Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email I’m confused over the article published by the Star below. It’s title says “Keep race out of business, says Najib“, but the content seems to say the opposite. He stresses that non-bumiputra companies must do something and that GLCs (bumiputra-based) also must do something.So, in order to not be doing business along racial lines, you have to look at race before doing business. Is it just me having a confusion here?
Why not just do business with those that offer the best deal for your business, or people you feel comfortable working with?
Anyway, one can’t run away from racial lines because there are many rules and restrictions that requires bumiputra partners or only exclusive for bumiputra companies. This is unavoidable due to the policies set and also the constitution.
Perhaps the article should be retitled “Race must be considered in business, says Najib”?
Parliament: Keep race out of business, says Najib
By SIM LEOI LEOIKUALA LUMPUR: The Government does not want business in the private sector to be conducted along racial lines.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak however said that all private companies were encouraged to build up a local vendor system to benefit small and medium-sized enterprises.
“So, all big non-bumiputra companies, particularly those which have received licences or contracts from the Government, should give priority towards the development of local small firms, including those owned by bumiputras.
“Goverment-linked companies (GLCs) also have a role in giving opportunities and guidance to all bumiputra and non-bumiputra businesses,” he told Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid (BN – Padang Besar).
Najib, recently appointed Finance Minister, also said that he had recently met with a few small businesses involved in the local furniture industry, particularly those contracted to supply furniture to the Government.
“They have asked for the tender system to be reviewed so that they will be considered later when awarding contracts,” he said.
MP
On the contrary I don’t see the confusion.
What NTR is saying indirectly is that the private sector is been dominated by the Chinese with little participation from other races. So he is asking them to be more pro-active in having a more balanced ethnic supply base and employee mix.
While there has been much talk about the civil service being dominated by one race, the bigger and more serious issue of private sector has been neglected by many.
I think it is only fair that both sectors must make efforts to open up and more racially homogenous.
One of the problem in civil service is that due to the great discrepancy in renumeration, the non-bumis are relunctant to join, except for the high paying and senior level positions. It is almost impossible to attract the Chinese to the govt sector due to this factor. Other factors such as the limited chances of promotion due to alleged discrimination also play a part.
However I do see that in the last few years, the GLCs have been hiring a lot more non bumis and now some of these are being headed by Indians. This is a positive move. But there is a lot need to be done to make our civil service ethnically more representative of our multi-racial society.
But the bigger issue is the private sector. In some places (Penang for instance), it is almost entirely mono-ethnic, except for positions at the very bottom of the employment value chain. Discrimination against minority races have been entrenched and it has gotten worse since March 8th.
penang gotten worse since March 8th ?? what a joke to penangites .
Guess what the whole nation getting worst in all aspects under the dungu federal.
these ppl are good at spin stories all along . This is to paint picture so that the non-bumi will be impressed . Too bad …. old folks and lay people can get impressed but not others…
remember Najib said “we’ll do more to the indian community..” Means they did not do much to the community before….
VJ, u are the king of spin stories, the spin doctor…
what about the Hindraf leaders spin story on ethnic cleansing and genocide??
My friends,there is always too side’s of coin…It’s fact that,the richest tamil in the world and second highest richest man is a Indian. Ananakrishann…It is also fact,that muthsamy’s and veerasamy’s are dwelling in poverty,find it hard to break vicous cycle of poverty…It’s fact that we have more qualified Doctors and Lawyers,than other races,based on our racial propation,which is just around 8%..It’s also fact,there is still much do on our education system and more scholarship,need to be given to our people.It’s fact,that more than 78% of Scrap metal and plastic business is dominated by Indians,If they can concentarate,becoming a global MNC,It has potential of billions of dollars,Maybe our next Ananda Krishana will come from this sector….It is also fact,that our people,need to establish in other industry’s….It’s fact,we have people,like the indian guy..(forget his name),he has will-power and confident to pull huge jumpo Jet,with his hair,…It is also fact,that there are people,who keep’s on complaining,despite doing little to improve oneself..Last,but not least..HAPPY DEEPAVALI…