Looking forward

This book’s thrust bears reiterating: affirmative action in Malaysia and South Africa is a socio-political imperative, and that the policy is coherent, reasonable and defensible as a temporary measure that needs to be implemented effectively -in order that graduation and exit plans can be pursued. Both countries have made gains and fallen short, and the prospects of such reforms remain elusive. I will focus on policy requirements and reform options that can make affirmative action more effective, while being mindful of the socio-political conditions and constitutional provisions that tend to perpetuate the policy. This chapter will also consider policy implications and lessons for other countries, particularly in middle- and low-income brackets, that are grappling with racial or ethnic inequality and affirmative action as a remedial intervention.

Affirmative action policies, laws and programmes are constitutionally authorized, majority supported and interwoven with the social and political fabric of Malaysia and South Africa. As discussed in Chapters 4 and 5, the constitutional provisions for AA are, explicitly or implicitly, contingent on the prevalence ofgroup disadvantage. Reforms and rollbacks are consistent with the spirit, if not the letter, of the law. The policies are embedded, continually bathed in imperatives and controversies, and animated by debate over achievements and deficiencies.

Where do these countries go from here? This section presents some thoughts, proposals and prescriptions on moving forward, building on the framework of need-based and merit-based enhancements outlined in Table 2.1. These ideas are summarized in Table 9.2 and discussed thereafter.

My focus is on building a systematic framework, with some specific applications but not a comprehensive plan - due to limitations of space in this book and also limitations of information and imagination. Government, polity and society of Malaysia and South Africa must research, collate and deliberate the comprehensive range of policy options.

Policy framework and reform prospects

Moving forward, Malaysia and South Africa must start on the right footing. In order to do this, both countries need to establish clarity and coherence in the overarching framework, to systematically grasp the purpose, scope and mechanisms of their respective AA regimes. This is far from a mere theoretical construct for academic ends; AA discourses and actual policy design often spin in fruitless spirals of misplaced expectations and misguided policy design, which in turn fuel unduly adversarial and truculent debate. Both countries tend to perpetuate polarized stand-offs, eluding direct engagement on the original purpose and specific instruments of AA, with parties talking past each other. This section builds on the framework and approach applied in this book, in ways that - hopefully - engage critical debate and pursue viable reforms.

The proposed policy framework and reform guidelines comprise three key applications.