Government has fulfilled all promises through NEP
(Bernama) – The New Economic Policy (NEP) has managed to free Malays from the clutches of poverty and allowed them to be counted among the prominent entrepreneurs, professionals and corporate figures of the country.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) Professor Dr Kamaruddin M. Said pointed out that the NEP is a development and socio-economic restructuring programme, geared towards eradicating poverty among the Malays as well as the Bumiputera people of the Sabah and Sarawak.
“It was also established to restructure the social economy of all Malaysians, by bridging the gap in their incomes, careers and standard of living during the last 20 years,” he explained.
He added that Article 153 of the Malaysian Constitution has ensured the success of the NEP during the Second Malaysia Plan of 1971 to 1975. In addition, Article 152, which declares Bahasa Melayu as the national language and Islam as the official religion, has also been implemented well.
EFFECTIVE EDUCATION POLICY
Under the aegis of the NEP, the government had set up additional public tertiary education institutions (IPTA) like Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in addition to the already existent Universiti Malaya (UM) and the then Institut Teknologi Mara, which is now known as Universiti Teknologi Mara or UiTM.
Bumiputera students also profited from the scholarships and privileges granted by the government during the NEP, which were in accordance with Section (2) of Article 153 laid down in the Constitution, Prof Kamaruddin stated.
The policy also allowed the government to set up boarding schools for providing educational opportunities to Malay children, who had excellent academic results but were unable to afford a better education.
Matriculation colleges and technology institutes were also established by the government under this policy, he noted.
Interestingly, Prof Kamaruddin said he and his wife Prof Dr Solehah Ishak were also among those who have gained from the NEP.
“I belong to a poor rural family. My parents were poor. After primary school, I got placed in a boarding school called Sekolah Alam Shah at Jalan Cheras in Kuala Lumpur, which was for underprivileged Malay children wanting to obtain a secondary education. Everything was provided for and the scholarship I got was more than enough to supplement my expenses,” he stated.
“I think that the majority of successful Malays grew up in boarding schools. Many have gone on to become academicians, scientists, professionals, entrepreneurs and corporate figures,” he added.
FAST-PACED DEVELOPMENT
Prof Kamaruddin pointed out that Malaysia’s development quickened during the prime ministerial term of Tun Abdul Razak from 1970 to 1976.
Tun Razak, who is known as the ‘Father of Development’ set up the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) to develop the rural community, particularly that of the Malays.
NEP measures were continued to be implemented by the country’s third prime minister Tun Hussein Onn under the Third Malaysia Plan of 1976 to 1980 and development peaked during the tenure of the fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
During his 22 year-reign as prime minister, Dr Mahathir developed Putrajaya in 1995, Multimedia Super Corridor in 1996 and Petronas Twin Towers in 1998 among others.
He also left the legacy of Vision 2020 that was unveiled in 1991 and which, aims to make Malaysia a fully developed nation by the year 2020.
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as prime minister after Dr Mahathir stepped down in 2003.
He introduced the ‘Islam Hadhari’ approach that focuses on development and achievement in line with the global economic demands of the 21st century.
Badawi also made efforts to lift the quality of human capital, particularly among Malays.
RESTORING MALAYS’ SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS
Prof Kamaruddin said the creation of the NEP also aimed at restoring the position of Malays in terms of socio-economic aspects.
Even though the NEP took a substantial amount of time to fructify, many Malays now enjoy a better socio-economic status because of this policy.
He stated that because of the successful implementation of governmental development initiatives, Malays and their children are now ready to face future challenges, including those at an international level.
The academician said this positive development has augured well for the concept of 1Malaysia and its spin-off programmes such as the Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia, Klinik 1Malaysia, Perumahan 1Malaysia and Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia.
(1Malaysia People’s Shop. 1Malaysia Clinic, 1Malaysia People’s Housing and 1Malaysia People’s Assistance).
“These programmes are continuing to fulfill the pledges made by the government,” Prof Kamaruddin noted.
FOSTERING NATIONAL UNITY
Malaysia’s sixth prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak introduced the 1Malaysia concept of ‘People First, Performance Now’ after assuming power.
This concept is geared towards fostering unity among Malaysians from various ethnic groups, religious beliefs and cultures.
“The concept prioritises the people of this country and gives the foremost importance to their performance and achievement,” said Prof Kamaruddin.
He said the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and the New Economic Model (NEM) are among the government’s latest efforts to inculcate unity among all Malaysians.
“Looking back at the past 55 years following the nation’s independence, the government has truly fulfilled many of the pledges it made to the people,” Prof Kamaruddin added.
