Nor Yaakob’s mobility for Bumiputera economic progress
"We need to make sure there is economic and social mobility to form a larger Malay middle class base in the march towards a developed country status," he said, adding that, thus continuous efforts must be done to build a world class Malay-based talent Suddenly the minister in charge of the EPU, the onetime FOREX dealer who lost tons of Malaysian money to the market, is talking about Malay economics. That should be music to the ears of many. Now hold on to your horses boys. Let's carry out a little bit of forensic exercise – a science which lately seems to have fallen into disrepute since Pornthip couldn't testify further. After eating political vadey every morning, Nor Yaakob is now eating nasi lemak for political breakfast. In other words, from not being interested in talking about Malay economics, he has had a change of heart. He wants to join the bandwagon. He wants to be in tune with Tun Dr Mahathir who is in tune with Ibrahim Ali's Perkasa. Nor Yaakob has never been interested in Malay economics before. He is more interested in playing musical chairs as to whom he wants to place as head of this or that GLC rather than pressing for mobility. Only now, he understands the essence of Malay economics- the central issue being mobility. He was more interested to place his 'boys' at strategic places. What explains his sudden change of heart? He is the minister in charge of the EPU. Yet he has managed to eclipse the role and function of Finance Minister 2 who should be the one in charge of appointing people to head GLCs. So, why is he now talking about Malays being left behind across the board? Isn't this condition the result of economic policies carried out by successive administrations and which PM Najib now wants to revamp? I am going to repeat what I have said before- regarding this condition afflicting Malay economics. You have the entire political and governmental machinery dominated by Malays and yet, taken as a whole, the entire political and governmental machinery has not been able to overcome Malay laggardness? What does that tell you? You arrive at the unchallengeable conclusion that your policies have failed and the linchpin of your policies was the creation of a mobility cul de sac. You put in place a system where rewards do not necessarily go to those who use their brains and work hard. But you have a system where people cut corners, people leveraged on who they are to overtake others who could only offer their sweat off their eyebrows and material between their ears. Nor Yaakob is talking eerily about wanting to put in place more and more intense measures of the very policies that made Malays lag behind. So don't you believe in this vadey for breakfast spokesperson's change of heart. He is talking for self survival. Perhaps he knows if he doesn't measure up, he will out of the cabinet. And what could a better boost to your political resume than being vocal about the economic plight of the Malays. Never mind if Nor Yaakob does not consider himself to be 100% Malay. Because now Nor Yaakob suddenly realizes, his and UMNO's political future depend on their ability to solve the Malay economic problem. That those who don't want to face the issue squarely will be punished severely in the next election. But we are not going to face it squarely ala Perkasa. Perkasa doesn't want mobility for the masses. It wants mobility for the puteras in the bumi. They want mobility only for the elites. The mobility that we want is that put in place by a system that everyone can work hard for himself and family and eventually the country. This is the kind of social mobility which we desire that eliminates sharp divisions within a particular race and between races. If within one race, there is a sharp division in which only the selected few can gain the upper hand, most of the time not as a result of hard work and brainwork, but through some legislated privileges, that kind of mobility is not acceptable. Nor do we want a social mobility grounded on the principles of ascribed status in which those who advance or those who are given every opportunity to advance are those privileged to be born in the upper class.
31 comments:
Dato,
Semua ini adalah permainan lama yang diberi nafas baru. Permainan yang telah dimainkan sejak 50 tahun yang baru. Bukan mamat yang makan vadey buat breakfast sorang sahaja, tetapi oleh keseluruhan geng dia.
Semua ini silap mata je untuk mengekalkan kuasa dalam PRU 13.Bukan kita tak kenal depa-depa ni.
bat8
'The mobility that we want is that put in place by a system that everyone can work hard for himself and family and eventually the country. This is the kind of social mobility which we desire that eliminates sharp divisions within a particular race and between races.'
Good if the above can be implemented but you are dreaming. I may not have had the privilege of being an ADUN nor am I Malay however I have been dealing with UMNO members for a long time. Most of your political brethren would rather burn the country to the ground first than allow anyone to stop or even slow down their gravy train. You have been warned Dato. When the country goes to hell because of Najib's policies make sure the nons are not dragged into UMNO's power struggle. This time we will not allow it.
Dato'
Sak, when are you going to be discovered?
Excellent piece...n think vadey with nasi lemak - ikan bilis sauce is quite tasty...lol
"The mobility that we want is that put in place by a system that everyone can work hard for himself and family and eventually the country."
Couldn't agree with you more. With 1 proviso though:
"And reap the just and fair rewards!!"
dpp
we are all of 1 race, the Human race
lets get this mamak out of the "cabinet" but his kawan2 is heading the GLC to support him back. pay back time
Dato,
Let me tell you something that many Malay leaders would not want to hear.
Be it education, economics, services or whatever, the Malays can never overtake the Chinese.
Not that they are not capable. The government has made them so.
It is only when Malays have a want, will they turn to UMNO.
Just look around you. How many Malays own handphone or computer shops. Or supermarkets or car showrooms or workshops. Or even successful restaurants.
See how easy the rural Malays are deceived each time there is an election. Just give them some ringgit and some gifts and they vote for you. Their larger interests are ignored.
UMNO has deliberately kept the Malays poor and naive.
Meanwhile, UMNO leaders are indecently rich and sinfully extravagant. They greed knso no bounds.
Indian turned Malay politicians are better off than the 'real' Malays in the kampongs... and even beg for assistance from celups.
And there are too many celup Malays in UMNO who are making hay while the sun shines.
Sak,
Once again you really hit the nail and how true you are in your analysis of those clowns in government.
Dato'
Your last paragraph says it all...
Inline with the original “VALUES” which our Bapak Merdeka Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra together with his first cabinet of Honourable, Dedicated & Established TRUE MALAYSIAN TUANS "Men of Distinction & Honour" adopted - From TOP to BOTTOM.
Let us all SHIFT our “Ketuanan, Racial, Religious, Personal, Selfish, Etc PARADIGM”....
To now think about “OUR GREAT NATION MALAYSIA for ANAK BANGSA MALAYSIA”....
- "Malaysia for Anak Bangsa Malaysia" where every citizen, young & old can "Share & Dream about his/her Goals in Life"
- "Be given the Opportunity" to work hard towards that "Dream",
- "To Achieve" that "Malaysian Dream"....
- As Another proud "Anak Bangsa Malaysia Achiever!"
The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were.
John F. Kennedy
Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.
Thomas Jefferson
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.
Thomas Jefferson
Cheers.
Vinan,
"Most of your political brethren would rather burn the country to the ground first than allow anyone to stop or even slow down their gravy train".
I have many UMNO friends and from their talks and actions I couldn't agree with you more. Otherwise, how can they turn a blind eye to the rampant corruption in their party and government. There is so much at stake for them. No sincerity and honesty at all. There is simply no political will. Not with the current PM.
Anon 8.27
Couldn't agree with you more.
The government must make the Malays work hard in order to succeed. Abolish patronage and rent-seeking. Assistance to the Malays must be on the basis of capability, merits and needs rather than political affiliation.
Permit me to recount a story. I have a Malay friend who's working for a major MNC, drawing five figures monthly.
But he still wanted to "forge" a signature for a fictitious letter of recommendation to admit his child into a boarding school on scholarship.
When confronted as to why he's screwing his own brethren when he can already afford it, he replied that "everyone is doing it".
As if it's his God-given right. People like that don't want a change of government. Believe you me, no right-thinking Umno person will give these benefits up without a fight.
*not that you're not a right-thinking person, but you get my drift*
Sir
NMY is a dead man walking. same as ZI, AAB and KJ. period.
Let me tell you a story of an UMNO member that I know. Whether this is the typical leaders/members that UMNO have, I leave it to your readers to judge.
This guy, a graduate, is in his
40's. He is now officially unemployed after working for 15 years in a private sector. He is active in politics in a certain
UMNO division for the past 5 years. He said he joined UMNO in order to make money as he observed that many of his friends became rich after less than 5 years in UMNO.
Being unemployed, he has no gaji. I did once asked him how he can afford a very comfortable lifestyle. His answer is simple - politics. He is a crony of a certain UMNO warlords. He gets money from being a nominee/proxy, middlemen between Chinese contractors to which he normally subs the projects obtained using bumiputra status with the support of UMNO warlords/minister. He says what he only gets is peanuts compared to those in the corridors of power. Takkan depa saja, nak buat duit.
I am not sure whather he pays any income tax as I did not ask. I won't be surprised if he does not. He drives a RM300,000 car and can always be seen hanging in hotel coffee houses, kopitiam, mamak shop both during office hours and at night. During UMNO assembly at PWTC, he can been seen around hotels and joints around KL until the wee hours of the morning.
+++
UMNO leaders tolerate this type of lazy and rent-seeking character as they are all a part of this get rich quick scheme. I shudder to think what will happen to the Malays if this attitude continue. There is no talk of hard work. "Buat apa kerja kuat kalau boleh dapat cara senang? Relaxlah brother".
Sampai kiamat pun Melayu tak boleh maju.
Salam Dato' SAK,
Uhhhh....emmmmm post ini, Membaca senarai nama CEO dalam the Star dan posting Dato'SAK ini, glukos dalam darah saya naik daripada 0.1% kerana terperanjat dan marah. ( glukos dalam darah dalam keadaan normal ialah 0.1 %). Saya berdoa kepada ALLAH dianugerah sentiasa sehat dan akal yang tajam agar terus menulis untuk pengetahuan rakyat marhaen seperti saya.
2. Saya baru tahu CEO LTH satu daripada nya. Walaupun saya simpan dalam LTH tak banyak tapi puloh ribu juga itu pun pulohan tahun simpan, tapi sampai sekarang saya tak puas hati tentang dividen lebih rendah dari ASB( 7.5 % lebih) dan Bank rakyat ( 15%). Saya pernah menulis surat kenapa dividen memanjang kurang dari 6%- tak sampai 5.5% dan berapa bonus diberi kepada lembaga pengarah dan staf, haram tak dibalas sampai sekarang, gamaknya surat hilang kok. Sedangkan ladang sawit luas dan merata dan pelaburan nya pelbagai, soal nya kenapa tak beri dividen setimpal dengan ASB atau lebih. Kan LTH pendeposit LTH itu orang melayu. Tahun 2006 sahaja, pendapatan LTH mencecah RM838 juta dan untong nya pula sebanyak RM500 juta. Sekarang tak tahu tak kuasa ambil peduli. LTH pun tak pernah nak hantar laporan tahunan, tak macam PNB ada hantar laporan dan magazine pelaburan kepada pelabur nya.
3. Tiada pendosit tiada LTH, tiada LTH tiada CEO nya. Rugi sama-sama tanggung. Untung beri dividen ciput. Nak keluar semua deposit belum tunai haji (Kalau di tanya LTH,tentu lah dijawab ,awak punya suka). Dato' ini bukan lepas geram , ini lah hakikat GLC untuk Melayu- Islam. Harap ada perubahan dalam Era DSNTR ini. Ku Menunggu wahai LTH ku. 'Benci tapi sayang" kerana rakyat marhaen macam saya ini masih perlu LTH untuk tunai rukun Islam kelima. Nak pergi package tak mampu- mahal.
Maaf dan TQ.
Dato'
Correct me if I am wrong.
It appear the typical trait among UMNO leaders when under threat, the only weapon they know is to hide behind their race.
When can we achieve 1Malaysia vision, I wonder ?
With his poor track record, I won't even trust him to sell ikan bilis for me. Imagine what the money he lost in Forex trading can do for the Malays. Why, there might even be some left over for the Indians,Chinese, Ibans and the rest of us peasants.
BNsucks
Dato,
lets put it this way......
most of us Malays work very hard..in business or work...without relying on UMNO whatsoever....
This is the disadvantage of being a Malay...when we climb up the ladder of economic success..suddenly we will face the UMNO warlord that stop us while we're approaching that ladder and said...
"hey you, UMNO has given you a lot...so now you have to give us something back...we need 30%...if not you're not allowed access..."
suddenly we owed UMNO a lot....for our hard work...i think i better become a chinese or indian.....
Dato
cool piece,especially the vadey and nasi lemak analogy.Hahahahah.You are spot on about the vadey luver not giving a damn about anyone except his cronies.But thats an old story , dato, every sensible MALAYSIANS know about this, minus those still living in the state of denial.
Talking about the middle class, i think this group is the forgetten one.Why? just take the housing scheme in Bolehland.THe low cost houses is out of bounds fot the middle class, no choice but to buy "Rumah Kos Sederhana" but do you know how much does the above mentioned kinda house cost these days?Do you know how much does a middle class malay goverment servent earn and then has to pay for a kos sederhana house?
Sadly all this that vadey guy nak fikir ker?Not at all, he is soley interested in only MONEY AND POWER!
So all this talk about the switch from vadey to nasi lemak is purely eyewash.It still leads to MONEY AND POWER.
Anon 15:27
Kakitangan atasan LTH ni ramai korup yang. Depa guna duit pelabur untuk dapat untung pada diri sendiri. Ada cerita yang depa ni dapat komisen bila depa sewa hotel/bangunan kat mekah dari pak pakistan yang jaga hotel2 tu dan duit untuk makanan yng tak kauliti. Ada hantu duduk bawa duit cash untuk depa lepas dapat sewaas dari LTH.
MACC ada tak ikut depa ka? Sebab kat Tanah suci org ingat tak berlaku perkara mcm ni
3
B: 'And that answers your question, doesn't it? The affirmative policy might have created a Malay middle class but how do you sustain it when the world doesn't run on race? How do you make them socially and economically "mobile" in a high-income economy when success is dependent as much on cooperation with others as it does on personal effort?
When an Ibrahim Ali or an Azhar Ibrahim fingers the Chinese as bogeymen, how will they also advise our Malays who parrot their racism to act the next day when they return to the office and see their Chinese or Indian supervisor? Tell them to f@# off because Ibrahim Ali and Azhar Ibrahim have now given the ok?
You know, they are doing all this sabre-rattling even before the NEM or 10MP has been detailed. It's as if to say that the Malays are not ready for affirmative actions for all. Do they mean affirmative actions must be only for the Malays? Aren't there also poor Chinese, Indians, Ibans and others? Isn't that indicative that all along they had intended Umno to suppress the Other Malaysians rather than to elevate the Malays? Look at the definition of the NEP pillars to know how they have really distorted the rationale of affirmative policies to suit their own political ambitions at ruinous cost to all our races.'
A: 'Back to bumiputera economic progress, Sir. How do we accelerate it?'
B: 'Put the 3R's on the backburner for one generation, Sofea. Help the Malays come up to be more engaged with the whole world. Enthuse them to cooperate with the Other Malaysians. Enthuse the Other Malaysians to cooperate with them. Enlarge the economic pie, no matter by who. If it's the Chinese, so be it. Get that pie enlarged first. Then there will be more jobs. In tandem with the Malays getting the right and relevant skill sets, they will be employed. There are not there many Chinese and Indians left in this country anyway, isn't it? I'd rather the Malay get a better paying job working in a Chinese-run company so that he can save to start out on his own later than he sits in the house and strums a guitar waiting for the postman to come with an offer letter.'
A: 'But what if the Chinese hoard everything to themselves, Sir?'
2
A: 'I see what you mean, Sir. The other Tun, chedet by nom, has written something quite inflammatory in his blog. In his twilight years, he is showing the same desire to make the Chinese the punching bag for Malay frustrations and so drive them towards Umno loyalty. From the number of inflammatory comments in his blog, he has succeeded again to drive a wedge between us Malaysians.
For instance, i have a problem with his mention about quotas for admission to public universities. He is saying the Chinese shouldn't question that because it will lead to less places for our Malays. I think that's an erroneous assumption. So far as i know, no Chinese has argued against the admission of Malays into the public universities. They have only questioned using race quota as criteria to exclude many Other Malaysians who would have been admitted on meritocracy. And that is proven so by the fact so few of our Malay graduates can get good jobs or any in fact as well as the disappearing standards of our university global rankings.'
B: 'I think our Chinese are just saying if their students are good and qualified, they should be admitted to the course of their choice and if that means there will be less places to be shared, then more places should be created so that our Malay students don't lose out. Since we have many public universities, the courses and admissions can be re-rationalized to make this happen. In any case, it's a seasonal thing depending on performance by batch from year to year. It's like using the Air-Asia software to make sure no seat is unfilled.'
A: 'That they are not even doing that seems to reflect an affirmative policy that is actually suppressive than affirming, Tun.'
B: 'And that's going to create the tension in the market which will inevitably end in the loss of mobility as we understand the true meaning of that term, Sofea.'
A: 'How can we help our Malay middle-class then, Tun?'
B: 'By not identifying them as Malays, Sofea. If you don't have a target, then you won't have a problem. In other words, ignore they are Malays so that you can help them as Malaysians in need of help. Once you say so and so is a Malay, then there's historical baggage which comes with it. Having read Wain's Malaysian Maverick, let me add that historical baggage is a dangerous thing to have because it can distort the way policies should be framed and implemented. For instance, if i feel i have been slighted when young, i can later translate that as a slight on an entire race and then get power by selling it to the entire community so that they get a burning platform to rally behind me. Even at tremendous cost, real and opportunity, on the entire nation. See where we are today to tote up the final bill, Sofea.'
A: 'To think that just because someone is left at a servants' door is the possible cause of all the bad relations in this country years later.'
A: 'Sir, why are there teeth-marks on your tv remote control?'
B: '(blush). Ermm..i was biting it last night. A tense battle it was.'
A: 'Ahem. Anything i shouldn't know? Hehe.'
B: 'Harummph. Very funny, young lady. Actually, i was just watching one of the Uber cup matches. Malaysia versus USA.'
A: 'Oh, that. Yes, it was nail-biting in some parts.'
B: 'I think our girls need some of my tonik cap gajah. Hehe. Stamina, will and technique win the day.'
A: 'Come to think of it, we can say the same for any strategy to help up our Malays.'
B: 'Despite my excruciating pain, i've been thinking about that, Sofea.'
A: 'Pray share, Tun. You always think out of the box, O'wise one.'
B: 'All right. In exchange for some breakfast? i am faint from hunger.
Look at the match players. On our side, we have two Other Malaysians. They are called Chinese. On the other side, we have two non-white, non-black orientalish players. One looks Chinese, and the other, Mangkalakiri, is of Thai origin. In fact, if we look back, the two most formidable Indonesian players of the Thomas Cup competition were of Chinese origin. Rudi Hartono and Liem Swee King. And the game's most formidable frontstroke smash player of all times was Tang the Thing of China who retired to coach for Indonesia. Now, last night, we also saw how two Indians born in our country now play for their new home, Australia, even as they still loved our country.
Isn't all these examples illustrative of the real meaning of mobility in the modern era?
Mobility has erased the notion of race associated with a country. Mobility is relating more and more to market demand and pragmatic approaches. Talent has become a global resource independent of one's roots. Race has become irrelevant to all things that matter.
What comes out as important are stamina, will and technique in solving problems.
Wanting to do economically and socially well is just a desire to solve a particular set of problems.
So if an approach or method has not been proven successful in doing so, abandon it and pick another approach or method.
Especially if the first way has only worsened the situation while creating a bad system that locks suffering into future generations.
Notice what is happening in your mind from listening to what i've just said? Your mind is now liberated from the festers of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, from trying to use the notion of race to explain away prejudices. Do you see race playing in the thomas and uber cup competitions? You only see stamina, will and technique.
So start by decoupling everything from the notion of race, focus on the right success elements and progress with confidence from there.'
A: 'But there's still the matter of how to help the Malays, Tun.'
B: 'There are two ways to help them up, Sofea. One, enthuse them to imbibe all success elements so that they can improve themselves. Two, enthuse them not to see others as their enemies and threats. You need a happier and more inclusive working and living environment in order to activate those success elements.
The past method is to say the Malays are down and others are a threat so that they must come up in order to equalize with those threats.
This method creates bad blood in the market. One, if they can't come up on their own, then the tension will cause them to be shunned at the very phase when they may need to be helped by others. Two, the others who are crimped by bad policies will also fend for themselves and then it becomes self-fulfilling prophecy of divisiveness.'
4
B: 'I challenge that assertion, Sofea. Look at the capitalization of Malay holdings in all sectors in the country. Ask yourself how the Umno elites can continue to maintain their high burning rate lifestyles. See how many of them drive big flashy cars in the city and live in sumptuous mansions. Where does their money come from? ASN at 9 percent for Malays, and ASM at five percent for Other Malaysians, for instance? And if they say the Chinese hold so many sectors, ask what size are those sectors. Retail shops selling chicken rice?
Sofea, these types of arguments can go on ad nauseum. They are all negative, not just for better future cooperation to grow the economic pie together, but also for our Malay middle class to find their next sustainable niches. Remember, you can't get to the final 21 score until you have gone the whole yard. And that needs stamina, will, technique.'
A: 'Stamina and will i can understand, Sir. But technique?'
B: 'A long time ago i was on the DBP terminology team. We were trying to coin Malay words for technical terms in English. Brain-racking, i recall. Because one must not only be consistent, there has to be "malayness" in the terms. Now we have a mountain of techniques residing in a universe of knowledge. Unfortunately, none in our national language. So if our Malays want to know in order to do in order to earn in order to rise, what's the only way?'
A: 'Some will say you are too pro-Other Malaysians, Sir, even as you try to think out of the box for them.'
B: '(sigh). I wish they wouldn't think that of me. When i was very young, i was already in an enviable position in national service. One day i received a letter. It was personally signed by our first PM. It was brought to me by a young Malay boy. Imagine, the first PM of our country, a Prince amongst men to boot, asking me, a young man then, to do what i can to help the bearer of that letter.'
A: 'Oooh. And did you, Sir?'
B: 'Of course, i didn't. Because i had already racked my brain and broke my back to help him. I had already done it without any prompting before the letter had arrived. Why? Because it was the right thing to do.'
A: 'You're so nice the one, Sir.'
B: 'Which reminds me. Talking about backs. I am racked with pain. I think it's one slipped disk, Sofea.'
A: 'Oh dear! Let me rub some oil on your back for you, ok?'
B: 'Make that three slipped disks, and take your time, Sofea.'
A: '(eyes roll) Harummph. Sir, you're incorrigible again!'
B: 'Hehe, leopards don't lose their spots. Look at Umno, as a good example, Sofea.'
Anon 22.31
Tanah je suci, orang yang pergi belum tentu suci.
Salam Dato',
Nor Yaakob, as you said is trying to save his ass... maybe he needs to stay a bit longer so his "many projects" could bear fruits before he got kicked out of politics. This guy is the classic "ular" lidah bercabang... Najib should just kick him out before end of the year before he starts messing up with his contorted Malay economics agenda... Just look at his achievements of KPIs for last few years? Haprak iota! I wonder why this deadwood is still around?
Dato
What happened to vadeh private secretary who was caught with Tons of RM found at apartmaent in Telok Air Tawar Peneng.
......wawa
you concern ke for malay mobility tok?
liberalisation never work and yet you are proponent for free market
Dato'
Cecah vadey dengan sambal nasi lemak best juga. Pagi tadi saya try kat Yusuf & Ali, Brickfields.
Dato's..."The mobility that we want is that put in place by a system that everyone can work hard for himself and family and eventually the country. This is the kind of social mobility which we desire that eliminates sharp divisions within a particular race and between races...'
I could't agree more...but in reality, the very basic of the above is almost Utopia in Malaysia. There all kind of hindrances/prejudices and racial sentiments to not only slow us down but to actually stop us in the track all together...Sedih tapi Benar.
First of all this guy is a mamak..not sure if he's fit to be a bumiputra, so is Dr M...but who cares anyway. Bumi or Non Bumi is just a nice topic for politicians. Reality is as a politician like you, what are you going to do about poor buggers like me? You can't uplift them if you don't allow them to have an opportunity like opening the door to get some seed money for doing business on their own..stop into thinking of making these educated melayu to be "corporate slaves" forever. Let these melayu go out and challenge their luck in the corporate world. To do that you need to provide them with some "seed money" or capital without callateral requirements. For example, if melayus who are already considered as 'senior citizens' like me, you need to open more for more apportunities as they have experience and more wiser....For the youth you need to educate them to be more independent and not into thinking of getting a fixed income job after college. Create more support Melayu youth org., bro... That's the way to go!
Melayu Bostonian (x-sdarian too)
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