I refer to the malaysiakini report Pak Lah: I don't practice favouritism on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's assurance to all Malaysian that his policies will be fair and equitable to all communities. Frankly, I don't mean to be rude or show disrespect to our PM but what I can hear is only 'blah, blah, blah...'.
Don't just speak and talk about all your greatness. Show us Malaysians that you mean what you say. Action always speaks louder than words.
It felt very lame when I read that the PM's pledge was greeted by thunderous applause from the more than 1,700 MCA delegates who listened attentively to his hour-long address before the opening of the 54th MCA annual general assembly. It shows nothing more other than the fact that the MCA today has turn into a 'slave' within the Barisan Nasional rather than being a 'brother' in the alliance.
Malaysians are not blind. We don't just listen to what the official media report says. Nowadays, more and more people are turning to online media. The reason is that we get a clearer picture and more thoughts on what is actually happening in our country.
If the current policies have been fair then why is NEP still in existence? The NEP is nothing but a tool to help the upper-class bumiputera get even richer. How effective has NEP really been in helping the poor bumiputera overcome poverty? I will say not as effective as turning a millionaire bumiputeras into multi-millionaires.
If the government is really serious in helping the bumiputera, especially the poor ones, then it should set up a policy that will really help reduce poverty not only among the bumiputera but also among the other races. I believe all of us share the right to be equal after 50 years of independence.
Is admission to the local universities fair? If it is, then why is there a quota for bumiputera students? Why do we still hear complaints about bright students not being allowed to take up a course of their choice in a local university? Many non-bumi Malaysians have to pursue studies overseas just because of this. Most of them even stay on overseas after their studies to pursue a career there, resulting in the so-called 'brain drain'.
All my siblings including me are part of that number of Malaysians that left to pursue a career overseas. Not because that we don't love Malaysia - it's just because we just don't feel we are treated equally in Malaysia.
Has the government been fair in handling all the corruption cases occurring in Malaysia? Corruption has been so bad that it has gone to the core of our country governance. High-profile corruption cases just end up with the accused being released with 'lack of evidence'. And instead of being suspended from their duties, some are still able to remain and act in their current positions while being investigated for corruption. Is that the way the government combat corruption in Malaysia?
Demolishing Hindu temples all over the country - is this a way to show how the government has been fair to other religions? MIC president S Samy Vellu has been quoted as saying that certain quarters are painting a misleading and untrue picture of how Malaysian Hindus are being treated. I think that is just another lame excuse to deceive Malaysians. With all the news, pictures and even video clips appearing on the Internet, who is Samy Vellu trying to fool?
The reasoning can go on and on but I think Malaysians today are more aware of what really is happening in Malaysia. If given a chance to express their dissatisfaction and why they feel they are being treated unfairly, I think we can probably come out with a thick book entitled '1001 Reasons Why Malaysians Feel Unfairly Treated'.
