Drugs is a marvelous substance when consumed with care. Among other things, it heals illnesses, relieves pain and gives us the extra boost we might need. The more adventurous use involves psychedelic pleasure. Taken with moderation, it is all that and more. Taken excessively, it is a poison that wrecks life. In parallel, the Malaysian New Economic Policy (NEP), an affirmative action policy, is very much like drugs to the Malays.
Though discriminatory and perhaps, flawed in its rationale, to a certain extent it eliminated race as an economic function. The NEP coupled with other policies reduced poverty and created a large middle class in the country. Above all, it guaranteed political stability and paved the way to later prosperity. That however was then. The NEP is a specific policy designed in the 1970s to rise up against the challenges of that time. Despite officially ended in 1990, the policy in actuality outlives its supposed end date, well into a new age that provides new challenges.
While the policy had its successes, its side-effects cannot be ignored. The discrimination it introduced excited the Malaysian diaspora. Those that did not benefit from the NEP and further marginalized by the same policy migrated away to other countries that offered better and fairer economic opportunities. Malaysia was bleeding the talents that it needed for modernization. The trend continues till today, as with the policy of the 1970s.
Months ago in one of the tallest buildings in the world, overlooking Kuala Lumpur, a consultant told me that at some point, the NEP has made the non-Malays stronger while weakening the Malays. I agreed with him even before he explained himself.
The privileges enjoyed by the Malays made them complacent while the rest had to endure obstacles placed for the sake of the Malays. The restriction taught the non-Malays the survival skills they needed in the face of discrimination. They learned how to become fiercely independent economically while the Malays continue to be fed by a policy designed to save them in the first place. Nietzsche wrote that which does not kill you make you stronger. He is right.
Years turned into decades and now here we are with the drugs strongly ingrained in our society. What was a privilege then has now been demanded as a right. The majority of the Malays have become so dependent on the policy that they are addicted to it. A drug addict would have to overcome a withdrawal symptom to be free. Most Malays would need to do the same in order to be truly free.
There are Malays that do not need the NEP to survive. There are those that manipulate the NEP for unfair gains. While these groups deserve the disgust some give them, we cannot overlook those that sincerely believe in how the policy is linked to their destiny. To many Malays, years of dependency have eroded their self-confidence.
Not too long ago, I had supper with two friends. One is a Chinese and another is a Malay, of whom I had been introduced to just hours earlier. At the coffee shop, one thing led to another and NEP became topic of the moment.
The Chinese friend questioned the NEP and the Malay defended it. I, half asleep, decided to stay out of it. The debate went on and at one point, the Malay friend said something to the effect that the Malays are incapable of competing against the Chinese in Malaysia.
I, whom was already bored, observing how the same argument was being repeated here, immediately awakened, felt grossly insulted by the comment. I had wanted to reply but already under assault by the other person, I felt pity for him and decided to let it pass. The day ended peacefully soon after.
That incident statement excited the cogs in my mind, asking is this really a question of self-confidence?
In the self-doubting Malay friend’s mind, the NEP is the only and the best option there is in this world. A majority of the Malays might share his sentiment. After all, how could the same side win over and over again if the majority did not believe in such defeatist mantra of insecurity?
The truth is, there are better options. But the question is not whether there are option. The question is how do we convince these Malays.
The first step in undoing the NEP is to offer hope to the majority of the Malays. We need to provide reason to have confidence in themselves. Show to them how one could be successful in life without the NEP. We must convince these groups of Malays that do not need the NEP to succeed in life. We need to show that that others have succeeded without the NEP, that the others have succeeded despite discrimination.
This particular group is the key to a better society. If this group is won over, the dream of a fairer society is one step closer.