Poetic Justice

As promised in my last post, I would flesh out a little bit more some of my thoughts on Race and Religion. That said, I hope I can be permitted to approach the issue of “Race” within the narrower confines of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s recent statement that 30% Bumi equity is still a national policy bearing in mind that the Yang Berhormat (“His Excellency“) is widely expected to be the next Prime Minister of Malaysia. I just think it makes for easier reading and comprehension.

So, without further ado, here is my open letter to the present Finance Minister in relation to his recent press statement …

Dear Yang Berhormat,

Introduction : The Change in Policy

Approximately 2 weeks or so ago, you mentioned that companies seeking to be listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange may be allowed to offer their shares to non-Bumiputras IF the shares remain undersubscribed by Bumiputra institutions and the Bumiputra public. (“the New Policy“)

Many, it seemed, welcomed your statement. After all, the present policy appeared to be more liberal especially when contrasted to previous one.

However, I take a different view and I hope you will allow me to be somewhat candid about my views. To put it bluntly, I think you should fire the gentleman who proposed the New Policy. Of course, if you came up with it yourself, rest assured that you have my absolute sympathies about your predicament.

A Recipe for Abuse and Disaster

Still, I think I owe you an explanation as to why I have objections about the New Policy bearing in mind that whatever candour I have is naturally (or unnaturally) constrained by the provisions of the Sedition Act 1948.

At the outset, let me say it clearly that I am not against affirmative action. Not by any means. After all, when a fellow Malaysian is DISADVANTAGED in some way – whether economically or educationally and what have you – no right minded Malaysian can rightly object to the State lending a hand.

Nevertheless, from that it is clear that there must be a factual premise, a factual precondition if you will, in existence before we can step forward to say that we need to lend a hand to this or that person in that there is a DISADVANTAGE which we wish to remedy. Unfortunately, it was tragic to note that when the New Policy was articulated, there was a conspicious absence of any cogent data to justify the implementation of the New Policy. Why was such data missing? Did no one think of its relevance?

I must point out that I am not rejecting the New Policy in toto. It is after all ‘more liberal’. However, I do question certain aspects of it and they are as follows.

The first question I have is which segment of the Bumiputra community are you targetting? Like any other community, there are those within the Bumiputra community who require assistance and there are those who do not. Those who do not, may like ‘the assistance’ of affirmative action as it allows them to live a certain lifestyle.

However, from a policy stand point, affirmative action must trickle down only to those who NEED it. Not to those who WANT it. Frankly, the “special position” guaranteed by Article 153 of the Constitution must be construed in this light. It is the only way that the “special position” makes sense.

If you agree with me, as I think you must, then it becomes clearer that there must be some science to the implementation of the New Policy and this should be clearly supported with cogent data.

Otherwise, such a blind application will only encourage an expectation that affirmative action is in place even for those who don’t deserve it. A situation, surely, not envisaged by the original proponents of affirmative action and can only lead to a situation of abuse, even eventual disaster for recipients of such privileges.

The second question I have is why are there no similar reservations mentioned in this statement for whichever segment of the non-Bumiputra community?

Surely, when we are talking about taking care of the disadvantaged, it behooves us to also remember that there are the impoverished and the disenfranchised within the non-Bumiputra community. Their hardships are not imaginary and they equally deserve a helping hand.

A Government for the People of Malaysia

Of course, you might be inclined to point out that the Barisan Nasional-led Federal Government has component parties and the interests of the non-Bumiputra communities must be championed by the component parties.

Yet, the undeniable fact is that the Malaysian Government is there to govern the people of Malaysia. This by extension includes your Ministry.

As such, there would be no need to wait for component parties to step in and champion whatever cause of this or that community. Your Ministry can and is even obligated to be proactive and even handed when it crafts or articulates whatever financial policy.

For that reason, I urge you not to tarry further or hesitate from being more egalitarian in our nation’s affirmative action policies lest our national landscape be blighted more and more by fringe movements claiming to represent the interests of this or that community.

Rest assured that there is nothing to impede you in your actions, be it the Federal Constitution, the Laws of Malaysia or even your faith. In point of fact, your faith enjoins observing and embracing the spirit of pluralism as well as being just to all.¹

Conclusion

Whatever may have been said above, it is not that I do not understand the political sensitivities that you have to navigate through – whether from within UMNO or without. Still, whatever the sensitivity, nothing should discourage you from reaching out for the nation’s wheel and steering a course against the politics of old where one is relevant only by being a fear mongerer.

It cannot be gainsaid that the ’special position’ of (needy) Bumiputras are Constitutionally provided for. However, the ’special needs’ of the needy non-Bumiputras are not Constitutionally prohibited.

The two need not be incompatible with one another and can in fact be complementary as the immediate spin off from this are citizens no longer vaguely connected with this nation.

Yes, I know that there will be those who think that enfranchising the needy amongst all communties may lead to the economic dominance of more than just the intended race. However, such thinking diminishes our capacity to inculcate genuine empathy amongst the various communities making up Malaysia. No longer can one citizen say to the other that I have nothing to do with you.

And if this sounds revolutionary, well, allow me to say that the only thing revolutionary is that you will be going against some ‘traditions’ and if in so doing you manage, as Dr. Martin Luther King puts it, to lift this Nation to a new plateau of compassion – well, do it! Malaysia will certainly be the better for it.

… to be continued

1. See Surah Hujarat/Chapter 39 : verse 13, Surah Al-Maidah/Chapter 5: verse 8 and verses relating to the Creation of Prophet Adam generally. [↩]

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