BY: CHRISTOPHER FERNANDEZ

Ever since the New Economic Policy was introduced by Tun Abdul Razak in 1970 to 2000, and subsequent affirmative action policies, like the New Economic Model and the Bumiputera Empowerment Agenda, have all failed to achieve its goals and objectives.

Instead of uplifting the status of so-called indigenous people it has only backfired as the majority of Malays and other Bumiputeras have become more dependent on the government and this is why these policies have to be drop kicked for good.

The failure of these policies, while well meaning, is in its implementation as in a multiracial country like Malaysia affirmative action should not be only for a particular race or race based but it should be need based and open to all races.

By coddle modeling Bumiputras and spoiling them they have become lacking in potency as human capital and fail to be productive and useful, unable to be financially independent, and ever in need of government assistance and bailouts.

Perhaps the only achievement these ill conceived policies have achieved is to establish a fraction of Bumiputera as an elite community while the majority of them languish having to be bailed out and given financial and other kinds of welfare benefits literally making them basket cases.

Any kind of scheme or guise such as these affirmative policies must be established fair and square and be open and transparent and be across the board to be inclusive of every sincerely needy citizen and to ensure that it does not turn Malaysians into parasites.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher