Summary of the speech
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong
during the debate on the budget allocation for the Ministry of National Unity and Social Development in Dewan Ralyat
on 30.10.2002

We urge the Malaysian Government to review the duration of the Bumiputera, son of the soil, policy, because this type of policy cannot be forever

Just now, The Honourable Ruhanie, MP for Parit Sulong, talked about the continuation of the Bumiputera status. He maintained that this was a social contract.

Indeed, our country has not experienced the incidents of 911, U.S.A. ,and Bali explosion, Indonesia. We hope that similar terrorist attacks will not happen here. We must always try to eradicate terrorist activities and to solve racial conflicts (before they erupt).

In the Malaysian society, many events are politicized, such as the teaching of Mathematics and Science using English. We agree to raise the standard of English. But, we differ on the methods. Some view the building of more Chinese schools and the use of dissimilar methods to teach English in these schools as affecting the progress of the Malays.

Last week, Biro Tatanegara, National Civic Department, and the Employees'Provident Fund jointly organized a congress on patriotism. The country looks after the people (a sense of belonging) and the latter are patriotic to it. An important factor of patriotism and national unity is (religious and racial) tolerance.

FAIR TREAMENT

All races must have equal opportunity to enjoy the progress and prosperity of the nation. Since the 1957 Independence, Merdeka, we have seen the Bumiputera policy. The objective has been to prevent any race from marginalization, that is, from being robbed of the opportunity to enjoy progress and prosperity. (We have witnessed the abuse of this policy.)

Some people have been in Malaysia for many generations. My ancestor was a Kapitan in Kota Bharu in 1820. Why is it that I am not a Bumiputera? Many Malaysians who have come here after 1820 are Bumiputeras, some not even one generation in the country. Even those who have the ability to compete with other races are Bumiputras. How long will the Malaysian Government keep the Bumiputera policy? 100 or 200 years? 1000 or 2000 years?

The Prime Minister Dato'Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad stresses that Malaysians should not depend on walking-sticks. They should be self-reliant. This is true. The World Trade Organization, WTO, and the further globalization do not recognize globalization. How do those who lean on walking-sticks run in the world?

We propose that the Government set up National Unity Council and review the duration of the Bumiputera policy.