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YOUR OPINION | Mahathir was given 24 years to fix the problem and failed.
M’sian solutions don’t work for Malaysian ‘economically backward’ – Pejuang
Dizzer: The racist political parties (Umno, PAS, Bersatu, Pejuang) are desperately trying to maintain the illusion of Malay poverty and backwardness to justify their ‘fight’.
This so-called ‘struggle’, as the data clearly shows, is fictitious (a struggle with reality or a struggle to line one’s pockets rather) and is used to perpetuate demands for a continuation of the New Economic Policy (NEP).
Former World Bank social scientist Lim Teck Ghee and other economists long ago revealed the misleading use of statistics that hides behind this myth.
The figures cited in the report only support their claims. The fact that 71% of those earning less than RM3,000 are bumiputera is not surprising when 69.5% of the population is bumiputera.
Someone needs to explain these simple figures to former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and his ethnonationalist friends, but perhaps the point of no return is past.
AB Sulaiman: I like the way the article verified Mahathir when he stated the ancient lament that Malays are still financially backward.
This is done by highlighting the new statistics produced by The edge indicating, for example, that 53.5 per cent of households earning at least RM 10,000 per month were bumiputera compared to Chinese at 38.2 per cent, Indians at 8.4 per cent and others with 0.48 percent.
The era of the economically backward bumiputera is history. What has not changed is the mental frame of the Malaysian, who thinks that he is still under the yoke of poverty and that he still needs the support of the government in practically all aspects of human endeavor, such as business, licensing, property housing and scholarships for students.
This mental condition was formerly called the culture of poverty by a famous scientist, Oscar Lewis.
Malaysians should be aware of this not-so-commendable situation. As a first step forward, politicians should be prohibited from using the term “economically backwards” to describe Malaysians today in their daily communications with the public. Just a thought.
IndigoTrout2522: Mahathir criticized Umno for not doing enough for the economically backward Malays when he formed Bersatu. Now, he said the same about Bersatu to justify his rationale for Pejuang.
Once again, he used the racial divide for his justification, but it sounded empty because he was prime minister for 24 of those years, not counting that he was in cabinet the longest.
Why do you keep saying that bumiputeras are economically disadvantaged? This means that as prime minister he failed to improve the livelihoods of the bumiputeras.
The statistical numbers here clearly show that it is not just Malays, but all races have to fight for a living. In fact, it shows that some bumiputeras are now even ahead.
It is time for the government to review its direction to move away from policies based on race. It will be good if the economic development of the country is based on meritocracy and needs. All races have a wealthy and economically disadvantaged population.
Mahathir is still talking about race after 63 years of Merdeka. It is time for politicians like him to go ahead and allow young people, who subscribe to a multiracial society, to direct the leadership. Let the torch pass to a new generation of leaders.
Smart voter: Recycling old theories is fine if they are relevant. In the current context, it is misleading and a misrepresentation.
Prejudices and stereotypes are known to be causes of discrimination and persecution. It is a dangerous precedent and no responsible leader will do it.
Billions spent unaccountably in the past on hundreds of scandals, from shipyards to steel to finance, all for the purpose of helping one race.
At age 63, the country has managed to build millions of middle class, corporate and government leaders among the Malaysian community.
Focusing solely on income is parochial, after all there are thousands of Malays in the civil service who enjoy job security, pensions and access.
Today’s urban poor are increasing, 40 per cent of the population are not Malays. Many in Sarawak do not even have access to basic electricity; Are not Malays who also deserve help?
BusinessFirst: May I ask if we have the bumiputera breakdown? If the bumiputeras of Sabah and Sarawak are included, then it is a misleading picture.
I understand that 25% of the bumiputeras in Sabah are poor. It is a lower figure in Sarawak, but still much higher than average.
If this is correct, then the Malay Muslims in Malaya are doing very well, if not better than the Chinese. The only reason they seem poorer is perhaps because they have more children.
Ask anyone who is raising a child today. It costs a bomb. Imagine a family with one or two children versus one with four or five. Of course, the one with the most children must work harder to make ends meet and save.
It does not mean that they are poor. In my opinion, it is a lifestyle choice, offset by the joys of a great family.
Quigonbond: It’s just that people like Mahathir refuse to consider the value of non-Malays, probably because he knows he can’t control or brainwash them.
But is that true for Malays? Can they be controlled so easily these days?
GE14 was a winning formula for a more progressive and inclusive Malaysia, and these are not obscene words, but Mahathir failed the Malaysians.
BlackMamba2020: Mahathir, your legacy is already dead. You did this to yourself for being selfish, arrogant, and stupid. You could have changed everything during the Pakatan Harapan rule, but you just threw it away.
There is no way you can redeem as you don’t have much time. Many people would have honored you, but not today as you are now a disgrace to all of us after your last season.
YOURS | ‘Mahathir still sounds like a broken record’
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