PH plans to move beyond race, says Wan Azizah

The deputy prime minister says the appointment of Lim Guan Eng as finance minister is a move in the right direction.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is hopeful that Malaysia will one day put race aside and the people will embrace meritocracy.

PETALING JAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail admits that Malaysia still has a long way to go to move from race-based politics and policies to meritocracy.

Saying that the appointment of Lim Guan Eng as finance minister was a big step forward, Wan Azizah, however, is realistic about the tough road ahead.

“I admit it would be hard because Bumiputeras are the majority, and the majority of the poor are Bumiputeras or Malays.

“So, there must be that political will to address that fact,” Wan Azizah, who is also the women and family development minister, told Singapore’s Today Online.

She said the appointment of Lim, a former banker and chartered accountant, was proof of PH’s intent.

“To have a Chinese finance minister is actually a very good way forward —this integration of all the races.

“It’s not just tokenism. I do not accept that.”

Lim’s appointment marked the first time in 44 years that a non-Malay had been appointed finance minister. The last ethnic Chinese to hold the office was MCA’s Tun Tan Siew Sin, who stepped down in 1974.

Wan Azizah said she was aware that moving away from race would not be easy.

“Racial politics has been played up ever since Umno, which wanted to uphold ‘ketuanan Melayu’ (Malay supremacy), came to power,” she said.

“But slowly, the country has to move towards ‘ketuanan rakyat’ (citizen supremacy).”

She said “we want to move on to meritocracy… this is the most important (thing)… and that every Malaysian feels that this is our home and our nation. We want to build it together.” -FMT