Friday 29 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on November 28, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Poverty in Malaysia can be eradicated, but Malaysians need to “think that they are Malaysians first” and not put too much of importance on race, said Tun Dr Daim Zainuddin (pic).

At the same time, the former finance minister stressed that children must be provided the best education — “the best investment” Malaysia can make, he said, as given the right education, they would be able to think logically and independently, and be able to compete.

“We can achieve it (the eradication of poverty) provided we are united, and we must tell ourselves that we are Malaysians first. Why are we not taking advantage of [our diversity], which is a God given to us?, asked Daim, who was the key speaker at a session organised by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli), entitled Poverty in Malaysia: Reality vs Perception.

He talked about the need for Malaysians to be united, to grow the country’s economy and in the process, eliminate poverty, rather than to continuously raise “unnecessary, emotional” issues, which do not help anyone.

“Let us take advantage of our diversity, and let us fight those who are against unity. Do not forget that together we defended this country [in the past], where many Malaysians died for this country.”

The Asli event was conceived following a preliminary report by the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Professor Philip Alston, in August, stating that Malaysia’s poverty could actually be between 15% and 20%, compared to official government statistics claiming it was a mere 0.4% in 2016.

Daim, 81, did not refute the UN numbers, but qualified that the definition of poverty is complex, depending on parameters and thresholds used. But he pointed out that Malaysia has seen vast economic growth since its independence in 1957.

When asked about the effectiveness of the New Economic Policy — implemented in 1971 to eradicate poverty and to reduce inter-ethnic economic disparities, leading to the 30% bumiputera quota that is still widely in place nearly five decades later — he said: “I do not know where the 30% figure came from, whether there was a study done on it. Originally it (the quota) was only meant for shares in the stock market.

“However, what is important, whether it is 30% or 50%, we want all Malaysians to live well and have a good income. If we have good income, all this talk about you and I will go away.

“This percentage is not important, the important thing is, let us give the best education to all, because the best investment in this country is education. With the right education, we teach our children to think logically, so that we do not accept silly interpretations and our children are able to compete.

“Therefore, we must tell every Malaysian, that we are all Malaysians and under the Constitution, we are all equal.”

Previously the chairman of the Council of Eminent Persons, Daim said what he wants for Malaysia of the future is peace and unity.

“I want Malaysians to think like Malaysians. Let us work together, because this is a beautiful country. No nation in the world has what we have, which is diversity. Which other country in the world has what we have?”

Daim said he supports the government’s Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 (SPV 2030), but cautioned that it must be implemented properly.

In his welcome address, Asli chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah highlighted his support for the SPV 2030, saying it not only lays out the goals of poverty eradication, but most importantly spells out the pathways to achieving them.

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