Born here in Malaysia, yet still second, third-class citizens?

There some things that I still do not understand till now. As it seems, there will never be a place for us non-bumiputeras under the Malaysian sun. So, what is being Malaysian? Is it to support an apartheid-like regime and policies?

Have not we, the non-bumiputeras, contributed a lot to the Malaysian economy as a whole? How many percent of the taxation actually comes from non-bumis? Would there be some disclosure?

There are some reasons I would oppose this type of thinking.

1. The quota system to public universities: I do not agree to a quota system. However, this quota system has already been misused. There are many a times when the quota for Malays cannot be filled by competent and eligible candidates. However, I do not see the quota being opened up to qualified non-bumis. Do you now wonder why there are so many unemployed graduates?

2. Discounts for bumiputeras no matter how rich they are: I do not agree at all to discounts provided to bumiputera for when real estate comes into play. Why does the rich bumi still need these sort if ‘crutches’? Where does the developer recover the discounts given out to bumiputeras? Isn’t taxation good enough to redistribute the wealth to the needy? Does poverty recognise race and ethnicity?

3. Quota for public service: I do not agree to the quota for jobs in the public services. When has this quota actually benefitted the taxpayer? The general perception is that the public service is slower than a half-dead crawling tortoise. Has there been any improvements at all?

Sad as it is, the issue of Ketuanan Melayu are not that different from apartheid. What makes us so different anyway? There won't be an end in sight to this controversy. We are born here and yet we are still second and third-class citizens?

We have strived to make this place our home, and yet we have to put up with discriminatory practices? So now you wonder why non-bumis generally aren't patriotic? Now you wonder why the integration programmes of the past 50 years never worked out? Now you wonder why we are only ‘tolerating’?

It is this policy of affirmative action that has seen many non-bumis rise up to the challenge and eventually becoming even stronger and more resourceful. Ever wonder why viruses get immune to some drugs? What does not kill you makes you stronger. This policy that you continue will not make you stronger. It will definitely make you more reliant on political and economic crutches.

Hamisu
Malaysiakini