‘NEP should focus on helping the poor, regardless of race’
KUALA LUMPUR: The government should modify or phase out the New Economic Policy (NEP) to promote national unity.
Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute’s Centre for Public Policy Studies chairman Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam said the NEP should focus on improving the education system and well-being of the poor, particularly the Bottom 40 per cent (B40) household income group.
“The implementation of NEP must be honest and fair, then only people would accept it. The government should focus on the poor, regardless of race,” he told NST Business yesterday.
Ramon, who was one of the first drafters of the NEP when he served in the Treasury, said the rich could be left to their own devices.
They should not be pampered but be encouraged to do better via more liberal policies.
“Income inequality is a serious issue in Malaysia. Hence, the government must look after the poor and low-income group.
“The government must efficiently allocate funds accordingly to meet the basic needs, orienting towards raising the incomes of the poor.”
Ramon said it was not right for the government to give privileges on the basis of race and rank as it would jeopardise socioeconomic development and national unity.
He said the government should also scrutinise the education system by providing better teachers.
“There should be more English, Science and technology classes with the right tutors.
“The government must make full use of the Finnish education advisers to improve our education system,” he said.
For example, he said Finland’s education model chose the best graduates to become teachers and paid them good salaries.
“Malaysia should examine the current education system and adapt the Finnish model here. Otherwise, we will lose out to Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.”
For a start, Ramon said Malaysia could implement the Finnish education system at the pre-school level to build a good foundation.
He said the government could introduce all the reforms but if the administration has poorly trained human resources, Malaysia would continue to be caught in the middle-income trap due to mediocrity.