YOURSAY 'I can't believe my eyes on seeing the headlines. Muhyiddin would not have sung this song of praises if not for the heavy beating in the last GE.'

M'sia nowhere without Chinese business community'

ONG: What DPM Muhyiddin Yassin has acknowledged is a step in the right direction, but unfortunately it is still not quite right.

He lauded the Chinese business community for being significant contributors to Malaysia's growth but seems to have forgotten contributions from the Chinese who are not of the business community.

In any case, what he now acknowledges is nothing new. Years back, former PM Mahathir Mohamad had already acknowledged that the Chinese were contributors of 90 percent of the country's tax revenue.

He also acknowledged that without the contribution of non-Malays, Malaysia's economy would have been like that of an "emerging African economy". That description is definitely more accurate than Muhyiddin's "without them, Malaysia wouldn't be where it is today".

However, to me accolades are not the most important. What is more important is whether those who have contributed most are going to be continually treated as unwanted and undesirable aliens by self-proclaimed 'tuans' who continue to take more than they have contributed.

Swipenter: The elections must be very near for Muhyiddin to court the Chinese with sweet words. Remember how his mentor, Mahathir, courted the Chinese community when he sensed that he was about to lose his grip on power during the reformasi days.

He even visited Jinjiang if my memory serves me right. Mahathir praised the immense contribution of the Chinese community in developing our country.

The Chinese community on hindsight stupidly threw their support behind him but once he was politically secured again, he turned against the Chinese by playing up racial sentiments of the Malays and even branded the Suqiu movement as communists.

Please do not forget this betrayal. The ‘Malay first' DPM is recycling the same trick his mentor used.

Manjit Bhatia: Don't get carried away by Muhyiddin's speech. It's meaningless. If you recall, it's the same speech, almost to a tee, to the ones Mahathir had made over time when he was PM.

These are speeches when it suits their personal and/or Umno's agenda. One possible agenda is possibly a lead-up to the next election, but I doubt it.

I think the economy is getting deeper into trouble, and with the growing uncertainties in the global economy, and foreign investors likely to take a back seat or search out traditional safe havens to park their money instead of taking risks, the Umno regime is sizing up domestic Chinese investors to take up any slack that may eventuate. It's the old ploy.

Louis: I can't believe my eyes on seeing the headlines. Muhyiddin would not have sung this song of praises if not for the heavy beating of BN in the last election.

Onyourtoes: "It would be safe to say that without them (the Chinese community), Malaysia wouldn't be where it is today," said Muhyiddin.

So when it is not safe to say what you said? I condemn the Third World Chinese Economic Forum for inviting the ‘Malay first' DPM to officiate the forum. I condemn the DPM for being an oxymoron.

If he can't see himself as Malaysian first, how can he ever be appreciative of Chinese contribution to this country, economically, socially and intellectually? Don't think the Chinese are only good in making money.

The contribution of Chinese to this country is more than his narrow brain could ever imagine. Please don't insult the Chinese further.

Anonymous: The man is trying to be patronising. Don't fall for it. One can see through him like a glass. We all know what he wants. Follow him closely and one will see what he will say at another function with Malay or Indian audience.

Cala: Do you trust Muhyiddin? Talk is cheap, and it is only in action that we can see the sincerity or otherwise of the regime.

Jeffery Tan (2008) clearly argued that the regime had sidelined Chinese entrepreneurs from involving in the Proton car project. In addition, can we ask just how many non-Malays are employed in the Proton car project?

Raysmond: Thanks, DPM. After calling them ‘pendatang' and denying them business licences so much so that they have to rent them from the Malays, denying them government contracts so that they have to get sub-contracts from the main bumiputera contractor - and sometimes not even get paid after job is done - you finally open your eyes after many of them started investing overseas.

The Chinese are not asking for equal treatment, they just want better and more decent treatment. The Chinese want the Malays to be prosperous as the Malays are also their customers.

StevenForMalaysia: It is undisputable that Chinese Malaysians have contributed greatly to make what Malaysia is today. However, no Umnoputras leaders would say that in front of Malay Malaysians.

They never walk their talk. They will always find ways to protect the 'rent seeking' privileges of their cronies.

Long story, it's only when you are in business, then you will know what it is all about.

KeepYourHead: When he wants your money, he will laud you. When he wants your company, he will kick you out.

 

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