Non-Malays are as equally responsible as the Malays in ensuring that the 30 percent bumiputera equity target under the New Economic Policy is met, said Umno general assembly delegate Hasnoor Sidang Husin.

While debating the motion on the economy, he claimed that non-Malays were not interested in this responsibility, that was agreed to by the country’s forefathers.

“Instead, non-Malays are not only not helping, they are questioning this policy. Pacal yang hina (I’m sorry to say), non-Malays are not our sincere partners within BN,” said Hasnoor.

At this point, deputy permanent chairperson Mohamad Aziz was heard ordering Hasnoor to retract the words “ pacal yang hina ”, a form of court language, with which the latter duly complied.

Hasnoor also questioned if Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also Umno president, was willing to compel non-Malays into fulfilling the said responsibility.

“It is time. The father had undertook the bold move of creating the NEP and now the son must be brave to implement (the policy) without compromise,” he said.

Economy needs handicaps, like in golf

Earlier, Hasnoor said that the Chinese had a monopoly of the economy and even in the aftermath of the May 13 race riots had failed to learn from it.

Likening the economy to a game of golf which has a handicap system, he said that the economy should not be treated like a free-for-all game of rugby.

“We must have an economic eco-system which is based on social justice. Affirmative action should be continued but it should not be determined by markets but by needs.

He said that regardless of the economic models that will be implemented, the planners must place Malay interests to the fore.

“Because if Umno is not struggling for the Malays, what is the meaning of us gathering in his hall today?” he asked.

He urged the policymakers to prevent a situation where “everyone else gets the meat, while the Malays are left with the bones”.