NEP 50

The New Economic Policy Beyond Fifty: Assessing its Strengths and Weaknesses to Chart a Cohesive

The New Economic Policy’s 50th anniversary in 2021 provides an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and shortfalls, and imagine boldly into the future. Undoubtedly, Malaysia has been transformed by the NEP at all levels and aspects. Its presence has been far reaching, enduring beyond the original timeframe of 1971-1990, and its legacy will continue into the foreseeable future. The debates surrounding the NEP tend to be polarising and often reach a stalemate; however, a  more constructive engagement is possible through re-appreciating the NEP’s strengths and examining its weaknesses/omissions, grappling with its policy discourses as well as with its popular but misguided perspectives. This paper suggests that by doing all these, we can ultimately recraft the NEP to forge a cohesive and inclusive Malaysian society.