UMNO SHAME for Malays to 'remain so poor in Penang' after 50-yr BN rule - Zairil

DAP's Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari today rubbished a minister's accusation of subtle racism against Malays by the Penang government, stating that it was BN's decades long rule which was responsible for putting Malays there in the situation they are in today.

He added that since Pakatan Rakyat took over from BN in 2008, it has worked hard to uplift the poor, many of whom are Malays.

"It's a shame that Malays remain so poor in Penang after 50 years of BN rule - this is a situation we inherited and we are trying our best to help the poor," he told Malaysiakini.

He was responding to Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek (right) who was yesterday quoted as saying that a "particular state" was hiding behind the policy of meritocracy in order to subtly discriminate Malays.

"They don't say it outright - that this place is only for our race, and the Malays cannot come here.

"But they use certain approaches where, eventually, only one race will enjoy (the development) and this is a form of subtle racism," he was quoted as saying in Umno Online.

Shabery did not specifically mention Penang but it is the only state which majority population is not Malay or bumiputera and its DAP-led government has been a strong proponent of meritocracy.

'Penang not only about meritocracy'

MP Zairil Khir Johari

Calling the claim baseless, Zairil said the Pakatan government in Penang does not purely promote meritocratic policies but also need-based policies.

"For example we give welfare aid to all families with household income below RM790 a month. This is the highest in Malaysia.

"Malay families form the bulk of recipients because they are the poorest and need it the most, not because they are Malays," he said.

He said another example was state government projects where 70 percent of them go to bumiputera contractors even though it is based on open tender.

"That means that there is no problem with Malay contractors competing with others.

"Just because Umno people lose their contracts due to their uncompetitiveness, that's not our problem," he said.

Likewise, he said this is also reflected in the state's housing policies which target middle and lower income groups where Malays would also stand to benefit.

"We practise fairness and justice through a transparent and accountable government," he said. -M'kini