NEP abused, Affirmative Action, Discrimination as privileges, Merit Systems Interpretated Wrongly,
Malaysia Alternative Voices :-
Malaysian or Non-Bumiputera views on New Economic Policy-
(1) Malaysian or Non-Bumiputera want a society that is fair to all - namely Malaysia Malaysian.
(2) Malaysian or Non-Bumiputera acknowledge that there is a need for privileges to be given to the Bumiputera to creates a Balanced Society. However, the privileges shall not be taken for granted and be eventually be reduced to an equal playing field. (Dr Mahathir acknowledge this). Then again, specific timeframe shall be given. This will make the Bumiputera eventually wake-up and realise that eventually they will need to be able to compete in equal playing field and the Non-Bumiputera to be assure that eventually they will be an equal playying field and a Malaysia Malaysian society will eventually be achieved, where everyone will be able to call themself Malaysian
(3) Malaysian or Non-Bumiputera acknowledge that is need for handicap to be given to Bumiputera or some forms of discrimination in the entrance to the Universities. Non-Bumiputeras are willing to compromise and compete in a non-level playing field if the handicap is properly spelled out (as in golf) and the entries requirement is transparent, as well as fair to all qualified students. However, it is sad to see Non-Bumiputeras denied entries in Universities even though the have obtained good results, this kill of the hopes of the students, and it is a very sad, when HOPE IS KILLED. What resulted from this is that the Non-Bumiputera that can afford has been sending their children oversea, and those Non-Bumiputera that cannot afford, has been denied opportunity to further thier education.
(4) Malaysian or Non-Bumiputera doesnt want much, we want assurance of an opportunity to enter Universities if we are qualified for it. It we are denied that, parents whom can afford will send their children oversea, and these students might not come back to Malaysia to serve. As the remunation in Malaysia could not cover the high cost of education oversea, and this will results in Brain Drain to the country. Malaysia is spending a lot of money to attract the best brain to come back to serve in our country why not preserve them at the first place.
(5) But what happening in our country, many qualified students are denied a place in the Public Universities or denied the opportunity to study in the course the desired. Years after years, we still hear stories that the top students in Malaysia is denied opportunity to enter Public Universities or Top Students denied the course they preferred. Why cant the government listen, and admit all the Top Students into the Universities. These are our country assets. Then we take aways all the complaints, if you couldn't reach a certain criteria you couldn't enter Public Universities else if you work hard and manage to obtain a certain pre-set qualification or results, you should be assured a place in Public Universities. Relaxation or Handicap can be given to Bumiputera with Transparent Guidelines and Criteria.
(6) In awarding of Contracts via NEP, Non-Bumiputera doesnt mind sharing the Technologies and Joint Venture with its fellow Bumiputera to bid for government contract. Non-Bumiputera are willing to oblige to the 30% Bumiputera requirement, but most of the time, these Non-Bumiputera has been even denied the right to bid for the projects in the first place. The contact is often awarded to pre-determined parties. This is the UNFAIRNESS that both Bumiputera and Non-Bumiputera is unhappy about. The cake is not distributed but only allocated to a particular parties.
The above are personal views of Malaysia Blogger and does not represent any other communities or organisation. However reader are free to comments on the views.
Malaysia Blogger
The following was extracted from Tun Dr. Mahathir blog titled "Affirmative Action" which touches on Dr. Mahathir view on NEP :
I will readily admit that the NEP had been abused. But we are so ready to blame that we pick on the wrong target. Of course the way the affirmative action was carried out, and the abuses, were picked on by the opposition to condemn the whole policy.
UMNOputra, like cronyism, was a word invented by politicians and the detractors of this brash country which dared to thumb its nose at the powers that be. Unable to condemn blatant corruption as they do to other countries, they came up with cronyism and UMNOputra. When there is real cronyism and corruption they deliberately ignore them because these are committed by their favourite people.
Before making these criticisms against the affirmative action of the NEP, why not make a real study. Are most of the Malays getting the scholarships and entries into the universities the children of UMNO people? If they are, why was it necessary to have the Universities and University College Act to stop students from demonstrations against the UMNO-led Government? How did the doctors and lawyers in PAS get their education? Are the students all from rich families with connections?
I will be the first to admit that there have been abuses in the promotion of business among the bumiputeras. Given opportunities, given licenses, permits, contracts etc, they disposed these for immediate gains. This frustrates the efforts to help them. Some degree of abuses may be excused but the degree of abuse of the opportunities created by the NEP is far too much. They cannot all be excused.31. I also admit that there has been unfairness in the award of scholarships and Government jobs.32. I will not try to defend these abuses. We must try to reduce them. But affirmation is about discrimination. And those discriminated against will never understand the big picture, the benefits of an increasingly egalitarian society
The Malays must accept that this discrimination cannot be forever. If they fail to respond properly to what is being done for them, they should accept this policy would be taken away.
When Malay youngsters, especially boys, failed to study and qualify for university education, when they preferred to play and not study, we cannot expect the non-Malays to patiently wait and give up their opportunities until the Malays decide to become serious and study. That would not be fair.
That was why we introduced merit in the selection of students for the universities. Unfortunately, the implementers of Government decisions chose to interpret it differently. By requiring Bumiputeras to sit for the matriculation and the non-Bumiputeras to sit for higher school certificates, they managed to give the impression that the Bumiputeras were actually better qualified than the non-Bumiputeras. With this, the intention of the Government to make the Bumiputeras become more serious about their education failed.
There is a tendency among Malays to regard the discrimination in their favour as a privilege, as a recognition of their superior status. I think this is wrong. The discrimination is in order to give them a kind of headstart so that they can catch up with other races. To me, it is shameful to have to be protected because we do not have the capacity to compete. We are not Red Indians to live on reserves. We should regard it as a temporary expedient to be done away with once we have achieved the capacity to compete on our own.
However, we must give time for ending the NEP and it should be done in stages. I hope that the time will not be too long. In the meantime, serious efforts by the Bumiputeras must be made to avail themselves of the opportunities. If this is obviously not being done, then, as with entrance into the universities, the discrimination must end.
By Tun Dr.Mahathir
To read the full article please refer to http://www.test.chedet.com/
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