Fear not if NEP is dismantled, Malays told

 

Breaking up the New Economic Policy (NEP) will not marginalise the Malays, a political scientist said. 

“There was no suggestion to do away with a welfare system that help Malays in need but a safety net mechanism that will help and protect all Malaysians who are poor on the basis of merit in the DAP’s manifesto,” said Dr Farish Noor, a senior fellow of NTU Singapore’s Rajaratnam School of International Studies. 

“I think the Opposition managed to win the support of the Malaysian public as a whole including the Malays because it was inclusive and took into account all sections of the society,” he said. 

It simply promises a fair chance to everyone because many Malaysians, including the Malays, have not been given an equal chance, he added. 

“I am prepared to give them a chance. I want to see the emergence of non-racial politics in Malaysia,” he said. 

Human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz said a new language needed to be used when addressing issues relating to the NEP because there were still deep-seated fears among some Malays.  

“There are certain things we need to address slowly and bear in mind those who have residual fears,” he said. 

The dialogue moderator, Ramon Navaratnam, said he still supported the NEP but not the implementation and it would still be relevant if carried out properly. 

Fear not if NEP is dismantled, Malays told

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How Umno implemented NEP

Chance to shape a new political frontier

 

Malaysians need to think out of the box following the changes resulting from the recent general election, said a well-known political scientist. 

The election results that transcended racial and religious sentiments have opened up possibilities of a new construct, said Dr Farish Noor, a Senior Fellow of NTU Singapore’s Rajaratnam School of International Studies. 

“Being in the frontier, we have no map or compass.  

“We need to be brave to imagine,” he said, adding there was a need to look beyond superstition in charting new territories. 

“Can Umno consider the possibility of a president from a Kadazan, Bajau, Iban, Penan or Peranakan background, PAS a non-Malay Muslim president or DAP a Malay or Indian leader?” Dr Farish asked during the Post-elections analysis open dialogue organised by the Centre for Public Policy Studies yesterday. 

“Are we forever to remain beholden to history and trapped by the circumstances of the past?  

Or are we going to admit to ourselves that this nation-state of ours is an invented construct and as such is also open to deconstruction, revision, adaptation and subsequently evolution?” 

While deconstructing Malaysia, new leaders would encounter such obstacles that need to be overcome, he said 

Human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz said there was a need for civil society to be vigilant and hold the new state governments to higher standards of leadership. 

The new leaders from the Opposition were generally young, while the Barisan Nasional had to be viewed constructively as a counter-balancing force because absolute power corrupts, he added. 

Executive director of Sedar Institute Khoo Kay Peng said the relationship between the Federal Government and state governments would have to operate on a new dimension and that the former could not ignore the power held in five states. 

Columnist Zainon Ahmad said the mainstream media had behaved disgracefully during the elections but would now have to reinvent itself to keep the people informed.

Chance to shape a new political frontier

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New Malaysia

wither Malaysia, under BN ?

Koh: Street demos not proper way to convey views

 

Barisan Nasional component parties must keep to the stand that street demonstrations are not the proper way to convey views and express feelings, Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said. 

He said this was especially important in a multi-racial society. 

The former chief minister said this has been the stand of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Barisan top leadership. 

“We have to be consistent,” he said when commenting on Friday’s street demonstration by Penang Umno members and supporters at Komtar. 

Dr Koh said street demonstrations may serve to allow people to vent their grievances or feelings. 

“However, as often pointed out by Barisan’s top leaders, such acts may heighten tension and even lead to conflicts if they get out of hand,” he said. 

He added that the freedom of assembly should be used wisely and effectively. 

Dr Koh said that holding forums and seminars, and presenting memorandums with concrete proposals supported by facts and figures, would be a more fruitful way. 

Koh: Street demos not proper way to convey views

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Penang Umno endorses Komtar demonstration – says this lets new government know what it’s like

Penang Umno endorses Komtar demonstration – says this lets new government know what it’s like

 

Azhar also explained that the demonstration held at Komtar on Friday was a show of the Malay community’s anger towards Lim’s statement on the NEP. 

“Before this, they (the Opposition) staged such demonstrations against the government. Now as the new government, they should know what it feels like,” he said during a gathering of Umno state leaders at Tasek Gelugor MP Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop’s house yesterday.

Lim: Let NEP issue rest

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Koh: Umno should be consistent and not endorse street demos