Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan has been urged not to repeat PAS’ mistake in Kedah by increasing the bumiputera housing quota.

MCA religious harmony bureau chief Ti Lian Ker said a higher quota would also miss the goal of helping the poor, but instead create social injustice and divide and foster a dependency syndrome.

“There is absolutely no necessity for Mohamad ( right ) at this point of time to follow PAS’ footsteps that have resulted in their loss in the Kedah state.

“As an Umno and BN leader, he should display political wisdom and show Umno as a progressive party moving ahead progressively and not to emulate or outdo PAS' regressive racial policy when the latter was in power in Kedah prior to the 13th general election,” Ti said in a statement yesterday.

Yesterday , Utusan Malaysia quoted Mohamad saying that the state government is reforming the housing policy in the state to ensure that prices are reasonable.

Among the measures to be introduced including increasing the bumiputera housing quota from 30 percent to 50 percent.

“Under the policy that is being made, the government will set the bumiputera housing quota at 50 percent.

“The state government will ask housing developers to build houses priced at RM75,000 and below, RM150,000 and below, and RM250,000 and below to ensure that people can buy houses according to their ability,” he was quoted as saying.

Ti  (l eft ) also reiterated his party’s stance that the quota system should be phases out in favour of a merit-based system.

Among others, he said even a well-off bumiputera would be able to benefit from the system, whereas non-bumiputeras who are struggling would be denied the opportunity to buy a house.

Phasing out the quota system would encourage Malays to be more competitive, he said.

He added that many bumiputera scholars also agree that the government should encourage a fighting spirit amongst the bumiputera instead having them relying on government aid.

“The fact is, the bumiputera have made marked achievements and advanced socially, economically and educationally, among others, as compared to the 1960s and 1970s.

“Malaysia's continuous growth very much relies on her competitiveness in the global stage depends largely on the Malays as the majority.

“We should not subscribe to racial segregation and enhance the quota system thus developing a mental lull or dependence on the state,” he said.