More aid for the advantaged?

Any new support scheme should be targeted at non-cronies, says an outspoken philanthropist.

PETALING JAYA: A prominent philanthropist has condemned recent calls for more government help for Malay businesses, saying any new support scheme should instead benefit non-Malays as well as those Malays who have no political connections.

In a blog posting reacting to an article in Utusan Malaysia and remarks by former finance minister Daim Zainuddin and a Perkasa official, Ipoh-based tycoon Koon Yew Yin said no additional crutches should be given to Malays who had already taken advantage of an economic system favouring them.

“It is important for Malaysians to recognise that the greater part of the country’s wealth is now in the hands of the Malay elite together with their non-Malay partners,” he said.

“The argument that Malays need more crutches or are marginalised in the economy is a hollow and false one put out to fool the Malay public. Those who have lost out in the process of Umno’s rule and economic policies that have benefited the Malay elite are the lower and middle class Malays and non-Malays.”

Koon, 80, is a frequent critic of the government’s economic policies. He is a founder of IJM Corporation, Gamuda and Mudajaya. He uses his personal funds to give scholarships to students who have secured places for foundation courses in public universities. All students, irrespective of race and religion, are eligible to apply.

Referring to Daim’s comment that agencies responsible for helping the Malays were “too bureaucratic”, he said it was an argument that he found difficult to accept.

“After all, non-Malays also face red tape and the civil service personnel that they have to deal with are almost 100 per cent Malays.

“So how come the Chinese can do business despite the bureaucracy but the Malays cannot?”

Koon praised a recent article by Zaid Ibrahim about Malay success stories. He said he agreed with Zaid that the Malays who had gained from Umno’s policies were the “aristocrats, senior civil servants, ministers and oligarchs”.

To Zaid’s list, he said, he would add “non-Malay cronies”.