Yes to affirmative action, no to discrimination, says PM

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim greeting a fellow old boy of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar at their annual dinner in Kuala Lumpur tonight. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reassured the Malays against fears that his government’s more inclusive policies would sideline the community’s interests.

The government supports affirmative action but does not believe in discrimination, he said in a speech at the annual dinner of the Malay College Old Boys Association, Bernama reported.

He said previous implementations of affirmative action policies were marred by nepotism, and abused to enrich families and party leaders at the expense of the Malay community as a whole.

Anwar said he supports a modernised version of affirmative action that is more transparent and inclusive, ensuring that benefits are distributed more equitably to all Malays, including the urban poor and rural communities.

He said that the constitutional protection of the rulers, Malay special privileges, Islam, and the Malay language would never be jeopardised.

“The government and I through our formidable coalition partners have made it very clear that constitutional guarantees are in place and will never be compromised,” he said.

Concerns that the government’s policies would sacrifice Malay interests are clearly misplaced, he said.

“In fact under this government, for the first time, when we took back Bandar Malaysia (project) from a foreign entity, we made it clear that there is a minimum portion of 50 acres preserved as a Malay reserve land, the first time since independence.

“This instills confidence in me because not only Malays, but also non-Malays, including my Cabinet, understand that this position and government policy make it very clear that we are here to be fair, to consider every single Malaysian as one great member of one great family,” he said.

“We cannot expect to succeed if we abandon the principles of inclusivity and transparency, and ensure that these policies benefit the vast majority of Malays, including the urban poor and those from rural areas,” he added.

Regarding MCOBA, Anwar acknowledges the Malay College’s historical role as a provider of elite education, with ties to the colonial establishment and British values while maintaining its Malay identity.

He said the college traditions had not strayed from its roots, with its alumni making significant contributions to the nation’s development while remaining true to Islam, Malay heritage, and national values.

This combination of tradition and modernity, he argues, is critical as Malaysia faces 21st-century challenges such as digital transformation and energy transition.

Anwar is an old boy of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar, which he attended from 1960-1966. - FMT