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Part 3: The inclusiveness illusion

In the run-up to the Congress, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other government leaders raised expectations among non-Bumiputeras by talking about inclusiveness. Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi promised that the Bumiputera Economic Transformation policy would benefit all Malaysians.[1] Anwar himself talked about “a more inclusive approach” and about addressing issues together.[2] He was even quoted as saying that “although the event is called a Bumiputera economic congress, the government’s attention is not limited to challenges encountered by only the Bumiputeras”.[3] Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said it would be “fresh and inclusive”.[4]

If you thought that “inclusiveness” meant policies and programmes that would benefit everyone regardless of ethnicity you would be wrong. It turns out that as far as the government is concerned, the word simply means having a few non-Malay speakers as window dressing. Other than that, there was nothing in it for non-Bumiputeras, not even for B40 non-Bumiputeras. 

The government’s “inclusiveness” does not include a fair distribution of scholarships for struggling non-Bumiputera students or more university places or support for non-Bumiputera farmers and small businessmen, for example. And neither does it extend to  a more inclusive civil service. 

Insisting that non-Bumiputeras will not be marginalised – as Zahid has repeatedly emphasised since the Congress – doesn’t make it so. After all, non-Bumiputeras have been progressively marginalized in almost every way since the NEP was introduced. And it is not about to get any better.

Take the proposal by Zahid’s to create a Bumiputera Land Corporation to boost Bumiputera land ownership.[5]Under the proposed plan, if the lease size exceeds 50 acres (20.23ha) for agricultural land or 20 acres for industrial use, the proposal calls for 20 percent of the land to be handed back to the government upon lease renewal or extension. This means that every time non-Bumiputera-owned leases come up for renewal, they could lose 20% of their land!

As Malaysiakini columnist P. Gunasegaram noted, there’s a good chance that the corporation will then hand the land over to a privileged bumiputera who can then sell it back to the original lessor for a huge premium.[6]How is that inclusive leave alone fair? I hope those affected will challenge this state-sponsored land grab policy in the courts.

Since the inception of the NEP, successive governments have promised not to rob Peter to pay Paul; it’s a promise that’s never been kept. Banks, transport companies, rice mills etc. were all taken over in the name of affirmative action. Now they have set their eyes on non-Bumiputera land holdings. It’s never-ending; the more they get the more these elites cast envious eyes on the wealth of others. 

As former law minister Zaid Ibrahim caustically noted, “no group in this world is as fortunate as the Bumiputera”[7] ; not all of them, of course, only the select few who are connected to those in power. 

And then there’s the proposal for companies to make diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) disclosures to ensure “workplace diversity” – a fancy way of saying non-Bumiputera companies need to employ more Bumiputeras. 

But, if workplace diversity is so important, why is the civil service and GLCs – which are both Bumiputera preserves – excluded? Surely, if  workplace diversity is important –  and I believe it certainly is – the government, as the largest employer, should set the example by ensuring diversity in the workplaces that it manages before insisting that others do so.  Insisting on diversity in non-Bumiputera workplaces while closing off Bumiputera workplaces to non-Bumiputeras will further marginalise non-Bumiputeras. 

Non-Bumiputras have been marginalised long enough. If policies aimed at uplifting Bumiputeras are fair, transparent and well-managed, there would be more than enough money to get the job done without depriving or marginalizing non-Bumiputeras.  What is unacceptable is for Bumiputera elites to keep siphoning off billions  from Bumiputera projects and then expect non-Bumiputeras to keep paying the price for Bumiputera empowerment.

[Dennis Ignatius | Kuala Lumpur | 21st March 2024]

[1] New pro-bumiputera economic policy will benefit all Malaysians: DPM Zahid |Straits Times |01 March 2024

[2] PM Anwar says Bumiputera Economic Congress 2024 will be more inclusive | Malay Mail |15 February 2024

[3] 2024 Bumiputera economic congress to be inclusive, says PM |FMT |15 February 2024

[4] Putrajaya to launch ‘fresh and inclusive’ 10-year plan for Bumiputera in June — Rafizi |The Edge |07 March 2024

[5] Zahid proposes Bumiputera land corporation |FMT |29 February 2024

[6] COMMENT | Zahid’s land corporation proposal is insidious, unfeasible | Malaysiakini |07 March 2024

[7] Zaid to Malays: ‘Relax….no group in the world is as fortunate as the Bumiputeras’ |NST |02 March 2024