By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal - The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Malaysia’s New Economic Model (NEM) will have “market-friendly affirmative action” that will uphold the needs and rights of Bumiputeras, the group that formulated it told Perkasa today.
National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) member Datuk Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin assured the Malay rights group that the New Economic Policy (NEP) which was first introduced by the late Tun Abdul Razak was “still relevant” but the methods of its implementation needed to be reviewed.
Mahani said the NEM will practice “market-friendly affirmative action” where it will focus on opening up the market and liberalising the economy but not sideline Malays and Bumiputera rights.
“I want to suggest that the book on affirmative action on the NEM has to be read along with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s speech. The explanation on affirmative action has been (rather) diluted,” said the NEAC member when delivering her speech a Perkasa workshop on the NEM.
She said an Equal Opportunities Commission is in the process of being set up, and that the commission will “not touch on Article 153” of the Federal Constitution that accords special rights to Bumiputeras.
“Article 153 is excluded from the scope of the EOC. Affirmative action will be practiced, its just a matter of how,” said Mahani.
Her statement came merely an hour after Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali voiced out his concerns that a focus on pushing a market-friendly economy would come at a cost as affirmative action would not be practiced, violating the rights of Malay.
“NEM is pushing, focusing, on Malaysia having a market friendly economy to attract investors ... groups representing other races have all raised their concerns and the government is being so giving, giving them everything.
“We just want to make that Malays are represented, that affirmative action is still there. “When you see so many non-Malays supporting NEM, do you think that maybe there’s something in there that won’t benefit the Malays?
“Remember, if people go against Article 153, it is a crime. You have to follow the law,” said Ibrahim.
Mahani noted that among the main tasks of the EOC is to look into “the discrimination of Bumiputeras.”
“There is a misconception here … the main focus of the EOC will look into the discrimination of Bumiputeras, especially in the private sector,” she said.
Under the NEM, the method of affirmative action will still be practiced, with the exception that it will be on a “needs-based” basis.
“Affirmative action in the NEM will be on a needs-based basis, where the poorest will benefit from it.
“The poorest race in the country are still the Malays. There is a new kind of poor now, what we call urban poor. So many people are earning less than RM1500 a month,” she said.
According to the NEAC expert, the inability to secure a proper job with steady income has further propelled the brain-drain syndrome in the country, which has resulted in a lot of Malays leaving the country to earn better income overseas.
“Brain drain is a serious issue. This is a problem we have to address, all our talents, not just non-Malays, also Malays are leaving the country for better options, better pay,” stated Mahani.
The NEAC had been appointed by the Najib administration in 2009 as consultants to oversee the detailed aspects of the structuring of the NEM.
KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Malaysia’s New Economic Model (NEM) will have “market-friendly affirmative action” that will uphold the needs and rights of Bumiputeras, the group that formulated it told Perkasa today.
National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) member Datuk Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin assured the Malay rights group that the New Economic Policy (NEP) which was first introduced by the late Tun Abdul Razak was “still relevant” but the methods of its implementation needed to be reviewed.
Mahani said the NEM will practice “market-friendly affirmative action” where it will focus on opening up the market and liberalising the economy but not sideline Malays and Bumiputera rights.
“I want to suggest that the book on affirmative action on the NEM has to be read along with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s speech. The explanation on affirmative action has been (rather) diluted,” said the NEAC member when delivering her speech a Perkasa workshop on the NEM.
She said an Equal Opportunities Commission is in the process of being set up, and that the commission will “not touch on Article 153” of the Federal Constitution that accords special rights to Bumiputeras.
“Article 153 is excluded from the scope of the EOC. Affirmative action will be practiced, its just a matter of how,” said Mahani.
Her statement came merely an hour after Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali voiced out his concerns that a focus on pushing a market-friendly economy would come at a cost as affirmative action would not be practiced, violating the rights of Malay.
“NEM is pushing, focusing, on Malaysia having a market friendly economy to attract investors ... groups representing other races have all raised their concerns and the government is being so giving, giving them everything.
“We just want to make that Malays are represented, that affirmative action is still there. “When you see so many non-Malays supporting NEM, do you think that maybe there’s something in there that won’t benefit the Malays?
“Remember, if people go against Article 153, it is a crime. You have to follow the law,” said Ibrahim.
Mahani noted that among the main tasks of the EOC is to look into “the discrimination of Bumiputeras.”
“There is a misconception here … the main focus of the EOC will look into the discrimination of Bumiputeras, especially in the private sector,” she said.
Under the NEM, the method of affirmative action will still be practiced, with the exception that it will be on a “needs-based” basis.
“Affirmative action in the NEM will be on a needs-based basis, where the poorest will benefit from it.
“The poorest race in the country are still the Malays. There is a new kind of poor now, what we call urban poor. So many people are earning less than RM1500 a month,” she said.
According to the NEAC expert, the inability to secure a proper job with steady income has further propelled the brain-drain syndrome in the country, which has resulted in a lot of Malays leaving the country to earn better income overseas.
“Brain drain is a serious issue. This is a problem we have to address, all our talents, not just non-Malays, also Malays are leaving the country for better options, better pay,” stated Mahani.
The NEAC had been appointed by the Najib administration in 2009 as consultants to oversee the detailed aspects of the structuring of the NEM.
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