Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Earlier, there was one unhappy group. Now, more pressure for new Penang CM. Our PM also asked two interesting questions:
I would like to ask the DAP which community has been made poorer because of the NEP (?)
What are his (Lim’s) plans for the Indians in Penang (?)
PM warns Lim over NEP’s exclusion in Penang
source
PUTRAJAYA, Wed:
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has warned Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng not to make statements that could stoke racial tensions.
Lim, after his swearing-in as the new Penang Chief Minister on Tuesday, told reporters that the DAP-led state government would not practice the New Economic Policy. He had also said that the NEP, which was introduced in 1971 after the May 13, 1969, racial riots to eradicate poverty and restructure society, was the source of “cronyism, corruption and inefficiency.’
Abdullah said in between meetings with top civil servants at his office here that the NEP, introduced by the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the country’s second prime minister, had in fact succeeded in increasing the size of the economic pie and had benefited everyone.
“I would like to ask the DAP which community has been made poorer because of the NEP” he said. “The (Penang) state government must not try to create an atmosphere which can cause racial tensions.”
Abdullah, who is also head of Penang Umno, said the new state government in Penang should not marginalise the Malays, who are the minority in the state, and other minority groups like the Indians.
“Do not marginalise the Malays. I want to ask Lim Guan Eng what are his plans for the Malays in Penang. What are his plans for the Indians in Penang. What are his plans for other minority groups in Penang”
The prime minister gave an assurance that the federal government would continue to look after the lower-income groups in the state and would also continue with the special assistance programmes for the bumiputeras.
This is not a topic that I would like to discuss but in the spirit of open discussion (now that the free speech regime is in charge), I would share some of my experience.
Though I am not a Penangite, I have a lot of friends and relatives in Penang and at one point of time worked there for several years.
However I had moved out of Penang due to severe discrimination against Indians and Malays in the private sector. Even though the companies could be MNCs but all of them are controlled by one dominant group. Well, this is not a big revelation you say as it is the same in other parts of the country. But the big difference between KL and Penang is the degree of dominance is far greater in Penang. For an Indian, you don’t get a chance to attend an interview much less get the job. The only time you can get employed is when the department manager is an Indian or Malay or the job is low-paid one.
So many Indians in Penang are already frustarted by the stranglehold and firewall that this particular community has created.
To be fair I don’t think it is due to racism or discrimination by purpose but rather a case of “discrimination by majority” that also prevails in the govt sector.
The mood in Penang, according to my friends has changed in such a manner that this situation is likely to get worse. The thinking among this particualar community is that the state govt is now officially ours and we can do whatever we want. Like it or not DAP is a one-race party and the Indians there never really given a fair treatment.
It is a good thing that our Prof Ramasamy is one of the DCM but he is likely to be a puppet and window-dressing, just like the Indian ministers in Singapore.
So it is important that the Indians in Penang to hold DAP accountable and that they deliver what they promised to the community.
Pak Lah : I think we had enough of racial cards and please get down to work and clean up your own house first. Please clean up UMNO of those racial supremists and come up with a better power-sharing deal than what shown by the Opp.
about 100-200 ppl (said to be umno members or instigated by umno) gathered at KOMTAR (PG) this afternoon to protest the State’s decision to back off NEP .
Guess what, though they blocked the whole road no force was used. No tear gas , no water cannon . …… which makes us think that very likely instigated by one party….
Hi, don’t think Penang is that bad afterall….yes racial domination is something that you can’t deny happening in any of the states in Malaysia…
In MNC here, those who can deliver will get the chance, and based on performance, you might even be better than some of your peers…
Situation here may not be any better, but don’t quite see any worst either..
Personally, I know so many Indians who are doing fairly well….
On the demonstration, it’s a pity that there exists biased treatment as one wd expect, therefore proving critics are correct….. pro-BN ppl has to think abt this….
Umanan, well i disagree with you on the situation in Penang as I spent almost a decade there in senior management and there is a great deal of frustration among the indian professionals as regards to the biased treatment and lack of opportunities. I myself had tough time to bring Indians into my own company. There are a number of Indians are doing well but these people had to be several times better than their peers to survive. Look at the percentage of Indians in management and professional positions…very very few in terms of number and % as compared to the demographic %. I am afraid the situation gonna get worse.
As for the Komtar demo, well there was more than 2000 people were involved as reported by media.
Folks don’t be hypocrites…the same ppl who were talking about the freedom of assembly and free speech suddenly now refused to support when other races demonstrate…
Where is Lim Kit Siang and Anwar to defend these people’s right to rally ?
Don’t ask accuse the police of being biased, ask yourself if you practice what you preach when it comes to other people.
You are real MIC losser right?…
I still don’t quite think Penang wd be any different based on what I know from friends in the other states in Malaysia, not sure if your case is exclusively bad as far as Indians are concerned.
Guan Eng has said so..peaceful demo is fine….
Make sure same treatment for all..of course the authorities such as police MUST ensure this…nothing to do with opposition here…
it’s not umno not allowed to hold demonstration . It’s about
-umno critized others on the need to demonstrate . So why umno has to demonstrate?
-umno leaders said use “proper channel” . so why PG umno not using?
-umno said “no police permit , no gathering” . Ok , so show us the police permit for PG umno gathering?
-the crowd was ~500 . The remaining were merely on-lookers ( Dun get fancied by local media report)
umno is clearly biased . That’s the arguament here not because of indians being hypocrites or jealous seeing their gathering . So , why in the blue hell , LKS and Anwar have to defend this stupid gathering ?
PM made himself laughable saying “What are his (Lim’s) plans for the Indians in Penang” .
Thousands of Indians asked him the question and he has not answered. But he himself asking others ….. ada kadavule…..
Such will question umno’s, as a whole, capability and integrity . He also issued warning to opposition on mind what they say . How about his umno fellows whom have issues tons of racial remarks so far….?
More and more people will lose hope if they continue to run BN in this unprofessional manner.