Is the government unable to defend its figures on bumiputera equity ownership and stand by them?

That's the impression of rights group Aliran, who believes that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's plea that such data should never be questioned, adds fuel to suspicion that the government's data was refutable.

"Any data that cannot come under public scrutiny loses validity and credibility," Aliran said in a statement.

The organisation said Najib's statement was akin to authoritarianism and would hamper efforts in creating a society capable of critical thinking.

"Even if there is a possibility of confusion arising from conflicting figures, it should not lead to name-calling, labelling or 'rubbishing' of the other side's research findings."

Govt must show facts

Najib's comments came after the think-tank Asian Strategic and Leadership Institute (Asli) retracted a study which questioned the accuracy of government data on Bumiputera equity ownership.

Asli came under heavy fire from Umno's top brass and the prime minister himself over the study, which was published as its proposal for the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Instead of mere criticism, Aliran said the government should have rightfully responded by providing facts to rebut Asli's findings.

"This is the mark of a society that is rational, scientific and democratic as envisaged in the much-touted Vision 2020," it added.

Aliran explained that public debate on the New Economic Policy was important to reassure the public that no one has been left out from the country's development.