Thumbs-up for Amanah Plan

Many welcome proposal for setting up of non-race-based economic policy

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong has welcomed the proposal for the setting up of a non-race-based economic plan.

He said all economic transformation plans should be “colour-blind” and based on meritocracy and performance.

“This is a policy that will benefit everyone,” he said, adding that he was glad that the idea came from a veteran Umno leader, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who had gone through the Malaysian New Economic Policy era.

Tengku Razaleigh called on Thursday for the abolishment of affirmative economic plans like the Bumiputra Economic Empowerment agenda (BEE) and the National Development Policy.

Speaking at an economic discussion, he proposed that single-racebased plans be replaced with the National Stakeholders’ Economic Action Plan or Amanah Plan meant for all Malaysians that also seeks to regain Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) potential of 7% to 8% per annum.

He had added that BEE – announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently – had raised the anger of non-Muslims, who were being made to feel like second-class citizens and sidelined by the Government.

“(But) the Amanah Plan is not race-based. It is designed to lift everyone up together, equally.

“This means the majority, who are Malays, will be lifted as well and will get a share of the cake,” added Tengku Razaleigh.

He also said the people had made their demands clear that they wanted a clean government and an end to rampant corruption, rising cost of living, high personal debt levels and economic imbalances.

Gerakan Youth secretary-general Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai said the implementation of the plan must be carried out fairly and transparently.

“There should be a panel to monitor the policy to ensure that all deserving communities are able to receive aid from the Government,” he added.

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) founding chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan called the plan a “brilliant idea”.

“But we should not rush into pushing for the change. It has to be discussed in a rational way. We must find a solution to see how all Malaysians, especially the 40% from the bottom of the poverty line, can benefit from the policy and grow with the economy,” he said.