(Petaling Jaya, Saturday): It is most ironical that at the one-third stage of the 30-year Vision 2020 enunciated by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Vision 2020 and Bangsa Malaysia are facing the greatest test as to whether they are obsolete Barisan Nasional concepts which should be consigned to the dustbin of history as a result of the cynical and ruthless UMNO exploitation of the Suqiu issue.
Mahathir’s benign and benevolent reaction to the extremist 100 demands of the Federation of Peninsula Malay Students (GPMS), such as the post of the country's Prime Minister to be the exclusive rights of the Malays and to increase the Bumiputera quota in public and private institutions of higher learning (IPTA and IPTS) to 70 and 60 per cent respectively is in sharp contrast to his hysterical denunciation of Suqiu as equivalent to the communists of the past and Al-Mau’nah fanatics.
The question is why the 17-point Suqiu should suddenly become the "make or break" issue for Malaysian nation-building when it could even be "accepted in principle" by the Cabinet before the last general election - even if it was just to mislead and deceive the Chinese voters to support the Barisan Nasional?
Mahathir should explain how the 17-point Suqiu threated racial harmony in the country when its basic thrusts were to promote national unity; enforce genuine democracy; uphold human rights and justice; curb corruption; ensure a fair and equitable economic policy; review privatisation policy; uphold an enlightened, liberal and progressive education policy; promote cultural diversity; protect the environment; advance social, housing, workers’, women and indigenous people’s rights; restore confidence in the police force and a fair media.
UMNO Vice President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday urged leaders of all Chinese associations, including political parties, to advise Suqiu on the danger of breaking the social contract forged among the various races.
Suqiu had repeatedly explained that it had made no reference to Malay special rights, a fact admitted by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in his parliamentary statement on Monday, but the MCA President, Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik seems to working at cross purpose, especially when he said yesterday that Suqiu "had chosen the wrong time to raise the issue of special rights and privileges of the Malays" and that the issue could be raised may be in 30 or 40 years’ time "when the Malays are economically successful".
Why is the MCA President highlighting that the Suqiu is raising the issue of Malay special rights when even the Prime Minister has conceded to the Suqiu explanation that Malay special rights were not specifically mentioned in the 17-point demands?
Putting aside the issue as to whether Liong Sik is right that the question of Malay special rights should be raised in the year 2030 or 2040 to discuss as to its future may be in 2070 or 2080, the question is what is the justification for the UMNO and the Barisan Nasional to launch a campaign to escalate ethnic tensions as the GPMS 100 Demands, if the government is sincere and committed to Vision 2020 and Bangsa Malaysia concepts?
Cabinet Ministers should come to the forefront to stop elements behind
the GPMS from playing with fire with the nation-building process
purely for political purposes - as it is not only Vision 2020 and Bangsa
Malaysia which would be destroyed in the process, the whole credibility
and legitimacy of the Barisan Nasional government would be damaged beyond
repair.
(17/12/2000)