A national data bank for NEP evaluation: Time for transparent assessment

Lim Teck Ghee

Away from the wayang of politics, two recent events bring food for thought.

They can be the focus of policy and public action to revive the Reformasi promises and process. Many people in Malaysia see this process as stalled and moving backwards.

The first is the recently concluded ‘reciprocal’ trade agreement between Malaysia and the United States.

This has opened up a Pandora’s box of questions regarding the nation’s economic independence and the key policy sectors targeted. It also raises the important issue of its impact on the nation’s core policies related to bumiputra and non- bumiputra rights and privileges.

The second is the establishment of the National Unity Advisory Council (NUAC) to advise the government on matters related to national unity. It will serve as a platform to discuss social cohesion issues and recommend solutions to unity challenges.

Both developments are related, although somewhat differently, to the New Economic Policy (NEP) undertaken more than 50 years ago.

This policy was to end in 1990 but instead has gone through multiple iterations. The stoic among us refer to it as the “Never Ending Policy”.

In some ways, the country’s NEP may be the longest-lived race-based affirmative action programme in the world.

Can the latest NUAC be effective?

There are likely to be very few among long-time observers of national unity in the country who hold hope in the new council.

The council is a diverse group including community leaders, NGO representatives, academics, cultural figures, corporate personalities and members from Sabah and Sarawak.

The past work of the council has apparently contributed to ineffectual policies and initiatives, such as the:

• National Unity Action Plan 2021–30
• Implementation of the Rukun Negara pledge at official events
• Tabika Perpaduan Early Childhood Education Plan 2021–30

Most observers are not impressed with this record and hope that the latest council can do more.

Can the new council provide the much-needed push to initiate the reform of race-based affirmative action policies, which may be the single most important policy obstacle standing in the way of a more unified and resilient society?

Can the latest members make good on the public pronouncements that they have made about changing mindsets and bringing the people together?

Building a better future for all

Here is an action project proposal for the council to consider.

It should have been initiated and undertaken in 1990, but it is still not too late to take on.

Its initial objective is to draw on the multiple stakeholders and stake players of the NEP to undertake and share their own independent and comprehensive evaluation of the NEP and its latest proposed iteration, the Bumiputra Economic Transformation Plan 2035, which has yet to undergo rigorous public scrutiny.

The list of potential project participants can include

• Think tanks
• NGOs
• Universities and other educational institutionsBusiness and other professional organisations, including housing and building organisations, legal organisations and trade unionsSocial and religious organisations
  • Political parties

Each participating entity can draw on its own experience dealing with NEP-related policies and programmes.

Their focus can be on which issues have been handled well, overcorrected, under-addressed, become irrelevant or overlooked in relation to new challenges.

A key part will relate to what lessons have been learnt and what policy changes are required to meet future challenges.

Thus, business organisations will deal with the latest policies affecting their sector. This includes small and medium-sized enterprises, industry, retailing, logistics, housing and construction.

Similarly, universities will focus on education, including issues related to admission policy and quota systems.

Special attention is likely to be given by contributing organisations to the drawbacks and failures of existing policies. They will examine how they have negatively affected their organisation’s wellbeing and development. They will also look at the larger national concerns over social cohesion and unity.

This analysis can be accompanied by a concluding section identifying proposals for policy reform to be taken up by the government.

It should be emphasised that previous efforts by NGOs such as Aliran in submitting reform proposals have not got far.

However, a process initiated, managed, controlled and executed by the ministry responsible for national unity, with the support of multiracial stakeholders, should have a more positive outcome.

Managing the national data bank

The results of this nation-wide NEP evaluation exercise can be posted on a special website to be set up before the end of 2026.

This measure is important and necessary to ensure that the project outcome is not classified as secret. Doing so would stifle freedom of expression, hinder accountability and deny the public’s right to information.

Also, to encourage participation, it is proposed that the Ministry of National Unity provides think tanks, NGOs and social and religious organisations with funding assistance to undertake project participation.

If a modest budget allocation of RM50m can be provided for this project, the funding support of RM100,000 to each participating organisation can produce reports from 500 contributors.

These reports can be the basis of an invaluable national data bank with policy ramifications for the inclusive development of the country.

This is the kind of relevant and effective participatory action research that the government should support.

In the case of this proposed project involving key stake players and stakeholders, it will generate actionable findings. It will also address our national unity shortcomings through collaboration, empowerment and democratic knowledge co-creation.

The new portal can also be part of the ministry’s website. This will help to ensure that the ministry can monitor and guide other ministries on post-NEP deviations, abuses, shortcomings and successes. It can also act on the situation of national unity that it has responsibility for.

This will ensure that the public and the larger body of policymakers and implementers can have access to data and feedback. It will help bring about transparent and accountable policies and governance.

Especially important is that the national data bank will not only enable continuous public scrutiny.

It can also provide critics of any new unjustified iteration, as well as whistleblowers with an avenue for action. They can use it for sharing and disseminating rapid responses to alleged wrongful practices.

Should this project proposal become reality, it could be a role model for reforming affirmative action policies and programmes around the world.

Lim Teck Ghee is an economic historian, analyst and former senior official with the UN and the World Bank.

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