NEP cultivated culture of dependency, say Nazir Razak and Musa Hitam
The ex-banker says if the policy continues for too long, the 'tongkat culture' will become deeply embedded, while the former DPM says the policy inadvertently produced a culture of reliance on government assistance.
Former CIMB Group chairman Nazir Razak and ex-deputy prime minister Musa Hitam criticized the New Economic Policy (NEP) during a forum titled "Remembering Tun Abdul Razak: Architect of Malaysia's Development and Nation Building." Razak, the son of Malaysia's second prime minister, stated that the NEP, introduced in 1971, was intended to last for 20 years but has now become deeply embedded in a culture of dependency.
He argued that the NEP should be reviewed, focusing more on education and professional development rather than distribution of shares and ownership. Razak also criticized the awarding of contracts to Bumiputera businesses, questioning why politicians were allowed to choose the recipients, as this lack of competition has weakened Bumiputera businesses.
Musa Hitam, who served as deputy prime minister from 1981 to 1986, agreed that the NEP produced a culture of reliance on government assistance, stating that it produced a sense of insecurity among Malays. Hitam acknowledged that the NEP benefited Malays and the country as a whole, but also added that it fostered an environment where people feared receiving nothing and asked for more assistance.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- NEP cultivated culture of dependency, say Nazir Razak and Musa Hitam freemalaysiatoday.com
