Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday called for ending the long-standing privileges of the majority Malays -- a bold attack on a racially sensitive affirmative action policy that few Malaysians had dared to question before.
Anwar, trying to re-emerge politically after his virtual destruction in a power struggle with former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, said the program is obsolete and corrupt as only a few well-connected Malays have benefited from it at the expense of other Malays, Chinese and Indians.
"The policy should be scrapped. Meritocracy should be the flavor," Anwar told a news conference at his house.
PHOTO: AFP
The policy, considered by most Malays as their birthright, was instituted in 1970 in a bid to improve their economic lot. No notable politician of any race has ever suggested scrapping it for fear of alienating Malays, and Anwar was taking a huge political gamble with his call.
"What we need to do is to improve the standard of living of all the races," said Anwar, who is on a high after winning an apology and damages this week from the former national police chief in a case linked to his ouster as Mahathir's deputy in 1998.
Although Malays form 60 percent of the country's 26 million population, they control only 19 percent of the corporate equity and most of the country's wealth is in the hands of the Chinese. Indians are about 7 percent and are at the bottom rung of the economic ladder.
The Malays, known as "Bumiputras," or the sons of the soil, were given a host of privileges in the affirmative action program to close the wealth gap. They get preference in government jobs, education, housing, bank loans, business contracts and government licenses.
But the policy is widely acknowledged to be only a moderate success, benefiting largely a few Malay elite and taking away from others the incentive to excel.
At an annual congress of the ruling party of Malays last month, delegates called for strengthening the affirmative-action policy. Anwar said party leaders should understand that Malays are ready to stand on their feet.
"It is time we build a new consensus -- a Malaysian consensus to have a determined effort to combat poverty among rural Malays, estate Indians who are still living in deplorable conditions and Chinese squatters in urban areas," Anwar said.
Anwar was once considered a natural successor to Mahathir until the deputy prime minister started complaining about corruption in the government. He was sacked in September 1998 and jailed on charges of corruption and sodomy.
Anwar was beaten up by the national police chief Abdul Rahim Noor in custody. Abdul Rahim, who was convicted and sentenced to 60 days in jail, publicly apologized to Anwar on Wednesday in an out of court settlement. The sodomy charge was also overturned by a court last year, and Anwar was freed last year.
However, Anwar remains barred from active politics because of the corruption conviction until 2008.
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