The Path To Unity Through Capitalism
The Path To Unity Through Capitalism
[Note: Usually on Wednesday, I carry the serialization of my book. Today on the eve of Merdeka, I substitute this essay. The serialization of my book is delayed this week to this Sunday, September 3, 2006.]
Britain granted Malaysia its independence on the premise and promise that Malaysians would not senselessly slaughter each other once freed from her civilizing presence. Having gone through the hell-on-earth that was the Indian independence, Britain did not want her hands soiled again. There were intimations of such racial viciousness in Malaysia, as during the brief period of lawlessness following the Japanese surrender.
The British believed that the threat to Malaysia’s viability would come not from the then still very active communist insurgency but from Malaysians tearing each other apart. A seasoned gambler would wisely not bet against the British.
It was a tribute to our early leaders that they effectively demonstrated that Malaysians could indeed get along without the adult supervision of the British. Unfortunately, caught in the euphoria of merdeka, that precious shared sense of goodwill, sacrifice, and accommodation was taken for granted and not nurtured. Half a century later, the nation risks being torn apart by the increasingly shrill pronouncements of our leaders. What an ironic turn of events!
Unity Through Capitalism
Many naively believe that if only Malaysians could speak the same language, share a common culture, or subscribe to the same faith, national unity would be that much more attainable. Others fantasize that if only the political parties were not race based, racial integration would be greatly enhanced. Malays still hang on to the forlorn hope that if only we follow the one “pure” and “true” Islam, we would be united and all our problems would magically disappear.
Such delusions are based on flawed thinking, or to quote the late Lord Bauer, “a widespread disregard of evident reality.” The Koreans share the same heritage, culture, and language yet that did not stop them from killing each other, given half the chance. The more promising and enduring path to unity is not through culture, language, politics, or religion but economics, more specifically the embrace of free enterprise.
Capitalism is the most efficient economic system for producing goods and services; it is also the most effective tool to effect substantive social and cultural changes. Once Malaysians view each other and the world not in terms of race or nationality but as potential customers, business partners, and sources of capital, understanding and with it peace would follow suit.
Free enterprise is the best instrument to break down racial and other barriers. Capitalism does not differentiate between race, national origin, political persuasions, or religious beliefs. Profits are profits, whether the come from your own kind or foreigners.
I would expect socialism with its egalitarian ideals would bring people together. It failed, in Malaysia and elsewhere. Socialism failed with Malays because of its association with atheistic communism. The communists’ resorting to terrorism during the Emergency certainly did not help.
The New Economic Policy ushered Malays towards capitalism. With a visible business and trading class, Malays began looking at others less as immigrants or non-Malays and more as potential clients and customers. That put a very different perspective on reality.
To be sure, the Malays’ (specifically UMNO’s) embrace of capitalism is very recent. The term kaum kapitalis (capitalists hordes) was once unmistakably pejorative, conjuring images of heartless businessmen of Dickens’ era intent on exploiting the masses in the greedy pursuit of profits. Besides, those capitalists then were also colonialists so it was easy to hate them. With Malays now being capitalists, aided substantially by the state, capitalism has a decidedly new aroma, even if it were only the crony or ersatz variety.
Economic crises in Malaysia today no longer have racial undertones. The 1997 economic crisis had minimal racial repercussions despite the fact that many of the high-flying casualties were Malays. Likewise, the recent reduction in petroleum subsidy affected all. The pain cut across race; economic imperatives successfully breaching racial boundaries.
The government is encouraging greater integration in the business sector. This is commendable; unfortunately, it is pursuing it in its usual highhanded ways. Take the requirement that publicly-listed companies must have 30 percent Bumiputra participation. That is fine if we let the market pick who those lucky Bumiputras would be. With the Ministry of Trade officials picking the winners, that worthy scheme has degenerated into another corrupt political patronage system.
A more sensible approach would be for the government to explicitly use ownership and employee diversity as a criterion when awarding contracts. American companies are realizing that workplace diversity has its own rewards, quite apart from being the right thing to do. American corporations are outbidding their European and Japanese competitors in Africa because the American executives there are mostly Blacks. The same in China, with American companies actively recruiting ethnic Chinese Americans.
The “mom and pop” retail sector in Malaysia is essentially in Chinese hands. They usually recruit their own kind. An effective way to discourage them and at the same time enjoy the benefits of having an efficient retail sector would be to open it to foreign competitors like Carrefour and Walmart. Carrefour has exemplary recruiting policies; it actively recruits capable Malays for its frontline as well as for management jobs. Unfortunately, instead of encouraging such multinational retailers with their enlightened personnel policies and exemplary work culture, the government is restricting them, no doubt through the influence of “money politics” of UMNO politicians by these Chinese retailers.
Similarly with the small retail lending business, banks and finance companies ignore these customers with less-than-stellar credit. They have no alternative but to go to pawnshops, Al Longs, and chettiars with their usurious interest rates. They are also all exclusively non-Malay operations, right down to the goons they employ to collect their overdue payments. If Malaysia were to open the market to foreign lenders like AIG that specializes in “sub-prime” loans, we would wipe out these chettiars and Ah Longs. Malaysia would definitely be better without them. AIG, like other American companies, also have enlightened personnel policies. You could be assured that they would employ many Malays, certainly more than what the present ethnic moneylenders would.
If all else fails, Malaysians could unite and boycott ethnic establishments whose workers do not reflect Malaysian society. A few such high profile boycotts would change the employment and ownership patterns of Malaysian businesses far more effectively than any government mandate. Never underestimate the power of the market.
Race-Based Parties: The Solution, Not the Problem
As for politics, I too wish that politicians would not blatantly pander to the baser racial instincts of their followers. However, I would argue the contrary; race-based political parties contribute to racial harmony. They help ensure that minorities are represented in government. An Indian could never hope to win a parliamentary seat let alone be a minister as there is no predominantly Indian constituency. There are Indian ministers only because the Indian parties are in the ruling coalition.
Race-based parties or not, politicians now realize that to secure power they must reach beyond their racial group. At its last Muktamar, PAS adopted a resolution allowing for non-Muslim candidates, a stunning admission of this reality.
American legislatures go through grotesque gerrymandering exercises to ensure minority representations. At least the Malaysian formula is more transparent, and therefore more democratic. More importantly, it works! By coming together in a coalition, the race-based parties ensure that political power is equitably shared.
The appointed Malaysian senate is far more representative of local society than the elected American senate is of America. Chalk one up for Malaysia!
There are proportionally more Malays in Singapore than Indians in Malaysia. Thanks to the Malaysian model, Indians are more visible in the upper political reaches in Malaysia then Malays are in Singapore. This bleak picture is repeated elsewhere in the region. Malays are a significant minority in Thailand (in the south they are the majority), but one would not know that from looking at its political establishment; likewise with the Muslims in the Philippines. Ever wonder why they have strong secessionist movements?
The solution to Malaysia’s race issues lies not with doing away with the present workable formula of race-based parties but to build on it. There should be increased collaboration among the leaders; they must be seen working together. They should lead their members towards thinking for the good of the nation and not, as at present, pandering to the most extremist of their followers. Far too often, the surest way for an UMNO candidate to win party votes is to champion the Malay cause. The most ugly demonstration was shown by UMNO Youth leader and Education Minister Hishamuddin when he infamously drew that ketchup-dripping keris (dagger) to demonstrate his resolve to be a latter day Hang Tuah.
Race remains a major factor in the political calculus, and will remain so for a long while. Better to acknowledge this reality and work on improving it instead of dreaming of some unworkable utopian arrangement. Even in mature democracies like America, race is never far from political considerations.
The better solution would be to focus on economics, not politics. We are all consumers, and we are all for lower prices and better services. That economic imperative transcends race, nationality, and class. That is a goal worth pursuing as Malaysia anticipates its Golden Merdeka Anniversary next year.
Happy Merdeka!
August 31st, 2006 at 12:50 am
Very aptly put. However, I doubt that local corporate interests of whichever race would be too enamoured if they were to face competion in all sectors from foreign corporates.
Would beg to demur on the racial politics but totally agree with your thrust.
Best Regards
Ajohore
August 31st, 2006 at 6:25 am
Dr. Bakri,
There is no reason that a multiracial party cannot set minimal quotas for representation of each race in the upper echelons of its hierarchy. The only thing preventing them from doing so is the wishes of the leaders themselves. BN could well become a single party, but set quotas for its Vice-Presidency, and/or mandate that the Presidency and Deputy Presidency not be occupied by the same race, and so on. The only thing stopping BN from doing this is the wishes of BN leaders themselves.
August 31st, 2006 at 8:14 am
I enjoyed reading your article and very much respect your intellect but I was particularly disturbed to read the following paragraph: ‘An Indian could never hope to win a parliamentary seat let alone be a minister as there is no predominantly Indian constituency. There are Indian ministers only because the Indian parties are in the ruling coalition’
Are you suggesting that an indian can never win a parliamentary seat without a predominantly indian constituency? Well, I have news for you. Please tell me how did ‘indians’ ( I myself would like to think that we are all Malaysians , first , second and last) in the last elections become MPs under the banner of DAP in constituences with no indian majority? DAP while its membership is predominanly chinese, is open to all malaysian.
By using language as ‘pre-dominantly indian’ you are subliminally drawn into the old thinking. I firmly believe that the Malaysian political system based on race is a problem and not the solution. If we seriously wish Malaysia to be a first class nation with first class mentality we should move away from the race base politics and racial polarisation. We should think that we are all malaysian irrespective of colour, ethnicity or religion. I was born in Malaysia after Merdeka but till today I am still classfied as bangsa india. Why bangsa india and not bangsa malaysia.
I now live in UK for the last 25 years and guess what ? I am proud to be Malaysia and still hold the Malaysian passport. I am not an indian and certainly do not wish to take up an Indian Passport. My birthplace and birthsoil is Malaysia and that’s how it will always be. I am not hung up about my ethnicity. I am not hung up about my religion or culture or coulour of my skin.
My point is every Malaysian irrespective of ethnicity should be able to stand on a political platform ,of a political party not based on race, to seek a mandate from the constituency comprising bangsa malaysia and not pre-dominant this or pre-dominantly that race.
In UK and in most western world we have political parties based on political philosophies and not on race. In UK there are lots of ethinic minority MPs who represents constituencies with white majority. These MPs are incumbents because they articulate policies that constituents sign up as UK citizens and not as white people.
I may not live to see vision in Malaysia yet but live in eternal hope that our country could mature into one Malaysia one day.
ps You know what, I have more rights and priviliges in UK while being a Malaysian citizen than I have in my own country. I will continue to read your articles with great interest. Keep writing and best wishes.
Mogan
August 31st, 2006 at 9:01 am
Dear Doc,
It has always baffled me and I had always wanted to ask, so I guess here is as good a place as any.
I have always been bothered by the focus the Malay “intellectuals” put on specific issues, such as the Chinese retailers, which you brought up also. In fact, to an objective outsider, your motives of “wiping them out” must sound viciously sinister. Moreover, these themes seem to resurface again and again, the other popular issue being the Chinese mandarin orange importers, for example.
Despite reading long articles such as those from Dewan Masyarakat and what not, I have never been convinced why such “mum and pap” retailers need to be “wiped out”. In fact, in almost every other countries, including the USA, policies are formulated to protect such establishments. Sometimes, government channels public funds even to revive them and save them from giant retailers such as the ones you favour.
I must say your recommendation sounded extremely racist not to mention short-sighted . The overwhelming majority of small Malaysian retailers, as far as I can recall, did not replace or force anyone out of business. I meant that they build their own businesses through hard work and in the process did not “wipe out” any pre-existing competitiors. Their businesses are generally efficient and not a strain on society, providing services where there were none available before.
It is ironic that on one hand, you espouses free enterprise but on the other you would like to invite foreigners to come and “wipe out” local small businesses with some grand government sanctioned policy initiative. I believe in the end, the foreign companies aim to repatriate profits back to their home countries one way or another but the local “mum and pap” shops pays the same taxes but will probably keep most of the profits within Malaysia.
Since these are small retailers, it is difficult for anyone to believe that thousands of small “mum and pap” shops spread throughout the country conspire to have a coherent and consistent employment policy. There are many instances where Indians and Indonesians are employed, and in fact, there are quite a number of Indian and increasingly Indonesian “mum and pap” ratail stores too in Malaysia.
In science, it is said that the simplest explanation is always preferred. If we ignore the simple facts but instead focuses on more complex solutions, things might not work out as we imagined. But of course, the simpler explanations might not be the most political-correct, in fact, they might well be absolutely unacceptable.
KB
August 31st, 2006 at 12:13 pm
Encik Bakri
Spot on. Couldnot agree more with you. The local monopoly should be liberalised. Inviting foreign sogososhas may be a good solution.
The government hands are tight, and cannot be seen directly involved less they will be seen as racial biased.
The playing field should be even.Now almost 99.9% wholesalers are controlled by one race. The retailers from this race get to buy 5 to 10 cents cheaper than the rest. They are given adavantage by their kinds. Others couldnot compete and this is straregically manouvered to lead others to their slow deaths.
These foreign sogososhas can disburse (or make to) 30% or so of their shares to be owned by locals that can be broken along the racial equations.
August 31st, 2006 at 7:37 pm
The modus operandi of the Chinese retail operations as described by Dr Bakri is very short on simplicity & in a very narrow prespective.
This is surely a black mark on your writings so far.
All is not well with the multinationals, with the like of Carrefour, Testco etc, with the Bumi partners. Most of the problems been the greediness of these Bumi partners, double with their insistent of putting ‘unqualified’ personnel to handle operations. The relationship is not cosy. But as long as the profits justified the means this ‘cosy’ setup will go on until either party snape as the ‘book’ cannot be continuous been written this way.
Why Walmart doesnt want to come into M’sia - when there are host of other foreigners jump in with the ‘right’ partnes? There are stories to tell here……..Most of all has to do with the Umnoputras free rides.
Makro, the pioneer of the M’sia hypermarket, is getting out of M’sia by end of 2006 & yet still commit to their operations to other part of the Asia. In fact they are penning more in India! This tells a lot about Makro’s operation in M’sia. Business bad? Competition keen? No no. They are not been called multinational for nothing - if there is money to make they’ll be there - not until the M’sian ‘free loadings’ make the operations untangibles!
The Chinese Pa&Ma retail operations - which is traditionally a very small budget & closed operation. Most of the businesses are built up with blood, sweat & tears, not to mention long hour & slim margins. Till today they’re still been operated in such manner.
Due to this nature many do not take in outside partners let along some one of different ethnic group. No one should blames them for not giving free loading to any others. & there are many Umno free loaders too!
For many larger retail operations, many of them used to live under the shadows of the British/Dutch/Japanese principals. Many of them have since stand out from these shadows recently. These acts are not been attained without much efforts & inputs. In fact they don’t fear competitions from anybody so long the ‘battlefields” are level. Many have also venture oversea & doing well too.
They have thus contributed to the development of M’sia in their own way & Nobody should complaint about their ways of nation building!
Of course business been business. There’ll always tricks & underplays, which are norms in any business. Can you ill the Chinese? & this is NOT the just the nature of the Chinese alone - it’s the nature of market survival. Either you’re in or you’re out. Can’t stand the heat then keep out of the kitchen! You want easy life from free loading & rent seeking then you’ve to look somewhere else.
And yet The Chinese Malaysians are always the scapegoats.
Where are the social mirror for these complaintants, who are always looking for simple solutions to their problems. & most of the time rent seeking is the only way.
You want something - go & fight for them. Nobody will raise a note even when helps are been offerred unqualified to all Alis & Ahmads. But if you keep asking for life-long gravy-train then what are you asking for?
Like someone mentioned in another blog; this Lady is almost half a century old & yet the elder child is keep asking for handout to the detriment of the family, while the other children have to fend for themselves in an open & very competitive & rudeless market place.
Where do we go from here?
August 31st, 2006 at 8:02 pm
Peace Mogan,
I do agree 100% with you but you need to separate between fact and fantasy! In Malaysia, like it or not it’s all about race and ethnicity and I bet its happening all over the world as well. If not how would you explain events in Rwanda, Palestine, WW2 and more. Maybe some may be due to religion l but people always go along lines which are common to them..be it race, religion and whatever.
As for an Indian not being able to win an election in Malaysia solely on Indians’ votes… I think Dr. Bakri is just being realistic. Yes an Indian has won on a DAP ticket ( a Malay has won as well on a DAP ticket in Pasir Pendamar, Perak - Fadzlan Yahya) but we must always remember that the DAP is a Chinese party … masquerading as a multi-racial one! The same goes to Keadilan, Gerakan, PPP …all claimed to be mult-racial but in actual fact they are not! The fact that the Indian won is just a political tactics to show that they are multi-racial. But have you been to a DAP meeting … sure is not multi-racial.
I am glad that you feels very strongly about being Malaysian. But being Malaysian is not enough if you considered Malaysia as a place to go for holidays …..
Maybe we need to start to educate our young. For them to get to know one another early … at a very young age so that they will know one another not as Malays, Chinese, India but as Malaysian. We can start with primary school education. We need therefore to have only ONE medium in our eduactional system. But which system are we going to use? Will the Chinese be willing to do away with their Chinese educational system to have a national system based on a single language ( B. Melayu seems the logical choice but will it be acceptable to the Chinese). The Malays on the other hands want Islamic religion to be part of the curriculum but many strongly against it. They want the DOA, the Quran recital …..and being a Muslim there is no compromise. That is why the present system is the BEST one available to us all. There can never be ONE system.
the way I see … we all want something of our own (race). The fact that Malaysia can still survive is because the Malays have give so much, have tolerated so much but they were never appreciated for it.
Peace again Mogan….
August 31st, 2006 at 8:45 pm
I concur with kampongbuoy and c53k that Bakri mishit this time with the “mom & pop” example, but the crux which is more important should not be overlooked. I woud like to see government awarding tenders to the companies having the right representative in terms of ownership equity and number of staff, no more projects for bumis only, chinese only etc.
This would encourage more win-win partnership, such as the partnership in legal firms can attract multiracial customers.
The government can also lead by example, having more races joining the agencies.
Saying that, Bakri does reinforce my belief that free enterprise and economics can be another useful tool to national unity.
August 31st, 2006 at 9:50 pm
It will be always like this. When Bakri and/or his likes criticize bumi/malay/muslim, they are right and they will get applauses and pats from all corners, but the moment they critcize this yellow race,who cheated even their own calendars, they will be barked and booed and subjected to brickbat treatment.
September 1st, 2006 at 5:34 am
I disagree with Abdul Aziz. This is not a contest about who gets bashed. People are simply checking his writing for accuracy. In this case, mom-pop retailers. Yes, some wholesalers/retailers may be racist. But these are crimes committed by individuals and it is not a matter of policy. Furthermore, most of these people don’t just see skin color. What they do is they help their friends. If two people walked up to them and one was a Malay friend and one was a Chinese stranger, who do you think they will help? The stranger or the friend? Maybe what happens is that most of their friends are Chinese that’s all. Bakri maybe confusing racism with friendship. Ditto for the ah longs. Do you think ah longs differentiate between Malays or Chinese? Maybe Bakri hasn’t been reading the local papers but if he had he would see that the many victims of ah long attacks have been chinese. One came out in the papers recently where this Chinese man even disowned his own children because the children owed the vicious ah longs so much money.
And as someone has pointed out, many Chinese businesses hire Myanmarese, Indonesians, Pakistanis etc. Whoever can help them run a business profitably, they will hire. But Malays simply don’t want to work in these places.
While the part of race-based parties is partly true in that it has its merits, it also has its downsides as it perpetuates thinking through a racial lense. It is also more prone to abuse. However, as I said, it has its merits as well. Unfortunately, in Malaysia we do not see the merit part as the smaller race based parties are there for decoration only and have no real power or voice as was made abundantly clear in many incidents this year including one where a 30 year old boy with no constituency was allowed to insult another race and was defended by the minister of education.
September 1st, 2006 at 10:47 am
The effective way to nurtue a vibrant bumiputeras commerce community is to shut the door for them to enter the public sector. Knowing that the public sector will provide jobs for them, many have become complacent right from young. Try this for one generation and the government would see the result. Drastic problems requires drastic measures. The Malays need to bite the bullets now. One main reason why the Chinese are in every sphere of economic activities is that they do have few alternatives. Employment opportunity in the public sector is almost out of reach, and even if there is, promotion opportunity is slim. Ask any average Chinese parents, would they want their children to go into retail trade business or other businesses. The answer is a big NO. That is why many Chinese parents are willing to invest heavily in their children education so that they can seek employment, not to be self-employed. People usually become self-employed by default. Allowing foreign competitors into the local retail scene is good for consumers of all races. It will not kill off these resilient breed of entrepreneurs. The Chinese are known to be able to find their ways around obstacles. They will emerge sturdier, which means the business acumen gap will widen further between the privileged people and the non-privileged. So, where is the solution?
September 1st, 2006 at 12:03 pm
Liberalise and death to one race monopoly.
A giant cooperatives that represent all should be formed. This cooperatives shall be helmed by the most successful government GLC.
Under this GLC umbrella will be all supplies and sundries,you name it, Construction materials
Heavy machineries
Hardwares
Food stuff and other commodities
All you expected to get in supermarkets and the kinds
and only this GLC has the sole right for evrything imported
All other business related entities shall only get their supply at equal fair price. The rest shall be only fair competetion.
Who should help fund this GLC
Khazanah, EPF,LUTH,SOSCO,Felda.
How to make this GLC stay focus and efficient
Employ proven best in class economists,strategists, business leaders among the people dsregarding class,political inclinations and creed to helm this GLC.
NGOS can be appointed to monitor this GLC
September 2nd, 2006 at 2:26 am
Abdul Aziz, wasn’t Pernas Trading formed in the 70’s to help Malay retailers access to goods at low prices? Why the enterprise floundered?
September 2nd, 2006 at 4:33 am
MIDA, MARA, PERNAS, UDA and others were setup exclusively to help the Bumiputras under the banner of NEP. We know what happened when abuse of power, greed and corruption went unchecked.
Another GLC umbrella as suggested by Abdul Aziz wont make much difference in Malaysia. In the absent of checks and balances, competitive would be a better alternative.
I think the competitive environment in USA and its anti-trust law should be emulated.
September 2nd, 2006 at 6:49 am
I beg to differ that Chinese retailers use money to influence Umno politicians to stop the likes of Carrefour from expanding its presence.
The profit margin of pop and mom outlets was too small to make an impact politically if they wanted to. Such proprietors relied on business turnover. Usually they were family concerns. The children helping the father as employing outsiders incurred extra costs if they could help it.
The corner neighbourhood sundry shops provided easy credit to customers based on trust. Without this service, many lower middle wage-earners would not be able to put food on the table before the month end.
I don’t think any businessmen worth their salt placed a premium on race. As long as he or she is our customer we treat them with equal importance.
September 2nd, 2006 at 6:52 am
“The “mom and pop” retail sector in Malaysia is essentially in Chinese hands. They usually recruit their own kind. An effective way to discourage them and at the same time enjoy the benefits of having an efficient retail sector would be to open it to foreign competitors like Carrefour and Walmart. ”
Dear Doc,
Please be informed that there had been a significant increase in the numbers of retail and sundry shops run by Indian community in Malaysian in last few years. One can easily see it in the new residence areas especially around Kuala Lumpur. In one of the main street of Klang town almost all the shoplots there had been taken up by Indian for retails businesses.
Indian community in Malaysia has proven they are strong enough to compete with Chinese community in retail business without any government support. It is exactly like what you had said “Free enterprise is the best instrument to break down racial and other barriers.”.
So why bring in the foreign competitors !
September 2nd, 2006 at 9:36 am
Liberalise and death to one race monopoly.
A giant cooperatives that represent all should be formed. This cooperatives shall be helmed by the most successful government GLC.
Tell me which GLCs are really successful? Almost all are liabilities to taypayers, you and me. It drained out national resources. Any basic economics will tell you that government intervention will result in deadweight loss to the society. Economic efficiency will be lower because GLC are not profit driven. Can’t we learn from past lessons. Our per capita income has fallen from 2nd in Asia to behind Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore. Do we want to be a Timbaktu nation?
September 2nd, 2006 at 9:51 am
As you say, having one language or culture would create an utopia. Nothing could be further from the truth, by hey, just have a look at Indonesia. Unity through diversity, I say.
September 2nd, 2006 at 11:27 am
NEP is not the tool to take what is already belong to Non Malay. It is a tool to see that what is not belonging to anybody to be given to those who do not have. Is there anything wrong with that. We are not just looking at individual or race. Only the greedy are complaining. If the result is wrong. Go and relook at process,not the intention.
Unladen swallow, you have not been laid?!!, he he he. I will give you the pleasure after the exchange of niceties.
Like single nation “Malaysia”,fairness is also an UTOPIA. You go to any chinese construction company. You will see that sphinster chinese tea lady earn more salary than the experienced malay account clerk or worst the newly grad civil engineer. Only the malay PRO (actually GRO) as a front/bait to buy government officers heart
The chinese and to a smaller extent the indians have their tight knit diaspora to help them. And mind you that this diaspora has total earning more than the Chinese government GNP.
This has been going on for generations. Any complain from us. No we do not. No because we understand the rule of fair play. It was never fair and it never will be and never meant to be fair.
September 2nd, 2006 at 12:19 pm
Is there anything wrong being greedy? Greed will drive people to work hard and result in higher efficiency for the economy. But not the kind of greed that take the easy way out and depend on rent seeking.
Will a business entity overpay an employee? Would anyone? Even if there is, it will be at the expense of the owners. So what, if the owners have excess cash to spare. But if the government overpay certain people, it is at the expense of taxpayers. That is not fair to the taxpayers.
NEP is not the tool to take what is already belong to Non Malay. Is that true? NEP is akin to daylight robbery. We have seen forced ownership change in the banking sector, automobile sector and public transportation (mini buses). Coliseum cinema was also almost forcibly taken away.
A person cannot be so blind until cannot see the abuses done in the name of NEP. NEP is supposed to redistribute wealth of an expanding cake. Not taking a slice from one person and give it away to another person. Anyway, it was supposed to end in 1990.
September 2nd, 2006 at 12:43 pm
That is the works of the hand in disguised. You know, i know who this guy is. Thats nothing to do with NEP. Like i say relook at the process. We will not let greed kill the good intention of NEP
BTW did you only read the 1st paragraph.
I did not benefit fr NEP. I dont cry wolf. Why should you. Are you a loser.
September 2nd, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Bintang
Did not see you before. A 30yr is a 30yr no matter how many degrees he has. He should have turn 180 degree and should have said “kita kena bersatu kalau tidak orang lain akan ambil kesempatan”. He would have gone home free.
September 3rd, 2006 at 1:54 am
The original concept of NEP is laudable, but along the way it has been politicised by Umno aspirants. Yes, Tun Razak spelt out it was not to rob Peter to pay Paul. The formula was to expand the economic cake.
In reality this is far from the truth by the day. UMBC was at one time owned by Mulpha. The then finance minister forced it to sell to him in exchange for Malaysian French Bank, a mosquito outfit. He then resold it to Pernas at a high profit. Now, is that profiteering?
From what I see there is no sincerity among the Malay leadership to uplift the Malay masses. To deflect this discrepancy, non-Malays are always used as the scapegoat and tarred as a threat to Malay interests.
Malaysia needs Malays to be successful. But why the great divide within the Malay community in terms of income parity after close to 40 years of NEP?
You blame the implementation instead of the policy. But who are the implementers? Not the non-Malays by any stretch of imagination. It is all your corrupt leaders robbing you all blind in the name of ketuanan melayu.
September 3rd, 2006 at 5:40 am
The chinese has their all powerful diaspora as your crutch. In Malaysia you have the Chinese Chamber of commerce dan Badan Kebudayaan China which are linked to others of the kind in the diaspora with fund bigger than any government in Asia could muster.
Any political party in Asia which do not have support from the chinese diaspora would not have enough money to fund their political campaign.
They are the king pin in all markets of South East Asia. Did we complain.
When the crutch works for you, you just think that it is fair because you work very hard for that.
If they decide to scarce the market from sugar,we cant find sugar anywhere. No amount of government effort will solve this problem unless the leaders behinds this dark business decide to work with the goverments.
September 3rd, 2006 at 6:21 am
Tuan Abdul Aziz, do you mean to say the Chinese diaspora holding the govts in SE Asia hostage?
In business, networking is the key to success. This is not a tongkat. We work hard for ourselves and also to the benefit of the country as a whole.
What has your Bumi Chamber of Commerce done? It is not for me to point out your community’s weaknesses. Self-reflection is a better alternative otherwise I am seen as bashing your race.
Again, you have to look at the leaders you have which glaringly show populism to seek self-interest is the mark of their leadership.
September 3rd, 2006 at 7:24 am
I am not sure if there is a solution to all these. Simply because we are too late. The harm has been done. You see, it’s all in the genes. You cannot be what you are not, or not cut out to be.
September 3rd, 2006 at 7:24 am
Thank goodness. Diaspora is a crutch? Most of the Chinese, who migrated overseas in the early 19th century were the extreme poors, who no longer can put food on the table for their families. Out of desperation, they packed like sardines into tongkang and spreaded themselves all over the world.
The indigenous people of the countries where they landed should have home ground advantage to compete with the sehelai sepinggan Chinese. Remember the word kuli? From kuli, they move on to become bosses and transform the economy of their adopted countries.
Taking goodies from the government without working for it are cructhes. Because the innocent tax payers will have to bear it. Benefitting from networking, if there are any, are not cructhes. There is no burden imposed on tax payers.
Look at the amount of wastage that have leaked out of our rent seeking eocnomy over the last 20 years or so. We are a resource-rich country. Why are our per capita income not on par with Korea, Taiwan, Hongkong or Singapore which are resource scarce? In fact, we should have been ahead of them as we started ahead. We were second richest country in Asia under British rule.
Malays want diaspora. Malays think network can bring success out. Try selling something to your circle of friends. Can you sell anything? Very tough, indeed. Usually, the one who support your business are the ones whom you do not know … the walk in customers.
Anyway, noone is stopping the Malays from spreading themselves all over the continents. They can always network with the Indonesians who dominate the Malay archipelago. Why they did not exploit the network?
Move overseas, try out and see the amount of hurdles you have to go through to compete with the indigenous people. If the Malays cannot compete on their homeground, how are they going to compete in foreign turf? I don’t mean all Malays. Some towering Malays like Dr Bakri has made it.
We are all articulating here for a better Malaysia. Malay, Chinese, Indians or others, we have no where else to call home. All these rent seeking opportunities must stop for the sake of future generation before the oil dries up. Resources must be diverted to help the poors of all races.
September 3rd, 2006 at 10:06 am
Phelps/Anonymous/Humanly
You all must be the 4th generation chinese who has lost the competetive edge and resilience of your forefathers.
Tahupun that your forefathers came here sehelai sepinggan with little education.If they could elevate from coolies to give you the life you enjoyed now, there should not be a problem with NEP as affirmative action to help the poors. Were your fathers complaining then?!!.
Infact you should be ashamed, with all the education you derived from the fruits of your forefathers labour,you cannot face little obstacles (many fold smaller) and keep on harping on NEP and what little leverage that we have.
While we have wise up and rise above our forefathers you have retrograde into whining. The level playing field is still tilted to your balance. So shame on you. Do you want to go see your grandfathers with your tail wagging between your legs.
September 3rd, 2006 at 10:17 am
This stems from faulty thinking at the beginning, i.e. there is a Chinese monopoly in the “mom and pop” retail sector, and it is less efficient than an open and liberal market with foreign competitors.
Where is Din Merican?
Nevermind why Dr. Bakri chose the mom and pop stores to make a point on breaking up monopolies. It used to be the cars and motorcycles when import licensing through approved permit was introduced in the 1970s, supposedly to create opportunities for bumiputera entrepreneurs. Does the market look efficient to you?
The fact remains that there is truth in Chinese traders trying their damndest to monopolize the market. We all played that board game. What do you think Microsoft is trying to do? What do you think happened to AT&T? Why is WalMart in all kinds of legal trouble now? God, have we no economists to explain that to the masses?
There is a huge difference in breaking-up monopolies and rent seeking!
What our people, under the brilliant government led by UMNO, has failed to realize is that the consumer is a victim of exploitation by a political economy - where “rent-seeking individuals, private institutions, and government agents” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_seeking) grow fat off the masses.
Proving to the younger generations why Dr. Bakri belongs to another era, he argued that race-based parties are part of the solution. While the party system itself is in doubt (let alone race-based ones), focusing on the dollar or the ringgit will not help our society. Haven’t we been there and done that? We should be focusing on ideas, on utopia and ideologues, not being money worshippers or racist or ethnic chauvinists par excellence. What is it that we as Malaysians really fear? Change? Or to believe that it is impossible for us to look beyond our skin colour?
We all know what corruption is, and we know what bribes are for. I am not anti-capitalism, but unity through prosperity will not work. The booming years under Mahathir have resulted in rampant wastage and squandering of our precious natural resources - all done in the name to buy the false sense of harmony by lining the pockets of a few fat cats - black, white, yellow, or brown.
Representation by race is as irrelevant as representation by gender, as long as our representatives are doing their job. It is precisely because our representatives failed to take into the concerns and welfare of the marginalised and the minorities, be it the elderly, the young, women (ironic considering the make up about half of the population), the poor and the unemployed, the masses are turning to them to channel their collective voice. The Penang Chief Minister should realize that now since this is the tune that’s played. Ultimately, the whole brouhaha that a Malay CM is needed to protect Malay interests is moot, considering non-Malays in Malaysia have had Malay Prime Ministers to lead the nation for almost half a century. Some may argue that that’s because the non-Malays have no choice, but then it would be also equally accurate to point out that neither do the African Americans in the United States of America.
Break the monopolies, sure. But please define a monopoly carefully. Is the Chinese blocking others from setting up mom and pop retail stores or denying others access to their suppliers? This is business we are talking about, M-O-N-E-Y. In other words, CAPITALISM. You are supposed to cut out competitors. The government is supposed to regulate businesses so that they don’t do anything illegal or actions that could lead to high entry barriers for newcomers.
If there is a monopoly in mom and pop stores by the Chinese as claimed by Dr. Bakri despite all that’s done, then it is an efficient monopoly. Capitalism doesn’t ensure efficiency, and anyone can read Hotelling’s law on that.
September 3rd, 2006 at 10:33 am
Dear Abdul Aziz,
Actually, my grandfather was a rubber tapper and I am like second generation Chinese Malaysian, but I concur that my generation is soft.
I don’t know where you imagined the diaspora “power” being available to the common Chinamen. I think Prof. Wang Gungwu might have a few words on that. However, I do think it is a little pathetic to ask for special treatment on the basis that it is a negligible special treatment for the Malays. Nay, I am not begrudging the Malays for their special position in the Constitution. I am all for it. What I find disgusting is the collective looting and wastage carried out by the ruling elite and a handful of collaborators from all races - enriching themselves in the process of championing ethnic (and divisive) issues that entrench the nation further in a cycle of distrust.
Again, there is a difference in leveraging the playing field and creating a rent economy with minor political fiefdoms ran on illicit money, be it UMNO, MIC, MCA or Gerakan.
Many Malaysians are still sleeping. They believe wholesale in the stories weaved and told by politicians in the past because it is much harder to get other credible sources of information in those days. So what’s the excuse for the internet generation?
It is silly to say that the average Chinese Malaysian wishes the average Malay Malaysian (how do you like the ring of that?) ill will of poverty, illiteracy and stupidity. If 50% of the population are illiterate, poor and stupid, it is no good for anybody, especially if they also make up the majority of the government - teachers, police, armed forces etc etc etc. Only very very very stupid and shortsighted non-Malays will want that.
This nation can only prosper when nobody gets left behind. The trouble is of course we have many politicians promising to leave no one behind, and stuffing all the cookies meant for the children into their own pockets, and pretending to be generous with the crumbs.
September 3rd, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Dear Pak Cik,
I’m commenting on your article on the face of economy, not politic.
While you are in the right path pointing out that the unity of our nation shall be toward and best derived from an economic reformation, ie thru the road of capitalism, you have however, go into a wrong direction for suggesting we should follow the old road of NEP! Economists of capitalism has long know a non secret recepi of a successful economy is best practised by non inteference of the authorities, a set policy like NEP is bound to failed in the first place! We might as well rely on the rule of Communism rather than NEP!
To be continue…
September 3rd, 2006 at 11:35 pm
Dera Pak Cik,
The center issue of our nation’s failure is the misunderstanding of the principle of capitalism and the game of free economy amoung our grandfathers long time ago…
We should from now on apply the rule of totally non-interference free economy in Malaysia economy, Gov shall only maintain the basic rules of law and providing a basic social net, and its function stop here! Let the economy run as free as it should, by merit! I’m sure Malaysia can produce at least 1 - 2 Bill Gate within 2020!
To Be Continue….
September 3rd, 2006 at 11:45 pm
Dear Pak Cik,
So what happen to those poor little fellow countryman? (they are poor malay, poor chinese and poor indian, as we all know!)
You are in total ignorance of the principle of free economy and capitalism, if you ever ask the question above!
Look at China and India, how they open up their economy and prosperous! Let the poor countryman to prosperous at later stage lah, at the meanwhile teach them how to fish, not give them the fish! Sooner or later, they will know how to fish!
You will say it is so painful?! Of course, it’s painful, but it’s the only and certain way.
To Be Continue….
September 4th, 2006 at 3:31 am
Dear Pak Cik,
I’m a political idiot, But i hold light in biz field, so i know 30% gift policy will not help either malay or non-malay, we see the result now, we have many other option than this sick policy.
We can have a very bright country by adopting alternative approach in developing our economy. Racial base economy is not only outdated but also not CAPITALIST, and ineffective!
We do not need a Noble-priced economist to be our PM to lead us out of this mess, just someone…..to be continue
September 6th, 2006 at 6:15 pm
“There are proportionally more Malays in Singapore than Indians in Malaysia. Thanks to the Malaysian model, Indians are more visible in the upper political reaches in Malaysia then Malays are in Singapore. This bleak picture is repeated elsewhere in the region. Malays are a significant minority in Thailand (in the south they are the majority), but one would not know that from looking at its political establishment; likewise with the Muslims in the Philippines. Ever wonder why they have strong secessionist movements?”
Hi Bakri
Have you considered why when there are fewer Indians than Malays in the general population in Singapore, that there are more Indians than Malays in the upper echelons of the political
reaches,…..the data is about the same in the economic, technological, and other fields requiring talent and hard work.
September 6th, 2006 at 9:05 pm
Please read my lips,
“It’s FREE ECONOMY that work!”
Anyone who are more talent in earning more money, please be my boss, take care of my well being, i don’t care whether you are malay, chinese, indian or who not!
Go ahead and earn more than i do, please, please, when i earn RM$1.00, please earn more than i do, earn 20 times more, Please, please, please, i don’t care whether you are malay, chinese, indian or who not!!
Because i know, deep…deep down in my heart, under the circumstances of TRUE FREE ECONOMY environment, that money is not belong to you, it belongs to the economic system…..
TO BE CONTINUE………….
September 6th, 2006 at 11:32 pm
“It’s free economy that work”
Free economy can only work if it’s literally unrestricted.
Free economy is not free if a condition is superimposed into it.
Free economy is no longer free IF IT HAS TO BE “JUST”!!!!!
Free economy is not free IF IT HAS TO BE “FAIR”!!!!!
Free economy shall only be effectively function, which in turn can create tremendous profit for the country, which in turn will benifit all Malaysian, if it’s truely “FREE”….
September 7th, 2006 at 9:56 am
Dear Dr. Aziz,
I think most Malaysians including the Chinese and Indians and the others support NEP’s original aims. However, after so many years and so many lame excuses, everyone can see that it is not going to work anymore.
Of course, the rest of the Malaysians can invest more in their education and training and continue to suffer the discrimination in the name of affirmative action. However, collectively, because a segment of our society is either in denial mode, too busy enjoying the gravy or too caught up with their religion, we are missing out and squandering our resources and opportunities.
Take a step back and consider how ridiculous it is for a country’s policy to focus on creating businessmen from a single race. We should be focused on creating world class doctors, scientists, poets, athletes etc.. Yet, we focus our resources on creating self-indulgent crony businessmen with foreign trophy wives. We are moving ahead so slowly that looking at all the others passing us by, it feels like we are moving backwards.
KB
September 7th, 2006 at 7:08 pm
Dear Pak Cik,
We shall not allow and follow a good cause/intention if it produces bad result, in term of economic.
Like wise, the good intention behind NEP does not justify its implementation, because it simply wouldn’t work.
We can have the good intention to run its cause elseway, like creating “socail net” from the money collected from the rich (regardless what race they are).
If the leader is lacking in this direction, why not try them in a specified economic zone, where non race base system of economy is practice, i’m quite sure it will become another ShenZhen in a short period, conditioned upon that there must be “FREE”.
September 8th, 2006 at 2:35 am
Dear Dr. Aziz,
I’m very disappointed with your comment and your community still not wake up yet. Why indians and chinese business man can do very well? go and check how this ppls run their business.. I got an indian friend sell roti canai only, why he can earn a lot and effort to drive Mercedez?
his operation hour start at 6:00 am until 11:00 pm and 7day per week, he work hard so deserve to earn more. He success to build the business network and good relationship with the customers. Please go and see how your RACE run the business 11:00am until 4:00 pm or 7:00pm until 12:00 pm and also “tutup kedai suka suka hati”. with this attitudes, do you think you can success? god bless you la.
September 10th, 2006 at 12:15 am
I have an idea to solve our problem here.
Set up a special trail zone (SZ) , where, every Malaysian are treated equally, meritocarcy in every espects, from doing businese to becoming the Chief Administrator of that SZ, we don’t need a very big area, just the size of Kuantan will do, we also do not need any financial help from the government, just HAND OFF (from THE HAND), let the real Free Economy Force plays its game, and..
I can assure you, this will be the happier land of all in Malaysia; may be, if we are lucky, this SZ will create 1-2 Bill Gate before 2020; More, this SZ is full of Datuk Jimmy Choos that, we don’t need to recall them home!!!
We can’t change Malaysia politically, we have to change it economically first, let beleif in real capitalism, let Free Economy run its cause, let globalisation lead our soul, its our only chance!!!
June 16th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
come on man! we bumi’s from borneo are also part of malaysians. were all the focus going to? we are not looking for special treatment here. At least we all unite as one community.