Lest anyone be swayed by recent Malaysian government flourishes (such as the recent decision to formalise relations with the Vatican), if you’re a Malaysian Muslim, you can be rest assured that your government is looking out for number one. According to a statement made today by no less a personage than the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, at the top of the government’s agenda is the plan to continue what is called ‘safeguarding Bumiputra interests’. This means, for all intents and purposes, Islamic supremacy, as ‘Bumiputra’ equals Muslim. “DPM: Safeguarding Bumiputra interests remains govt’s main agenda”, The Star, 20 August 2011:
SHAH ALAM: Assisting and safeguarding the interest and welfare of the Bumiputra remains the main agenda of leaders and the government, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
“So, the Bumiputra need not worry if the word Bumiputra is not used or repeated numerous times when implementing policies or the New Economic
Policy,” he said when closing the two-day convention “Empowering the New
Economic Model: A Bumiputera Economic Jihad“, organised by the Gagasan
Badan Ekonomi Melayu (GABEM) [Malay Economic Association] at Universiti Teknologi Mara, here
Saturday.
Muhyiddin said that though the interest and welfare of
all races would be taken into consideration when implementing the
country’s economic development policy, the interest of the Malays and
Bumiputra would not be denied or forgotten.
“I myself am not
willing to see a situation where no effort is made to help or assist
Malays, as long as they are needed,” said Muhyiddin when commenting on
recent speculation and perception by some that the leaders and
government was not giving importance to Bumiputra.