaysia in 2020 (developed nation aspiration) is anybody's guess. report abuse
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written by Raju , March 12, 2010
Privatisation must benefit the mass consumers in terms of lower prices through work efficiency and the resulting turnover benefiting the organisation as a whole.
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In Singapore, privatisation means competition eg 2 gaint telcos in SingTel & StarHub competiting for business resulting in lower costs for the consumers and a streamlined competitve organisation that can also take on the world. Just look at the foreign partnership and acquisation of say, SingTel today. In Malaysia, priviitisation means transferring a senior Malay civil servant to monopolistic company, then to incur losses as a way for Petronas to bail out the sinking ship and to also pay "administrative charges' to the pepertrators as well. report abuse
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written by ABenm Smith , March 12, 2010
When you want to privatise in Malaysia, you move the Head of Post Office ( a civil servant) to become CEO of Pos Malaysia. Similar with all other privatization projects-you move a government servant who was doing such a bad job to head a new Privatized Organization-What do you get? That on Malaysia is called Privatization.Talk about Tenaga-how do you privatize a monopoly?
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When you privatize you need someone with a good track record-not bring the same old donkey to run the organization! Just no planning, bad governance and such wastage in Malaysia-all going down the drain and filling some billionaires pocket in Malaysia. report abuse
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written by Mavericko , March 11, 2010
"Perkosa", bunch of weak-minded kampong Rapists !
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The dramatic exagerations of these comments are reflective of the emotional anger of both malays and non-malays over the years.
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How often do I have to hear this doomsday comment: "After 50 years of such incompetencies, the country is now going to the dogs." For your info, the public sector comprises 30% of domestic demand while the private sector has 70%. There are many private sector non-GLC companies like Public Bank, Air Asia, Maxis, etc which are managed with global standards and efficiency. What is causing much damage to the country is like a weight of a mountain bearing down on the productivity, the moral and the entrepreneurial spirit of the citizens via bad government policies, i.e. the NEP, the low quality of university education which is not decentralised and protectionism of the auto sector. Is Malaysia going down the drain? By what measure? Anyway, I must concede this is a very lucky country despite all its shortcomings. And perhaps one day when the luck runs out or the grace of God is gone, then the rentier-political class will sit up and come to their senses. To UMNO, that day will be when the oil reserves run out. But a second bigger global financial crisis is headed to Malaysia sooner than that-2012-2016. And we will be challenged both internally and externally like never before. May God bless the leaders of this country and grant them the wisdom that they sorely need. report abuse
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written by Ali baba 2 , March 10, 2010
I am very dissappointed by Najib's stance that the restoration of local government elections will not serve Malaysia well.I have no heard of such rubbish! Every country in the world is decentralizing its activities.Take Petaling Jaya for example-we have for so many years had fools ( YES-Fools!) running PJ. I strongly suggest that Najib starts to behave like a democratic leader and allow us malaysian to vote intelligent people to run our local governments.
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I hated seeing "Kutupats Decorations" hanging on Jalan Barat celebrating Hari Raya or the National Day.Why dont we hang some Thosai and Roti Canai at Deepavali and some Noodles at Chinese New Year.That was the state of the morons running PJ. I suggest that all town councils be allowed to elect their own leaders and NOT BE APPOINTED-so that they can be removed if they dont do their work. I am so SHOCKED at the Government's backwardness in this!!! report abuse
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written by Bigjoe , March 09, 2010
300,000-500,000 professionals work abroad? Try closer to 2mil-3mil. Where did Asia Sentinel fact checker got their numbers? Only in Singapore you have a significant percentage of non-professional Malaysian, In other countries, most of them are professionals..
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The Malay dilemma should be called the Malay Awakening because many young and educated malays have woken up to the fact they have been taken for a ride and they want reforms which the govt. just can't provide. In order to maintain their power-base the elites keep ranting the chinese are threats to them when they themselves are the greatest threats to their own race.
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Who is trying to jail Anwar? Who has kept the Kelantanese poor by refusing to give them their rightful oil royalty? Hope all the malays will vote Pakatan and throw out all these racists and opportunists. report abuse
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Even if Perkosa try their best to provoke the chinese they will not respond in a violent manner, most of us are kiasu and kiasi and we are also very much outnumbered. I think their greatest fear and threat is not from the chinese but from the malays themselves who are better informed and educated than b4 and know many of our social ills are cause by gross mismanagement of the country's resources and injustices perpetrated upon other races. They just use the chinese as a bogey-man to scare and threaten the malays who hopefully unite under their banner. They also use religion, Allah, whatnot to win over the Malays, their most outstanding opponent being Anwar, a malay himself.
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With cries of unjust persecution of Anwar from overseas and from home we can see why the rhetoric and championing of Malays is so important to damage control so that the malays are not futher alienated. The govt. civil service being so massive already it is doubtful young malay graduates will be able to be absorbed by them and these people will have to compete will all others in private sector where many have to fend for themselves without much hand-outs and will not buy the govt's racist policies. report abuse
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written by clear conscience , March 09, 2010
Ibrahim Ali , perhaps want to revive his political journey, is making use of Perkasa & perhaps is adied by Mahathir who would like to see his son Mukhriz be PM one day down the road.
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It is a "you scratch my back, I scratch yours". report abuse
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The part where the Malays are looking for a confrontation with the Chinese is very true. I feel that this will happen, and then the ensuing clashes will completely smash the non-Malays. There are 3 clear factions in the Malay team. Faction A - about 35% whom do not want a confrontation and would rather take a more peaceful approach, Faction B - about 40% whom are not decided, and Faction C - about 25% who are dead set upon a confrontation with other races. Faction C wields most political clout, and most voice. in any case, in the event of a confrontation, Faction B will fall in line with Faction C as any Malay would rather fight for another Malay, than go against their own.
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written by Bucat , March 08, 2010
Najib can see a bleak future ahead.
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China being the next econnomic and military power; Hainan is where the Chinese Nanyang Naval fleet is stationed. Just a mere couple of hours from the already split E & W Malaysia. Zheng He will return to visit its protectorate and vassal state and history will then come a full cycle. Come 2020, Malaysia's oil deposit is predicted to run out. The country's paymaster, the Chinese wealth creators cum private sector taxpayers, have diminished in numbers since the 60s over the apartheid NEP policies whilst the wealth consuming Malays have literally exploded in numbers. The question is who is going to feed them. Where is the MONEY to come from? Malay politics then will be more fractous as everyman will be for himself and empty promises will be the order of the day to wrench power to feed themselves. What then will happen to the common Malay folks? Your guess is as good as mine. report abuse
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but on the other hand ..., Lowly rated comment [Show]
"ketuanan Melayu" is not "Malays first" as the writer suggested. Ketuanan basically means "master". So "Ketuanan Melayu" would basically mean "the Malay Master Race". It is analagous to Hitler's campaign to potray the Germans or Aryans as the 'master' race, BUT the Germans are smart people - I have a silent respect for their diligence and intelligence. Are you suggesting that you can really equate the Melayu to the German race??? My foot!! You must be kidding. Don't make me laugh. Diligent? They would rather be the ALI than the BABA. Intelligent? I rest my case.
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Let Najib at least try, Lowly rated comment [Show]
written by old kanchil , March 08, 2010
The Malays have everything going for them. Everything is handed to them on a plate. Now they have not learned to think through problems of work or government. The system the Malays were brought up was one where they need not have to think because whatever the problem/question and whatever the answer, the Malay will be always marked "correct". Hence they will thrown into the workplace where they have to plan and solve problems. Here you can see the real "problems" of having a Malay in a position to plan or solve problems. Inevitably mistakes will be made and the people will be the ones to suffer. After 50 years of such incompetencies, the country is now going to the dogs. The Malays refuse to acknowledge their short comings/failings. That is the problem. If they can realise that they are responsible for their own failures, then the first step to salvation will begin. Until they can take this first step, things will just keep going down. This time the non Malays will not allow themselves to be made scapegoats again. If the Malays want to go down the sewer, they can do it alone. The non Malays need not do anything to hasten the process. The malays have built into their psyche and culture the means to self destruct. Of course the outside forces of Mahathirism will help them along. Mahathir is not a Malay. he is an Indian. Which problable explains why he is doing this diservice to the Malays.
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