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I would like to comment on Rejal Arbee's article entitled Are the Chinese marginalised in Malaysia?

As a Chinese Malaysian, I am sure many would agree with me that we are being marginalised. It is a fact because we cannot have racial discrimination favouring one without affecting the others. There is no use denying it, especially if these statements are made by Umno, the perpetrator or even if they are made by MCA or Gerakan, because these two are supposed to toe the line anyway.

The fuss created was because it was brought up by an ex-PM of Singapore and therefore he appeared to be 'meddling' in another country's affairs. We can also say that the citizens of Singapore are compliant because of their strict enforcement of many laws on how they should conduct themselves.

Rejal asked, 'What does it mean when he said the Chinese here are being systematically marginalised? Don't the Chinese have a share in governing the country? Isn't there power- sharing among the Malay, Chinese and Indian political parties? Does the Malaysian government - though dominated by the majority Malays - curtail the Chinese from carrying out their various endeavours? Do they not have a share of the economic cake, in fact the major share?'

The power-sharing formula he referred to is a clear example of the non-Malays being marginalised in that Umno decides who shall be prime minister as well as who shall be president of each coalition party.

There are so many endeavours that were and are being curtailed and these are well-documented. One good example is the denial of a Chinese university. Even University Tunku Abdul Rahman, an MCA initiative, took many years before it was finally approved and it was made to look like a big concession to the Chinese.

The shares of the economic cake is well-known, to be given to cronies and those connected with MCA and MIC. Only they know how the contributions to political funds are unofficially distributed to maintain their hegemony. There are also companies which appear to be held by non-Malays but actually, they are acting as nominees only.

Rejal says: 'Most of the Chinese enterprises big and small continue to get government jobs and tenders. Even when a Malay/bumiputera enterprise obtains government tenders, the Chinese businesses are still not left out. They continue to benefit from the Malay contractors and will still have a share in the jobs and in some instances even the majority share'.

But after the rent-seekers' huge cut, many contractors have to unduly cut costs, which result in unfinished or sub-standard projects.

'But can the Malay contractor expect the same treatment from a Chinese enterprise/business? How many Malay contractors have won tenders from Chinese-owned enterprises/conglomerates?', he asks.

Malays tend to assume all Chinese businessmen are successful. I think for every one successful businessman, there are at least one hundred who have failed or are just making a living hoping for better times. Through trial and error, some make it good.

'In any case, a company 51-percent owned by the Malays, meaning 49 percent is owned by non- Malays, is still deemed a bumiputera company. So even if it gets a government job, the Chinese still have a very substantial share,' says Rejal.

This is usually the modus operandi of a rent-seeker who got the contract because of strong political connections and needs someone to carry out the job. The so-called bumi control is to meet the official requirement. So who owns what percentage is different from what is on paper. So to deem it as though the Malay partner is being generous in allowing Chinese participation is incorrect.

'But can the same be said of a Chinese company? Invariably it would be 100 percent owned by the Chinese,' he says further.

The Chinese enterprise/business is usually one which started as a family business and through thrift and wise investments in landed properties many years ago, now enjoys high appreciation in value. This can still happen but requires another generation holding the properties and not many can do so. How could Malays expect the Chinese to easily give up control unless there are some incentives, like listing on the stock exchange, for further growth?

'Thus the country's economy is still in the hands of the Chinese,' claims Rejal further.

It took a few generations of long hours of trading and wise investments to achieve that. Anybody, regardless of race can do it, if he has the patience.

Rejal also says, 'For a Malay contractor who gets a tender to build a building, he will need various supplies and materials. Invariably these can only be obtained from a Chinese distributor or wholesaler. Even when they do the work themselves, they still need to get supplies from the Chinese merchants who continue to monopolise the wholesale and distribution businesses.

'And often times, he is the one who gets discriminated against. A Chinese contractor is said to be able to purchase his supplies at a discounted rate which a Malay contractor does not enjoy. The Chinese contractor is also given longer credit terms - sometimes up to six months - whilst his Malay counterpart not only has to pay cash on delivery terms but without the discount. And even if he can get credit, it will be at a much shorter period of credit'.

To be a businessman, one has to learn the trade and get to know the people in the industry. Even a Chinese, new in a business, has to learn through mistakes before he knows who are the reliable and fair suppliers. Discounts are up to the businessman to negotiate with the suppliers according to the law of supply and demand, which is all part and parcel of business.

'There are other cases of discrimination. Even in employment, for example, when a proficiency in Mandarin is required even for a job as a salesgirl in a retail outlet at a shopping complex patronised by Malays.'

In the first place, like myself, not all Chinese know Mandarin. Therefore, if the job involves knowledge of Chinese because the bills and invoices are written in that language, I will not be employed. Sometimes, the old man knows only his dialect and only those who can speak that dialect will be favoured. I can say it makes more sense, if the complex is patronised by Malays, that the boss will employ Malay shop assistants instead of Chinese, and not as claimed.

I would like to say that for most Chinese Malaysians, we are more interested in getting a fair deal from the government. Just be fair, transparent and accountable. If the leaders have strong principles and are prepared to be fair, they will get the support. It is no use saying one thing and doing another, and then getting upset when others mention what is factual.

'Yet the Malays continue to get brickbats that the Chinese are discriminated against and the latest from the Nanyang Chinese champion himself'.

I would suggest to Rejal to just take note of Umno leaders' speeches at their conventions and imagine himself to be a non-Malay. He will then know what it is like. As I have mentioned earlier, the only problem is that another country's ex-premier made the statement. That does not alter the fact that it is true.

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