‘Unsustainable’ NEP must make way for needs-based policy, says Anwar

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 13 Jul 2019 9:41AM · 4 Comments

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim says a poor person who needs assistance must be assisted ‘whether he is Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban or Kadazan’. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 13, 2019.

THE race-based New Economic Policy is not sustainable in the long term and must be scrapped, Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday night.

The man expected to succeed Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the prime minister’s office said sustainability in this context meant having compassion for the needy, regardless of their race and religion, FMT reports.

If government must take affirmative action, Anwar said, let the action be based on need instead of on ethnicity.

“A poor person who needs assistance must be assisted, whether he is Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban or Kadazan,” Anwar, who has been calling for the end of the NEP since 2007, said.

“But having said that, we must show enough empathy to make sure that people realise that the dismantling of the NEP does not mean that the poor… those in the rural areas or the urban poor… will be (neglected).”

The PKR president said he had faith that the change would augur well for the country.

“After 60 years of independence, we recognise clearly the provisions of the constitution, of Malay privileges, Islam as the religion of the federation, the status of the national language and the sovereignty of the (Malay) rulers.

“I remain confident that it (this change) will augur well for Malaysia.”

He was speaking at Sogo’s Charity and Business Partners’ Appreciation Nite 2019 in Shangri-La hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

The government adopted the NEP in 1971 with the aim of ending poverty and restructuring the economy for 30% Bumiputera equity. – July 13, 2019.

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Comments

  • Yes! What has failed and has been proven detrimental in character building should never be practiced again. It is time to chart a new and more effective direction.

    TDM is outdated. Bersatu that he leads cannot keep up with the time and will be a burden to developing a new Malaysia.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • On this, I agreed with DSA. Policy based on needs will address the longer term problem of the country. Mahathir has a kind heart but he will compromised the pace of economic development of the country. Mahathir must accept that a rich country can help the poors much easier and better. So go for riches first , than address the social imbalance.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • NEP is there to help further the power and influence of the rich and wealthy Malays. It is out of reach of the poor and unconnected Malays who really need the help. After 60 years, majority of the Malys are still poor, especially those in the rural areas, the poor farmers, the poor fishermen, forming the greater population of the country still need lots of help, help to get good education, exposers to the economy and whatnots. These are the people who need NEP, not the rich and well to do city folks. These city folks, many of them used NEP to squander millions of RM of of the govt. These money should be spent to uplift the living standard of the needy.

    Posted 4 years ago by Chris Kwan · Reply

    • Their children will not get a quality education with that Shoe Minister at the helm. That's for sure.

      Posted 4 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply