NEP

The photo of Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein hoisting a keris during the UMNO general assembly printed on the front page of one of the Malaysian dailies a week back would certainly have caused some discomfort amongst the non-Malays in the country. Keris, as all Malaysians know, is a weapon, and weapon is normally associated with violence, conflict, war, etc.

Datuk Hishammuddin, as the UMNO Youth Chief, have been calling for the revival of the New Economic Policy (NEP). While it is good to improve the well being of the bumiputra, one will still question the effectiveness of this policy and whether the environment has changed since the NEP was introduced in the early 70s. Using the AP allocation as an example, we can clearly see that the so called 'NEP' has only managed to significantly benefit a few Malays. UMNO should look within itself first before looking elsewhere for solutions in order to achieve the original intentions of NEP. There is also no point to threaten those who voice their views against the NEP. Furthermore, trying to eat into the market share of other races in Malaysia is not going to benefit everyone in the long run. In this era of globalisation, we should work hand in hand to compete with the rest of the world.

Anyway, I wonder how many other countries have raced based politics. Pity those non-bumiputra who live in hard core poverty. They will be left behind in our country's development. Wouldn't the NEP be more meaningful if it's aimed at improving the lives of those who are in poverty?