Malaysia is considered one of the most moderate nations in the Muslim world, but the controversial issues has sparked a row by comparing discrimination against Muslim and non muslims with the treatment of black South Africans under apartheid.
"As Muslims catch up with non muslims, non-Muslim especially Indians are only going backwards,"
UMNO that came out against the proposals were attacked for promoting "racial sentimens in Malaysia.
More than a decade after apartheid had ended in South Africa, an "insidious" form of discrimination was developing in Malaysia, between Muslim and non-Muslim.
Muslim Malaysians have benefited from more progressive laws over the years while the opposite has happened for non-Muslims.
Mahathir's "apartheid" accusation stung in a country which as a leader in the developing world saw itself at the forefront of the international campaign against racial segregation in South Africa.
"Nowhere in the Koran does it say that we must suspend our intellect or reason in matters religious," wrote one contributor to the debate. "On the contrary, we are told to exert ourselves fully (meaning use our brain) to fully understand our Holy Book."
"It's unfortunate that a great faith that actually granted and recognized the just status of non-muslims recognizing their rights and which transformed their status in Arabian society should not be blamed for something that has been used by politicians for their own selfishness."
The "bumiputra" policies were introduced in the early 1970s following race riots, and were designed to give the ethnic majority a greater share of the country's wealth, disproportionately controlled by ethnic Chinese.
The affirmative action policies include quotas for government jobs, admission to educational institutions and ownership in business. Stock exchange listing requirements also benefit Malays.
Alvin
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