APRIL 30 — “A human, whose lips are parched from the heat and his/her throat dry and thirsty, sits under the coconut tree waiting for a coconut to suddenly fall on his lap. Up in the tree sits several monkeys who sneer and laugh at the human for waiting down there becuase he/she is hoping. When the monkeys decide to throw the coconut down at the man, the man thinks the monkey did him a favour by sending him a coconut. To the human’s perspective the monkey is the ONLY source for the coconut. To the monkey, it is used to stun the human into submission.”

Thus, the inequality in many nations is already programmed and conditioned.

Joseph Stiglitz in the Price of Inequality said — “If a country doesn't give a large proportion of the population the education that they need to earn a decent living, if employers don't pay workers a decent wage, if a society provides so little opportunity that many people become alienated and demotivated, then that society and its economy won't work well."

According to the World Bank’s GINI index , an international metric of income inequality, Malaysia has a GINI score of 46.2 per cent  in 2009.

Although our Gross National Income per Capita is 22, 530 PPP,  which is higher than Thailand’s which is 13,430 PPP and Indonesia’s at 9,270 PPP, Indonesia’s GINI index score of 34 and Thailand’s of 40, it becomes clear that whilst Malaysia’s income is rising that income is distributed unequally.

Putting Stiglitz’s observation next to our GINI score and comparing it with those of our neighbours Indonesia and Thailand it becomes clear that our society and economy are in danger of underperforming relative to these neighbours and being less attractive to foreign capital flowing into this region from the overheated and exhausted economies of North America, Europe and Northeast Asia.

In the coming years this may drop us ever further behind our neighbours in this region which remains probably the most attractive emerging market for foreign investment.

I suggest that this inequality is also at least partly the cause of racial and religious extremism in the country. As an increasingly disenchanted and frustrated Malay Muslim majority loses patience at the persistent absence of the land of milk and honey promised to them by their leaders in their quest for votes and power at all cost, the resulting buildup of resentment and envy towards other Malaysians — who have been promised no such thing and so got on with the job of improving themselves- searches for an outlet.

All too often that pent up resentment finds release in militant racism and Islamic fascism. The noble objectives of the NEP, the protected status of Bumiputeras and of Islam are hijacked by irresponsible politicians out to preserve their positions of wealth and power to prop up the fallacy that an illusory superior title to our nation or being members of some true faith are either substitutes for a sound education, a strong work ethic, creativity and industry in achieving economic advancement is concerned, or alternatively valid grounds for the achievement that advancement at the expense of others.

I believe that addressing the social and economic inequalities in our country will be a most effective remedy for the issues which we face today- issues which threaten our unity and the peace and prosperity we have enjoyed thus far.

However, inequality is not addressed by mere economic agendas under various acronyms and fancy PR stunts. A comprehensive overhaul of policies, attitudes and economic and power structures is necessary.

If one were to look at Tun Dr Mahathir’s Vision 2020, it becomes clear that it was no mere economic plan. A developed nation is not merely a nation that has a high income, it is a nation that is responsible, tolerant and progressive.

Let us take a look at the challenges laid out by Tun Dr Mahathir when he launched Wawasan 2020:

• Challenge 1: Establishing a united Malaysian nation made up of one Bangsa Malaysia (Malaysian Race).

• Challenge 2: Creating a psychologically liberated, secure and developed Malaysian society.

• Challenge 3: Fostering and developing a mature democratic society.

• Challenge 4: Establishing a fully moral and ethical society.

• Challenge 5: Establishing a matured liberal and tolerant society.

• Challenge 6: Establishing a scientific and progressive society.

• Challenge 7: Establishing a fully caring society.

• Challenge 8: Ensuring an economically just society, in which there is a fair and equitable distribution of the wealth of the nation.

• Challenge 9: Establishing a prosperous society with an economy that is fully competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient.

Our experience over the past 40 years echoes the experiences of Zimbabwe, South Africa and Israel, that in a peaceful, prosperous nation, NO ONE is entitled to any advantage or indeed prosperity by mere birthright. The NEP is clearly one policy that needs to evolve back to its original intent — to elevate the needy level the playing field for them- NOT to tilt the playing field in their favour at the expense of others.

Today, we find a rallying cry for the Prime Minister to either resign or be forced out either by UMNO or via a vote of no confidence.

Whichever method Tun Dr Mahathir, UMNO and/or Parliament decides to take and whatever the outcome may be, I advocate for a unity government with one of its main objectives the equitable distribution of the nation’s wealth.

There is no doubt that many challenges face us in these challenging times and there are any number of immediate issues that the leader of the nation — be it the Prime Minister or some successor — should take in hand as a matter of priority but I urge him or her to make the eradication of social and economic inequality one of them.

Until then, enjoy sitting under the coconut democracy. 

* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.