Can Malays rely on UMNO to help them survive the onslought of economic competition
As a result of the recent major erosion of the popularity of UMNO among the Malays as evidenced by the poor performance of the Organisation in the General Election, all kinds of questions are being asked and answers given as to the cause of such a drastic change in the fate of this overwhelming popular organization which has ruled the country, with its coalition parties, for over 50 years.
It cannot be denied that the Barisan Nasional [earlier The Alliance] has not done too badly if we compare Malaysia's economic achievement with all the other colonies that had gained independance in the last six decades. Of course Singapore is a glaring success story but then it is only a city state. However considering the resources that Malaysia had we could have done better, if the government had not invested too much money on grandoise projects some of which were ill concieved and less beneficial to the nation. Due to tainted procument procedures, much resources were also wasted through leakages which are visible to the younger and more educated rakyat.
What is becoming more intolerable to the younger, more educated generation, is the hollow talk by the UMNO leaders that they are always championing the future survival of the Malays in this new economic reality, whereas they are only interested in enriching themselves and their families and cronies and "hand kissers". We just have to observe how the majority of the Malays cannot stand the economic competition of their neighbours who are more agressive and acquisitive. After a certain age most Malays are also less competitive in their outlook due to their religious dogmas. Fifty years of UMNO "revolusi mental" have not changed them very much and to top it all PAS has further increased their rejection of wordly competitive inclination. Although Islam encourages them to strive hard for this world as if they are going to live forever and also to carry out their religious obligations as if they are dying tomorrow, many Malays are only more concerned with the next world.
As a result Malays are losing ground in many areas of the economy. The often exggerated share of the equity ownership is actually dismal without the GLCs. What about ownership of properties in urban residential areas? No statistic has ever been published on this. By the high number of drift out of Malays from expensive residential areas of Kuala Lumpur such as Damansara Heights to urban fringes such as Sungai Buluh, very soon it will be rare to find Malays living in such posh areas. In every 100 new factory and shop lots opened throughout the country, we will be lucky if we can find 10 operated by Malays. What is UMNO doing about this disparity? What are the many Government Agencies charged with the resposibility of helping Bumiputra doing about it.
I think those are few examples of the things that Malays feel that the very Government they elected are not doing very much to help them. Many have to be satisfied buy just being drivers, delivery boys, office cleaners and junior clerks in big businesses not owned by their own people. Higher jobs are denied to them for lack of ability to master Mandarin. In the rural areas they are encouraged to work on the land, farming or keeping ruminants. But when the do it, they find that when they are ready to sell their vegetables or fruits, they have to go through the middlemen who pay 1/3 or less of the price they have to pay if they go to the market. If they keep animals, when their animals are sick, no veterinary help is forthcoming when they need them most. Can you believe that the whole district of Bentong does not even have the service of a government Veterinery Doctor. One pet shop in Kuala Lumpur I know has six Veterinary Doctors. Is this how to encourage productivity among rural youth?
In conclusion, I fear that if UMNO does not make a drastic turn around to make itself relevant to the hopes of the Malays to help them survive the onslought of economic competition in their own homeland, its futur is truely very bleak.
MSAbdullah.
It cannot be denied that the Barisan Nasional [earlier The Alliance] has not done too badly if we compare Malaysia's economic achievement with all the other colonies that had gained independance in the last six decades. Of course Singapore is a glaring success story but then it is only a city state. However considering the resources that Malaysia had we could have done better, if the government had not invested too much money on grandoise projects some of which were ill concieved and less beneficial to the nation. Due to tainted procument procedures, much resources were also wasted through leakages which are visible to the younger and more educated rakyat.
What is becoming more intolerable to the younger, more educated generation, is the hollow talk by the UMNO leaders that they are always championing the future survival of the Malays in this new economic reality, whereas they are only interested in enriching themselves and their families and cronies and "hand kissers". We just have to observe how the majority of the Malays cannot stand the economic competition of their neighbours who are more agressive and acquisitive. After a certain age most Malays are also less competitive in their outlook due to their religious dogmas. Fifty years of UMNO "revolusi mental" have not changed them very much and to top it all PAS has further increased their rejection of wordly competitive inclination. Although Islam encourages them to strive hard for this world as if they are going to live forever and also to carry out their religious obligations as if they are dying tomorrow, many Malays are only more concerned with the next world.
As a result Malays are losing ground in many areas of the economy. The often exggerated share of the equity ownership is actually dismal without the GLCs. What about ownership of properties in urban residential areas? No statistic has ever been published on this. By the high number of drift out of Malays from expensive residential areas of Kuala Lumpur such as Damansara Heights to urban fringes such as Sungai Buluh, very soon it will be rare to find Malays living in such posh areas. In every 100 new factory and shop lots opened throughout the country, we will be lucky if we can find 10 operated by Malays. What is UMNO doing about this disparity? What are the many Government Agencies charged with the resposibility of helping Bumiputra doing about it.
I think those are few examples of the things that Malays feel that the very Government they elected are not doing very much to help them. Many have to be satisfied buy just being drivers, delivery boys, office cleaners and junior clerks in big businesses not owned by their own people. Higher jobs are denied to them for lack of ability to master Mandarin. In the rural areas they are encouraged to work on the land, farming or keeping ruminants. But when the do it, they find that when they are ready to sell their vegetables or fruits, they have to go through the middlemen who pay 1/3 or less of the price they have to pay if they go to the market. If they keep animals, when their animals are sick, no veterinary help is forthcoming when they need them most. Can you believe that the whole district of Bentong does not even have the service of a government Veterinery Doctor. One pet shop in Kuala Lumpur I know has six Veterinary Doctors. Is this how to encourage productivity among rural youth?
In conclusion, I fear that if UMNO does not make a drastic turn around to make itself relevant to the hopes of the Malays to help them survive the onslought of economic competition in their own homeland, its futur is truely very bleak.
MSAbdullah.
posted by MSAbdullah @ 6:25 AM
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