Malaysian leaders promise more for ethnic minorities
Updated
Malaysia's deputy prime minister Najib Tun Razak says he'll do more to address complaints by Chinese and Indians in the country. Speaking to the foreign media in Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Najib promised to take further measures to ease concerns of the minority races, particularly laws which favour the Malays or Bumiputras in business and education. Datuk Seri Najib is expected to take office in March, when Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi steps down. After over thirty years of pro-Malay policies, is the Malay-dominated government finally taking steps to address the imbalance?
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Lim Kit Siang, parliamentary leader for the Opposition Democratic Action Party, in Kuala Lumpur
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SEN LAM: Lim Kit Siang, after over 30 years of pro-Malay policies, is the Malay-dominated government finally taking steps to address the imbalance, do you think?
LIT KIM SIANG: Well, there is no signs yet that they have heard the message of the March general election for a more equitable and a more just and united Malaysian society, and I hope that Najib's promise - will he walk the talk and not just an empty pledge.
SEN LAM: How do you think Najib's pledge might be received within the Malay UMNO party?
LIT KIM SIANG: I think, at this stage, he will not be very much welcomed because there is alleged thoughts of greater extremism, especially in the run-up to the UMNO party elections, but there is a need, a great urgent long-time need for a new paradigm shift in nation-building if Malaysia is to be able to maintain our competitiveness, otherwise it will be left behind in the future.
SEN LAM: As you say, Mr Lim, many people in Malaysia might see this as a step in the right direction, but some people are thinking that the ruling UMNO perhaps is not being sincere; that perhaps it's merely responding to the opposition revival in Malaysia, vis-a-vis the outcome of the March elections.
LIT KIM SIANG: Yes, this will be a great test for Najib, for UMNO, in fact for the whole nation, whether we are able, 51 years after independence, to stagger in a new direction, to ensure a more united, progressive and prosperous nation.
SEN LAM: Do you think even within the Malay population itself, certainly in the urban areas, that they too feel that it's time to dismantle the discriminatory pro-bumi policies?
LIT KIM SIANG: Yes, and the reason for the 'political tsunami', as he described it in the March general election, because it was not a victory - in fact for all Malaysians want to see change and to move away from the politics of race and quotas and the very uncompetitive policies.
SEN LAM: Well, Datuk Seri Najib also said that the Hindu activist network, HINDRAF, had complicated attempts to tackles problems of ethnic Indians. The Indians themselves, though, might say that those problems have been around for a long time and that their voices were never heard until HINDRAF came along. Do you think the Indians have been keeping quiet for too long now?
LIT KIM SIANG: On the contrary, Najib should thank HINDRAF for highlighting a wake-up call for the fate long-ascending problem of marginalisation of the Malaysian Indians and the class in the country, and if he's sincere in wanting to address the long-standing grievances of the Indian community, the first thing he should do is to release immediately and unconditionally the five HINDRAF leaders who are detained under the internal security act to show there is a real bona fide in his expression.
SEN LAM: Well, Datuk Seri Najib has mentioned that there would be more careful use of the ISA in the future. Do you take heart in that?
LIT KIM SIANG: No, because I think there is all room for the internal security act for detention without trial. It is very clear it is open to all sorts of abuses - just being more careful is not acceptable. The draconian provision must go.
SEN LAM: And, finally, Lim Kit Siang, do you think so long as Malaysian politics are conducted along racial lines, particularly the ruling Barisan Nasional, do you think that equity and fair play would never be realised in Malaysia?
LIT KIM SIANG: Well, in a way you're right. This is right. Is it move away to a Malaysian nation - in fact, unfortunately, we are now stuck in the polemics of a 'ketuanan Melayu' when it should be ketuanan or the supremacy of all Malaysians. ETIMOR
