Unwise of MB to raise Bumi housing quota

MCA says Negeri MB should be encouraging Malays to be competitive.

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA has criticised the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hassan’s move to increase the Bumiputera house ownership quota in the state from the current 30% to 50%.

Ti Lian Ker, who head’s MCA’s Religious Harmony Bureau, said the state should not be copying the PAS government in Kedah, arguing that it was such a policy that led to its loss in the last general election.

“As an Umno and BN leader, Mohamad should display political wisdom and show Umno as a progressive party and not emulate or outdo PAS’ regressive racial policy,” he said in a press statement today.

He added that the quota system must be phased out and be replaced by a system that would encourage Malays to be competitive.

“The government transformation programme has witnessed more open and inclusive projects towards competitiveness and to develop the national economy,” he said.

“Many Bumiputera scholars also share the sentiment that the government should help to encourage the fighting spirit of Bumiputeras rather then create a dependency syndrome,” he said.

He added that Bumiputeras had made marked achievements socially, economically and educationally since the 1960s and 1970s.

“Malaysia’s continuous growth relies on her competitiveness on the global stage, which depends largely on the Malays as the majority,” he said.

“We should not subscribe to racial segregation and enhance the quota system thus developing a mental lull or dependence on the state.”

He added that setting a higher percentage on the quota system would not help the poor as intended but create more social injustice.

“A glaring instance of injustice and inequality will be that of a well-off Bumiputera being able to enjoy the benefits of this system while the struggling ones are denied the rights of buying a house,” said Ti.