The protestors, mostly Malays, gathered outside Komtar Tower in Penang. A large group of people started marching towards the tower. More than 100 protestors carried banners in the heat of the afternoon.
The situation was tense and you could tell they were very upset about has been on the boil ever since the newly-appointed Penang chief Minister, Mr Lim Guan Eng of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), announced that he would do away with the New Economic Policy (NEP).
The policy was introduced in the 1970s by the Malay-dominated Barisan Nasional (BN) ruling coalition to provide economic protection for the poorer Malays or bumiputeras.
But Mr Lim charged that the NEP breeds cronyism, corruption and systemic inefficiency.
Under the NEP, Malays have preference in jobs, education and business. But even some Malays critic saw it has been misused to benefit a well-connected Malay elite.
Still, the reaction to Mr Lim’s comments was swift and hard. He was publicly warned by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi that such a drastic move would incite racial tensions at a time when the state of affairs in Malaysia is fragile.
4 responses so far ↓
Lampar // March 19, 2008 at 1:40 am |
He is referring to the Umno-putra’s NEP, not the original version which redistribute the country wealth equitably among the rich n poor regardless of race or religion. P.M need to get a life and stop fanning racist sentiment among Penang Malay, he is flaming seditious speech of those umno youth gangsters trying to create racial unrest in newly elected opposition government states, to prevent new state government from delivering their pledges to Penangites.
francis // March 19, 2008 at 4:38 am |
If the UMNOputras can get away from illegal protest while HINDRAF members can be jailed, that shows the kind of double standard we have in our police force. To UMNOputras, time to wake up and accept the reality that even some Malays stop supporting you. Don’t try to create problems in this beloved state. Leave the Barisan Rakyat alone, and start to clean up your own backyard first before mounting any opposition to this newly formed government.
NoktahHitam // March 24, 2008 at 3:22 am |
Lets go back to race.
Most of the Malay stays at Balik Pulau or Seberang Perai. These Malays are not contractors, enterprenuer or a business man. They are poor. What Lim proposed made sense, open tender to help poor people (not only Malay) and wipe out cronysm.
When Lim declared anti DEB, UMNOputra stood up, realizing that they will get lesser projects (or smaller pie). They even went to the rural areas, telling the Malays that we will be sold out, just like what happened to Singapore. Being the lesser educated, the kampong people believed them.
Before BN, Gerakan won Penang. They later joined BN. Whats the fuss about selling out Malays right?
Some people just can’t see through the future, some just ignore it. The Kin pays the price.
Billy // March 26, 2008 at 5:19 pm |
It’s simply the sore losers from UMNO who were protesting. They know fairly well that all those “awarded projects” will be a part of Penang history. To sum it up, it was a last-ditch effort to force Guan Eng to reverse that calculated move, which is, in fact, beneficial to all races. The days of such wastages and excesses are over. Dream on, UMNO. Maybe, by next election, your party will become irrelevant…….just wait and see!