DAP hits out at Muhyiddin, says others likely to suffer because of his “very lucky day”

Saturday may have been a lucky day for the Bumiputera community but the remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has riled a DAP vice-chairman.

"Was there a need for Muhyiddin to make such an arrogant and insensitive remark?" said Teresa Kok (pic) in a statement today.

Muhyiddin said it was a "very lucky day" for him yesterday and a "most-awaited event" after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak unveiled a slew of economic programmes, including cash aid, aimed at helping Bumiputeras economically.

Muhyiddin was quoted by Bernama as saying there was no need to be apologetic or worried if the non-Bumiputeras or the international community saw the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment programme as something concerning only a certain group.

Kok wondered whether Muhyiddin was being deliberately insensitive or whether he was unaware that there would always be victims under a race-based affirmative policy.

"There are people who can't enter the universities of their choice or obtain scholarships, losing out to others who scored lower grades than them. There are victims who suffer in terms of employment opportunities and promotions," Kok said.

She said while Saturday may have been a lucky day for Muhyiddin, it was a black letter day for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his 1Malaysia concept.

She said the 1Malaysia concept and slogan lay in tatters just days before the 50th anniversary of Malaysia Day.

 "Najib had previously said the era where the government knows best was over, so he should come forward and answer a few questions relating to the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment programme. Why did he not announce an empowerment plan for all Malaysians?" Kok said.

 "Is it not about time the government think Malaysian first and all policies introduced should be Malaysian first? The race-based National Economic Policy (NEP) was launched in 1971 to help Bumiputeras and has been a massive failure," Kok said.

 With the passing of every decade, the government has introduced different plans, but each time, it has failed to achieve the desired result. Therefore, Kok asked, why have all the various plans failed and what guarantee was there the latest plan by Najib would succeed?

"Race-based affirmative policies only encourages racial consciousness instead of national consciousness. This will affect efforts to forge genuine unity ties among Malaysians," Kok said, wondering aloud when will need-based affirmative policies be implemented.

 "Does NEP actually stand for Never Ending Policy? Following the 13th general election, Najib described the results as a Chinese tsunami and when announcing the programme for Bumiputeras on Saturday, he thanked them (the Bumiputeras) for supporting Barisan Nasional.

"Since the announcement is regarded as a reward for a loyalty programme, is this not vindictive politics? What has happened to the comments he made in the aftermath of the general polls, calling for national reconciliation?" Kok added.