Malaysian New Economic Plan
The
New Economic Plan (NEP) is a policy that was implemented in
Malaysia in
1971. The plan was spurred by
Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad's book,
The Malay Dilemma, which caused great controversy at the time, as it proposed strong benefits for
bumiputras. As expected, the results of the plan greatly benefited the
Malays, but also indirectly those of other races, some have argued. According to them, if the NEP had not been implemented, there would be a great divide, economically and socially, between the races, fomenting an
uprising by the Malays like the
May 13 Incident. Regardless, it is generally agreed upon by several progressive Malays and most
Chinese and
Indians that the NEP has outlived its usefulness and the extravagant benefits given the bumiputras should be stopped.