Article 153 and the “Social Contract"

Posted yesterday in Malaysia Today was subject article written by Raja Petra.

I reproduced here a couple of paragraphs. Read the whole post here.

In short, if I am not a party to that contract can I be bound by it? The contract was entered into by the Malays and the then immigrant Indians and Chinese; of course it is not really a written contract as much as a verbal contract and we all know that a verbal contract is not worth the paper it is written on.

Nevertheless, should Malaysian-born Indians and Chinese who have never even visited India and China be made to abide to a verbal “contract” made by their immigrant parents and/or grandparents? How long will this “contract” run? Will Indians and Chinese 1000 years from now still be made to abide to a “contract” made in 1957?

There should be a cut-off date. There must come a point of time when all Malaysians are regarded as equal. How can an Indonesian who migrated to this country a few years ago be regarded as Bumiputra when Chinese and Indians who come to this country in the 1400s are still second class citizens?

Yes, Article 153 accords Malays certain rights and privileges. But that same Article, and Article 8, do not allow imposing of quotas and permits which deny Indians and Chinese their rights in favour of the Malays. This, many people do not seem to understand.

My sentiments exactly. I keep hearing that the so called 'social contract' should not be challenged and certain rights should not to be questioned.

If societal restructuring need be done by affirmative actions (NEP) and a period of time is needed. Then there should be a time frame for the programs to run. We have now 51 years of the so called 'social contract' and 39 years of affirmative actions.

If the programs failed as is evident today, then perhaps it is time to relook at the programs. Perhaps desired societal restructuring failed not so much as in spite of the programs but because of the programs.

The lack of competition and by extension the lack of motivation may forever never bring up the economical status of the Malays.

I say, do the Malays a favor. Do away with the NEP. This long 39 years must clearly show its ineffectiveness. Malaysia obviously has a need to compete with the rest of the 192 countries in the world.