Malaysia’s inability to compete globally is because of its
lack of competitiveness, and not due to the uneven playing field created by the
New Economic Policy, said veteran parliamentarian Shahrir Abdul Samad.
Speaking at a NEP forum at the Bar Council auditorium in Kuala Lumpur last
night, Shahrir said the actual problems that should be addressed are one of
corruption, privatization, and cronysm.
The Johor Baru member of parliament said the NEP, in its original format with
the intention to eradicate poverty, was excellent.
“However things changed when the government replaced the NEP with the National
Development Policy (NDP) and National Vision Policy (NVP),” he told a crowd of
some 100 audience.
The forum, titles ‘Do NEP had the ability to face the challenges of the
globalization era’ was organised by Youth For Change (Y4C) and National Young
Lawyers Committee (NYLC).
The NEP, a socio-economic restructuring affirmative action program, was
introduced in 1971 to ensure a 30 percent share of the economy for the
Bumiputera.
The NEP ended in 1990, and was succeeded by the National Development Policy in
1991, which was then replaced by NVP.
The government had extended the policy through NDP and NVP on the grounds that
it has yet to achieve the main aim of NEP - to uplift the economic status of the
Bumiputera.
Recently the continuation of the NEP caused major controversies when studies
indicated that Bumiputera participation in the economy sector has breached the
30 percent target. The government however disputes this.
Good ranking
Shahrir also said the leadership tussle within the ruling party Umno in 1987 was
a reason for changes in the implementation of the NEP policy.
“After 1987 there was no NEP or it was used for certain other things,” he said,
adding that it was a period he was not in the government. He did not elaborate
further.
However Shahrir said that people should not look into the negative aspects of
the NEP, but should talk about the achievements of the policy.
He added that in order for Malaysia to be globally competitive, it was important
for Malaysians to think out of the box and develop critical thinking.
“Successful people can always find himself or herself a place overseas because
they think out of the box and be able to step out from it,” he added.
He also said that not everything was bad for Malaysia as the country was still
highly regarded by the international business community.
“In the Kearney Foreign Policy Globalization Index, out of 62 countries,
Malaysia was ranked 19, while developed countries such as Germany (21), Spain
(26), Japan (28) and Greece (29) were all behind Malaysia,” he stated.
He also cited the Swiss-based KOF Index of Globalization which placed Malaysia
at a respectable 23rd position out of 122 countries.
Uneven playing field
The other panelists in the forum were DAP leader and Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran,
PAS’s MP for Tumpat Kamaruddin Jaafar and Parti Keadilan Rakyat Information
chief Tian Chua.
Kulasegaran said many individuals had become super rich as a result of the NEP.
“No doubt the NEP has served its purpose. But the NEP’s noble intentions have
been defeated as the economic disparity of the various races is widening,” he
said.
Chua agreed with Kulasegaran, adding that NEP had become synonymous with
enriching Umno and Barisan Nasional members.
Kamaruddin said the NEP has caused racial tensions in the country with the non-Bumiputera
citizens feeling they are being marginalized by a policy which favours the
Bumiputera.
“And some Malays too fell marginalized as not everyone benefits from the NEP,”
he added.
FUTURE DARK AS CHARCOAL? written by Stephen Tan Ban Cheng,
Wednesday, February 07 2007 07:58 pm
This is as old as the hills. The best policy can always be "captured" by certain vested interest groups to serve their purpose instead of the purpose of the targetted groups.
If we Malaysians cannot see the dead wood for the living trees, then this country will not have the bright future that our Founding Fathers envisioned for it.
If we Malaysians continue to think in terms of our personal or familial interests, then this country does not deserve the bright future that our Founding Fathers envisioned for it.
If we Malaysians cannot keep faith with the vision of our Founding Fathers, we have only ourselves to blame and no one else if the future of our children and our children's children turns as dark as the charcoal.
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This is as old as the hills. The best policy can always be "captured" by certain vested interest groups to serve their purpose instead of the purpose of the targetted groups.
If we Malaysians cannot see the dead wood for the living trees, then this country will not have the bright future that our Founding Fathers envisioned for it.
If we Malaysians continue to think in terms of our personal or familial interests, then this country does not deserve the bright future that our Founding Fathers envisioned for it.
If we Malaysians cannot keep faith with the vision of our Founding Fathers, we have only ourselves to blame and no one else if the future of our children and our children's children turns as dark as the charcoal.