P(i)K(i)R betul2 (Think Carefully) Ummm..NO!

I don't like politics. I really don't.

But I don't like people who, in their need to pursue their political agendas and beliefs, impose upon others ideas that don't make sense. People who try to show to others how wrong one side is by using ideas from biased sources.

Amnesty International.

Last week, a friend of mine showed this link, a report on Malaysia saying Malaysians are racists. Especially the Government and the bumiputras. Really?

This coming from an organization that won't even recognize Palestine as a country. Rather, Palestine is just an authority.

I went on to read more of these so-called 'independent' reports. I am not conviced.

Racism

How do we measure racism? Do we even need to? How do we categorize racism, or racists for that matter?

Let's do some examples:

First Example


Person A works in Company 1. Person B also works in Company 1. Person A works as hard as Person B. Both are likable. However, come promotion time, only Person A got promoted.

Consider these suppositions:

1. Person A is a bumiputra and Person B is a non-bumiputra.

2. Company 1 is a Government-linked Company.

3. Both Person A and Person B's bosses are bumiputras.

Now consider these suppositions:

1. Person A is a non-bumiputra and Person B is a bumiputra.

2. Company 1 is a multi-national company.

3. Both Person A and Person B's bosses are non-bumiputras.

Which scenario best describe racism?

Second Example

State A wants to open a tender for a billion ringgit construction project.

The 2 quotes that made the shortlist came from Company A and Company B.

Company A is a bumiputra company. Company B is a non-bumiputra company.

Consider these suppositions:

1. Company A is a turnkey company who employs a group of construction companies consisting of bumiputra and non-bumiputra companies to perform the construction.

2. Company B does everything themselves.

3. Both companies bid more or less the same amount.

State A choses Company A.

Does this mean State A is using the affirmative action to favor a bumiputra company?

Third example

A school canteen is looking for fruit suppliers to supply fruits daily for the students. Two companies bid for the tender.

Company A is a bumiputra company. Company B is a non-bumiputra company.

After considering both tenders, the school canteen chose Company B because it had the lowest quote, therefore the best bid.

Now consider these suppositions:

1. Company A got the fruits from non-bumiputra suppliers who charges the market rate for the fruits.

2. Company B got the fruits from non-bumiputra suppliers who charges lower than market rate for the fruits.

3. With the price quoted, Company A made 10% profit while Company B made 30% profit.

Did the school canteen benefit from the tender?

Going back to Amnesty International, the report did not give in-depth details as to how the report was researched. At no point did the report say in detail why they considered the affirmative actions were racist, other than saying the Government favored bumiputras.

My examples may be simplified. There should be other considerations in order to come up with 'right' answers. There might even be no 'right' answers.

However, to accept such a report as proof of the Government's shortcomings would be naive and downright premature.

Personally, I think the people controlling the Government now are dicks. But the alternatives are also dicks. Either way, the country is screwed. But I sincerely believe the Malaysian people are mature enough to govern themselves and not blame everything on the Government. Whether it's the old Government or the new one, it's up to the People of the country to stand up and be counted.

That's just my honest opinion. Don't take my word for it. Do your own homework and draw your own conclusions. Mine's just not conclusive as yet. Only time will tell.