New Economic Policy (NEP) a liability to the nation? Is the NEP something that benefitted only a single race? Could NEP be a discreet way to abolish other minority race wealth?
Of course, when I’m committed in giving view, perhaps, mine would sound as differently as biased. Being Malay would eventually mean going ‘hoorah’ for NEP. Yes! Totally agree and all nod. A simplistic judgment would come to this point. Even to the expectation that I could be the one who stood forward and start debating with those whom cleverly deny a single aspect of NEP. In a nutshell, I may sound bias when voicing out my opinion if judging it through my ethnicity. While these sorts of assumption are subjective, I sincerely seek your audience in reviewing this blog.
Hopefully, through this blog, you’ll know where I stood.
Some philosophers deemed that asking questions are among the best way in seeking rationale and logic. So, rather than doing a piece of blog which streamed about historical facts, numbers and charts of the NEP, why not I post list of questions? Well, it may be wrong questions of wrong context with wrong situation. As far as most concerned, we are obviously confused about this so-called New Economic Policy. Needless to say, there is no single concrete term to define what is NEP. Except, all we know it’s a national policy.
Speculations that the NEP is an instrument imposed by the government to ensure Malay Supremacy ( Ketuanan Melayu ) within all sectors and field in Malaysia remains. I say there is no such thing as Malay Supremacy. The NEP covers bumiputras which includes the dayaks, ibans and other indigenous ethnic in Malaysia. Meaning, people like Daphne Iking will benefit from NEP. It is just that bumiputra composition consists majorityly Malay, collectively; they were the ones going to benefit most from NEP. Is NEP a policy to make all rakyats bore the burden of those weak and uncompetitive? Could NEP be a blessing-in-disguise for UMNO/BN backbenchers? Does the NEP have tarnished Malaysia human rights records and much lauded equal opportunity?
Or have this Tun Abdul Razak NEP, which were sparked due to the racial tension of 13May has become somewhat ‘obsolete’? In times when ‘equal opportunity’ was music to ear of most Malaysian citizen, NEP can be dumped away? Or, our Malay forefathers has strike a recklessly signed deal just to obtain instant declaration of independence? Why NEP implementation did not face lots of objection and only currently, people are getting bolder in questioning it? If so, does this means the non-Malays forefathers showed more respect and co-operation than their post-independent predecessors now? Shall the Malays brought up about the ‘social contract’ story which completes the other half of the logic why Malays were receiving perks, discounts and specialties in whatever they does? Or ‘social contract’ issue has been silenced which made NEP apparently sounded lopsided and biased?
As a student with multinational student presence, I have seen in front of own four eyes where foreigners were being briefed by this local student describing NEP is an unfair sets of rules to give Malays ‘higher’ playing grounds. The fellow even says that the NEP is some sort of systematic mechanism to eradicate non-Malays wealth. NEP as an instrument which able stun the development of other races. Like other bashers of NEP, the famous utterance would be: equal opportunity.
The utter disgust towards NEP can be sensed. The affirmative action might have prompted discomfort amongst non-bumiputeras. As if there are plans to abolish NEP, It will be a saddening event when Malays were synonymous/similarly regarded as weekly protestors which wanted to claim its rights, but had nothing at stake when its rights were disregard. Our ‘plight’ can be an ‘insignificant plight’ and Malays would then be seen as street hooligans, bashers, troublemakers of KL. Are we ready to witness FRU laying hands on fellow Malays whom taunted trouble and tribulation to be heard by the government. Are we willing to see Malays being dispersed by high speed water jets, and yet life gets miserable day by day? While government at the time proceed with their harsh ‘equal opportunity policy’?
Is the NEP part of UMNO trademarked brainchild, in which Malays who lived in states that are not under BN will never enjoy its privilege? Or the NEP acts as a UMNO ‘blackmailing’ instrument which absence can poses a lot of pain towards Malays? Does non-Malays sees NEP as Malays weak point, in ways, that if this policy were abolished, it will instantly stun the Malays like a bunch football players which were blinded and deafened by a lightning? NEP is vulnerable and has become the Achilles heel of Malays? Does survival of Malays depends totally on NEP?
For Malays like me, also a struggling architecture student, I have doubts in the implementation of NEP. The phenomenon where benefit gainers were amongst of those ‘elite minority’ and people who had ‘friends of high places’ is something that is very discouraging and uninspiring. I rather quit studying architecture and start making friends with possible higher-places people which someday may enrich my life. Projects were given to architects/contractors that have ‘connections’. But still, living that way will be lack of thrill and boring. Malays who rejected NEP in their life and chooses earning a living honestly, probably have reasonable doubts and suspicion too on benefactors of the policy?
Is it true that the tussle of which ‘deserving-Malays’ benefactors of NEP has been a heated subject of debate? How do we determine the ‘deserving’ Malays to gain fruitation of NEP? If the allegation of those ‘select Malays’ were true, thus NEP itself would be a ethnic-based policy. Thus bringing to the fact that NEP not only disregards non-Malays, but Malays itself in favor of only these ‘elite minority select Malays’? Talking about equal opportunity now covers Malays too. They had issues with that too. Or do I belong to the irresponsible Malay whom misunderstood NEP this way? Or can I be accused being horribly jealous of those glamorous overgrown DKNY/Gucci/Guess/Ray-Ban shades donning rich-kids of NEP ‘elite minority’ families?
If its true the NEP were mended for Malays, Does equal opportunity exists in NEP itself? Shall we say NEP only benefitted the ‘select Malays’?
With tons of questions, we still failed to seek a single term to concretely define NEP.
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