I'll be a second-class citizen any day...
by A Concerned Malaysian.
“If you give me a choice between being a second-class citizen and the so-called Malay privileges, I would certainly be proud to be placed under category of ‘second class citizen’.
In a beautiful country like Malaysia , being a second-class citizen is an honour, a class of its own and is normally associated with big luxury cars, owning/controlling all kind of businesses and conglomerates right from retail, wholesale up to the manufacturing activities and import and export.
There is no one in Malaysia to compete with you what more the so-called ‘first-class citizens’ who practically have zero economic power. To you second-class citizens, the sky is the limit.
You have got with you economic power and you also have a growing influences on the country’s political power.
One should ponder as to who owns and builds all the high-rise apartments and condominiums in this country for example?
Who owns and operates the manufacturing businesses, the hotels, the shopping complexes, the supermarkets, the distribution of goods and services and so many others?
The list is too long to mention here, you can see for yourself. So ponder all Malaysians before making up your minds on issues without first realising where we are.”
I think the writer, presumably a Malay, should consider the following points before jumping to conclusion:
Our iconic Petronas Twin Towers, as the name suggests, belong to our national oil company. So is the developer of our national pride, Putra Jaya, an ostentatious display which would humble the British, our former colonialists.
The many high rise developments we see in KL are mostly built, though not necessarily owned, by public listed companies which are owned in part by government linked corporations like Khazanah, PNB, EPF and so on. Being public listed companies, their shares are available for purchase by any member of the public.
Where there are private developers, many are second or third generations who benefited from the wisdom or foresight and thrift of their ancestors, who bought and kept landed properties, which have skyrocketed in price. How many of our present generation are willing to do the same? Land is a scarce commodity and it does not need a Ph D from London School of Economics to know that if we were to keep the properties we purchase today, it would multiply in value in 50 years’ time.
All development projects are subject to approval by local authorities, which are headed by Bumiputeras, from Mayors and District Officers to Chief Ministers of state, with the exception of Penang.
Similarly, all businesses are subject to approval by Bumiputera heads of department and if necessary, by the state and/or federal administrations.
A Concerned Malaysian should ask himself ‘why, why and why this is so?’ Why did those with authority approve them?
I would venture to suggest it was because they have the ability and confidence and submitted plans and proposals acceptable by the relevant authorities, though some might suggest some wheeling and dealing and corruption.
As to 'first class citizens' who have practically zero economic power, have you heard of Diam, Diam Daim and the reclusive what's his name who controls Tanjong Pelepas, MMC, etc. etc.?
As non-Bumiputeras, we have been subjected to unfair discriminations in education, scholarships, employment, business opportunities and even in house prices. All we are asking is fairness, nothing more, nothing less. Is that too much to ask?
Why penalise us because of cronies like Francis Yeoh, Ananda Krishnan and the late Lim Goh Tong?
Take it up with the political leaders with real power, who incidentally are mostly Malays anyway.
The recent elections have shown that the people are increasingly for fairness and equality, good governance and transparency. We should be able discuss all kinds of matters with openness instead of being shackled by the Sedition Act, Internal Security Act, Official Secrets Act and so on.
Am I rich? I do not own any landed property and my 1983 BMW 728i is without road tax, hoping to apply for classic car status but unable to meet the minimum two other cars owned by me which seems ludicrous, as I have the use of cars belonging to my wife and son.
Am I a racist? I dream of the day when we will be colour blind. Recently, my daughter told me of her good bonding with a little Zimbabwe boy, her colleague’s son. I joked that luckily he is not an adult and she was quick to remind me that she is colour blind. We are open to that if and when it happens.
So, while Dr. Mahathir has Mugabe as friend, we have Mufaro!
Cheng and Mufaro
Cheng made him a birthday cake
No comments:
Post a Comment