THE Government has created a class of “entitled” people by not setting a deadline to the New Economic Policy (NEP) enacted in the 1970s, said Penang deputy chief minister Prof P Ramasamy.
“These ‘entitled’ people don’t have to work hard or compete with others. The hard truth is, NEP has done a great disservice to the Bumiputera community.
“While working class Malays suffer from poverty, the small segment of the Malay political elite has greatly benefitted from the NEP,” he said in a Facebook post.
Yesterday, Kedah Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) information chief Khairul Anuar Ramli urged the public to oppose the DAP as it was against a temporarily shelved rule to compel local freight forwarders with an International Integrated Logistics Services (IILS) licence to have a whopping 51% Bumiputera stakeholder.
“As a country with the Bumiputera as its core, we are compelled to work towards increasing the equity ownership of the Bumiputera.
“But DAP has never been comfortable with this policy,” he was reported saying.
In a letter to Senior Minister (International Trade and Industries Ministry) Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, the Federation of Malaysian Freight Forwarders (FMFF) said the rule meant that local freight forwarders are simply told to sell their business to a Bumiputera or close down.
“If local logistics companies are compelled to sell a majority share to Bumiputera investors, it would mean that the Government is telling us to sell our business to a Bumiputera or close down.
“Bear in mind that by selling 51% of the business, it means the present owner can no longer control and run his business,” said its president Alvin Chua.
The Finance Ministry had since postponed the matter but made no mention whether the policy has been rescinded for good.
Hurling brickbats at Bersatu, Ramasamy said that the party was a racist group, just like Umno and PAS.
“It’s like Bersatu wants to compete with PAS and Umno on the racial rhetoric but do bear in mind that this chest thumping is all about furthering the Bumiputera elite’s nefarious agenda. It has nothing to do with ordinary Malays,” he added.
Beyond NEP
On the policy, Ramasamy said that he understands why the 1,500 local freight forwarders were livid over the policy as it was unjust.
The Perai state assemblyman added that not only was the policy unconstitutional but also went beyond the NEP itself, which only required 30% Bumiputera equity stake.
“The Government cannot, by a stroke of pen, dilute the equity of non-Bumiputera companies by turning over 51% to Bumiputra companies.
“The move to reduce the equity of the non-Bumiputra freight companies is by definition illegal and grossly unfair to Malaysians who built up their businesses from scratch.
“As if the existing discrimination is not enough, there comes a new ruling to deprive the non-Bumiputera further. Maybe there will come a time when non-Bumiputera might not even be allowed to own companies or do businesses,” Ramasamy claimed.
On related matter, the Malaysian Indian Voice (MIV) urged Bersatu and their ilk to stop spreading hate and demonising DAP.
“First of all, you cannot steal someone’s wealth and hard work just like that. It is illegal from all angles, including religious laws.
“Besides, there are many Bumiputera-owned freight forwarders. So, why the need for such unjust policy?” its chairman V Pappa Raidu asked. – Sept 25, 2021
