Koon Yew Yin's Blog
Do Malays Need More Crutches in Business? - Koon Yew Yin
Koon Yew Yin
Publish date: Thu, 19 Jun 2014, 08:20 PM
Koon Yew Yin
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An official blog in i3investor to publish sharing by Mr. Koon Yew Yin.
All materials published here are prepared by Mr. Koon Yew Yin
All materials published here are prepared by Mr. Koon Yew Yin
Koon Yew Yin
Do Malays need more crutches or “tongkat” to succeed in business? During the past week we have had three different explanations provided by Malay leaders that have made the news.
Tun Daim Zainuddin’s Explanation
The first is by Tun Daim Zainuddin, the former Finance Minister and close ally of Dr. Mahathir, who argued that the lack of talented Malay entrepreneurs is due to the policies of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when the latter was the finance minister.
According to him, "I do not want to blame Anwar, but when he took over as the finance minister in 1991, he changed the landscape. He took the easy option by giving out company shares and all of those who were close to him became rich," he told Berita Harian. "The mentality became support Anwar, support the finance minister, get shares. After selling the shares, they would become rich."
The result, according to Tun Daim, was that Anwar's policies caused the Malays to think that it was easy to become rich and that there was no need to go into business. The other factor according to the former Finance Minister was red tape. "One has to fill up numerous application forms, there are simply too many agencies involved in the economic empowerment of Bumiputeras."
His conclusion : "I do not know what else should be done to help the Malays become rich. Various affirmative action plans have been introduced to assist the Malays," said Daim, adding that agencies responsible for helping the Malays and Bumiputeras "are too bureaucratic".
Daim's argument that red tape is part of the reason is difficult to accept. After all non-Malays also face red tape and the civil service personnel that they have to deal with are almost 100 per cent Malays! So how come the Chinese can do business despite the bureaucracy but the Malays cannot! But note too that Daim indirectly says enough “tongkat” have been provided to Malays to become rich.
Utusan/Perkasa Explanation
The second theory comes from Umno-controlled newspaper Utusan Malaysia's news story that many Bumiputera traders failed to secure places to conduct businesses at KLIA2 which opened on May 2. The newspaper reported that its assistant group editor Datuk Zaini Hassan had expressed concern that it was difficult to find Malay food outlets at the airport. Based on this report, the secretary-general of Perkasa, Syed Hassan Syed Ali said Najib's promises to Bumiputera businessmen remained mere rhetoric.
"The failure of Malay entrepreneurs to get business lots at klia2 is proof that all of Najib's promises over the last five years to enhance Bumiputera participation in business and commerce were mere lip service,” he said in a statement.
Syed Hassan said Perkasa had always expressed concern that Bumiputera businessmen should be given opportunities but that the issue of Malay traders being marginalised in klia2 was too glaring.
"Bumiputera traders are sidelined not only in klia2 but also at other new business and commercial centres like in KLCC," he said.
In response to this, MAHB, the authority running the airport, has stated that 40% of the businessmen at the airport were Bumiputera who were involved in retail trade. I should also point out that many of the franchises that operate at the airport – Kentucky Fried, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Burger King, etc. as well as the banks and other services that operate in the airport have majority or substantial Malay ownership and control. In fact, if anything, non-Malays have good reason to complain that in all the areas of the economy where the GLCs have taken control (toll highways, banks, petrol kiosks, farmers markets) they have provided very few opportunities for small Chinese businesses. Some non-Malays also feel that, after all these years of discrimination, they are the ones that need the crutches!
Zaid Ibrahim's Explanation
The third theory has been provided by Dato' Zaid Ibrahim. In his blog Zaid refuted both the Perkasa and Daim theories. According to him, Anwar was doing what every Finance Minister (including Tun Daim and the present Prime Minister) was doing. “UMNO strongmen are good at ensuring that the gravy train is available to their colleagues and those in their team as a result of their loyalty and support; and with the money, they then cling to power as long as they can. To Zaid though, Anwar was supportive of economic programmes that helped small businessmen and did many things for rural development.
For me, the most important part of Zaid's article is his revelation that there are lots of Malay business success stories - “the aristocrats, senior civil servants, ministers and oligarchs in Malaysia are wealthy and they are Malays”.
“But of course they belong to a different class compared to the ordinary Malay,” Zaid said. “As I mentioned, they (like Daim) would rather remain anonymous and keep control from the background, which is why they are not perceived to be wealthy like the Chinese. Zaid also noted that wealthy Malays know the game. In Malaysia, he said, successful businesspeople are politically savvy; and when politics and business mix freely, it’s impossible for Malays not to be “successful”.
Finally Zaid acknowledged that other Malays have also done very well – a fact that Dr. Mahathir, Perkasa and other racist organizations and individuals have refused to acknowledge. According to him, Malay small businesses might not be recognised by Umno as successful because they are not millionaires and might not support the party.
“They work hard at whatever they do. Some sell keropok or kain tudung. Some operate kedai makan while others export halal food to China or trade with Middle-Eastern countries. They make good money. They save their profits and they expand when they have sufficient capital. There is no reason to belittle their efforts or to describe them as unsuccessful. Other Malays are doing well in professional services and hold executive positions in major corporations. Petronas is successful, for example, and there are many Malays there."
“I wish Umno politicians will cease stereotyping Malays to fit their own ideas of success,” is his conclusion. In other words, he is saying too that many Malays – especially the rich – do not need crutches now. They have taken advantage of the system of ethnic preference and should no longer qualify for special privileges or benefit.
Malays Are Surging Ahead
I have pointed out in my other writings that Malays have made tremendous strides in their economic progress. It is clear to everyone that Malays dominate in every sphere of life in the country – except in the urban housing estates and urban property. In the economic and educational sphere, they control all the major banks except for Public Bank; the GLCs; Petronas; public universities; civil service; etc.
Any Chinese or orang putih wanting to do business has to kowtow to the Malays for licenses and permits. Moreover, Malay businesses control some of the monopoly businesses such as water, electricity, toll roads, etc. where it is so easy for them to make more profits by just increasing the price abetted by a Malay-oriented civil service. They also form the majority in parliament, judiciary, army and police, the MACC and all other important political bodies.
It is important for Malaysians to recognize that the greater part of the country's wealth is now in the hands of the Malay elite together with their non-Malay partners. The argument that Malays need more crutches or are marginalized in the economy is a hollow and false one put out to fool the Malay public. Those that have lost out in the process of UMNO's rule and economic policies that have benefitted the Malay elite are the lower and middle class Malays and non-Malays. As for those who have gained, there is no better way to describe them than Zaid has – these are “ the aristocrats, senior civil servants, ministers and oligarchs.” To them I would include the group of non-Malay cronies.
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Discussions
8 people like this. Showing 48 of 48 comments
'tongkat' is an inherited privileges to Malay. There is no reason to throw the 'tongkat' away. There are more than 15 million in Malaysia. Not many would really benefited from the crutches. For those who has not enjoying tongkat much then why they agree to scrap it. In fact, they would even request more 'tongkat' to assist them walking.
2014-06-19 20:49
Said enough la. You already make your fortune. Nothing will happen to you because u already have enough money. But many still surviving. Your article would not help the situation or anyone!! I respectfully ask you to keep this to yourself or bring this up through proper channel
2014-06-19 20:52
Well said kukuman. We cannot keep complaining this and that. We are living in this country, and must thrive to understand the context and its limitations. For example, if you were born in a poor family, you want to complain you don't get this and that? Try to learn to accept the reality and endeavour ways to improve yourself.
2014-06-19 21:13
If you do homework enough, the Chinese Muslim fr China came to this part of the world much earlier even before there were other Muslims in Malaysia. Malay is not a race actually. It is a culture which embraces Islam. Anyone who lives and embraces the culture and embraces Islam is a malay.
2014-06-19 21:23
The problem is that during the formation of Malaya,malay are so great full to share their land with this other races and that is the mistake that malay generation now have to face. They not supposed to share their land to this migrant at the fist place. Now see what happen ? They take all and even demand more..
2014-06-19 21:31
?? The land if we were to argue as who was first here, then the orang Asli shud be the first. Then the rest shud be migrants lah...kekekeke
2014-06-19 21:52
My dear Koon Yew Yin you have done no good except to stir up a hornets nest. Some younger members of this social (investors?) forum have grown to admire you and I think you have lost much ground. What purpose does it serve to put down people? It will do much good to help all, regardless of race, please do much more than you have done before. I don't know whether this is " payback time" or it is still "paying forward" for you, Whatever please double your charitable efforts for the benefit of all and make a better person of you. Have a good rest of your life. Cheers.
2014-06-19 21:54
Uncle Koon, for god sake, please retract this article. As you can see in the above comments, the forumers are damning one another. What is the purpose of posting your articles in the i3investor? I seriously think thar nothing can be achieved here, more harms will be created.
2014-06-19 22:00
Dusti, so we should not talk about controversial issues just because it might step on a couple of toes? Even if it is true? Mr Koon article is articulated based on reason and facts. He raised a legitimate question, should affirmative action be continued? Those who disagree are welcomed to voice their opinions. For goodness sake, Malaysia universities just dropped out of the top 100 Asian list, have you ever thought that it is because we don't encourage critical thinking because we rather not "stir up a hornets nest"?
2014-06-19 22:05
Timid chinese very fearful of confrontation...tats y all the rights has been taken away from u. Really hopeless.
2014-06-19 22:09
The malays are very poor in general compared to other races especially chinese.....Some of them are still staying under The bridge along Klang river....and majorities are staying at low cost flats.....very pitiful.......while most chinese are staying in a multi million codos and high end properties.....More crutches needed for the malays......To all chinese.......please donate some of your billion dollar wealth to the malays who already lost the ex Tanah Melayu to you.....
Most Melayu seems so stupid being kuli to chinese.......
Dear Koon Yew Yin....please give scholarship to poor malays..thank you
2014-06-19 22:11
I try to remain impartial but this is what I noticed......when the NON Malays give donation, it is general to all, but when the malay give charity, it's always to their own. After 50+ years of independence, the Malays still require advantage/crutches. When the non Malays still win with their disadvantage, the govt claim that the rich Chinese came about because of their fair policies. Non Malays don't get AP, no govt scholarship, no equal opportunity, etc.
So if limit the non Malays, we will fall further to the already deteriorating education system, competitive index, transparency index, human right ... We simply will not make it
2014-06-19 22:21
Barbarian, u r stil hopeful isit? Face the fact. Its a sinking titanic in all aspects.
2014-06-19 22:24
Malays didnt ask for british labourers to stay on after merdeka. Your ancestors dont want to go back. Your citizenships remain third class, you dont like it, you can go back to motherland. Malays have given you crutches for too long, its time for you to return to China.
2014-06-19 22:33
Food for thought. Suntze. Do u always practise what u preach? Jus curios.
2014-06-19 22:33
Optimus, nope I try not to engage unnessassarily however I give my POV when I see fit. The country has been like that for a long time except it was not sun dried like now. If it was equal, Uncle Koon wouldn't have to come out and give charity. As I mentioned earlier, zakat or. Malay charity only focus to them only while govt scholarship also to them. So how do the non succeed?
Take for instance, most Global IT CEO are now Indians fr India. If they also want to go with world population to give these Chinese in China these position?? The logic simply out isn't it? However when practice here in. Malaysia, it seems to prevail
2014-06-19 22:34
Malays can't get citizenships in India and China. You non malays are pushing it. You want pay back time, you get it
2014-06-19 22:39
You have to believe in yourself, your dreams, your capabilities, your values
Your mind is also your constraint, you got to try to think out of the box
He/She who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to fail
Opportunities multiply as they are discovered
There are not more than Five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard
What a wonderful world this earth is, It is up to us to make it really wonderful experience living in this earth as our lifespan is short relative to the age of the Earth!
So let us live and let live and really work together to make this place a better place than yesterday!!
2014-06-19 22:43
SooJin Hou, anything that brings out the worse in people, as has Koon's article cannot be good. If you care to analyse carefully all the comments made so, you will find that there is nothing that has not been said before. Koon could choose a better forum to voice his concerns. Maybe he has and nobody took much notice because some MPs have already done so.But I know Koon is a bigger and responsible man and will have bigger issues to share. But I don't know about you......please don't run around criticising for the sake of criticising
2014-06-19 22:57
Stupid forum. Better delete la bro. I got chinese indian pakistani thai and malay blood. Really sick. Here we are all friends.
2014-06-19 23:47
tiap tiap hari gaduh pasai kaum, gaduh pasai agama.. bosan ... jom main saham ajer ... tak kira siapa duduk atas.... asal kita semua kawan....... tak kira cina, melayu, india, kadazan, dusun..... semua kawan mah........
sien mah gaduh gaduh everyday about petty things like race, religion etc... what matters is being good to everybody ......
like in stock market... right or wrong.. who cares.. so long make money, it's a good stock .... black cat, white cat, good cat, bad cat.. if not being careful in stock market.. also posed risks..... ha.. ha.. ha..
2014-06-20 00:08
Society and country thrive on even playing field. When the game is fair, competitions will improve the society and country as a whole. And talking about history which can dated back to 40,000 years ago, it is not the malays that are the first to step on this land. Let's just say Malays are the 'owner' of this land, that doesn't mean you can get special privilege over other races forever and ever, that is like saying because you are Genghis Khan's super great grandson, so everyone should treat you like royalty. I have nothing against Malays or any race, but everyone act like a man and fight like a man, stop pointless talk like you go back to China, India la etc. Fight on equal footing, judge someone based on their heart not the size of their slippers or the color of their skin. But when someone sensed that the government is not giving a level playing field, then thats when instability exist.
2014-06-20 08:26
No lah. Not all Malay are like that. Only the ummo cronies and the taka ada baca buku babarians malay are like that. I have many singaporean malay friends and also the local ones are good.
2014-06-20 09:31
Zaid Ibrahim speaks as an observant ex-Umno insider with no vested interest and no axe to grind. Unfortunately, he has no more political traction, a position he put himself into with his political naivete. Very rich man Daim was the godfather of Umno cronies when Finance Minister at a time of frenetic state privatization, what more is there to be said about him? As for Utusan/Perkasa, they play an eternal blame game centered on race. You can feel present day Malaysia is mired in trouble with deep divisions in its social fabric and no solution in sight.
2014-06-20 10:49
KLSE is related to those bunch of cronies. To understand the KLSE you need to understand those cronies thinking.
2014-06-20 14:26
I observed there's a trend globally, not just confines to msia.
Humanity seems to be moving towards a lesser 'civilization', eventhough we are getting more knowledgeable. Humans are just getting greedier, lazier and selfish.
The ones in stronger position, always bully the weaker ones.
_______________________________________________________________
Here in msia, some malays (not all malays) just want more and more competitive advantages (tongkat) at the expense of others.
While some malays really do need it, but so do the poor non malays.
Just go visit sabah and sarawak. These are christian bumiputeras.
Some of them don't even have proper water and electrical supplies.
And who is the major contributor of these?
Since independence, msia is only ruled by 1 alliance - BN.
With umno as the hegemony of BN.
The road paths of msia for the past 50+ years are planned and controlled by those in power. From the first (5 year) malaysia plan till current (rancangan malaysia ke 11), NEP, NEM, BTN, etc.
There is no other main contributor to the success and failure of msia today. It is the ruling government that is the main contributor, whether positively or negatively.
______________________________________________________________
Outside of msia, in our region.
see what myanmar has done to rohingyas.
See what china has done to paracel and spratly islands, vietnam and phillipines.
See what china has done to beting serupai, msia (Came and lay flag, then sing national anthem twice).
See what russia has done to ukraine.
See what us and alliance has done to iraq and ahfganistan.
etc.
2014-06-20 14:26
I agree less on this with you Calvinwky. What you mention on the injustice is stronger country to weaker country.
But in Malaysia, we are all malaysian. Why the ruling party want to treat the sarawakian like fools? why they are neglected?
Why the indonesians are so hard working while the people in bolehland are so lazy even they are originate from the same place?
2014-06-20 15:46
andychuck, read my statement again.
I mentioned "one in a stronger position against a weaker position". That was my point. Not country to country or a race against another.
Go visit myanmar and look at the rohingyas.
Go visit xinjiang china and look at the uighurs.
and so on.
If the examples I gave make you confuse. Then, I'm sorry.
If you intentionally want to twist and manipulate my meaning, then I'm not sorry at all.
2014-06-20 17:06
Then, what are these?
See what russia has done to ukraine.
See what us and alliance has done to iraq and ahfganistan.
See what china has done to paracel and spratly islands, vietnam and phillipines.
2014-06-20 17:09
Aiyah....why r u all argue....malay, Chinese & indian ?
All these crutches is for rich malay umno cronies mah ?
Would it not be better to help the left behind malay, Chinese, indian and east Malaysian irregardless of race & religion mah....!!
For example The children of Mahathir...already billionaire....still need help meh ? Bcos of underpriviledge meh ?.
Maybe the children of padi farmers, bas drivers of malays need be help mah......!!
So as the poor indian lorry drivers and the poor Chinese waiters mah...!!
So do not be conned...there still want to protect....the bumi....bcos...they want to protect the cronies.
The poor malay will not benefit...& they will continue to be poor mah.....if we take care of the rich & neglect the poor.
2014-06-20 17:13
Ask yourself, do PR got chance to win next GE? Big no right? PKR and PAS not strong already, DAP only chineses will support but that too slipping.
2014-06-20 18:36
Till the next election, more $$$ will be corrupted by the cronies LAH!
2014-06-20 22:28
a wonderfully divided country...and there is this man Koon, who I am sure is altruistic with his views who speaks on behalf of the Chinese and in passing non Malaysa falls into the same racial trap himself. Lets not talk of chinese, indians, malays etc let us begin with those who are underprivileged etc. Malaysians have built a moat around themslevs and cannot see the forest for the trees, even the well meaning ones
2014-06-21 00:02
Koon article backfire badly. Can read how readers react. Should have put "Do umno cronies need cructhes?" instead he direct to malays in general. Very insensitive.
2014-06-22 22:31
The bottom line is helping the poor n not the rich immaterial of skin color. I think all here will agree n no need to go on lengthy argument.
2014-06-22 23:41
There are many cronies here, so becareful. Before you ever gain some money from the KLSE, you will be conned due to greediness.
2014-06-23 09:48
just make monies and like all the rich UMNOputras , send monies to Middle East, UK , Saudi, Australia, Tax free havens... far away from this country and safe! They come back with branded goods...wallets, bags, shirts, baggage, jackets....That is the reason why the country is poor but UMNOputras are rich!
2014-06-24 20:40
ya i agree n support endofpr view on this matter. Malay r nice people n they need extra help by d government. But they r always use by Umno to help their own members more than Pas members. Regret that none r disclosed by their own members.Without these cronies, sure Malays can become more successful.
2014-06-28 22:55
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soojinhou
The "tongkat" is in place to plunder the country. You can be sure that UMNO will fight tooth and nail to maintain the "tongkat". There are 2 studies, one by UM, another by think tank Asli, that shows that Malay equity participation has exceeded the 30% mark, and can be as high as 45% in the latter study. And yet, as recent as 2 weeks ago, ex-Maybank CEO Wahid still dangle around the 26% figure. Since the methodologies from the 2 studies are transparent, the government finally conceded that they computed Malay equity using par value. PAR VALUE!! Who the hell uses par value to compute wealth? Can you believe the lies the government use to maintain their ketuanan? The "tongkat" will be kept ad infinitum to ensure that UMNO's pockets are lined, it has nothing to do with how well Malays are doing.
2014-06-19 20:38