KUALA LUMPUR: MCA president Datuk Ong Tee Keat indirectly called today for scrapping an affirmative action programme for the majority Malays in a rare challenge to the fount of government power.
With the global economy facing an uncertain future in 2009, Malaysia must "attract the best brains and professionals to help steer the ship away from rough, uncharted waters," Ong, who is Transport Minister, said in his New Year's message.
"We have no choice but to embrace meritocracy in our practices," said Ong.
It is the first time that an MCA leader has openly called for meritocracy, which can only be achieved by abolishing the affirmative action programme that gives Malays privileges in state contracts, jobs, housing and education.
The programme was launched following 1969 racial riots that were fuelled partly by Malay discontent over Chinese financial clout. But now it has become a renewed source of social tension due to frustration among the ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities who comprise 40 per cent of the population. Malays are 60 per cent of Malaysia's 27 million people.
Critics of the programme, including some Malays, say it mainly benefits a well-connected Malay elite and breeds cronyism, corruption and inefficiency.
Ong said the likelihood of a worsened global economy in 2009 could have a major impact on the export-driven economy of Malaysia.
An "economic tsunami is lapping our shores. The wave is colour blind, and the catastrophe it can bring will not distinguish between race, age or religion," Ong said.
Ong's statement is clearly an attempt to bolster dwindling support for his party among the Chinese, many of whom abandoned the party and the ruling Barisan Nasional in the March 2008 general election, voting instead for the opposition.
"A newly energised MCA will be fearless in speaking and acting for the equal interest, not only for the Chinese community, but for all Malaysians," Ong said. "The rights and freedom to be treated as an equal Malaysian as enshrined in our Constitution shall be defended at all costs."
However, mindful that his statement will provoke angry reactions from the Malays, Ong said the MCA "may be passionate and sometimes fiery but as I have said this before, let us not equate dissent with disloyalty."
"There should be room in our ... coalition for pluralism of views," he said.
There was no immediate response from Malay leaders. Umno officials were not available for comment.
AP
01/01/09
With the global economy facing an uncertain future in 2009, Malaysia must "attract the best brains and professionals to help steer the ship away from rough, uncharted waters," Ong, who is Transport Minister, said in his New Year's message.
"We have no choice but to embrace meritocracy in our practices," said Ong.
It is the first time that an MCA leader has openly called for meritocracy, which can only be achieved by abolishing the affirmative action programme that gives Malays privileges in state contracts, jobs, housing and education.
The programme was launched following 1969 racial riots that were fuelled partly by Malay discontent over Chinese financial clout. But now it has become a renewed source of social tension due to frustration among the ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities who comprise 40 per cent of the population. Malays are 60 per cent of Malaysia's 27 million people.
Critics of the programme, including some Malays, say it mainly benefits a well-connected Malay elite and breeds cronyism, corruption and inefficiency.
Ong said the likelihood of a worsened global economy in 2009 could have a major impact on the export-driven economy of Malaysia.
An "economic tsunami is lapping our shores. The wave is colour blind, and the catastrophe it can bring will not distinguish between race, age or religion," Ong said.
Ong's statement is clearly an attempt to bolster dwindling support for his party among the Chinese, many of whom abandoned the party and the ruling Barisan Nasional in the March 2008 general election, voting instead for the opposition.
"A newly energised MCA will be fearless in speaking and acting for the equal interest, not only for the Chinese community, but for all Malaysians," Ong said. "The rights and freedom to be treated as an equal Malaysian as enshrined in our Constitution shall be defended at all costs."
However, mindful that his statement will provoke angry reactions from the Malays, Ong said the MCA "may be passionate and sometimes fiery but as I have said this before, let us not equate dissent with disloyalty."
"There should be room in our ... coalition for pluralism of views," he said.
There was no immediate response from Malay leaders. Umno officials were not available for comment.
AP
01/01/09
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