Sun : Asli backs down over NEP data
Chin-Huat Wong
From The Sun
11 Oct 2006
Asli backs down over NEP data
by Sharon Kam and Jacqueline Ann Surin
PETALING JAYA: Under pressure from Umno politicians and certain
segments of the Malay community, think tank Asli has backed down and
agreed to withdraw a contentious report on the New Economic Policy
(NEP).
Asli (Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute) president Mirzan
Mahathir issued a statement yesterday saying that the findings by its
Centre for Public Policy Studies that bumiputra equity ownership could
be as high as 45% cannot be "vigorously justified".
He also expressed deep regret over the "hurt and confusion felt by all
Malaysians caused by the centre's report".
"On re-examining the methodology and conclusions of the report, Asli
has concluded that there are shortcomings in assumption and
calculation that led to conclusions that cannot be vigorously
justified," he said.
"As such, Asli feels that this report does not fairly reflect the true
picture of total equity ownership by bumiputras in Malaysia."
Mirzan noted that the report Corporate Equity Distribution: Past
Trends and Future Policy was part of a larger study undertaken by a
multi-racial group of scholars and consultants in connection with the
9th Malaysia Plan. It was submitted to government in February, but the
centre did not receive any feedback.
However, since its findings were widely reported on a few weeks ago,
Umno vicepresident Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin described it as "rubbish"
following a statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi that said the report was "baseless", "inaccurate" and
"irresponsible".
Yesterday, a Malay daily quoted former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
as saying the centre's findings were "illogical" because bumiputra
control of the economy was far below that of other races.The official
figure given in the 9MP is 18.9%.
The centre's report had concluded that the NEP target of 30% bumiputra
equity ownership had already been exceeded, and said the official
methodology inherited from the 1970s to measure corporate equity
distribution was "narrowlybased, unrealistic and has resulted in an
underestimation of the true volume and value of bumiputra equity".
It also said it was clear that "selective patronage" had resulted in
"serious intra-ethnic Malay cleavages", and the continued promotion of
the NEP would only serve to raise antagonisms among bumiputras that
some are more favoured than others.
The centre is headed by Dr Lim Teck Ghee, a former UN regional adviser
and World Bank senior political scientist, and recipient of
international academic awards.
"As the 30% ownership of Malaysian corporate equity by bumiputras is
one of the key targets of the NEP, it is important to have a reliable
methodology to measure the government's success in meeting this
target," Mirzan said.
"All methodologies are at best good estimates of the true situation
and due to the importance of the threshold to the public, should be a
transparent as possible," he added.
He hoped the report would lead to a better understanding of the
current methodology's merits.
Mirzan said in Asli's 13-year history, its agenda has always been to
help create a better society through the promotion of strategic
thinking and leadership qualities."We humbly take all criticisms
levelled at Asli with an open heart in our quest to improve ourselves
in order to serve Malaysia better," he said.
Sources said although Asli has officially agreed to withdraw the
report, those involved in putting it together are standing by their
work. However, they accept that the political reality left the
institute no choice but to back down in order to stop the attacks on
Asli.
http://www.sun2surf.com
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Chin-Huat Wong
Department of Government
University of Essex
Colchester CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom