Respect existing cooperation

By ROHANA MAN
rohana.man@utusan.com.my
(Tuesday: 17.08.2010)

The request by MCA for the government to give priority to merit, instead of quota, in ensuring genuine partnership between bumiputera and the non-bumiputera in realising the objective of the New Economic Model (NEM) reflects the party’s unwise attitude to compete with DAP in wanting to win the hearts of Chinese voters.

As a 61-year-old party, the top-ranking MCA leaders should not have over reacted to DAP’s antics which has no respect at all for the feelings of its allies in the opposition pact, especially Pas, when making any statements.

For example, in the issue on the setting up of a Pas’ Islamic state, which DAP blatantly rejects, raising dissatisfaction among the Pas senior leaders.

Just look at the demands by MCA at the Chinese Economic Congress on achieving the objectives of NEM and the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP) in Kuala Lumpur last Aug 14. Among the demands were for the government to give licence for Class F contractors to those eligible based on their records and performance, regardless their race. Doesn’t the MCA President, Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek, realise that the Class F contractors, majority of who are bumiputera, have to depend on Chinese suppliers for building materials and others.So, who is the “economic king”, not the Chinese?.

Economic analyst and lecturer in strategic management, College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Dr. Haim Hilman Abdullah said the demands made at the Chinese Econonic Congress showed the shallow-thinking of the MCA leaders.

He said the MCA leaders were aware that the economy of the Chinese was far ahead from other race, including with high per capita income , followed by India and then the Malays.

“They know but are not sensitive and lack the spirit to help colleagues from the other races to also improve their economy.

“They also know that the income of majority of the Malays is still below the poverty level. If they are sensitive, they would not have made such demands,” he told Utusan Malaysia.

From the demands made by the MCA, Haim said it reflected that the MCA leaders had no understanding of fairness in the distribution of the country’s economic cake.

He said what they understood was that the country’s economy should be based on a free market.

“If that is implemented, the Malays will never succeed in all aspects of life, including economy, education and others.

“This is because majority of the Malays can’t still afford to compete with the Chinese since almost all the economic sectors are monopolised by the Chinese,” he added.

Therefore, he said, there was a need to enhance awareness among the MCA leaders on the concept of fairness and freedom in mobilizing the country’s economy.

Could the demands from this congress came about following the 31 resolutions on the improvement to the NEM passed by the Bumiputera Economic Congress organised by the Malay Consultative Council (MPM) last May.

If it is, this is an unhealthy development. Looking at this development, it is better that both parties sit at a table and come up with a resolution that would satisfy both sides in accordance to what is enshrined in the Constitution.

We understand that in current situation, MCA is under pressure to woo back the confidence of the Chinese voters. In almost all the by-elections held after the 12th general election, the Chinese votes have swung to the opposition.

Having been in the country’s mainstream politics for so long, MCA is expected to be wiser in dealing with the situation . The parry should also realise that the victory obtained by its candidates was because of the bumiputera votes .

What is worrying is that every request and statement from MCA could upset other races and this could create a prolong anger.

A mistake can destroy all that have been built with other component parties in Barisan Nasional (BN). Worst, it will show that there no longer exist cooperation among them.

It should be understood that the bumiputera, especially the Malays, have long suffered because of the action of the non-bumiputera, especially the Chinese and Indian, for their outrageous demands to win the votes of their respective communities.

What should be realized by all races is that whenever there is a new demand which affects the privilege and rights of the bumiputera, the bumiputera, especially the Malays feel slighted.

Therefore, all component parties in BN should ask themselves whether they want to sacrifice the harmony and peace which they have been enjoying for the sake of a political struggle of a certain race.

We are confident that nobody wants another May 13 to happen.

Hence, respecting the feeling of other races and understanding the meaning of cooperation should be understood by all leaders in the BN coalition.

Chief Statistician and Census Commissioner Datuk Wan Ramlah Wan Abdul Raof . in a newspaper report dated Aug 12, 2010, revealed that among the problems faced by surveyors was on Chinese residents not being able to speak Malay or English.

“This should not happen because as Malaysians living in a country which has been independent for almost 53 years , they must at least know one of the languages,” she said.

Therefore, the resolution by the Chinese Economic Congress for more vernacular schools to produce students fluent in Mandarin is an irony.

If that is fulfilled, it is believed that one day, there would be no Chinese in the country who understands the national language.

With all the demands made at the Chinese Economic Congress, the existence of the lPertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) in defending the rights of the bumiputera should be viewed positively.