Putting Merit Over Race The Only Option For Progress

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 In October 2008, the then Selangor menteri besar, Khalid Ibrahim, appointed Low Siew Moi as acting general manager (GM) of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).
Almost immediately, six bodies representing the staff objected to the appointment of a senior official as acting general manager because she is Chinese.
Low, 57, a trained accountant, had served PKNS for 35 years, with her last post being deputy GM for corporate development.
In their joint memorandum to Khalid, the staff associations said: “PKNS was established for Malays and to fulfil the Malay agenda. Because of this, the organisation needs to be led by a Malay.”
As if it were a religious organisation, the memorandum stated that it conducts activities that are spiritual in nature, and hence its leader must understand and practise Islamic values. In other words, the one who will become the general manager will be the “imam” for all the staff, the signatories said.
In June, Sungai Buloh PAS division chief Zaharudin Muhammad claimed Johnny Lim Eng Seng’s promotion to lieutenant general would craft a fictional “future” where a Chinese prime minister emerges via foreign-born lineage.
In his hypothetical scenario set in 2058, Zaharuddin, who is also PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s son-in-law, wrote of a Chinese individual from Kampung Sungai Baru - now a Malay enclave - being appointed as Malaysia’s 50th prime minister.
He also detailed that the imaginary individual’s parents had secured citizenship through the Malaysia My Second Home scheme.
Ugly race card
The ugly race card emerged two weeks ago on the appointment of M Kumar as the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director.
On Aug 12, Badrul Hisham Shaharin posted a “delayed” congratulatory post to Kumar on his appointment, saying: “This shows that Malaysia has started to embrace the Malaysian Malaysia” concept.
(The concept has been closely associated with DAP and its leaders since its founding in 1966, envisioning “a Malaysia in which all Malaysians, regardless of race, language or religion, share equally in the opportunities of life”).
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director M KumarBut have Badrul and other critics forgotten the crime busters of the past, most of whom were non-Malays?
There was M Govindasamy, who in his career recovered 99 guns that were used during criminal activities. How can one forget S Kulasingam, who took two bullets in his pursuit of the notorious Botak Chin?
What about the others in the team, which included Gilbert Ang, Gui Poh Choon, Kenny Woodworth, Bahwandi Hiralal, G Rajalingam, and Ong Kim Hock?
Similarly, how about the scores of non-Malay members of the armed forces who gave their lives and lost their limbs in the war during the communist insurgency?
Silver lining
However, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim provided a silver lining by saying: “The opposition has raised concerns about the Royal Malaysia Police CID, which has 90 percent Malays, has an Indian as its head.
“To me, that is not an issue… If someone has the capability and can lead effectively, we highlight them,” he said.
Why is every issue seen through blinkered racial eyes? As I have said before, I am all for affirmative policies to uplift the lives of low-income earners.
This begs the question: Are selfishness and bigotry byproducts of the New Economic Policy? Has it resulted in claims of entitlement where every appointment must be given to a Malay?
There are no laws, written policies, or charters that stipulate that only Malays can hold high-ranking posts in government departments and agencies.
These episodes imply that one’s capabilities, despite being a Malaysian, could be overlooked based on race.
Shouldn’t the best brains be picked from 100 percent of the population - all Malaysians and not just from 60 percent of the population?
Anwar’s statement is encouraging, but it raises a critical question: Is this a sincere move to reinstate merit-based appointments, or is it simply political appeasement? The true test will be whether race and religion are permanently removed as factors in appointments and promotions. - Mkini
R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who strives to uphold the ethos of civil rights leader John Lewis: “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” Comments: [email protected]
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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