MALAYSIA must move away from race-based policies but affirmative action should be continued to help all Malaysians who are living in poverty, Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday.

He said the current system bred inequality and as long as it persisted, there must be affirmative action to ensure that all Malaysians in need received help.

“It is the new Malaysian agenda to cater for the poor, regardless of race. Opportunities are to be given to all,” Anwar told Malaysia Decides.

The former deputy prime minister admitted it was unrealistic to expect that racial sentiments would not be played up in a multiracial country like Malaysia.

“Realistically, you can’t discount the fact that the race card will be played. Even in Pakatan Harapan, people realise that the parties are generally race-based.

“But you don’t need to entirely disregard race. In fact, any country will be doomed if it disregards race.”

He said there should also be a more equitable policy for the civil service. At the moment, the gap in salaries between the top echelons and junior personnel is too wide.

“That needs to be addressed. That’s not a racial issue. That’s affirmative action. That’s fairness.”

The New Economic Policy (NEP) is a social and affirmative action programme formulated after the May 13 riots in 1969. It was designed to redress the economic imbalance among the races.

Over the years, critics have slammed the NEP, saying it had veered off course from its original purpose and was benefitting only a minority of Malays.

In 2007, Anwar called for the NEP to be replaced by a more inclusive policy. – May 18, 2018.