From: chuah@sail.cc.u-tokyo.JUNET (Chuah Yeow Chiang)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Subject: Re: Malaysia's racial policies
Date: 12 Nov 92 12:19:15 GMT
Organization: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Tokyo


	The "discussion" is finding its way to the same old path: all the other
vs Mr. Othman. Frankly speaking, quite predictable.
	Actually, Mr.Othman, I think most of us agree with you on the need to
help those needy Malays/Bumi's. And it seems that the thread has diverted
itself to the discussion of which race is poorer, Malay or Chinese(Funny, why
no Indian mentioned??) And I can see how enthusiatic you are in convincing
the others that Malays are much poorer and need assistance. But that's not
the point here. Many of the articles keeping stressing that we don't mind
at all(and we shouldn't) for the government to help those needy, give special
privilege to them etc,.. What we are complaining here is, why is the government
only give special privilege to the needy Malays(not to mention those well to
do Malays who benefited from the policy), but not those needy from other races?
	Now, don't give me the crap about Malaysia government also give
scholarships to non-bumi's,...etc,.. Yes. We all know that. But just look at
the proportion of the number awarded. Do you think it is proportional to the
needy population of the respective races in Malaysia? As T.P.Loh has pointed
out, for eg. only 5% or less of the Malaysian government scholarship for
tertiary study in Japan are given to non-bumi. Do you think that the number of
needy Malays are 20 times as much as those from the other races? There are also
scholarship given by the Japanese government for Malaysian students. But they
have arranged in such a way that only 5 to 7 places are opened to everybody,
(i.e. all races, including Malays), while at least 10 times of the number of
scholarships(can't remember the number, T.P.Loh, provide me some figure?)
are specially for the Bumi's! See what I mean? Lets say IF, you are one of the
non-bumi, what will you feel about this figure??
	I must say that some of the posting which said that providing too much
assistance will only discourage one from working hard, is very true. I think
the government should have noticed this reverse-effect already(e.g. the news
clip about Mahathir's critic towards bumi's,...) Just that they don't want to
admit the failure yet.
	Okay, my 2cents about NEP if I were to help Bumi's to achieve a better
situation,...  In fact, I feel that it's the way of thinking,
the mental value(hmm,... how should I say it?) that's the origin of the problems.
The government is trying their best to benefit bumi's, for example by setting
the quota of 30% of business shares, creating the Amanah Saham National,...etc,
but after all, what happened? The bumi's sell it away to get instant profit.
In other words, they don't really know how to exploit the chance, the benefit
that the government is providing them. This attitude, I feel has nothing to do 
with those tertiary courses like Engineering, Medicine which the government is 
setting heavy quota in. In fact, if you want people to understand that, will
be better to stress on economics,... However, personally, I feel that more
important will be the stress on primary and secondary education. It's the
problem with their attitude, not the technical knowledge. If they have the
right attitude, they will work as hard as the other races are to achieve
a better situation, with or without the government assistance. But I would
strongly against the way of civics lesson which tends to stir up racial
conflict as Mee Teng has stated what he heard of,...
	Well, anyway, that's just my opinion. You can always disagree with it!
But please, stop comparing who is poorer, who makes more bucks,..etc. If you
think you know the problem of the situation we are facing, try to state it out,
and try to suggest a solution to it. Don't let the thread to follow its same
old path to flaming, name calling, net-war again.

	Have a nice day!

Y.C.Chuah
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean