Najib, NEP is the worst form of discrimination, not Mandarin proficiency !
NEP is discrimination in the worst form and should not be continued
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Deputy PM Najib yesterday said that it was discriminatory for the private sector to make it compulsory for local graduates to be proficient in Mandarin.
His “discriminatory” remarks evoked diverse responses.
One reader of a mainstream media said scores of other job advertisements ask for applicants based on specific ethnic group or gender. “Aren’t those bordering on discrimination as well,” he asked.
He concluded that there was nothing wrong with companies wanting to hire only people who are skilled - be it in languages or otherwise.
Another reader said many employers emphasise Mandarin proficiency because of commercial reasons. Many businesses nowadays require much interaction with associates from China or other countries which requires communication in Mandarin.
Chinese business and community leaders do not agreed with Najib. They pointed out that the Mandarin proficiency requirement is required solely because of commercial reasons.
“If our market is targeted at Bumiputera consumers, definitely it would make business sense to hire a person with proficiency in Bahasa,” a corporate leader said.
MTUC sec-gen Rajasekaran when asked by Sin Chew Daily, replied that the Mandarin requirement was not discriminatory.
It did not surprise me that Umno leaders responded in support of Najib’s statement. Malacca Chief Minister Rustam Ali, Overseas Umno Club Alumni chairman and Umno Education Bureau chief called for such discriminatory practices to be stopped.
But the real shocking statement came from MCA Minister for Human Resources, Fong Chan Onn.
He told Utusan Malaysia that “syarat wajib kuasai bahasa Mandarin tidak adil”.
Why making Mandarin proficiency should be seen as discriminatory?
Even the KLIA and Immigration Department engaged officers who could speak Mandarin to make announcement and deal with Mandarin-speaking tourists from East Asia countries.
Proficiency in Mandarin should be seen as a skill requirement for a specific job. This is not race-based or religion-based discrimination which should be opposed.
Malay, Indian and other Malaysians are invited to apply should they possessed this qualification.
Sometimes we forget that right now there are close to 70,000 non-Chinese attending Chinese primary schools. By now, there must be over one hundred thousand non-Chinese who are able to speak, write and read Mandarin today.
If the Mandarin requirement is discriminatory, it discriminate Chinese who are not proficient in Mandarin too. (Malacca CM Rustam Ali pointed this out, and he contradicted himself as he had said earlier that this requirement discriminate the non-Chinese).
Najib should not pretend that everything is fine in this country.
He and other Umno leaders should be the least qualified to talk about discrimination when they are product of a high controversial discriminating system in this country.
The Economist described the New Economic Policy as the world’s most notorious positive discrimination policy as it reject other Malaysians purely on ethnic and religious factors.
Najib must not be oblivious to how Malaysians feel.
In Malaysia, it is kulitfications that counts, not qualifications. Definitely not proficiency in Mandarin-lah!
Mr Chow, while I find such requirements discriminatory, I do at the same time understand Najib’s point. Without sounding like an anti-Chinese, how many Malaysian Chinese can speak good, FLUENT Bahasa Kebangsaan? I don’t mean Bahasa Melayu or Bahasa Malaysia, but Bahasa Kebangsaan. Yes, the Chinese can write good, grammatically-correct Bahasa Kebangsaan, but ask them to speak Bahasa in public, they are quite a shame! Look at your Lim Kit Siang, and even Lim Kheng Yik.
Why am I bringing this up? First, giving so much importance to a non-official language diminishes the importance of the Bahasa Kebangsaan. Yes, you are a Malaysian Chinese, but you are a Malaysian FIRST, then a Chinese. If you claim to be a Malaysian, you better be proficient in the national language. But, not many Chinese are, especially those who are Chinese-educated.
Second, speaking in generalization (I shouldn’t but I must!), how many Chinese are genuinely concerned about the majority ethnic group in the country? There are some companies that exist in this country which do not reflect its Malaysian identity at all! I once took a non-Chinese colleague to a very Chinese shopping complex in Bukit Bintang area. He asked if he was in Malaysia. I was speechless for a while, but long enough to realize that apart from some Malay words on their signboards, everything else is Chinese. Yet, they claim to be Malaysian. What’s wrong with that? Erosion of a Malaysian identity. I said “Malaysian identity”, not “Malay identity”.
The government has given enough business leeways to the Chinese, but it does look like it could backfire big time. Already, with so many Chinese pimps along Bukit Bintang, the Malays are associating pimping with the Chinese community. I am not making an allegation here, but merely commenting about the Chinese image in the eyes of the Malays, the Muslims, and the Islamic government. That is just prostitution. How about the “Ah Long” menace? Had it been a Malay problem, it would’ve been called “Peminjam Haram”, and in the late 70s and early 80s, the Indian “chettiars” were a manace. Now , the problem is called “Ah Long”, again reflecting on an ethnic group: the Chinese! Even the esctacy pill manace has been linked to the Chinese! Why are the Chinese making headlines in Malaysia?
Comment by pemerhati_msia — Friday, 02-06-2006 @ 10: 00.25
pemerhati msia,
You forgot that this country practices institutional discrimination. So, who is the one putting race first rather Malaysian? Hint: Umno
You forgot that that hishamuddin kurang ajar hussein waved hhis keris not outside the office of an ah long, but at the mainstream rakyat, the vast majority of Chinese who are decent, law-abiding and hard-working. So, Umno instead of encouraging Malaysianness is in fact discouraging it for its evil purposes no less. Why do you think they turn a blind eye to MCA’s long-standing links with the kongsi gelap? You forgot that Pak Lah is the Internal Security minister. So, blame him rather than the citizen to whom he’s accountable. Don’t forget that. the Venerable Lee Kuan Yew and the PAP crushed the kongsi gelap a long time. What’s Pak Lah still doing? Allowing his minions to continue to intimidate decent and harmless people with gangsterism ala Umno?
You forgot that after all these years of Merdeka, racists still taunt the Chinese and the other non-Malays with ketuanan melayu? There’s no such thing as that, legally and constitutionally. Remember, the special rights of the Malays is different from that. Malay supremacy is anti_Malaysian and all its implications. So, go figure.
The thing to do is to support the DAP to fight for a Malaysian Malaysia for that’s the right thing to do. Pak Lah and Umno have made their pick. They’ll be judged for that. What will you choose?
Comment by DAP/PAP — Sunday, 04-06-2006 @ 00: 19.51
Dear pemerhati msia,
I think you are completely missing the point here. Saudara Chow is right in saying that companies are advertising for Mandarin speaking job seekers not because they want to hire only Chinese people. I’m sure you are also aware that there are companies looking for Japanese speaking job seekers. Does this mean they are looking for Japanese employees?
Why do you have to jump the gun and fire away that any issue brought up by any party, DAP in particular, must be racially inclined?
No wonder our Minister Nazri said that Malaysians are still having the 3rd world mentality and should not be allowed to watch the Parliamentary proceedings live!!
I’m sad that Malaysia has such narrow-minded people in its midst.
Comment by fooseng — Sunday, 04-06-2006 @ 21: 49.31
DAP/PAP,
Ketuanan Melayu? Does that exist in the first place? Do you know why the Malays believe it does exist? Because the Chinese are over-staying their welcome in what used to be called Tanah Melayu. Lets not deny the fact that this land does house the Malays as majority stake holder, and therefore, they have more supremacy over the minority. Does this mean they can act as they wish? Not necessarily. However, why are the Malays more gung-ho about protecting their rights now more thansay, 15-20 years ago? I hope you are old enough to have gone through the 1970-2000s era. Malays prior to the late 60s-early 70s were quite okay with sharing what ever they have with the non-Malays. But the non-Malays got swollen-headed and think they are equals and started asking for more… Will the Malays allow it? Fat chance!
What I am trying to say is that the Chinese should realise who the host is and who the guest is, and act accordingly. Assimilation through the years does not erase the ownership title, and rather than asking to be equals, they (the chinese) should just be thankful being welsomed guests. That way, none will get disappointed.
Comment by pemerhati_msia — Tuesday, 06-06-2006 @ 13: 54.06
pemerhati msia,
Don’t blame it on the Chinese people if all the Malays in Malaysia do not get a ‘fat piece of the economic pie’. Blame it on UMNO for enriching only the few UMNOputras and puteris.
We may be construed as ‘guests’ in your eyes but as far as we know, our ICs legally recognised us as Malaysians and not Chinese Nationals or Taiwanese or Americans.
I do not think the Chinese are the ones getting their heads swollen. In fact, the Malays are the ones getting swollen-headed due to the fact that they have been pampered for the last 30 over years (NEP).
Now is not the time to think about Ketuanan Melayu or Tetamu Cina. It is time to reflect upon what BN has done to our beloved country. I’m sad to say, our country is still a 3rd world country. People of various races are not living harmoniously because of NEP, AP and our UMNO MPs.
Pemerhati msia, are you one of those who got a fair bit of the tasty pie? Is that why you are condemning an opposition party like DAP so that you could continue to enjoy your pie?
Please bear in mind that some of the ‘ingredients’ in the pie might not be ‘halal’ - Genting, Magnum, Big Sweep, Pork Sellers etc.
‘Wang hantaran/ganjaran/biasiswa/pinjaman’ yang diterima yop kemungkinan besar datangnya daripada ‘Tetamu Cina’…
Comment by another Malaysian — Tuesday, 06-06-2006 @ 21: 30.13
permerhati msia,
You’ve just proven my point that many malays like yourself and Umno are still kurang ajar and love to wallow in the gutter mud of racist politics. However, there are lots of Malays out there who from Arau to Selat Tebrau menentang sekeras-kerasnya penindasan Umno. Jahanam Umno dan agenda mereka.
Go to Putrajaya, look at the Civil Service … is it a Malaysian or Malay civil service. Umno is melampau, overstepped the patience of the Chinese and the non-Malays. What I’m saying is Malays must not play dirty, deny the rights of the non-Malays, feel insecure all the time: there’s right and wrong, the moon is round, 2+2=4 … so don’t fool yourself that the moon is made of green cheese.
One more thing … we are guests … NEVER HAVE BEEN. MALAYS ARE JUST AS IMMIGRANTS AS WE ARE. THIS IS A FACT. LOOK HERE, LISTEN CAREFULLY, THE ORANG ASLI, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE ABORIGINES.
Remember, Malays owe a lot, a great deal to the Chinese who have built the economy of this country and made enormous contribution to its progress. So, don’t talk tosh and all the clap-trap about ketuanan melayu. I REPEAT, THERES’ NO SUCH THING AS KETUANAN MELAYU.
Think Malaysian, not melayu. At end of the day, the issue is whether kamu nak dengar to your conscience atau your emosi yang memang unacceptable to racial harmony and nation-building.
Let Truth, Justice and Rightness prevail.
Comment by DAP/PAP — Tuesday, 06-06-2006 @ 21: 49.31
DAP/PAP,
Before you jump to conclusions (and you did!), I am not a Malay, and neither do I belong to the UMNO/Bumiputra priviledged group. I am an offspring of immigrants in Malaysia, but I know my space and fate. Most importantly, I am matured enough to acknowledge and accept them. I am thankful the Malays did not wholy claimed this land as theirs, but let my immigrant ancestors in. In fact, my ancestors were treated very well by the Malays, so were my parents, and my generation. I have very fantastic Malay neighbours, and they are where I learn about what it means being Malay, Muslim and Bumiputera.
Putrajaya or Malaysia Inc. did not spit out the non-Malays when they hire people to work in the government offices. When was the last time you hear a Chinese mother say “Wah you know ah, my son gladuated flom Englend and he is now working in JKR!” When was the last time Chinese were proud to have their children work in the civil services, not counting Lim Khen Yik and Ong Ka Ting’s parents? If you are a Chinese, did you ever feel like working for the government? Have you tried applying to join the civil forces? Most Chinese are happy being porn vcd peddlers, loan sharks, pimps, beside all other legal professions.
I am thinking MALAYSIAN, therefore I did not lie to myself as to what I am entitled to. Did the Malays play dirty? If they did, would you dare say corruption (and I mean GIVING) did not begin by the Chinese???
another malaysian,
I am one of those non-Umnoputras. I am a non-Malay, but I have nothing against the Malays claiming a bigger share of the pie. They (the Malays) were here first, and they claimed pioneership here. You Chinese have a problem with that? Is it their fault they came here first? Is it their fault you Chinese were slow? Why shouldn’t they prioritise themselves when they were the ones who “opened” the county for other immigrants? You buy a house, you let your guests tell you how to keep it clean? You let your guests do as they wish, even if what they do is agianst your religion, your will and your principles???
The Malays of the Tunku’s days were all for sharing the economic and social pie. if you are old enough to have lived through that era, you would agree to it. Otherwise, check with your parents, they would’ve probably gone through it. Then, the Chinese start making themselves equals, to the point of asking for the bumi status. When the government streamlines the education system, the Chinese INSISTS on preserving the vernacular method - so, who is playing the bad part in uniting for racial harmony??? The present government should just ignore the Chinese’s demand if indeed they are serious about making education a nuetral occupation.
Whatever it is, since the Chinese of this generation is so unhappy with the Malays, why not get out of the country, find one which suits your taste and stay there. Your ancestors chose Tanah Melayu, but there is no contract whatsoever that says you must remain here against your own will. Kalau tak suka sini, keluar lah… Try go back to China and see if life would be better there. This is my personal challenge to you.
Comment by pemerhati_msia — Wednesday, 07-06-2006 @ 09: 30.56
pemerhati_msia ,
i need to point some common thinking error of some people have in the bolehland.
“What I am trying to say is that the Chinese should realise who the host is and who the guest is, and act accordingly.”
I do know the orang aslli is the host and chinese, Malays, and India is the guest. it is clearly stated in Buku Sejarah Malaysia Form1. None of us is Host and we are all guest of the orang asli which the government now putting them in the dark, and similiar to those Red indian in United State. We should all Thankful for the welcome of the orang asli to live in this land and granted us the basic right which belongs to theirs.
I am thinking MALAYSIAN, therefore I did not lie to myself as to what I am entitled to.
Whatever it is, since the Chinese of this generation is so unhappy with the Malays, why not get out of the country, find one which suits your taste and stay there.
And this is Not the thinking of Malaysian that should have, you are thinking Malays. Please Remember that any race born in this land are considered as MALAYSIAN. So they should be stay in HERE, and they pay tax to the government. Thus, they have the rights to stay. You are asking our nation’s citizen to betray his nation now, are you a spy or agent from other country?
He asked if he was in Malaysia.
that is your fault that you didn’t explain that Malaysia is a mixed culture nation and this is what made malaysia so attractive in world wide compare to others.
That is just prostitution. How about the “Ah Long” menace?
that is the problem that you should ask BN government.
Have you tried applying to join the civil forces?
please check the career section on BNM website, it stated that you must have creddit in BM…well we accept it is because it is needed, so why not other company empoly Mandrin skills citizen due to it need?
All in your mind you think that this land is belongs to Malays. In fact, it is actually belongs to orang asli. You keep mention that malays are the “Tuan” and yet you tell people that you are thinking Malaysian.
Chinese doesn’t means to says they don’t wanna share economic pie with other race, NEP objective is to aid the Malays and request other race to aid malays so that all race in Malaysia will have chance to Do what they should do (to pay tax majorly) to the nation. It is not like what you have says, Malay are the host and we are guest such of childish thinking. The founder of the NEP could tell you the objective if you want.
The objective is good, but when it come to execution, the government failed to achive the goal. You should understand why Chinese doesn’t want NEP anymore first before insult them. if you are the so called “StackHolder” of a company, after 20years, you found that “some project” is out of track and failed to achive its objective, will you still invest blindly???
Chinese, after so many years accepting NEP, found that there are lot of Malays still in a very poor situation (remember our malay boy who refuse to go to national services?? that is only one case, many more i belive). Some of them are too rich, the miss use of NEP make Malaysian feed “some of them” till they became a big shark. those big shark come to suck the tax payer money some more. We already see NEP’s objective is almost out of control. What says you?
I think if we are to accept NEP again, it should be to the poor citizen, not only malay. we should make sure the aid are to the poor, those already rich bumi should keep quiet and pay their tax like other race and get all citizen to focus to fight for our mother land in the stage of world other then playing balls in our own pocket.
World will not stop to wait for us, it is our responsible to get ready to change to fit the world.
Comment by Unidentify — Thursday, 08-06-2006 @ 14: 44.55
Unidentify,
You quote: “World will not stop to wait for us, it is our responsible to get ready to change to fit the world. ” Unquote.
Precisely what I advised the Chinese to do: why wait for the present government to abolish or extend the NEP? With or without the NEP, is that the Chinese’s worry?
I am not childish therefore I await no aid from the government. I go and fulfil whatever I am after. I don’t need the government to give me the opportunity. I create my own, because I realise I am not a Malay, not a bumi, and not entitled to a lot of perks.
Tanah Melayu - what does that mean in pure, plain English?
Comment by pemerhati_msia — Thursday, 08-06-2006 @ 18: 23.11
Dear pemerhati_msia,
The chinese is not waiting anyone, people or i should says citizen like you or me may not need any aid from the government because i belive me and you can get our own chance and oppurtunities by ourself, but you seems to forget your point, think Malaysian.
Lot of Malaysian still live in poor situation Malay, Chinese, India and other race as well. Do they given any equal chance or at least a chances to improve their live?
NEP not really worried the chinese a lot, but think Malaysian. If you, a “Stackholder” of malaysia found that a project has gone out track. Will you still support?
Tanah Melayu, that is what those BN politician called our motherland in old days, same as the name United State never have any related to the name of Red Indian. The name is useless, no matter how great those politician named them. Truth is truth it is unchangeable base on historical view.
“No wonder our Minister Nazri said that Malaysians are still having the 3rd world mentality and should not be allowed to watch the Parliamentary proceedings live!!”
I have to says if you are good in history. Please educate our Mr.Nazri (i don’t call him YB because he has nothing for me to hormat anymore)
a self proclaim democartic nation’s civil servent told us not to dream of divide power between government, parliment and court which means it is total against the Principe of Democartic, we know the situation in Malaysia which might be true, but he shouldn’t tell the tax payer to “dream for it.” please go and educate him the Principe of Democartic.
Please again educate him that MP is taking the salary from citizen, not from UMNO. Thus, he have to speak for his citizen not his party only. Please tell him who is the salary payer for him base on History of Parliment Malaysia.
No wonder Malaysians are still having the 3rd world mentality, because we have such a 9th class minister in our office and Parliment Member in our common house. sigh!!
Comment by Unidentify — Friday, 09-06-2006 @ 11: 13.37
I believe we do not need to argue more on this matter. Just look at Singapore and you will get a straight answer.
To be rich, is not thru NEP, but thru hardwork.
Cheers to the reality.
Comment by Penangnites — Friday, 16-06-2006 @ 23: 28.19