(Malaysiakini) Stop politicising race and religion as it is making investors anxious, said top banker Azman Hashim.
Not mentioning names, the Ambank chairperson said that this "very Malaysian phenomenon" is seeing certain parties make decisions "not just based on...impact on the rakyat but based on political advantage."
"The first question foreign investors used to ask me was 'What is the economic outlook for your country?'
"Now (they ask) 'What are the prospects of political stability and sustainability of racial and religious harmony?'
"Racial and religious insults appear particularly on the Internet...for now cool heads prevail but how long can we expect to remain cool?" he said.
Besides the politicisation of race and religion, Azman (right) said that other critical challenges to Vision 2020 is a lack of English proficiency due to "policy reversals" and the "high cost of corruption".
The Perdana Leadership Foundation chairperson's opening speech at the foundation's CEO Forum, which attracted about 400 industry players, hits home in view of recent heated discussions over race and religions among political parties and race-based NGOs.
Feeling the heat
Not mentioning names, the Ambank chairperson said that this "very Malaysian phenomenon" is seeing certain parties make decisions "not just based on...impact on the rakyat but based on political advantage."
"The first question foreign investors used to ask me was 'What is the economic outlook for your country?'"Now (they ask) 'What are the prospects of political stability and sustainability of racial and religious harmony?'
"Racial and religious insults appear particularly on the Internet...for now cool heads prevail but how long can we expect to remain cool?" he said.
Besides the politicisation of race and religion, Azman (right) said that other critical challenges to Vision 2020 is a lack of English proficiency due to "policy reversals" and the "high cost of corruption".The Perdana Leadership Foundation chairperson's opening speech at the foundation's CEO Forum, which attracted about 400 industry players, hits home in view of recent heated discussions over race and religions among political parties and race-based NGOs.
Feeling the heat
Recently the DAP has been under attack from Umno and Malay rights NGO Perkasa for issues pertaining to bumiputera and Islam.
DAP-Serdang parliamentarian Teo Nie Ching felt the heat over her visit to a surau in her constituency, while colleague Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua faced the music for proposing the scrapping of bumiputera discounts for luxury property.
Both have been called to give police statements on the matter this week.
In Penang, DAP secretary general and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was slammed when a cleric mentioned his name in a sermon, and again when doctored photos of him slaughtering a cow made its rounds.
Perkasa has also been on the forefront of the race struggle, leading the Malay Consultative Council in pressuring the government against doing away with racial quotas.
Whether or not their efforts paid off is arguable but some connect this to the lengthy chapter on bumiputera affirmative action in the 10th Malaysia Plan despite bold proposals to do away with race-based quotas in the New Economic Model.
Speaking on the need for meritocracy at the following forum, Maybank Investment CEO Tengku Zafrul Tengku Aziz lamented that he is forced to hire some remisiers in order to fill quotas.
Fellow panellist Khazanah executive director Nungsari Ahmad Radhi added that there is also a need for open discourse and for people to be allowed to be critical.
"In the former Czechoslovakia, people used to live dual lives, a public life and private life, so after 40 years of that you lose your humanity.
"We have lost the ability to speak to each other, except to insult each other," he said.
DAP-Serdang parliamentarian Teo Nie Ching felt the heat over her visit to a surau in her constituency, while colleague Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua faced the music for proposing the scrapping of bumiputera discounts for luxury property.
Both have been called to give police statements on the matter this week.In Penang, DAP secretary general and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was slammed when a cleric mentioned his name in a sermon, and again when doctored photos of him slaughtering a cow made its rounds.
Perkasa has also been on the forefront of the race struggle, leading the Malay Consultative Council in pressuring the government against doing away with racial quotas.
Whether or not their efforts paid off is arguable but some connect this to the lengthy chapter on bumiputera affirmative action in the 10th Malaysia Plan despite bold proposals to do away with race-based quotas in the New Economic Model.
Speaking on the need for meritocracy at the following forum, Maybank Investment CEO Tengku Zafrul Tengku Aziz lamented that he is forced to hire some remisiers in order to fill quotas.Fellow panellist Khazanah executive director Nungsari Ahmad Radhi added that there is also a need for open discourse and for people to be allowed to be critical.
"In the former Czechoslovakia, people used to live dual lives, a public life and private life, so after 40 years of that you lose your humanity.
"We have lost the ability to speak to each other, except to insult each other," he said.
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