When grassroots fear the 'superiority' of the non-Bumis, racist politicking is a SURE-WIN

There is no denying the fact that affirmation programs have failed miserably in Malaysia. By and large there are quite a number of reasons why this is so. But for Malaysian prime minister Najib Tun Razak to defend his new agenda for bumiputras is wrong because he is on the wrong track.

The Bumiputra Economic Empowerment Agenda as outlined by Najib is set to witness another scenario of where it fuels corruption and the final outcome will be that the large majority of bumiputras remain in square one while the minority bumiputra elite continue to grow more prosperous.

In what is seen as a complete reversal and betrayal of Najib’s “Satu Malaysia” concept, just prior to Malaysia Day, the BN government announced a slew of initiatives in a grand, affirmative action plan exclusively for bumiputras.

This was to thank the bumiputras for supporting the government and standing by BN in the 13th GE which was a clear slap in the face by Najib for the Chinese and Indians who went out on a limb to support Pakatan Rakyat.

This immature move by the BN government which continues to reek of their lop-sided justice in practicing partisan politics has sparked outrage and inflamed the fires of race relations as this is a sheer case of racism being practiced against the minority races.

Najib has now gone out on a limb to defend his move and assure the non-bumi’s that they will also be taken care of by the BN government. However, his assurances have not gone down well with the non-bumi’s and even bumiputras at large are beginning to question his motives at this juncture.

Where is the “inclusive nature” of the Satu Malaysia concept in this hare-brained scheme? Why the need to segregate the races? Is not this a sheer case of practicing racism similar to apartheid? Why can’t any affirmation program be on a broad scale as to include the whole spectrum of Malaysians irrespective of race and religion?

This new gambit by Najib is a clear affront to all right-thinking Malaysians including bumiputras. The new scheme is set to prolong the agony and frustrations of all Malaysians and witness BN-UMNO being about the sole beneficiary as it was with the New Economic Policy (NEP) and the New Economic Model (NEM).

The questions non-bumis are asking

In the light of this new agenda which will supersede the NEM, non-bumi’s are beginning to ask when affirmative action for the bumiputras will come to a close. The bigger question on their mind is why since 1970 non-bumis have been separated from bumiputras and have hardly ever been given any kind of affirmative action.

By failing to practice meritocracy, fair play and justice and by opting for partisan politics and showing favoritism to the bumiputra community for such a long period of time is really to the degradation of the country and it is high time the spotlight of the international community begin to focus on Malaysia and the atrocities that have been and are being practiced by the BN regime.

Non-bumi’s are being unfairly overlooked and the plight of even those non-bumi’s who are well off are beginning to start to weaken as the BN government turns to skewer the economy in favor of the minority bumiputra elite only.

There is little hope and there is little left for the non-bumis when the economic pie is being chopped nearly wholly to be given to the elite bumiputras on a silver platter.

If truth was a casualty of the 13th GE, then the truth of the matter is that Malaysians of all walks of life including those from PKR and Parti Pas and DAP have been hoodwinked by BN-Umno.

Why affirmation programs have never worked here

While it has always been the contention of the BN government since the aftermath of the May 13, 1969 race riots that affirmative action is necessary to save bumiputras from their plight of languishing economically, the real fact and truth is that neither the NEP nor the NEM has worked satisfactorily.

This new agenda for bumiputras is also set to meet the same fate. The reason is because any such policy executed on the part of a government is open easily to corruption and manipulation and this also begins to cast aspersions on Najib’s motives as to whether the actual aim is to consolidate the position of the elite bumiputras who have been besieged lately by having to toe the line of globalization.

The bumiputra elite in Malaysia especially those who are linked with UMNO are now under mounting pressure to conform to the tenets and obligations of democracy. The other role is that played by the media and NGOs who have put pressure on the BN government to distribute wealth on an egalitarian basis.

Affirmation programs are guilty also of actually causing the bumiputras to have a “crutch mentality” making them more and more dependent on the government rather than setting them free to be independent and be able to compete in the global marketplace.

It is not that the non-bumi’s are superior and that the Malays are suffering from a certain dilemma, it is really the BN government’s approach of making cruel use of the majority of bumiputras really to strengthen the minority elite bumiputras.

It is a case of the majority bumiputras being held ransom and being used as captives to ensure the prosperity and well-being of the elite bumiputras. In actuality and truth, the majority bumiputras have been hoodwinked and are being made use of to serve the elite bumiputras. The elite bumiputras are the new colonialists in this country.

Since there is no indication that the non-bumi’s are out to grab the spoils of economic growth all for themselves, it is really the elite bumiputras who have this objective in mind as the non-bumi’s are merely receiving the just dues of their labor and effort.

What about the future?

Malaysia is now a country that is beginning to be taken note of by the international community. The BN-UMNO leadership has come to the forefront of world attention owing to their refusal to toe the line of globalization.

While the whole wide world is becoming increasingly globalized, it appears that Malaysia is starting to become like a fish out of water and all calls by the global community requesting Malaysia to practice the full tenets and obligations of democracy have so far fallen on deaf years. It’s like pouring water on a duck’s back.

Despite the peril, Malaysia still wants to go ahead and be stubborn and defiant in wanting to see that the country is governed not democratically, but by the whims and fancies of the UMNO big-wigs.

By spewing out affirmative action only for the benefit of bumiputras, UMNO has begun to paint itself into a corner. It will be hard in future for the Malay to gain respect and acceptance on merit among Malaysians and on the global stage owing to much favoritism that has been shown to them.

Whatever the Malays and other bumiputras achieved will then be considered a hollow achievement, something which does not carry merit as it goes to show that it was actually not achieved through a level but lop-sided playing field in which bumiputras were basically being handed success to them without any effort.

This really means that all that affirmative action has actually caused bumiputras to weaken and become heavily dependent on the government with the government continuing to bail them out to stay in power. This is a vicious cycle that is causing bumiputras to get nowhere in life and exasperating to non-bumis to witness.

Malaysia Chronicle