I see worrying signs in many news reports and urge Malaysians to put on their thinking hats to work out new ways of combating threats to our country's unity which is continuously facing new challenges each day.
Malaysian Insider reported today that Political risk fears stalk new economic model. The article reported that Malaysia’s proposed New Economic Model (NEM) to be made public end March impressed the Cabinet but certain sources say “concerns of political implications” remain.
Excerpt from the report:
The NEM key points are removals of costly subsidies and ways to improve national competitiveness through further liberalisation measures which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak believes is crucial for Malaysia’s economic future.
It is understood that eliminating policies that still adhere to the spirit of the New Economic Policy (NEP) — even though the NEP no longer exists and was replaced by the National Development Policy in 1990 — has been received with “trepidation by the Cabinet.”
This part of the report was quite disturbing:
Perkasa, the newly-formed Malay rights group headed by Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali met Tan Sri Amirsham last week to give their two sen’s worth.
“Our meeting with him was not a briefing session on the progress of the New Economic Model but merely a meeting to hand over our memorandum.
“We stressed that the government needs to take an affirmative action approach to help Malays and Bumiputras, and also other needy groups among other races like Indians and Chinese when they came out with this New Economic Model,” said the independent MP.
Ibrahim said Amirsham gave an outlook on the current economic status of the country and employment statistics.
Perkasa will organise a round-table discussion this Sunday to voice out their views on the NEM. The 76 members of Majlis Perundingan Melayu, which was launched last Saturday to protect Malay rights and Islam, will also be at this meeting.
What is ALSO worrying is another report in Malaysiakini that Perkasa gets green light to launch own publication. It is amazing how the Home Ministry is lenient with such an organization which seems to be an alternative UMNO. On one hand, our PM is trying to liberalize the economy to improve national competitiveness; on the other hand, here is an organization which does not seem to be supporting such measures and can continue to voice their discontent in very definite ways.
Their narrow mindset is very worrying because the focus is still Malay/Bumiputra in that they advocate race-driven economic policies and practices with little awareness of its repercussions on the nation's overall economic fundamental. Did they stop to think that this could be one of the reasons why there has deterred investors and caused an outflow of resources as well? Did they not stop to think that such a perspective could sabotage the country's attempt to be a developed nation and a global player in many areas? We are fast losing out to our neighbours and yet, here comes one that insists on Paleolithic practices - in full opposition to what the PM is trying to do for the country. Should they not support BN and UMNO and can they be regarded as an opposition movement in the shadow of PR?
In an interview with Malaysiakini, Ibrahim also revealed that Perkasa now has upwards of 5,000 fully registered members while another 50,000 new applications are being processed, with more joining the NGO at a rate of 200 a day. This is certainly worrying news if the statistics are reliable. He clarified that Perkasa might even print on a daily basis instead of just fortnightly, hinting perhaps at a bigger audience and role for Suara Perkasa.
Such trends are certainly rocking the boat when political storms are raging in our country.
Who is behind PERKASA? Why are they being allowed to do what they are doing? Why is the road an easy one for them to travel?
Is it so difficult for them to embrace diversity?So many questions that are unanswered and even more unspoken. Why are they rocking the boat at this time? Perhaps KC and the Sunshine Band say it best when they sang That's the Way I like it.
While you are deep in thought, enjoy one of my old favorites from the 1970's - Hues Corporation and their version of ROCK THE BOAT. It was actually this song that gave me the inspiration for this post :-). Incidentally, I got the inspiration for my THE HOPPING FROGS AND THE PRINCESS while mopping the floor yesterday morning :-).
Do leave a comment if you wish to share your thoughts or views. Thanks! Have a great day!
Ummie As I saw the title, it reminds me of a song 'Rock The Boat' but could not figure out the singer.
Thanks for linking me to the youtube too.
You Rock!!! Babe ;p)