Ramon Navaratnam,  Chairman, Asli Center of Public Policy Studies, November 14, 2016.

The Prime Minister Najib  Razak has made his first and most detailed clarification of the new 2050 Transformation National Plan (TN50), since he first announced it in his 2017 Budget Speech on October 21st!

However, his Speech at the at the closing of the National Integration Convention at the University Technology MARA on November 10, was also surprising and perplexing!

Surprising 

The T50 announcement is surprising for the following reasons:

1. It was suddenly sprung on us all.

2. It is so long term, covering another 30 years!

3. But the TN50 economics appear to be the same or similar to the essential elements of the New Economic Policies of 1970’s, introduced by the Prime Minister`s late  father, Abdul Razak!

Najib is right in saying that the ‘main core of the country must still be the Malays and the Bumiputras, Malay as the national language and Islam as the religion of the Federation and of course the Yang Pertuan Agong as Head of State.’ These principles have been the basis of the National Consensus and these principles, PM Najib has said, `if accepted, would make it, easier for us to move forward.’

I might add that this is why our country and national cohesion and unity have developed relatively well and we have progressed so far since Merdeka,

But we could have been more successful if there was more Balanced Implementation of these very Principles that are enshrined in the Constitution.

The Non Malays

For instance, many non Malays feel that poverty eradication has not sufficiently covered the principle of “regardless of race” in the implementation of NEP poverty policies.  Many non Muslims also feel marginalised in the practice of their religions in that they are often not allowed or encouraged to freely practice their religions. These discomforts and sense of injustice are shared in all parts of the country. This includes Sabah and Sarawak where they often feel deprived of more balanced allocation of Federal funds, to reduce the deep pockets of poverty and much relative underdevelopment.

The Malays and Bumiputras

The PM rightly says that for the TN50, “we should not let the Malays and the Bumiputras to be left behind ” and that the “empowerment of the Bumiputras is a national agenda and one of the major successes of the country was national unity ”

No one denies this noble goal. In fact what needs to be stressed now is the remarkable progress the Malays in particular, have made through immense Government policies, opportunities and aid given liberally to them especially since 1970, up to now!

The Government should emphasise this outstanding progress made by the Bumis and should take pride for the achievements instead of talking about Bumis being left behind.

Both in terms eradicating Poverty and Restructuring the economy, the Bumiputras have made tremendous progress that we cannot and should not underplay, but should proudly proclaim to the world. Of course, there is much more do be achieved in raising incomes and narrowing income disparities. But Rome was not built in a day!

Here the TN 50 should focus on the ways and means of accelerating the socio- economy upward mobility of the Bumis, Malays and also the other underprivileged Non Malays, without marginalising any group!  No one should be left out is a good theme if it is truly followed. It should not be a slogan behind which the Rich will get richer, often at the expense of the poor. That is how we will breed social unrest – regardless of race!

Let’s not forget that many well deserving Bumis and Malays rightly feel that they themselves have been left out in development because of some bad implementation of policies. Both Malays/Bumis and non Malays have suffered some neglect which T50 must put right, please.

Perplexing TN 50!

It’s perplexing that after nearly 60 years of Independence, we are still thinking about Race Economics and not genuine Malaysian economics. In fact, to survive and progress on a sustainable basis, we should phase out of race based socio-economic policies and move more firmly towards socio-economic development and progress based on basic needs – regardless of race and religion.

What happened to the New Economic Model that Government considered seriously but has not been fully implemented as yet ?

Actually, the continuing preoccupation with race and religious  advancement in social, economic and political fields is perhaps the main cause of  deteriorating national cohesion and unity as these policies and practices are not only divisive but destructive!

TN 50 should be for All Malaysians!

The TN50 should therefore seek a higher plain of national unity, rather than promote even inadvertently, national disunity and socio economic and political regression.

The PM mentioned that he found in China “a hunger for success and that if we are in our comfort zone and too easy going, we will lose out to the 1.3 billion Chinese.

That is true. But how can we hunger for success when we still have so much pampering, protection and preferences for so many Malaysians? How come we are so slow in promoting English and our mother tongues in all our schools?
The perception of unequal treatment based on race and religion has to be tackled boldly, if the continuing brain drain and capital outflows  and the lack of the sense of belonging are  to be  effectively arrested.

Thus the old outdated NEP policies and its many abuses, which have adversely affected both Malays / Bumis and Non Malays and non Bumis, must not be allowed in the TN50 new policies !

Conclusion

The National Transformation (NT50) Plan, announcement by the Prime Minister, is  most welcome!

But it’s content and direction should not be ‘More of the same’! It should be fresh, relevant for the future, dynamic and sustainable!

The TN50 should recognise that race and religious economics should be completely phased out in the next, say, 10 years!

TN50 should aim to promote and perpetuate  more Needs Based economics, related to better education, more meritocracy and competition and the rejection of crony capitalism and corruption.

Only then will there be full public support for the new TN 50 policies. It has to based, as the PM says, on National Consensus and not just on the so-called tyranny of the majority views.

Thus the proposed National Consultative Council that Razak successfully formed and flourished, should be followed up by his son, Prime Minister Najib Razak, in fairness to the rakyat and in the long term interests of real transformation and greater progress by 2050, please!

Let’s honestly follow the noble aim of TN50, that Nobody should be Left Out – that is from All Races.

TN 50 should be neither surprising nor perplexing. It should truly reflect Malaysia’s long term sustainable interests, strong national unity, peace and progress!