Continued Jrom page 9 on the NEP's otner pronounced objective to restructure society" to abolish the Identification of ethnicity with economic function, especially to create, expand and consolidate the Malay capitalist and middle classes.

Sundurum argues that the strong interest In ownership In the modern corporate sec tor. although involving only a small minority of the popula tion. reflects "the dominance of capitalist Interests in defining supposedly ethnic or communal interests.

As officially interpreted 'restructuring Is not meant to abolish or change socio-eco nomic relations between classes or economic interest groups: In practice It mainly seeks to increase Bumlputra capital ownership and personal

He was a victim of harassment of the regime being put out of service al the whim of the President of the Republic However he was reinstated In service with due honor later.

shares In the more attractive occupations"'

Political scientist and human rights activist Chandra Muzaffar adds: "Resolving the problems of Malay poverty is quite different from creating a Malay capitalist.’

In terms of affirmative action in favour of the Malays, the statistics are similarly contentious. Official statistics put Malay ownership of corporate equity at 19 per cent, well short of its 30 per cent target, while placing non-Malay and foreign ownership at 35 and 25 per cent respectively

In general Malay wealth increased. but the rise was concentrated In a few hands. Although poor Malays did not benefit as much as promised, the creation of a Malay capital 1st class decreased Malay ten slons But the Chinese and Indians, particularly those In lhe middle class, felt unappreciated and concerned that they were losing opportunities.

Noi only was favouritism shown towards Malays, but mariv Chinese and Indian Initiatives for their own commu nines were smothered by the Malay-dominated government.

The Inability to get univer ally places forced many non Malays to pursue education overseas, resulting In a foreign exchange drain estimated at RM2 billion a year

Promotion based on race rather than merit also affected the economy resulting In irief fictency In the Malay-dominated clvtl service.

Sociologists argue that af firmatlve action under the NEP contributed to a "subsidy men tality" among Malays, placing them at a further disadvantage in relation to the other groups

Overall, therefore the NEP reduced disparities between racial groups and helped cool racial tensions from their