GIVEN the rising anxiety over the spread of the deadly Wuhan virus, it is easy to miss the growing concerns and doubts regarding the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 (SPV2030) that will be introduced in Parliament in the third quarter of the year.

Khalid Jaafar, the adviser to the economic affairs minister, emphasised – in a Bernama report today – that “SPV2030 is in no way a raced-based policy, but a needs-based one aimed at narrowing the economic gap in the context of income, irrespective of race”.

He added that “to say SPV2030 is a rehashed New Economic Policy (NEP) is a misconception”.

Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali, in his ministry’s latest report card, also mentioned that the ministry has conducted 390 engagement sessions with various parties to prepare the 12th Malaysia Plan, which will crystallise the implementation of SPV2030.

Despite their laudable efforts to explain SPV2030, there is still serious doubt as to whether the vision will be different and more progressive than the archaic and sometimes discredited NEP.

I recall that those of us who helped design NEP were, at the time, happy that it was meant to eradicate poverty, regardless of race. It was implemented faithfully in the initial stages, but soon got abused through uneven application and implementation.

Non-Malays, and indeed, many poor Malays, felt left out and alienated. Thus, the economy did not realise its full potential. And, neither did NEP adequately achieve national unity in the later years of its implementation.

Questions and doubts

The question that looms large in the minds of many is whether SPV2030 will also have high aspirations, but turn out with low ones.

Therefore, there is a need for its planners and especially political leaders to:

1) Set up effective socio-economic safeguards in the 12th Malaysia Plan, to ensure that a basic-needs policy is implemented fairly and properly; and,

2) There will be an efficient monitoring system to assure the public that the government’s policies are being actually achieved.

It is vital that we succeed in getting the full support of all sectors in society. This is a prerequisite for greater national unity, and prosperity and progress for all the races.

No one should feel alienated or marginalised. The poor and unfortunate will not begrudge equal opportunities for all the races, who need equal and equitable treatment. Neither do any of our religions or values encourage unfairness.

Appeal

Thus, I appeal to the government to publicise the principles of SPV2030 and explain more fully how the policy will affect the poor, even before the 12th Malaysia Plan is presented in Parliament later this year. Only then will the lingering doubts about SPV2030 and its association with NEP be removed.

Bumiputeras sadly still constitute most of the poor in our country. We must help them advance. We must also allow other poor Malaysians to move forward, and not become anti-social and a drag on our economy.

While the income gap between the bottom 40% and middle 40% should be narrowed, surely we have to also narrow the gap between them and the top 20%. How else can we have more equal opportunities and socio-economic and political stability, and a stronger nation?

Conclusion

Given the viruses of polarisation, racism and religious bigotry now plaguing our country, SPV2030 can be the cure to most of our ills. But, it should not be like the divisive and debilitating NEP, which was often abused in its implementation.

This may be our last chance to restructure our economy, to make it serve the basic needs and rights of our people, for a better Malaysia for all. – January 30, 2020.

* Ramon Navaratnam is chairman of the Asli Centre for Public Policy Studies.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.