Kuala Lumpur, Thu -- Aid for the Malays will continue as on the
whole they are still seen as being left behind and need help, Datuk Seri Najib
Tun Razak said today.

The Prime Minister said even if there were chest-thumpers who say they do
not need support, the reality was that there were many others who needed
government aid.

"Today we see how the products of affirmative action via the New Economic
Policy (NEP) are feeling great and proudly thump their chests that they no
longer need support.

"They say they can stand on their own two feet without depending on
government help. Clearly this group forgets a larger reality," said the Umno
president when speaking before more than 2,000 delegates at the party's general
assembly here.

"I mean if it is true that they are resourceful enough to throw away the
crutches that had supported them all this while, how about the other Malays who
still need help?," Najib said.

"Is it fair that these crutches are denied to the group that qualifies to
receive them just because those who had already received aid are no longer
dependent on it," he added.

In his speech, Najib said no one can deny that Malays reaped great benefits
due to the NEP and now were a large middle class.

"This was not so when the NEP was launched in 1971. Who can deny that today
there is a large number of Malay professionals who are the products of the
NEP?," he said.  

Najib said the actual issue is not the question of aid but the question of
management and administration of such aid being focussed towards those who still
need it.

"The fact is the Malays overall are still left behind and need help. That is
 the main consideration," he said.

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