GOVERNMENT aid programmes, like the privileges enjoyed by Bumiputeras now, should be granted based on need, not race, said  a young Malay Penang executive councillor.

Speaking at a forum on youth’s aspirations for Malaysia in Penang last night, health exco Dr Afif Bahardin said if the purpose of such privileges was to give economic, education and business opportunities, it would be better to open aid programmes to all races.

“The federal government recently talked about giving Bumiputera status to Indian Muslims. Why not Chinese Muslims too? Why do we have to talk about this Bumiputera issue?

“It is better to give (aid) it to everyone when in the end, the status is meant to help those in need by giving them economic, education and business opportunities,” he said as a member of the panel at the “What Youths Want for Malaysia” forum.

Dr Afif, who is also Penang Pakatan Harapan Youth chief, said such privileges should be given to people who needed a leg-up, regardless of race.

“I may be accused of wanting to take away the (Bumiputera) special privileges. But I am saying we should help the poor regardless of their race. I think it is more meaningful to discuss this as we move forward,” said Dr Afif, who is also PKR Youth deputy chief.

His remarks is consistent with the needs-based affirmative action policy mooted by dissolved opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat several years ago, under the leadership of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The Bumiputera is an ethnic umbrella group that includes Malays and the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak.

Those with Bumiputera status benefit from the many affirmative action policies by the government such as scholarships, educational opportunities, civil service jobs, permits or licences for trade and business, and other special facilities.

Dr Afif said a new Malaysia should no longer have a government that told the Malays that they needed a government “tongkat” (cane or crutch) to succeed.

“Why must we depend on the government to succeed? We have to shed this mentality. Each of us has potential and we just need equal opportunities.

“We can be the best and nobody can tell us we are not good enough and we need (the government’s) help,” he said.

When Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister, he had used the term “tongkat” to describe the Malays’ dependence on government aid, support, subsidies and special rights. He had said the Malays disappointed him because they were more interested in shortcuts than working hard. Dr Mahathir now chairs PH.

In his vision for a new Malaysia, Dr Afif earlier said the country needed to return to its fundamentals – the Merdeka declaration and Rukun Negara – and to uphold the rule of law.

Another member of the panel, human rights lawyer Syahredzan Johan, said the privileges enjoyed by Bumiputeras were set out under Article 153 of the constitution, but were not rights.

“It grants the Yang di-Pertuan Agong the responsibility of safeguarding the special position of Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, while protecting the legitimate interests of other communities.

“The privileges are in form of quotas for entry into the civil service, permits and licenses, public scholarships and public education. That’s all. It is not a right,” he said, in reply to a question from the floor on what guarantees PH could give all Malaysians that their rights would be protected in a new Malaysia.

Syahredzan said the privileges would stay even with a different government because amending the provision would require a two-thirds majority vote and the approval of the Council of Rulers.

He said even if the Dewan Rakyat achieved a two-thirds majority, it was unlikely the Malay rulers would agree to remove the privileges.

He said Malays need not worry about losing the special privileges, which was not a policy that could be changed.

Syahredzan also predicted that BN would use the issue to scare the Malays into voting for the ruling coalition in the next polls.

“The same rhetoric will be repeated again. Umno will again say only they can protect Malay interests and honour. And Felda… is an institution that will be taken care of regardless which side runs the government.

“PH has to look into this. The Malays fear losing what they have, no matter how little, if BN is replaced,” he said.

Syahredzan said PH must assure rural folk that a change in government would not stop the aid they had been getting, and tell them things would even improve under a new government.

Other panelists at the forum were Batu Kawan MP P. Kasthuriraani, Pusat Impian Kita’s Sara Ayuni Hamdan, and Penang Green Council general manager Thing Siew Shuen. The session was moderated by activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim. –  September 5, 2017.