cookie-cutter comments

I was quite surprised about what the PM said. The link to the Bernama article is here. PM Abdullah believes that “development policies like the New Economic Policy (NEP) remain relevant as long as the economic disparity between races exist in the country.” Now, this is all well and good, I suppose. A general statement like that could mean a variety of things, with nothing specific really said. A good opening, I’m sure. And then he says this:

He said the income gap between Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras remains wide where for every Ringgit earned by a Bumiputera, a non-Bumiputera earns RM1.80.

“The implementation of NEP cannot be seen as a racial issue,” he said in his written reply at the Dewan Rakyat sitting here, Wednesday.

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And the grand answer to that is: “I don’t know”. This afternoon while juggling several assignments, I began wondering about this while reminiscing about some heated arguments I’ve had with Singaporeans over the usefulness of an opposition party in parliament: what really is the use of an opposition party? You know the host of answers to these, which basically boil down to one or more of the following:-

1. As a check and balance to Big Brother
2. To present an alternative solution to issues
3. To represent minority interests (huh.. if at all)
4. To present a veneer of the democratic process…

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