PM Najib must clarify if NEM is myth or reality - MP Lim Kit Siang

Malaysia Chronicle

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang has demanded that Prime Minister Najib Razak clarify whether his New Economic Model would become reality or remain a myth.

“The time has come for Najib to declare unequivocally whether the NEM with its biggest idea to replace ethnic considerations with needs-based affirmative action policies is still a myth or reality – whether it is still at the level of “trial balloons” or whether it has the full and commitment of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet,” Kit Siang wrote in his blog on Sunday.

Strident objections pushed NEM into obscurity

The veteran politician was referring to Saturday's high-profile Chinese Economic Congress where Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, had exhorted the Chinese community to spearhead the NEM.

Najib’s remarks were lauded by the BN-controlled press, but drew immediate questions from financial practitioners as well as opposition leaders such as Kit Siang. Among key questions was how can the Chinese businesses help when the plan itself was in doubt?

“Strident objections from rightwing extremist groups to the NEM, particularly to its biggest idea to begin the dismantling the New Economic Policy with the implementation of transparent and market-friendly affirmative action, which will transition from ethnic considerations to emphasize the lower-income 40% of households have led to Najib distancing and even dissociating himself from the NEM,” Kit Siang shot out.

“This was why before he presented the Tenth Malaysia Plan in Parliament in early June which is to operationalize the NEM, Najib made the shocking statement that the NEM is not the Government’s ‘final stand’ but merely the ‘trial balloons’ of a group of experts from the global market’s perspective.”

Conflicting signs from Najib himself

Kit Siang also pointed to a more recent incident where Najib had flashed the racial card, which he should not have if he was serious about the 1Malaysia concept.

According to Kit Siang, this indicated Najib’s own confusion about the direction he wished to take the country along.

“Is this why when the DAP National Publicity Secretary and MP for PJ Utara, Tony Pua made the proposal for the removal of bumiputera discounts for luxury homes and commercial property to improve competitiveness and restore investor confidence while retaining the seven per cent discounts enjoyed by Malays and other bumiputeras for homes below RM500,000 – which is fully in line with the biggest idea in the NEM for needs-based affirmative action policies – Najib’s Umno Cabinet Ministers were in the front line among Tony’s critics and detractors.”

Indeed, Najib’s green light opened the door for an onslaught of “stern warnings” against Tong from various Umno leaders and ultra-Malay rights groups such as Perkasa. More than 39 police reports were lodged against Tony and last week, he even received in the mail a live M16 bullet along with a threatening note.