The August edition of the internationally renowned Economist featured an interesting article on the current state of affairs in Malaysia in conjunction with its 50th year of independence from the British administrative.
In brief, the article focuses on several issues, including the problems caused by the National Economic Policy, which was implemented some 30 years ago with the sole aim of reducing poverty amongst the Malay community, as well as, promoting racial equality between the Chinese, Indians and Malays in the country. What was initially a policy formulated to curb racial discrimination, pursuant to the May 13th massacre, is currently the very cause of the ongoing racial predicament faced by one-third of the Malaysian population.
Additionally, the article examines the structure of the social contract in Malaysia. While the social contract attempts ostensibly to express the rights of individuals, in practice, however, it was merely laying down the fact that Malaysia belongs to the Malays, and that the Chinese and Indians were immigrants. As a result, in granting citizenship for the 'outsiders', it was agreed by all parties that it would be exchanged for the special rights and privileges entitled only to bumis.
The final bits briefly touches on the issues of corruption, the lack of checks and balances, and draconian internal-security laws under the governance of the National Front, which is predominated by UMNO. It also compares Malaysia with the another former British colony, like Singapore, which were thriving economically. It ends off saying that Malaysia should do away with such racist policies as it is detrimental to social and economic growth, ultimately deterring prospective foreign investments.
In brief, the article focuses on several issues, including the problems caused by the National Economic Policy, which was implemented some 30 years ago with the sole aim of reducing poverty amongst the Malay community, as well as, promoting racial equality between the Chinese, Indians and Malays in the country. What was initially a policy formulated to curb racial discrimination, pursuant to the May 13th massacre, is currently the very cause of the ongoing racial predicament faced by one-third of the Malaysian population.
Additionally, the article examines the structure of the social contract in Malaysia. While the social contract attempts ostensibly to express the rights of individuals, in practice, however, it was merely laying down the fact that Malaysia belongs to the Malays, and that the Chinese and Indians were immigrants. As a result, in granting citizenship for the 'outsiders', it was agreed by all parties that it would be exchanged for the special rights and privileges entitled only to bumis.
The final bits briefly touches on the issues of corruption, the lack of checks and balances, and draconian internal-security laws under the governance of the National Front, which is predominated by UMNO. It also compares Malaysia with the another former British colony, like Singapore, which were thriving economically. It ends off saying that Malaysia should do away with such racist policies as it is detrimental to social and economic growth, ultimately deterring prospective foreign investments.
