NEP and NEM: Najib’s Dilemma

May 30, 2010

NEP and NEM at Bumiputera Economic Congress:  Najib’s Dilemma

by Hazlan Zakaria

Faced with a 1,000-strong crowd of Malay grassroots and industry leaders, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday vowed never to betray his father’s legacy, the New Economic Policy (NEP).

Giving the closing speech to the Bumiputera Economic Congress (BEC) that had debated his much-touted New Economic Model (NEM), the prime minister sought to allay fears that the pro-Malay affirmative action policies of the NEP would be done away with.

After all, said Najib, his NEM has not yet been finalised but is still in the process of being developed by economists and other experts who would consult with the relevant stakeholders.

Making much of the fact that the NEP was formulated during his father’s administration, Malaysia’s second premier Tun Razak Hussein, Najib stressed that he would never ‘betray’ the principles behind the NEP, let alone betray Malay interests.

“It is impossible that I, the son of NEP’s founder, will betray his father’s fight. It is impossible. In my heart, I want to see the Malays rise and prosper,” said an impassioned Najib.

“I hope no one will have doubts or worry that I will not pay attention to the concerns of the Malays. As UMNO president, I will not forsake the Malays who form the majority in Malaysia,” he thundered.

Earlier in the evening, the crowd that filled the Dewan Tun Hussein hall at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur almost bristled with hostility against after a day of debates that saw speaker after speaker denouncing Najib’s NEM as an anti-Malay policy.

Among the main sponsors of the event was the Malaysian Association of Malay Automobile Importers (Pekema), whose members are still distressed over the government’s decision to stop Approved Permits for vehicle imports by 2015.

‘NEM rejected’

Kicking off the event, Malay Consultative Council (MPM) chairperson and Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali in his opening speech summarised for Najib the grouses of Malay groups against his NEM before proceeding to list down their key points of contention.

“Sorry to say Datuk Seri (Najib), but the congress has rejected the NEM,” said a deadpan Ibrahim, whose speech was punctuated with cries of “Hidup Melayu!” Subsequently, more than 30 individual memorandums drafted by Malay NGOs were submitted to Najib, who was then presented with a 33-point resolution drawn up by the BEC against the NEM.

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