A Malay is defined in our constitution as a person who professes the Islamic religion, speaks the Malay Language and follows the Malay culture. By this defination, many others of different origin have since claimed that they are Malays, a lots of them to simply enjoy the special privileges accorded to them under the New Economic Policy (NEP). The New Economic Policy formulated to help the underprivileged irrespective of race and religion has since been hijacked to help the bumiputeras (as the Malays came to be known); on the assumption that they are the backward class. This might have been true to some extent during the independence days, but after 50 years since Merdeka, to continue harping that the Malays have been left behind is a fallacy.
Since 1969, the bumiputeras have enjoyed preferance in admissions to universities, scholarships, bursaries etc till it can be believed that the majority of the graduates of the public universities are them. This is besides the thousands sent overseas on government scholarships to foriegn universities. Employmentwise, nearly 95% of top jobs in the government services are filled with bumiputeras, the indians making up the menial labour force while the chinese have since shunned the public service sector for employment. Loans and grants by Government agencies too have shown a marked preferance towards helping the bumiputeras forge ahead while the others have been sadly beglected.
Many a malay entrepreneur have today stopped relying on such goverenmental assistance and have discarded the crutches offered. But the majority it seems have become dependent on the government for their livelihood and survival.
Why many people of other origin wish to be classified as bumiputeras becomes evident as they continue to enjoys the perks offered by the ruling entity, at the expense of the other Malaysians.
Does the defination of a malay justify the perks granted under the NEP? I would have certainly thought that the Malays who warranted such attention were those whose forefathers had settled in this country generations ago; those who had been ignored by the British. However, when we look around us, we suddenly realize thatit is the many 'malay' related people of Indonesian origins who are complete newcomers to this country, compared the the thousands of Indians and Chinese, who have been absorbed into the Malay community and enjoy the special privileges that had been set forward.
Amongst them are those who have been bestowed 'Datoship' and have become community leaders, UMNO chairpersons and probably divisional heads.
Whilst in Batam recently, I was introduced to Indonesians, who claimed to be of Malay origin; not javanese, not bugis, not acheinese, but malay from Indonesia. How do we look at them; as Indonesians or Malaysians? Why they fit the bill as a Malay, so can we take it for granted that they can be bumiputeras on their arrival into our country?
A serious rethink is in the offing to change thinking ourselves as Malaysians rather than of one particular race. They call for Ketuanan Rakyat by PKR is most appropriate. Its time that the racially divisive policies of UMNO, MCA and MIC are made obsolete and the new generation of Malaysians wake up to the reality of non ethinc policies.
A recent call by the Indian muslim community wanting to be identified as malays would be negated as it would not matter which race they belonged to to enjoy life as a Malaysian.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Was It A Con?
Recently I recieved an email from a guy in UK seeking my assistance to help be the middleman. He wanted a drug, purportedly used as a vaccine against mad cow disease and to enhance growth. He gave me the name of the supplier, a lady residing in Seremban. I was to purchase the drug from this lady at a price of RM220,000 and to hand it to the purchaser who will reimburse me the money and a tidy profit of RM240,000 which is to be shared between me and the UK guy. Greed got the better of me. I will do it, I assured him, depite not having a cent to my name.
I met the Seremban lady, who introduced herself and passed me her business card. There was a telephone number, but the address was that of a MLM company. She wanted 50% deposit and the balance paid to her on the products being delivered, all payments to be in cash. I would borrow the 50% and the balance can be collected when I deliver the goods to the purchaser. At that time I agreed, but on reflection decided that giving her a cheque would be a wiser choice. Besides it would give me time to collect the funds and bank into my account. When I conveyed my decision to her, she refused and insisted on cash or its no deal. Being not too bright, I asked her for her bank account number and that I would bank in the amount into her account. She smsed me an RHB bank account number under a different name. I was not going to fall for it; suddenly my brains seemed to have picked up some steam.
I called a colleage and told him about my problem, and he came up with RM240K. I called the lady in Serembn and told her that I was driving to Seremban with the full payment required and asked her to get the products ready. That was the last conversation I had with her the next 24 hours. She just refused to pick up the phone.
Meanwhile the purported purchaser had arrived and was staying in a 5 star joint in PJ. He wanted the stuff that day, as he did not want to hold on to so much cash, especially as Malaysia was a place of violent crime. A couple of white lies and I managed to convince him that I would have the products delivered the next day. Once again after umpteen calls, the lady picked up the call and accused me of changing plans and inconveniencing her. All I wanted to know was, would she deliver the products if I paid her the full sum in cash. On her agreement, I called up my financier and drove to Seremban, RM240K tucked in a plastic bag under the seat. On reaching Seremban I called the lady again. It took three more calls before she answered. Where do we meet?
She would call me back in 10 minutes. On this assurance, I drove to the old bus station in Seremban and waited for her call. After giving her half an hour, I tried her number again. The phone was dead; switched off. I said a quiet prayer and waited that the impossible would happen. After a wait of two and half hours, I decided that my sleep deserved priority.
I called the purchaser to inform him that I couldn't deliver the products and asked him to go back.
A couple of nasty smses to the lady in question, I had a miserable night, thinking of what could have gone wrong. Was the lady really a supplier of the product? How come all the vertinary pharmaceuticals I called did not stock the product? How come some of the vertinaririans I called have not heard of the product? Boy, I must be damned lucky not to have been swindled of RM240,000.
I met the Seremban lady, who introduced herself and passed me her business card. There was a telephone number, but the address was that of a MLM company. She wanted 50% deposit and the balance paid to her on the products being delivered, all payments to be in cash. I would borrow the 50% and the balance can be collected when I deliver the goods to the purchaser. At that time I agreed, but on reflection decided that giving her a cheque would be a wiser choice. Besides it would give me time to collect the funds and bank into my account. When I conveyed my decision to her, she refused and insisted on cash or its no deal. Being not too bright, I asked her for her bank account number and that I would bank in the amount into her account. She smsed me an RHB bank account number under a different name. I was not going to fall for it; suddenly my brains seemed to have picked up some steam.
I called a colleage and told him about my problem, and he came up with RM240K. I called the lady in Serembn and told her that I was driving to Seremban with the full payment required and asked her to get the products ready. That was the last conversation I had with her the next 24 hours. She just refused to pick up the phone.
Meanwhile the purported purchaser had arrived and was staying in a 5 star joint in PJ. He wanted the stuff that day, as he did not want to hold on to so much cash, especially as Malaysia was a place of violent crime. A couple of white lies and I managed to convince him that I would have the products delivered the next day. Once again after umpteen calls, the lady picked up the call and accused me of changing plans and inconveniencing her. All I wanted to know was, would she deliver the products if I paid her the full sum in cash. On her agreement, I called up my financier and drove to Seremban, RM240K tucked in a plastic bag under the seat. On reaching Seremban I called the lady again. It took three more calls before she answered. Where do we meet?
She would call me back in 10 minutes. On this assurance, I drove to the old bus station in Seremban and waited for her call. After giving her half an hour, I tried her number again. The phone was dead; switched off. I said a quiet prayer and waited that the impossible would happen. After a wait of two and half hours, I decided that my sleep deserved priority.
I called the purchaser to inform him that I couldn't deliver the products and asked him to go back.
A couple of nasty smses to the lady in question, I had a miserable night, thinking of what could have gone wrong. Was the lady really a supplier of the product? How come all the vertinary pharmaceuticals I called did not stock the product? How come some of the vertinaririans I called have not heard of the product? Boy, I must be damned lucky not to have been swindled of RM240,000.
First words.
Hi, Taking my first step into the unkown. The first 18 years of my life was in an estate in Klang. After my OSC, I joined the Malayan Teachers College in Penang. Posted back to Selangor as a trained teacher I clung on to the profession for 27 years before I opted out to slog it out in the Golf Industry, which lasted about 15 years. Since than I have dabbled in all kinds of 'businesses' from selling medicine in MLM companies to trying my hand at being a contractor. Nothing to shout about or show off as I am now broke as I was the day I was born.
I started reading the blogs and portals since I discovered Malaysiakini, which offered free access then. From there I discovered Jeff Ooi of Screenshot, Rocky, Nuraina, Susan Loone, Harris Ibrahim and slowly the rest. I did try responding to some of the articles in the blogs, but never had the magic touch needed to be uncovered.
It was during this time I discovered blogspot and .. why not be a blogger myself. I am an old new blogger, so bear with me.
I started reading the blogs and portals since I discovered Malaysiakini, which offered free access then. From there I discovered Jeff Ooi of Screenshot, Rocky, Nuraina, Susan Loone, Harris Ibrahim and slowly the rest. I did try responding to some of the articles in the blogs, but never had the magic touch needed to be uncovered.
It was during this time I discovered blogspot and .. why not be a blogger myself. I am an old new blogger, so bear with me.
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