PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s Malaysia Family concept will end as a failure if the government does not sort out the widening race and ethnic divisions in the country, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy said today.

According to Ramasamy, the government was to be blamed for these divisions by alienating the non-Bumiputera, as seen in the 12th Malaysian Plan announced earlier this week.

“The announcement that Malaysians belong to one big family seems to sweep under the carpet the deep ethnic and religious divisions.

“While Ismail talks about one big family, not just at the national level but at the international arena, the government is continuing to encourage or exacerbate the ethnic divisions,” he said.

He highlighted two recent examples of how the government was side-lining the non-Bumiputera population – the proposal to increase 51% Bumiputera equity in freight forwarding companies and the new measure under 12MP that Bumiputera companies can only sell their shares or equity to other Bumiputera companies.

“This is another devilish attempt to further drive the wedge between the two communities,” he said.

He said that Ismail’s promotion of the family concept in Malaysia smacked of hypocrisy and extreme double standard for different communities.

“The 12th Malaysia Plan is nothing but to promote the elite Bumiputera agenda.

“Apart from some token references to Chinese, Indians and others, there is really nothing for the non-Bumiputera.

“The 12MP is essentially meant to address the economic agenda of the elite Bumiputera,” added the DAP leader.

He noted that earlier Malaysia plans were also not too different, as they perpetuated racism in different ways.

Ramasamy said that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the government and Pakatan Harapan avoided the racist agenda of the government.

The historic MOU was signed last month to ensure political stability and institutional reforms, and allowed Ismail’s slim-majority government to remain in power.

Ramasamy said even PH chairman and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has not spoken strongly about dismantling this agenda.

“No agreement with the government is complete without the need to dismantle the racist and extremist agenda.

“With the backing of the MOU, Ismail might be smiling his way to further entrench the Bumiputera agenda, which is totally devoid of the interests and concerns of the poor and marginalised Bumiputera.

“Not to speak of the interests of other family members, the non-Bumiputera.”

He warned that PH might end up as losers after signing the MOU.

“Time will tell, but things don’t look bright for the opposition.

“The opposition might have missed a golden opportunity to bring down Ismail’s government at its weakest but shored it up by signing the MOU,” he said. – October 3, 2021.