Downright dirty tactics by our UMNO/BN government. Read on...... COMMENT: To spite the Chinese, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak unveiled a massive plan to give Bumiputeras more economic clout to “safeguard the community now and forever”. The empowerment agenda is his way of thanking and rewarding the Malays for supporting the Barisan Nasional government in the 13th general election. Najib blamed the “Chinese tsunami” for the heavy losses the BN suffered in urban areas in the May 5 polls and since then, he has been in vengeful mode. He must teach the Chinese a lesson and the only way to hit them hard is their pockets. Besides, Umno Malays are baying for vengeance and Najib must play the hero, with an eye on the upcoming Umno elections. So Najib hurriedly formulated this ambitious plan to “strengthen Bumiputera equity ownership in the corporate sector”, among other measures. This could only mean that the Malays would take away more than a 30 per cent cut from the economic pie. More contracts will come to them, more projects will go their way, more money will flow into their pockets. The Malay agenda would also see the rise of more Bumiputera entrepreneurs and more ownership of non-financial assets. Translate this into action and it means owning more industrial premises, commercial complexes and houses – areas that were once the traditional province of the Chinese. Najib’s Malay agenda is to challenge the Chinese dominance of the economy since the Chinese have come close to rattling the BN hold on power. The Malays, thanks to Umno’s fear-mongering, have come to believe that the Chinese pose a grave threat to the supremacy of their race. Najib, their leader, must stand up to the perceived danger. When Najib rolled out the empowerment agenda on Sept 14, he was sending a crude message to the Chinese community: you have to pay the price for supporting the opposition. The Malays will now use their political power to invade the business territory of the Chinese and chip away their economic clout. With considerable government help, Najib hopes to see the Bumiputeras beat the Chinese on the latter’s homeground. He is not bothered if millions more will be lost through abuse of power and corruption. Najib is playing a dangerous race-based game in formulating an economic plan based solely on political consideration and not on the needs of the country. No one will gripe if a government plan is needs-based, even if it happens to benefit a particular community. But he simply wants to see the ungrateful Chinese punished – to eat crumbs – because they chose to exercise their democratic rights not to his liking. He is using shortcuts to wealth in his agenda, ignoring the fact that what counts in business is unremitting hardwork, and not aid handed on a platter. Najib has created a poisonous atmosphere with his politics of Bumiputera empowerment. Contrary to his argument, the Malay agenda will not ensure peace and stability or bring the country to developed nation status. Instead, it will sharpen mutual distrust and animosity and drive a deeper wedge between the two major races. National harmony cannot be forged on the anvil of economic deprivation. National unity cannot be built on the sweat, toil and taxes of the other races. Will the non-Bumiputeras suffer more hardship as a result of Najib’s policy? Unlikely. For decades, the non-Malays have slogged and prospered without any crutches. Their resilience, determination and perseverance have seen them weather many a storm and striding ahead of others. They survived in the teeth of adversity. Why did the non-Malays vent their anger through the ballot box? Because of the many injustices perpetrated on them. Perhaps, the time has come for the non-Bumiputeras to move into politics earnestly and right the wrongs at the polling booths, come the next general election. Political power is the only weapon to ensure all laws are made for the general good of all citizens. Be fair and just first, and only then can a truly national agenda take root now and forever.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 16:22:07 +0000
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