Affirmative action should be for the poor
Chan CheongPublished: Dec 18, 2000 7:16 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
The Bumiputra special position (not the Malay special position) was clearly stated in the constitution after the independence but the NEP was not proposed until after the racial conflict of May 13, 1969.
Suqiu's appeals that have obtained overwhelming support from the Malaysians (including Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra) were not meant to change the constitution but to review the affirmative programme written in the NEP which has given many privileges to the Bumiputra (not only to Malays) over the past 30 years.
I support the idea of providing help to those who are in a weaker position, but such assistance should not be given based on race. If affirmative action is given to those who need it regardless of their race, the poor Bumiputra will certainly not be excluded from the help. This is simply because the Bumiputra are the majority of the population and they will certainly get the bigger proportion of the assistance.
As a student currently studying abroad I have seen many Malays but few Ibans, Kadazans and other Bumiputra students benefitting from the affirmative action. They get full scholarships and loans from the government. There are many government-sponsored students who live a luxurious life overseas, drive big cars, own expensive hi-fi, wearing the latest fashion, etc. Many of these so-called "financially poor" students actually come from rich families in Malaysia and some are the relatives of the royal family.
I also meet many non-Bumiputra students who are being funded by their parents and dare not spend too much money on food, entertainment and have to work part-time to lighten their parents' burden. They never go back to Malaysia during the holidays but work part-time as waiters, cleaners and sales-persons to earn enough money for their living expenses in the coming semesters. Their parents are not rich businessmen, relatives of the royal family or high-ranking government servants, etc. They get their funding from a bank mortgage or loan, which needs to be paid back with high interest.
Besides the great differences in the lifestyle and backgrounds of these students, I also notice that those who are supposed to have achieved "excellent" academic results in their secondary schools to get sponsorship for their studies usually spend more time enjoying life rather than spending time on their studies.
Surprisingly, even when they do badly in the exams, their funding from the government will not be terminated and it can be extended easily for an additional year until they finally get their university degree.
On the other hand, self-funded students do much better in the exams despite the fact that they have to work part-time. They also achieved better grades for their degrees.
These are just some facts that I know and see now in UK. I am not implying that all sponsored students are rich and laidback compared with the self-funded students who are always poor and hardworking.
There are government scholars who come from poor families, are serious about their studies and have achieved impressive results. I have no objection to financial assistance being awarded to these students because they truly deserve the help.
But I am very disappointed with what has been implemented by the government, i.e. scholarships that are not awarded based on whether the student needs it and there is no good monitoring system to check the performance of the sponsored students.
I agree with the idea of giving a hand to those who are not strong enough to stand on their own feet, but a good affirmative action programme is not a racial programme. It should also have a good monitoring mechanism so that we can ensure that those who are benefitting from it should be able to stand on their own feet eventually.
Unlike 30 years ago, the Bumiputra are no longer weak and poor; many of them are confident and successful. It is time to notice that, in Malaysia, many non-Bumiputra who desperately need help have lost their confidence in the country and the government. They have been neglected for a long time.
I hope our children will be proud of being a Malaysian and being treated equally as a Malaysian. Our main objective should be: Nobody will need affirmative action in the future.
Suqiu's appeals that have obtained overwhelming support from the Malaysians (including Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra) were not meant to change the constitution but to review the affirmative programme written in the NEP which has given many privileges to the Bumiputra (not only to Malays) over the past 30 years.
I support the idea of providing help to those who are in a weaker position, but such assistance should not be given based on race. If affirmative action is given to those who need it regardless of their race, the poor Bumiputra will certainly not be excluded from the help. This is simply because the Bumiputra are the majority of the population and they will certainly get the bigger proportion of the assistance.
As a student currently studying abroad I have seen many Malays but few Ibans, Kadazans and other Bumiputra students benefitting from the affirmative action. They get full scholarships and loans from the government. There are many government-sponsored students who live a luxurious life overseas, drive big cars, own expensive hi-fi, wearing the latest fashion, etc. Many of these so-called "financially poor" students actually come from rich families in Malaysia and some are the relatives of the royal family.
I also meet many non-Bumiputra students who are being funded by their parents and dare not spend too much money on food, entertainment and have to work part-time to lighten their parents' burden. They never go back to Malaysia during the holidays but work part-time as waiters, cleaners and sales-persons to earn enough money for their living expenses in the coming semesters. Their parents are not rich businessmen, relatives of the royal family or high-ranking government servants, etc. They get their funding from a bank mortgage or loan, which needs to be paid back with high interest.
Besides the great differences in the lifestyle and backgrounds of these students, I also notice that those who are supposed to have achieved "excellent" academic results in their secondary schools to get sponsorship for their studies usually spend more time enjoying life rather than spending time on their studies.
Surprisingly, even when they do badly in the exams, their funding from the government will not be terminated and it can be extended easily for an additional year until they finally get their university degree.
On the other hand, self-funded students do much better in the exams despite the fact that they have to work part-time. They also achieved better grades for their degrees.
These are just some facts that I know and see now in UK. I am not implying that all sponsored students are rich and laidback compared with the self-funded students who are always poor and hardworking.
There are government scholars who come from poor families, are serious about their studies and have achieved impressive results. I have no objection to financial assistance being awarded to these students because they truly deserve the help.
But I am very disappointed with what has been implemented by the government, i.e. scholarships that are not awarded based on whether the student needs it and there is no good monitoring system to check the performance of the sponsored students.
I agree with the idea of giving a hand to those who are not strong enough to stand on their own feet, but a good affirmative action programme is not a racial programme. It should also have a good monitoring mechanism so that we can ensure that those who are benefitting from it should be able to stand on their own feet eventually.
Unlike 30 years ago, the Bumiputra are no longer weak and poor; many of them are confident and successful. It is time to notice that, in Malaysia, many non-Bumiputra who desperately need help have lost their confidence in the country and the government. They have been neglected for a long time.
I hope our children will be proud of being a Malaysian and being treated equally as a Malaysian. Our main objective should be: Nobody will need affirmative action in the future.
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