Fifty years after launching the New Economic Policy, the majority of the Malays are still struggling, but Malay politicians will insist that tongkats (handouts) are still necessary. Of course, they are! We know who benefits and who is excluded.

Unfortunately, when things don’t work out, many Malays still believe the propaganda of irresponsible politicians that the DAP, the Chinese, the Christians, Singaporeans, and the West are out to destroy the Islamic way of life and control Malaysia.

Irresponsible politicians have corrupted our minds with the false bumiputera narrative. They make us forget that it is not just about one race in multiracial Malaysia.

We could deport all the “pendatangs”, but do the remaining Malays think that they would then all be marching happily towards progress and become rich and successful?

A pervasive narrative

Don’t make the mistake that it’s just the “peasants” or the rural folk who are ignorant and who are easily fooled by the “Malaysia is only for the bumiputera” line. Many urban, intellectual, well-informed Malays are complicit in the false bumiputera narrative that affirmative action policies are necessary.

However, the combined effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the lockdowns, the emergency rule forced upon us by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the Jana Wibawa exposé, have revealed many people’s true nature.

The cost-of-living crisis, the hardships faced by the people, and the dual system of justice have brought out the best and the worst in some. Malaysia would have been a beautiful place without interfering racist politicians.

Jana Wibawa was a major revelation. Those who were proud to claim they were “Malay first, Malaysian second” have shattered the myth that they were the true champions of the bumiputera. They’re not!

The bumiputera agenda was a useful tool for the already rich to amass even greater wealth. Behind the scenes, Malay and non-Malay elites conspired to trick ordinary Malaysians. We can identify the real traitors. They are nothing more than arrogant apologists.

Malaysia has long suffered from a brain drain, with the majority of the displaced Malaysians being non-Malays escaping from the discrimination brought about by the bumiputera agenda.

In recent years, many of those who joined the brain drain were bumiputera.

It does not necessarily follow that they are ashamed of the propaganda hard sell of past administrations. A significant proportion of Malays fled because they cannot stomach the oppressive lifestyle that the religious conservatives have imposed on our daily lives. Simple things like dress codes, education, and socialising.

Some of these Malays are not disgusted at their government’s actions, they have more selfish reasons. They prefer a carefree lifestyle and refuse to live under a nanny state. Some are children of wealthy and well-connected bumiputera. They have the means to do so but other Malaysians are not so lucky.

What is the percentage of bumiputera who go about their daily lives and think as a Malaysian?

The rhetoric of racist, nationalist Malay politicians combined with PAS’ political Islam have created a monster, which we'll call “the amoral bumiputera”. They often insult people of other faiths and cultures but will brook no criticism of their own actions.

It is a Malaysian problem

How can we change the mindset among the majority of the bumiputera?

If affirmative action policies were to end, they would regret being denied easy access to handouts and privileges.

They would not regret the loss of a two-tiered system of justice, the unfair opportunities offered, and the abolishment of discriminatory practices.

They would not abandon the usual bogeymen (DAP, non-Malays) for their failures. Their usual arrogance will remain.

So, no, the farcical bumiputera agenda is not just a Malay problem. It is a Malaysian problem.