The recently concluded Young Malay Professionals Congress - and the ensuing voluminous resolusi - continues the pattern of previous gatherings: begging for more government dole.

After two generations of special privileges, I would have thought our young professionals would choose a different tack. They should, to paraphrase President Kennedy, ask not what the government can do for them but what they can do for the government; and for themselves and their race.

What has preferential treatment wrought? A bloated public sector staffed by individuals who could not make it in the competitive outside world; declining public universities headed by those with less-than-outstanding scholarly accomplishments; and hordes of "Pernas entrepreneurs" forever seeking greater favours.

The recent appointment of a discredited politician to head the Islamic University carries on this tradition of privilege and mediocrity. Yet our Prime Minister feigns surprise and bemoans the low productivity of Malay academicians. Why should they strive very hard when the ultimate rewards are not based on scholarly criteria?

It is instructive that the first Bumiputra Economic Congress in 1965 led to the formation of Bank Bumiputra (with considerable government help of course). There were grandiose hopes then that the bank would be the locomotive that would pull Malays into the economic mainstream. Alas, that locomotive could hardly pull itself and had to be towed frequently. Mercifully the bank is now finally put out of its misery, but not before three expensive bailouts.

I am saddened that our young professionals have continued the ineffectual ways of their elders. Had I been at the congress, the following would be my resolutions.

One, this generation of professionals, having benefited immensely from the largesse of the New Economic Policy, resolves to forego further government aid; and to leave such benefits to others less fortunate. Henceforth, we will pay for our children's education and not hog such public programmes as scholarships and loans or send our children to expensive public residential schools.

Our companies will now rely less on government contracts and instead will compete in the wider Malaysian and global markets. We will leave those subsidised public contracts to newer entrepreneurs.

Two, we will ensure that our children will strive for excellence in education, and pursue subjects that will enhance our nation's competitiveness. This means English, science and engineering rather than Malay Studies, Hadith and Revealed Knowledge. We cannot be credible leaders if we continually exhort others to opt for science and technology while we ourselves cannot convince our own children to do so.

Three, we commit to give back to our community some of our good fortune. As we are all highly educated, we should be able to find our own unique and effective ways to so. (One colleague, for example, quietly provides free medical services in his old village; another adopted a rural school and provides books for its library and equipment for its laboratories; and a third runs an orphanage. All are worthy projects, and done without much fanfare or publicity. I did not hear of such endeavors at the congress.)

Three very simple resolutions. Fully implemented, they would have tremendous impact on our country.

There must be a sense of pride among Malays in getting rid of this constant dependence on the government. Sadly, this subsidy mentality and the accompanying greed are fast becoming entrenched.

It is not enough that Malays be appointed ministers, now they want their children too to get plump government contracts, shares and scholarships. Malays are fast becoming a nation of takers. And when we fail to get our selfish share, we resort to bad mouthing the government, or worse.

At a recent gathering, a minister bragged about rewarding her daughter with a flashy new car and an expensive vacation for "winning" a scholarship. Surely with her minister's income she should be able to fund her daughter's education. I am appalled at the lack of even a hint of embarrassment on her part.

Malays have an apt phrase for such gross lapses of morality - tiada maruah. Of course, had it been a Rhodes or a Fullbright scholarship, I would be the first to congratulate her and her daughter. But this was a Mara award, an NEP bounty for Malays.

Our expensive residential schools are inundated with children of the rich. These institutions should be for poor rural children. When I entered Malay College in the 1960s, it was a quantum leap in improvement of my living standards and learning opportunities.

Freed from having to gather firewood and waiting endlessly for the school bus, I was able to spend more time studying. For my children now however, Malay College would represent a marked downgrade.

I am astounded that Malay professionals still get preferential rents and other "goodies" from UDA and Mara. Surely the government's obligation ends with their getting their degrees. Beyond that they should be on their own. I am also truly amazed that upscale developers offer discounts specially for bumiputras. If these bumiputras cannot afford the market price, then they should seek cheaper dwellings; and if they can afford those lofty prices then they certainly do not need any subsidy.

Malays can never hope for our children to compete effectively with other Malaysians and the rest of the world if we ourselves continually seek special favours.


M. BAKRI MUSA is a not-so-young Malay professional who proudly practises what he preaches.