BMA is a citizen-centred approach, not elitist - Nazir

 

The 'Better Malaysia Assembly' (BMA) effort to propose reforms to the country is not elitist, said Nazir Abdul Razak.

According to the banker, who is part of the 55 prominent individuals behind the idea, BMA is based on deliberative democracy, which is a citizen-centred approach.

Such a platform was needed, Nazir said, because parliamentarians would usually prioritise their political interests over addressing structural issues.

"Deliberative democracy is essentially a citizen-centred approach to policymaking, often established to address complex long term structural issues unsuited for parliament.

"We are witnessing more deliberative platforms being formed as there has been increasing frustration with representative democracy for failing to address major structural issues, mainly because parliamentarians tend to need to prioritise the short-term interests of political parties and their own re-election.

"It is telling that in the last few days, community NGO leaders of Ikram and ABIM had spoken out in support of BMA, as has the general secretary of the National Union of Bank Executives, who used to burn my effigy when I was CEO of CIMB," Nazir said in his keynote address at an event organised by the Malaysian Institute of Management.

About a week ago, Nazir and a group of 54 other prominent individuals wrote a letter to the Conference of Rulers, where they proposed to establish a platform called BMA as an initiative comprising representatives from various segments of society to deliberate on issues of nationhood and institutional reforms.

They said politicians tend to prioritise their re-election, and proposed reforms have often given way to racial and religious overtones. - Mkini