NeoNEPs vs. NEM

Not a few commentators were questioning why didn't I combine with Ibrahim Ali? I take that to mean why I don't subscribe to Ibrahim Ali's views about Malays in Malaysia. Aren't you Malay and an UMNO?

Let me quickly put aside these misgivings; I know of Ibrahim Ali but don't know him personally. In the 1970's he used to be invited by UM students for students forum. I remembered one that had as its star guest, Comrade Kassim Ahmad (as he was then). When it was question time, this chap at the back of the audience stood up to say- all of what Kassim said are solvable by Islam. That chap was Ibrahim Ali and he was wearing his trademark PLO scarf then.

Indeed as Muslims, we can't argue with stating our religion as the universal panacea. But that does not excuse us from laying down the details, thinking out the means to solve and giving rational arguments. Not an excuse not to think and work. We CAN have Islamic solutions but because it was said by Ibrahim Ali then, no one gave a tinker's cuss about what he said. He was then, today and perhaps in future of no relevance to mentally rigorous audience. He was a rabble-rouser.

Why don't I combine? The answer is simple. Our ideas on the economic development of Malays are diametrically opposed. He stands for command centre economics- we-command-and-we-control kind of freakish approach to economics. I stand for free market system or some variation of the free market system based on the fundamental principle of man's freedom and voluntariness. Yes, we know there are poor Malays and their plight must be addressed by market intervention. But the manner of solving them is no longer along the prescriptions outlined by Brahim Ali- we surrender our destiny to a bunch of economic despots or we are taken in by the arguments that Malay economic problems can be solved by some people on behalf of. I am opposed to the system which he invites us to subscribe- the very system that hasn't been able to achieve the targets set for Malays.

Maybe, I haven't made myself clear. Let me quote what I have stated in the previous article:-

Look at the whole government system. All the district officers are Malays. Most of the ADOs are Malays. The officers too. All the Pengarahs are Malays. All the MBs are Malays. The head of the judiciary, police, army and other uniform bodies are almost all Malays. The kings and Agongs are all Malays. You have Malays in power since 1957 and these Malays have put in place a governing system that is supposed to uplift all Malays. Now look at the accomplishments.

Despite the entire machinery of the government being almost all Malay- we haven't reached the 30% target of equity control in the corporate world. Out of the 52 billion Ringgit allocated under the NEP to selected individuals, only RM2 billion is left. In terms of education, Malay graduates formed the largest group of unemployed and unemployable. You take up sports science; you want to be an oil trader in Shell? You take up literature; you want to be an investment analyst. You take up religious studies; you want to be a trade officer. In terms of business ownership, ownership of business premises, ownership of land planted with palm oil, hotels, and the entire spectrum of business- the Malays have underperformed.

These were achieved under the terms and the regime of affirmative actions aggressively insisted to be retained by Ibrahim Ali. This insistence was made despite article 153 of the Federal Constitution and despite the demography of the Malays. The truth is, you can't legislate the will to succeed and you can't legislate success. More importantly, we can't allow people like Brahim Ali to legislate for us.

There is one truth emerging from all these shortcomings- those in power- from Kings to the officers in the land offices have not helped out the Malays achieved what were set down in the NEP. So, why should we return to the dark past? The f***ing Malay Patricians and Mandarins have not helped out the Plebeian Malays. 
This is what Ibrahim Ali proposes and this is why we decline. I repeat what I said- this whole exercise is just an excuse to reinforce an economic system where only the Puteras in the Bumi will benefit. One commentator said- this round-table forum was attended even by sons of Naza- wow! That is supposed to mean something of earth shattering significance? They were there maybe to ensure the system that has enriched them stays.

The main problem is the majority of Malays are not buying into a scam that leads to the enrichment of a small elite of Malays exploiting and riding on ethnic fears cultivated assiduously by people like Ibrahim Ali and some UMNO leaders holding power.

You want to solve the economic problem of the Malays at large? Place wealth creating factors and assets directly into the hands of economic agents. Give every Malay 20 acre of land so that they can cultivate or turn them into wealth creating assets. They don't become millionaires but at least they can provide for their families. You have a system that has been in place since 1970, yet you find it difficult and you have set in a long winding process just to allow the average Malay to own a minimal one acre of land.

So Mr. Ibrahim Ali and his ilk – you know what to do with your suggestions?