BY: FARAHANA RAZAK

Decades of affirmative action for bumiputeras has really witnessed marginal progress for the community, though there are a fraction who have become fabulously wealthy and well off, the overall outcome is that these policies have failed.

This bid, at social reengineering, began with Tun Abdul Razak and his successors have subsequently toed the line by, unfortunately, ensuring continuity in this practise of affirmative action.

But there are now a significant number of bumiputeras, who realise that they have actually been deceived, especially by Malay leaders and there has grown now a trust deficit by a growing number of Malays against their leaders.

The belief that Malay leaders “menjaga dan melindungi kepentingan orang Melayu” (guard and defend the rights of Malays) has now turned into “pemimpin Melayu hanya jaga kepentingan diri sendiri” (Malay leaders only look out for themselves).

This realization that has dawned on bumiputeras has spawned the emergence of a new thinking and mentality among them not to put their faith in Malay leaders but to instead stride out on their own in the global marketplace.

These bumiputeras are arming themselves with knowledge, information and learning and are self-reliant, not depending on government aid or policies, but faring much better by achieving success on their own merit.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

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