Malays Must Be Confident After 50 Years Of Independence, Says Pak Lah.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants the Malays to be more confident of themselves and shed the feeling of scared (sic) that has dominated their mind all this while."The feeling of scared and apprehensive (sic) has dominated the thinking of the Malays for far too long, it has been a long time...we are still scared even after 50 years of independence.
"Among the Malay professionals, there's no fear, but the majority of the Malays are still haunted by the feelings of fear," the prime minister said in a special interview with Mingguan Malaysia published today.
The Umno president said the Malays must realise that they cannot continue to rely on the New Economic Policy (NEP) or be dependent on government hand-outs.
"They must learn to stand on their own feet and learn to be competitive. We will help the Malays who are serious in wanting to do business and want to work hard (to succeed in business)," he said in the interview held in conjunction with the 2007 Umno General Assembly on Wednesday.
Abdullah said: "I want the Malays to capitalise on the opportunities given to them. The government has offered a lot of opportunities, especially in the corridor economic developments. "They must be bold enough and take the initiative to seize the opportunities.
"There are no easy ways to succeed in life. Only the educated, knowledgeable and the hardworking will succeed eventually," he said. Abdullah said it would take a long process to change the mindset of human beings but "I've said many times Malays are not stupid or weak".
On views that there are differences between the Malay leadership in world-class government-linked companies with the second echelon leadership in Umno, the prime minister said: "The Malays are fond of making announcements. "They are like chickens, after laying one egg, it tells the whole village, while a turtle lays its eggs quietly, when we come to know, it already has many hatchlings. We need to talk less and work more," he said.
Abdullah, however, said he disagreed with the view that the Umno second echelon leadership was not dynamic. He said many among the second-liners are people of calibre and potential. "I firmly believe the second echelon leaders have the zeal to propel Umno towards excellence provided they are well prepared for the challenges ahead," he said.
On his leadership style, Abdullah said: "My style is to shut my ears when someone speaks nonsense. I prefer to focus on my work rather than entertaining unconstructive talk."
As to the negative perception on the Malay agenda, Abdullah said the perception surfaced due to lack of understanding on the agenda to the extent that people dared to talk about it. "But I say it needs strong and bold leaders to allow others to talk. It takes bold leaders to forgive and forget and to give someone a second chance," he said.
On this year's Umno General Assembly, Abdullah said Umno must show through the motions tabled that the party's struggles were for all races. (Bernama)
***** While I fully agree with the PM's sentiments and worries on this issue, the question that must be answered is WHO is responsible for keeping the Malays in this perpetual state of fear and feelings of inadequacy, if not successive Umno governments?
To say that there are no easy ways to succeed in life is laudable indeed. But WHO gave the impression to them that the very best in life is a birthright and is absolutely free? Or led them them down the path of gain without pain? Or indeed reinforced in them the belief that it is OK to deprive others in order to progress?
If the Malays continue to depend on government handouts and think of the NEP as a bottomless pit of easy money without hard work, it is the political leadership over the past decades who should stand up and plead guilty. For they have turned a once gentle, industrious and talented race into a bunch of pitiful rent-seekers.
The real tragedy is that there will be no let up in the continual implementation of the NEP. Already sections of the Malay 'intelligentsia' are touting some '2057 Malay Seminar' to prolong Malay 'supremacy' (read prolong the NEP). Meanwhile the 'Towering' Malay and 'Glocal' Malay concepts apparently have been consigned to the grave.
Image - Source
Interesting read: General Election To Take Centre Stage At Umno Assembly.
Labels: Discrimination., Malaysian Politics., Never Ending Policy (NEP), Umnoputras - Blunders And Plunders.
posted by The Malaysian. at 11/04/2007 07:11:00 PM
4 Comments:
Well said Datuk Seri Abdullah. You had said the same thing more than once. The former Prime Minister had said similar things before. So far we could see no concrete action to match their words. Act now to save the Malays and Malaysia. Its the greed of these politicians and their cronies who really benefited. Is it not the children, son-in-law, relatives and well connected people that become "geniuses" or exceptionally gifted "business people" when Tun Dr Mahathir, Datuk Seri Abdullah and other ministers began their "reign"? With that power they just grab and rob as much and as fast as possible.
Umno needs the NEP more than the Malays do. Umno needs the NEP to stay in power. What else can Umno do other than cheating and bullying the other races and the not so well connected or refused to be so Malays.
50 years ago, Umno said the Malays needed the "tongkat". They found it a useful tool to keep them in power. Some twelve years later Umno found that the "tongkat" was not strong enough a political tool so they demanded a "wheelchair".Then came Tun Dr Mahathir. He legalised corruption and encouraged abuse of power to the highest level. He now yields enough power to demand for motorised wheelchairs with a spare motor. Someone else pay for that.
That's how greedy Umno is.
Datuk Seri Abdullah, Umno needs good moral education. There must be a limit to unethical behaviours. You need to discipline your senior members. We don't trust a word you said. Find some other ways to fish for votes.
The NEP can be summed up in just 3 words: "Free Lunches Everyday"
There must be something wrong somewhere if an affirmative action program for the majority is still thought to be failing after 37 years and needs to be continued with more of the same.
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
Pak Lah, everyone is subjected to the Theory of Evolution!
There's no escape!
~qwerty~
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