Stop sending mixed signals on race and quotas

KUALA LUMPUR, June 28- The DAP backs Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s reform plans but is concerned with the administration’s mixed signals on Malay rights.

Tony Pua, the party’s national publicity secretary, pointed out that while the prime minister spoke last night about removing quotas and merit-based national scholarships his deputy had promised on the same day that “Umno would fight to the last drop of blood to protect Malay rights”.

He said that although the DAP welcomes Najib’s announcement in Putrajaya last night, Barisan Nasional (BN) should stop the policy of divide and rule among Malaysians of all races.

During the dinner hosted by the MCA and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCCIM), Najib acknowledged that the quota system was flawed and did not benefit Bumiputeras.

Datuk Seri Muhyiddin Yassin was present at the same dinner but according to Pua, he had stirred up Malay racial sentiments in his speech earlier in Pagoh, Johor.

“Taken together with the Prime Minister’s own persistence in Malay-Muslim unity talks with PAS, it raises the question as to whether BN is continuing the policy of “singing a different song to a different racial audience”.

He said this flies in the face of the 1 Malaysia concept being preached by Najib.

Pua said that Umno continues to place Malay unity and Malay rights above all else under its “Ketuanan Melayu” banner while all other BN component parties and ethnic groups are subjugated to its authority.

However, he said the DAP was willing to fully support the prime minister to remove the inefficient and ineffective quota system and replace it with a policy which promotes meritocracy in all sectors including education and the economy.

The policy on meritocracy should be complemented with an affirmative

action policy based on needs and not race.

“We would fully support all efforts to improve the economic livelihood of all poor Bumiputeras and Malaysians.”

He agreed with the PM that the quota system under the New Economic Policy (NEP) has failed the Bumiputeras.

The NEP promotes a rent-seeking culture, cronyism and corruption while benefiting only those who are politically connected, he said.

“We call on the Prime Minister to put his words into action by delivering a ministerial statement in Parliament to call for the removal of the quota-based NEP.”