Who has the political will to propel M'sia forward?
COMMENT | When will we begin constructive discussions on things that really matter, such as harnessing creativity, empowering the poor, liberating women and protecting our environment, instead of being sidelined and distracted by the three Rs (race, religion and royalty)? Why prolong the mess created by these three Rs?
We want leaders with vision, clarity and a sense of direction, but none of our leaders has a plan.
When one politician wants affirmative action policies to continue, others nod in agreement or fall silent for their own reasons. The Malays refuse to be pilloried by their own community, whilst the non-Malays fear being targeted and branded anti-Malay and anti-Islam.
Our leaders are aware of the consequences of prolonging Malay dependence on the government, but all have put self-interest before national interests.
In education, quotas for Malays dominate the discourse and overshadow the important points that contribute to our failing education system.
Just read the news reports. Talk to other parents. Ask the teachers...
COMMENT | When will we begin constructive discussions on things that really matter, such as harnessing creativity, empowering the poor, liberating women and protecting our environment, instead of being sidelined and distracted by the three Rs (race, religion and royalty)? Why prolong the mess created by these three Rs?
We want leaders with vision, clarity and a sense of direction, but none of our leaders has a plan.
When one politician wants affirmative action policies to continue, others nod in agreement or fall silent for their own reasons. The Malays refuse to be pilloried by their own community, whilst the non-Malays fear being targeted and branded anti-Malay and anti-Islam.
Our leaders are aware of the consequences of prolonging Malay dependence on the government, but all have put self-interest before national interests.
In education, quotas for Malays dominate the discourse and overshadow the important points that contribute to our failing education system.
Just read the news reports. Talk to other parents. Ask the teachers.
Despite record numbers of Malays in education, thousands of graduates are unemployed. Dumbing down education and placing special emphasis on religious education is doomed to fail our children.
In business, Malay contractors and quotas take centre stage. Little emphasis is placed on seizing opportunities, improving health and safety at work and other performance-related issues, such as eliminating shoddy work practices and cutting corners.
The Malays, who claim that speaking English is unpatriotic, moan that the private sector is too selective when offering jobs. Their nationalistic tendencies have created a Malay underclass that is unable to stretch itself and compete on a global platform.
Rising resentment
Last October, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad told BBC's HARDtalk programme that Malaysia's affirmative action policies were necessary to correct the disparity in wealth between the Malays and others.
He said, "We have to bring up the Malays to be as wealthy or well-off as others. That needs correction." He added that if the wealth disparity was left unchecked, tension and conflict might arise.
Mahathir must realise that resentment will build up between the Malay "haves" and the non-Malay "have-nots". How does this help with nation-building?
Many Malays do not depend on affirmative action policies to build successful and rewarding careers and lives, but their stories are largely untold. As long as the affirmative action policies are around, they risk being tarred by the silent whispers which say, "His success was due to his cable to the top, or his political clout." This is very demoralising.
Those who turn to the prime-minister-in-waiting, aka the reformist, Anwar Ibrahim, for clarity on affirmative action policies will be more confused. This is Anwar's forte, to obfuscate and sound impressive, while saying very little.
Last November, at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore, Anwar claimed that, since 2007, he had agreed to the dismantling of the New Economic Policy (NEP), in response to a question from Bloomberg's chief international correspondent on "whether you envision a day when bumiputera policy will no longer be in place".
Anwar said, “It is now shifting to an extent because we take on affirmative action based on needs than race and it will certainly take time for the Malays to accept it.
“However, I am strong on the issue of affirmative action, as countries that opt purely for growth and prosperity, while ignoring the plight of the poor, will not succeed if we do not show enough empathy or concern.
“Ultimately the Malays, or the poor, the Chinese in urban squatters, or the Indians in the estate will not lose (sic).”
What's wrong with a straight answer, yes or no, to a ban on affirmative action policies? If not now, then when? Six years time? Sixty years? Six centuries? There is no better time than now, to get rid of the affirmative action policies and change Malaysia for the better.
We know that affirmative action policies have destroyed the Malays, made them less competitive, lazy and unable to think for themselves. These policies rob them of self-respect and dignity.
The prime-minister-in-waiting could organise a nationwide tour (instead of meeting foreign heads of state) and reassure the Malays that there is nothing to fear from the removal of the NEP.
Anwar could explain that the Chinese, Indians or any of the other races are not the enemy. The real enemies are the Malay leaders who keep them stupid and uninformed; but Anwar won't say that, because an ignorant Malay population is easy to control.
On the oft-repeated mantra of Umno-Baru and PAS, that only they can protect the Malays and defend Islam, Anwar could explain that during the prophet's time, people of different faiths lived on the Arabian peninsula and enjoyed amicable relations. No one is trying to destroy the Malays or Islam, and Malaysians can live and work alongside one another.
Politicians put their own interests and the interests of their political parties above those of their country. This is how they, and their cronies, make the party unelectable.
Our biggest challenge is the Harapan politicians who have no faith in the Malaysian rakyat. Affirmative action policies cannot work, because the Malay dream will soon turn into a nightmare.
Selamat Hari Raya. Maaf zahir dan batin.
MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, Twitter.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
