An appeal for a new NEP for a new Malaysia

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 27 Jun 2018 1:31PM · 4 Comments

MOST Malaysians, especially Bumiputeras, will welcome the statement made by the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in a Channel News Asia  interview recently that: “Affirmative action is still needed to bridge the gap and avoid conflict between Bumiputeras and other races.”

This has  been the  policy adopted  in our  socio-economic planning and implementation since the New Economic Policy was introduced in 1970.

However, the socio-economic scenario has improved considerably over time. 

Affirmative action has significantly reduced the risks of conflict that can be caused by socio-economic and wealth disparities. Today the gap between Bumiputeras and Chinese and people of other races have been largely narrowed.

The greater challenge now is the growing gap in incomes, standards of living and quality of life among the rich and poor Malaysians of all races. There are very poor Malays, Chinese, Indians and other minority groups all over Malaysia.  It’s more a national issue and not confined to any racial group.

Appeal to PM 

l therefore appeal to the prime minister, his Cabinet and Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) to review and revise the NEP so that it adapts to new socio-economic and political realities after their victory in the 14thgeneral election.

Currently, the economic  disparities or socio-economic gaps are based more on income disparities, rather than race differences. 

With a new government after 61 years, this is a “New Era Malaysia”. Therefore, we will need to acknowledge the political tsunami and see change in more practical socio-economic terms for a better future. 

Hence, the new government will need to adopt more socio-economic policies that are income-based and fulfil the basic needs and human rights of all Malaysians. Our new policies need to be founded on conscience and religious values of fairness and fraternity for all Malaysians.

We can no longer afford to be exclusive but have to be inclusive in all our policies and implementation, so that all Malaysians benefit from national development. We now haveto be much more Inclusive in all our policies and practices, or we will revert to policies and practices that were rejected by voters.  

New Malaysia Economic Policy (NMEP)

The government of the new Malaysia could devise and introduce a New Malaysia Economic Policy (NMEP) that  will contribute to more genuine and sustainable national unity. The previous NEP had, unfortunately, caused much national division, disparities and disunity, not only between people of different races, but also within the Bumiputery  and other racial minority groups.

While we would follow the advice of the prime minister to accept that affirmative action is still needed in Malaysia, we hope that the new government will now  ensure, more than ever before, that all deserving Malaysians, regardless of race, get to enjoy new affirmative action policies. 

These new policies should be based on needs and not race. Most Bumiputeras will enjoy this needs-based affirmative action policy, along with poor non-Malays. 

The New Malaysia Economic Policy is essential to promote greater national unity  and a more peaceful, prosperous, progressive and happier new Malaysia.

We pray that the Almighty, will bless and guide the new government leaders to be fair to all Malaysians, especially the poor and underprivileged. – June 27, 2018.

* Ramon Navaratnam is Asli Centre of Public Policy Studies chairman. He reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.

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Comments

  • I concurred for the above
    NEP was absolute need to be vetted
    should change based on current socio economic, , current political and New Malaysia Era

    Posted 7 years ago by Chong KM · Reply

  • I hope the PH under Tun will give some thought in the implementation of NEP as blanket policy. All the race needed some form help in education from the PH govt. AFTER ALL 70% OF THE MALAYS ENTITLED FOR NEP ...WHY NOT JUST INCLUDE ANOTHER 30% FROM OTHER RACE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COUNTRY ADOPT NMEP... PRAY PH WILL SERIOUSLY CONSIDER .

    Posted 7 years ago by Mohanarajan murugeson · Reply

  • To reflect the new policy is from the Pakatan Harapan government, let's call it the "HARAPAN ECONOMIC POLICY"..

    Posted 7 years ago by Joe Yang · Reply

  • In a recent report, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has not been fair for saying that Chinese Malaysian families are rich because they can afford to send their children to study overseas, whereas the Malay students are poor so they need to be supported by government scholarships. In reality, there are rich and poor people in all communities regardless of ethnicity. From my personal experience, all Malay students I met were on government scholarships and all Chinese Malaysian students were self-funded. I was the only child of five children from an average income Chinese Malaysian family lucky enough to study overseas. Like most Chinese Malaysian students then, I could not  afford to go home during my years of university study, instead I worked odd jobs in factories, farms, restaurants, and even cleaning toilets during the long summer vacations to lessen the financial burden of my parents. I wrote to a Malaysian embassy enquiring about availability of postgraduate scholarship but did not even get a reply.  I was later offered a PhD scholarship by an Australian university. Let us do away with all these policies based on race and focus on helping the poor regardless of race for the good of a new Malaysia.

    Posted 7 years ago by M Han · Reply