Chinese want Malays to get rich, says chamber boss

By Patrick Lee - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese businessmen would support any policy that would lead to an improved standard of living for the Malays, said the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) today.

ACCIM president William Cheng said the government should help the Malays acquire skills that would enable them to earn better incomes.

“If you helped the Malays to get higher incomes, would you be worried about equity?” he said in reference to the current debate on the 30% Bumiputera corporate equity.

He said the Chinese would not be against the government making the Malays richer “because we want more buying power" for them.

"But we’re put in a circle where we’re always arguing over the 30% equity. This type of argument always disturbs Malaysians. We are wasting too much time on this argument," he added.

Cheng was critical of both the New Economic Policy (NEP) and its successor, the New Economic Model, saying the former did not quite achieve its objectives and the latter was still vague.

He said 61% of respondents in an ACCCIM survey said the NEM was not business-friendly.

Shortage of foreign labour

Leong Kai Hin, a member of the ACCCIM National Council, told FMT: "The government needs to have more sessions to explain the NEM and to put in more effort to convince Malaysians about its benefits.”

Cheng also responded to recent announcements about foreign workers and minimum wage, sending words of caution on both issues.

He said the government should consult “all industries” before making a decision to reduce the number of foreign workers in the country.

"Some industries have a shortage of foreign workers," he said.

Cheng said 63% of respondents in an ACCCIM survey said their businesses were dependent on foreign labour.

"Countries such as Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong have foreign labour, but they don't have any problems. It's not the foreign labour that creates problems; it is how the government and the police control them," he added.

He also argued against a blanket nationwide minimum wage.

"Some industries can afford it, while others cannot," he said. "Different industries must have different wages.”

He said the minimum-wage rate should be dependent on location. “In KL, the wage must be higher than in the rural areas.”