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NEP in its racist form is slowly being dismantled. witness the scholarship awards (only from those income of less than RM1500/month) got them. Also the IDR and the merit system in government universities (so I was told). It is only a matter of time, when the malays are confident of doing away with the system, before it is abolished.

of course then some malay ministers will act innocent and say things like 'i dont understand why some people question the social contract that had been agreed upon by our forefathers...'

I swear if i hear another minister says such thing again....

We are 50 years into our nation history. What has been agreed upon by a few individuals under the circumstances at that time do not and shall not be applied blindly without room for adjustment to reflect the current social construction.

'But even the US constitution stays the same for 100 years'... yes but the existence of the constitution and the NEP (in our case) at that time are to promote and ensure equality and freedom in fundamental human rights. Now that NEP has ceased to be equal in many ways and is starting to destroy the freedom we so bravely preach about, maybe it's time to abolish it?

Private sector can urge governments to help them: SM Goh

By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 25 June 2007 2032 hrs

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong believes the private sector can play a role in urging governments to come up with pragmatic policies to create favourable business conditions.

He has urged businesses to signal to their respective governments if their voice needs to be heard.

Mr Goh was speaking at the closing session on Asian leadership on the final day of the World Economic Forum.

He said, "You lead instead of follow. This is the way to go for the future. Let the governments know what are the parameters that businesses can best work in.

"For example if you take ASEAN, and the businesses feel that the ASEAN market is not cohesive enough, it's actually ten different markets pretending to be an ASEAN economic community... if that is your conclusion, then it is for businesses to tell quite bluntly to the governments that we are not coming to ASEAN. We are going to China, which is one huge market, and we are going to India which is another huge market, where conditions are much better.

"In that way, businesses will put pressure on governments that they have to get their act together."

- CNA/yy

SM Goh calls for pragmatic leadership to meet global challenges

By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia |
Posted: 25 June 2007 2237 hrs

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said pragmatic and courageous leadership is needed to meet global challenges ahead, and key among these challenges is tackling the impact of climate change.

According to a survey, this is a priority among participants at the East Asia meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Singapore.

But besides the environment, Mr Goh is concerned that the world is not doing enough to prepare for an avian flu pandemic.

Giving his address at the close of the two-day forum, Senior Minister Goh said leadership is the mother of all factors that would see Asia through the coming years.

This would then allow the region to achieve the vision of an "Asian century".

He said: "If you categorise governments into the good, the bad and the ugly, track the economic growth of their countries and try to make a correlation, you will discover there is a positive correlation between the good-high growth, the bad-so-so growth and the ugly-negative growth in these countries."

Pragmatic policies by leaders in countries like China, India and Singapore have been critical in sustaining economic growth.

Mr Goh said: "From time to time we will sit down, look at the horizon and decide what steps we must take to adapt ourselves to the future. We had our own thinking on certain matters, for example, casinos. Seeing how competitive other economies are, we asked ourselves what we could do for the future.

"We do not favour gambling, but we decided on the integrated resorts because you can tie in the casino with convention facilities to support larger activities. That's an example of pragmatic leadership in Singapore."

Organisers of the World Economic Forum did a survey amongst their participants to find out which are the leaders' top priorities over the next few years, and it was of no surprise that issues like global warming, climatic change and environmental policies topped the agenda.

In a session with leaders from the private sector, the senior minister was asked if climate change would still be a concern if there were to be a SARS outbreak at the same time.

Mr Goh said: "I think the survey reflects the flavour of the month, which is climatic change. But at the back of my mind is the fear of an avian flu pandemic. I think we are not doing enough to tackle the problem and we are not ready for it – not just in Asia, but in the rest of the world."

Mr Goh also urged the private sector to let governments know about the pro-business conditions needed in a country to benefit both businesses and regional economies.

- CNA/so

Malaysia Today [25 Jun] Malay Rights? What
About Malay Responsibility?

Dear RPK and other Malaysians,

I find it very strange that political discourse in Malaysia today, revolves around Malay rights (Article 153), Ketuanan Melayu, NEP and so on.

For one thing, rights always come with responsibilities. How many Malaysian Malays talk of the Malay responsibilities that accompany their much touted Ketuanan Melayu? It makes no sense to me to talk of rights without qualifying it with responsibilities. You want to be a Tuan? Then you must also shoulder the responsibility of being the Tuan. Thats only fair and reasonable.

And what might those responsibilities be? Here is a sample:

1) The responsibility to maintain racial and religious harmony.

2) The responsibility to maintain sustainable economic development for all

3) The responsibility to pursue scientific and technological development

and so on. But it seems to me that those who want to be Tuans have not fulfilled their responsibilities! So how to be a Tuan? I have been following Malaysian politics since the early nineties. Throughout this entire period - not even one Malaysian Malay leader raised the issue of Malay responsibilities that ought to come with Malay rights and the Ketuanan Melayu. Thats very telling of the Malaysian psyche. Its pretty damning!

To talk of rights without responsibilities will only encourage people to take advantage of the situation. After all - who does not want freebies and unlimited social welfare in the form of the NEP? From tongkat to wheelchair and then finally - to the ambulance!

Yes - keep Article 153 and the NEP. But balance it with Malay responsibilities. Only children have rights without responsibilities. To be a true Tuan, you also need to shoulder the Tuan's responsibility.

Best Regards

Dr Syed Alwi