From: on@husc10.harvard.edu (Ahmad On)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Subject: Malaysia's racial policies
Date: 8 Nov 92 18:21:17 GMT
Organization: Harvard University Science Center


In article <1992Nov8.153234.23876@nuscc.nus.sg> eng20009@nusunix1.nus.sg (TAN GIM WEE) writes:
>Azran Osman Rani (azran@leland.Stanford.EDU) wrote:
>: 
>: [deleted stuff]
>: 
>: essentially, it is about numbers. THis is perhaps clearly reflected in local
>: university admissions (the quota thingy). Currently, there are 
>: disproportionate numbers of ethic representation in fields like engineering,
>: medicine, law, etc. Since more malay engineers and doctors are needed
>: to balance the 'numbers', more spaces are allocated for malays in these
>: fields. Similarly, more spaces are allocated for say, Chinese in the
>: Arts. This does not mean that any malay off the street can qualify for
>: the spaces. Neither do these policies put a restriction on Chinese wanting
>: to study fields like engineering if they don't make the quota in local
>: U's. There are always other ways besides local universities. Nothing is
>: forbidden. I am not interested in discussing this further.
>: 
>Yes, proportional representation is indeed very desirable in a
>multi-racial society like Malaysia. But sir, think about a poor Chinese
>who wants to get into the local universities to do engineering but can't
>because of the quota. Where, sir, do you expect him to find the needed
>financial resources to fund an overseas education? Yes, the policies
>does not restrict people who are non-bumis from pursuing their goals and
>dreams, but makes it harder, much harder. Anyway, one can get an
>accounting degree by correspondence, but so far, I have not heard of any
>such courses for engineering. Where to do the experiments?
>An enlightened government should as far as possible try to allow ALL of
>its citizens to pursue their own goals, while at the same time try to
>maintain national unity and harmony. Another thing is that any
>government should know that dealing with people will always entail
>having to deal with irrational and emotional responses. That is inherent
>in human nature. Whatever the benefits of any policies are on the macro
>level, as long as it hurts oneself at the micro level, it is always hard
>to rationalise them as being good. Perhaps your esteemed government
>should do more PR and marketing, get in touch with the people to explain
>to them the reasons for their policies. Maybe this will help reduce the
>amount of negative feelings amongst some of the people.

The following is an excerpt of the Second Malaysia Plan quoted from the  
book "Malaysian Politics: The Second Generation" by Gordon P. Means.

"The Plan incorporates a two-pronged New Economic Policy for development.
The first prong is to reduce and eventually eradicate poverty, by raising
income levels and increasing employment opportunities for all Malaysians,
irrespective of race.  The second-prong aims at accelerating the process
of restructuring Malaysian society to correct economic imbalance, so as
to reduce and eventually eliminate the identification of race with
economic function.  This process involves the modernisation of rural
lives, a rapid and balanced growth of urban activities and the creation of
a Malay commercial and industrial community in all categories and at all
levels of operation, so that Malays and otherindigenous people will
become full partners in all aspects of the economic life of the nation.
The [NEP] is based upon a rapidly expanding economy which offers
increasing opportunities for all Malaysians, as well as additional 
resources for development.  Thus in the implementation of the Policy, the
Government will ensure that no particular group will experience any loss
or feel any sense of deprivation."

Obviously, the last sentence of the above paragraph, has been proven
wrong.  I, personally, do agree to to achieve racial hormony, the problem
of economic imbalance in Malaysia has to be addressed.  But, I am also
a firm believer in equal rights and opportunities for all mankind,
regardless of race, skin color, religion, etc.  For the past god-knows
how many months, all that we have been doing in this newsgroup is 
discuss (if you could call it that) the deficiencies of the Malaysian
government.  And those who have put forth "suggestions" on how to
correct these deficiencies have only mentioned things along the lines of 
"Get rid of all Bumi rights!" and "WE were here first, YOU agreed to special 
rights for US, so tough luck!"  The former does not solve the problem of
racial economic imbalance.  The latter completely ignores the problem of
personal liberty and equal oppotunities.

So, for all you politicians-to-be out there, how do you come to a compromise
between these two problems?  What kind of policy would correct the economic
disparity between the races AND not infinge on the personal liberties of the
rakyat?

Let's have some constructive feedback, and not the usual (as Azran puts it)
mumbo-jumbo.

Thank you and have a nice day.


-- 
______________________________________________________________________________
Ahmad Z. Che On                |        'I have the simplest of tastes...  
Harvard College '95            |         I am always satisfied with the best' 
on@husc.harvard.edu            |                                    Oscar Wilde 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean