Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this

'Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu' which translates into 'Unity is Strength' is the national motto or so called 'catch phrase' of Malaysia. However, after reading report after report on the recent Umno 57th general assembly, the only thing that seems to be 'bertambah-ing' in 'mutu' is the racial divide.

Umno Youth leader Hishammuddin Hussein Onn, the supposedly responsible, wise and unbiased leader of today's Malay youths and also education minister, doesn't seem to be complying with the national motto. Hishammuddin has said 'Keep out politics of hate' but it seems that would mean keeping himself out of politics.

With remarks like, 'The non-Malays should be brave enough to admit that they have benefitted either directly or indirectly through many projects carried out during the duration of the New Economic Policy', I certainly do not believe that he intends to strengthen any form of unity in our country.

Apparently, dear Hishammuddin doesn't realise that only bumiputera contractors may tender for most jobs handed out by the government and it is only because most bumiputera contractors are too lazy or do not have the technological know-how to do these jobs that they hand out sub-contracts to non-bumiputera contractors not before taking a profitable kickback from virtually not doing anything at all.

Even then, we have to exclude all the jobs given to 'friends' of our fellow politicians who get jobs under the counter without having to tender for them. Ah yes, so now I see how non-bumiputera contractors have benefitted from these government projects.

In Hishammuddin's speech at assembly, he also cited a report by the Far Eastern Economic Review about Singapore not awarding scholarships to non-Chinese. However, Hishammuddin should look closer to home whereby Chinese who do extremely well in their SPM and STPM examinations are not awarded Public Services Department scholarships or even given a place in courses like medicine and engineering in local universities. Let's not forget about the racial quota rule favouring the local matriculation intake which makes it almost impossible for a non-bumiputera to attain a place in these matriculation colleges.

Many delegates and leaders at the assembly accused and blamed the Chinese business community of 'taking more than what they deserved'. However, many of them also speak of social equity. The definition of social equity is a society that is impartial, fair and just. So what is wrong with the Chinese raking in bigger profits at the end of each month because of hard work and taking advantage of any opportunity that appears in front of them?

Umno leaders have motioned for the NEP to be hiked up to levels more than 30 percent with no expiry date. This is how much faith Malay leaders have in their people to grow and develop by themselves. This motion is synonymous with telling the Malays that they might as well take forever to develop and keep on being spoon-fed by the government because this help will keep on coming.

We live in a democratic country where every individual has an equal say for what he or she wants or thinks is best. So much for not promoting 'hate politics'. The ISA will lock up anyone who threatens national sovereignty. It makes me wonder why Hishammuddin and other Umno leaders and delegates haven't been locked up yet.

The developments at the recent Umno assembly are extremely worrying as non-bumiputera citizens of our beloved country are being led to believe that we are being seen as exploiting national wealth and are short of being called a menace to society. If this type of attitude by our leaders - who might as well be deemed bigots - continues, the national motto should be changed from 'Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu' to 'Kita majoriti, yang lain duduk diam.'

ADS