A little empathy can go a long way

May 22, 2008⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Update: I have put up a video by the Malaysian Artistes for Unity in the “Featured Videos” Section. I believe the music video speaks for itself…

The News Straits Times 15 May: MAKE no mistake, this has been a bad few weeks for our beloved Malaysia. Instead of speaking about unity, some of us have been making allegations of ethnic cleansing.

Instead of celebrating the 50th year of independence with a flourish and reflection, we have had to contend with a clutch of street protests and political posturing.

Instead of respecting the sanctity of laws, some of us have taken to challenging any rule or regulation which does not fit snugly with our agenda.

Yes, it has been a bad few weeks for our beloved Malaysia. But it could be even worse if we fall into the trap of seeing everything through racial lenses; if we put political gamesmanship over the greater good and if we allow an outpouring of emotion to obscure the facts.

An indisputable fact is that some segments of Malaysian society are marginalised. They are Malays, Indians, Chinese, Kadazandusuns, Ibans, etc. They are trapped in the cycle of poverty; live in squatter areas, have little chance of completing a meaningful education and generally have a fatalistic view of life.

Some of them live in rural areas while others live on the fringes of our prosperous urban centres. Some of them are former estate workers who have had a wretched time getting used to a new life outside the comfort zone of rubber estates and oil palm plantations. Some of them are Chinese petty traders in small towns who are having a tough time staying afloat in an era of hypermarkets and globalisation. Some of them are Malay farmers, who because of a combination of archaic farming practices and small plots, earn a measly RM300 a month.

The point is that the poor and marginalised are found in all the major races in Malaysia - and they all need help from the government. The track record of the Barisan Nasional government shows that it has, over the past decades, tried its best to reduce income inequality.

After the racial riots of 1969, the New Economic Policy had a specific objective to eliminate poverty irrespective of race. Whatever its shortcomings and leakages, this policy provided education, economic and social opportunities and helped create a prosperous multi-ethnic middle class.

But it has not been all plain sailing. While the government has had remarkable success in bringing down the percentage of hardcore poor to five per cent of the total population, it could do better in some areas of the country.

According to the latest government statistics, 70 per cent of the poor are Bumiputeras who reside in five states, namely Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah. The government needs to take immediate action to address the urgent needs of these unfortunate people.

The action that needs to be taken must be targeted and long-term in nature. The government must improve the basic infrastructure and bring economic development to these impoverished areas so that commerce can flourish and education and job opportunities can be made available.

This is where the growth strategy of the economic corridors can play a significant role. If the prime minister’s vision of “no one left behind” is to become a reality, there must be a focus on making sure that the Northern Corridor, the Eastern Economic Region, the Sabah and Sarawak corridors all take off.

If this corridor plan succeeds, there will be fewer marginalised Malaysians.

If there is one common thread in the corridor programme, it is this: it aims to help the small man improve his lot in life. Take, for example, the padi estate management scheme in Jelai. By pooling resources and their plots of land, the farmer stands to benefit from economies of scale and earn as much as RM1,300 a month, double his present income.

Still, it would be naive to believe that the government will be able to effect change alone.

Malaysia needs its wealthier sons, daughters and corporate captains to also do their bit for the less fortunate in our society. I am not for a minute suggesting that we need the private sector to take over what is the duty and responsibility of the government. Far from it.

I am merely saying that we need all Malaysians who are better off to do our bit. As a corporate player, it could mean building low-cost homes at affordable prices the way that Sime Darby is doing under its Tam Gemilang project.

As an individual, it could mean paying tuition fees for children from poorer families.

As Malaysians, it may just mean showing empathy towards each other, not ignorance. Let’s face it, not every Indian is a lawyer or doctor. In similar vein, not every Chinese is a tycoon or successful trader. And while we are on this subject, not every Malay is a millionaire or top government official.

Many Malaysians have done very well. We have the sixth highest per capita income in Asia. But there are among us some Malaysians who have not done so well due to a myriad of factors. They deserve our attention and support.

It would be a great shame if their agenda is hijacked by political opportunists or self-styled reformers.

This article first appeared in the New Straits Times on 15th December 2007. Picture from beneton properties