NEP to go or just a never ending policy?

There were few occasions when I travelled to Kuala Lumpur where I took the cab ride to move around in the hustle bustle of the city instead of the more convenient train ride.

It happened once when a chatty Chinese cabbie, in his 40’s was telling me of how difficult it is to earn a living nowadays to the extent that he had to do few jobs to sustain the escalating cost of living.

As usual and as expected, the cabbie who spoke in near perfect English albeit KL accent and slang vented his frustrations and criticised the many government policies which he claimed as extremely unfair.

Not spared from his wrath was of course the New Economic Policy (NEP) which has come under attack as being inefficient system which promotes a laid back attitude among the Bumiputeras.

And recently, Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak caused a buzz when during an interview with Bloomberg, he claimed that not in the too distant future, Malaysians would see all the elements of the NEP being replaced.

He was quoted as saying that “if we do not change, the people will change us.”

So there you are. The policy which has been in existence for more than 30 years since 1970, with the aim of bringing to par the economic disparity between the Bumiputeras and the non-Bumiputeras, has been criticized by many as benefitting only a few, especially those with guanxi with the top level.

Not only do the Chinese or Indians are skeptic with the policy but also the majority of ordinary Malays who feel that they have not benefitted from the NEP.

A Malay cabbie in Kuala Lumpur for instance once told me that despite all the special privileges that the Bumiputeras enjoy, he still has to work as hard as the Chinese or Indians to earn a living while casting doubt whether the NEP really benefits them or just the cronies of certain politicians as he claimed.

And the point is clear. Ordinary Malaysians, regardless of Malays, Chinese or Indians want a fair and equal distribution of wealth and opportunities.

The Opposition which has been championing for this has been riding on the right track and sentiment and receives overwhelming support from people as clearly shown in the March 8 general election.

Unless the sentiment on the ground is well understood by those higher up, especially the UMNO for the role it plays as the taiko of the ruling coalition, then the BN can expect yet another political tsunami in the next general election due in 2013 except that this time it may be even more disastrous or fatal than the March 8.

MCA, which is still fresh from its party election has proposed for the abolishment of the 30% Bumiputera equity ownership in public listed companies but the proposal was met with a “no no” from the former Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir, who is instrumental in turning the country into what it is today had said that it is not the time yet to abolish the 30% bumiputera equity.

“We have not reached that yet. There is still a lot to be done. If we reduce it to 20% today and it does not expand while the economy does, bumiputera equity participation will get smaller. We have to take all this into consideration,” Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying.

Then there is this warning from the Opposition PAS Youth movement which warned the MCA not to harp on the NEP and that the 30% bumiputera equity must be retained and defended even if the target has been reached.

Over in Selangor, the appointment of a Chinese as the acting general manager of Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) has caused a slight brouhaha with certain quarters claiming that the post should be reserved for the Malay, but the Menteri Besar, Khalid Ibrahim stood firm by his decision with the appointment.

While I acknowledge that the NEP is noble in its objective, the government must wake up to the fact that the outside world is waiting for nobody and should our politicians still debate on what is yours and what is mine, then one thing for sure is that we will be left miles and miles far behind in this world without mercy.

Come on YBs, it is time to pull our weight together as one Malaysian in this difficult time of world recession.

And by the way, a close aide to Najib clarified after the Bloomberg interview was published that what his boss meant was that there would be a gradual liberalisation of some of the elements of NEP and not the entire programme.

Political "live" debates? Why not?

Now that the MCA party election is over. As I was having my breakfast last Sunday, a professional woman in her middle age was in jubilant mood when she told the news that Dr Chua Soi Lek had clinched the deputy president post in the second biggest component party within the Barisan Nasional coalition.

Despite his DVD sex scandal which costs Soi Lek his political career where he relinquished his ministerial and all party posts taking full responsibility for his “caught in the act” action, his quick comeback to the mainstream politics is something which is beyond anyone’s guess.

To many of us, including some political observers, his high flying political career was already at the dead end for his so-called sinful act which may not go down well with certain quarters.

And then there was this supposedly live debate for the presidential and deputy presidential hopefuls ala US presidential election style to be telecast on NTV7 which was aired albeit recorded few nights prior to the MCA party election.

And there I glued myself on my 29-inches television set watching how those political aspirants debated in English and Mandarin as well as putting forward their aspirations, visions and thoughts from politics, economy to social issues.

With the political tsunami hitting the country in the March 8 general election and jolting hard on the Barisan Nasional coalition, change becomes imminent if the governing coalition is to remain relevant and continue to govern the nation.

Kudos of course must be given to the organiser of the debate and of course the candidates for taking a big step as this small step of standing in front facing the audience, though in an auditorium or studio, but aired all over the nation, articulating their thoughts is making a whole lots of difference in the Malaysian politics.

Malaysians from across the divides could see for themselves what these politicians have to say on issues facing the country and how they are going to effect changes, not only in party politics but also the nation at large.

Many friends, both in the political and social circles have given their thumbs up to English educated Soi Lek for his articulation on issues in his impeccable English and near perfect Mandarin which may have swung him quite a chunk of votes from the delegates in the MCA party election, what more to say people on the street, like my professional woman friend who is impressed with Soi Lek, not for the wrong reason but for his ability to convey his thoughts and aspirations in no uncertain terms.

Coming back closer to our home state, many are wondering whether they could see something similar among our politicians debating in of course cordial and professional manners and discourse while keeping tantrums in check after the so-called “viewing exposure” to the Anwar Ibrahim and Shabery Chik or Soi Lek and Donald Lim debates.

Looking at the calendar of events, perhaps the next political party in the state to hold its delegates conference or some people may fond of calling it party election is SUPP in the middle of December.

Of course now it is too early to say whether this Chinese dominant party will see any changes in its top echelon leadership, emulating its brethren, MCA across the South China Sea despite the president, Dr George Chan Hong Nam who contracted two years ago to step down this year.

SUPP organising secretary, Peter Chin Fah Kui had described the just concluded MCA party election that of its change of leadership as usual and that it must take place from time to time for the betterment of a party. Well said and a respected statement by a seasoned politician.

He further said the delegates made their decisions and used their voting power to effect change.

So, the point is here. Regardless of whether there will be change or status quo in the party, which is seen as representing the Chinese community in the state, though being a multi racial in nature, the way the party holds itself up in the eyes of the public has to change.

Taking leave from what MCA political aspirants had done through the live debate, a SUPP youth leader is both full of electrics and enthusiasm that he could see such debate for any aspirants hoping to offer himself or herself for higher positions within the party.

That, according to him is the way forward for this party to move with changing time and to regain the lost grounds and give people a new hope before it confronts the state election due in 2011.

And just before my friend was leaving from the table where we had our breakfast on that beautiful Sunday, a spoiler in her mood for the day was just that of someone who spoke unprofessionally and threw tantrums for no good reason.

So, any takers for the live debate? I am no pessimist though and am keeping my fingers crossed for one to take shape. At least we in Sarawak could see a change.

Come on YBs, move on and leave politicking behind!

A widely circulated national English newspaper carried a front page story last Saturday on the world market plunge which spooked investors from around the world.

Pictures of stock traders cupping their hands to worrying face have sent chills, I guess by now to the Malaysian shore as we have come to realize that all is not well with the world economy which some economists predict as the revisiting of the 1930’s Great Depression.

Then there is The Rocket publication which I happened to buy one night while having drinks with a friend at a coffee shop which screams “Tough Times” on its cover page.

It has been quite some time since the general election that we have been fed with political news almost daily from the September 16 takeover claim by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the stepping down of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in March 2009 to the extent that the economic news take the backseat.

I must admit that I have grown extremely tired of reading political news nowadays that I would just simply ignore it and turn my focus instead on business news.

Many are just wondering why Malaysian media is just so engrossed with reporting political news but I have come to realise that we can’t really blame it for it is the politicians who keep feeding the reporters with political news.

Now that Gerakan had done with its delegates conference last weekend, the next to come is MCA which will see fights for the top posts in the party and then there is the on-going nomination process for the UMNO election due in March next year. This party politics will again dominate the news for some time to come.

As I read the Singapore Straits Times website news a couple of days ago, I come to agree with one of its writers that Malaysians are just too pre-occupied with political drama to pay attention to financial meltdown experienced all over the world.

I must concur with what the former deputy prime minister, Tun Musa Hitam when he urged the UMNO leaders vying for top posts in the party to debate on economic issues.

He added that too much emphasis was being given to party politics, resulting in people not realizing that the nation is facing the real economic crisis.

What needs to be done now, according to him, was for the political issues that are too dominating to be reduced and for politicians to take this seriously and come out with pre-emptive economic contingency plan.

He said it right that people were excited with political news but had grown tired of it and that the people do not know of the economic situation now but they will feel the pinch.

A small cup of black coffee for instance now costs 90 cent (by the way, I found out that there is still one coffee shop at Hui Sing Garden which the black coffee costs only 60 cent) while a simple plate of fried noodle with a few sprinkles of taugeh and egg costs RM4 and my many conversations with those from the lower middle or working class confirm the fact that they are the hardest hit in this time of economic uncertainty.

What the people want now is for the politicians to put a stop to all the politicking and focus their effort in finding ways and means to generate the economy in this uncertain time.

The collapse of few giant banks and insurance companies has spooked many of us despite the many assurances from the government that all is well with the nation’s economy.

But the sad thing is that very few politicians seem to be channeling their political discourse in finding solutions to improving the people’s livelihood as they are just too engrossed with power jostling in party politics, almost forgetting that they are responsible and answerable to the rakyat at large.

But again, how can we blame the politicians now that this is the season of party elections in most of the political parties?

As I watching a programme on Astro AEC channel the other night on the lives of the ordinary people in tackling the rising cost of living, I could not help but watched helplessly on the plight of the poor weathering the economic impact after the fuel price hike coupled with the skyrocketing inflation rate.

From the testimony of those interviewed in the programme, including a newspaper delivery man and a sweet corn seller, the various goodies or mega projects announced by the government seem not to be reaching them as the people do not directly benefit from it.

Even the dead in London, as reported in the news feel the pinch as undertakers hit by the financial crisis in London are refusing to carry out funerals unless they get paid in advance.

The politicians must not forget the fundamental that they are the servant of the people and now that they are hard hit in this hard time of economic slump, politicians must pull their weight together to find ways to lighten the people’s burden and come out with concrete plans to weather the economic storm.

Do not just simply ask everyone to change lifestyles for the poor have no lifestyle to change in the first place as they are already living on the thin line trying to make the ends meet.

Such a below par statement by politicians just goes to show the standard of these politicians who seem to be ignorant of the plight of the people.

But alas, we just have to keep praying that all will be well with the economy and take self measure to be prudent with our saving and spending while the politicians keep themselves busy with politicking.