PM: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ON BUMIPUTERAS TO STAY

There are certain areas where Malays need some kind of push, says Dr Mahathir

AFFIRMATIVE action is still needed to bridge the gap and avoid conflict between Bumiputeras and other races. In an interview with Channel NewsAsia yesterday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said there were aspects that needed to be looked at, especially in terms of financial feasibility.

However, Dr Mahathir said, it did not mean that the interests of other races would be sidelined.

“Disparity in any society is bad, even if it’s a single ethnic (group). You have the rich, very rich, and the poor, very poor. You are inviting conflicts.

“But, when the rich belong to one race, and the poor to another, the potential for conflict is much greater.

“We cannot change Malays into Chinese, Chinese into Malays, but we can change their economic situation,” Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying.

“We can improve the economic wellbeing of Malays with affirmative action.

“We have reduced the disparity with the Malays and other races, mainly the Chinese, but there are certain areas where we need to give Malays some kind of push.

“For example, when I was in the United Kingdom, I met a number of Chinese students. They were there because their parents were able to pay for their studies.

“But, I find that Malay parents, by and large, cannot afford university education for their children.”

He said Malays were mostly civil servants and wage earners, unlike Chinese, who “are largely in business”. As such, he said, more scholarships needed to be given to Malays.