DEB suburkan budaya kebergantungan, kata Nazir Razak dan Musa Hitam

Former CIMB Group executive Nazir Razak and former Deputy Prime Minister Musa Hitam have criticized the New Economic Policy (DEB) for fostering a culture of dependency and excessive pampering of Malays. DEB was initially designed to last only 20 years, according to Razak, who also referred to it as a temporary measure when it was proposed by former Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Abdul Rahman in 1971.

The policy, which aimed to eradicate poverty and improve the living standards of Bumiputeras, has resulted in a sense of entitlement and over-indulgence, according to Razak, who spoke at a forum marking Tun Abdul Razak's legacy. He suggested that DEB should be re-examined, focusing more on education and professional development.

Razak accused DEB of overly emphasizing equity and ownership, leading to a "Ali Baba" culture of seeking advantages through privileges or opportunities without genuine competition. He also criticized the allocation of contracts to Bumiputera companies, questioning why politicians were allowed to choose the recipients, as this lack of competition has weakened the Bumiputera economy.

Musa Hitam, who served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1981 to 1986, stated that DEB has indirectly created a dependency culture on government assistance. He believes that the economic policy has made Malays overly pampered by the government, benefiting not only the Malays but also the nation as a whole. However, Hitam also noted that the policy has created uncertainty among the public, as people fear not receiving any assistance, yet when they do receive it, they claim it is not sufficient and demand more.