There is something more important than MCA's presidential election come end of March.

March 28 is an important date for MCA's fresh party polls.

Two days later, the New Economic Model (NEM) will be unveiled in two stages.

The NEM will be the single most important policy of prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, and the masterpiece of his administration.

If it goes by the original conception, the NEM will inject a new lease of life into the country's economy and social development.

While the four-decades-old New Economic Policy is slowly fading into its own demise, the national economy has been sunk into the dilemma of low growth, dwindling competitiveness and widening social disparity.

Sure enough the NEM aspires to overhaul the ageing economic system in creating a more open, liberal and competitive business environment to attract both foreign and domestic investments as well as the participation of skilled talents here and abroad with the hope of charting new growth areas, spearheading the national economy and elevating Malaysia to the league of high-income countries.

Well, there must be a halt to all the beautiful and impressive slogans.

The important thing is that this is going to be an all-new mindset and unfamiliar realm to this country.

Najib is well aware that Malaysia cannot afford to keep lurking at an inconspicuous corner of the world, squandering its resources for distribution to unworthy recipients.

Malaysia must walk into the world. If we fail to seek the Blue Sea, we might as well struggle for mere survival in the Red Sea!

To make out the first move, it is imperative that we forego the preferential protectionist policy.

What should take its place, in simple words, is the elevation of the country's overall strength, not on racial lines but an equal footing, as a means to perk up our competitiveness as well as efficiency.

The NEM must create a new environment, formulate new rules and nurture real talents.

If we don't deliver ourselves out of the doldrums, our way ahead will remain gloomy and doomed as ever.

If we were to walk out of this quagmire, we require a good dose of courage to overcome the obstacles from the vested interests as well as a sense of insecurity within the Malay community.

Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) and other conservative community-based outfits have already jumped into action, demanding that the New Economic Model carry on with the bumiputra-first policy.

The rightists in UMNO, meanwhile, have also pressurised the government to retain the preferential policy.

Under such pressure, will the NEM still be able to stick to its original objectives and practices?

Opportunities for reforms can slip by just that. It will remain a wild talk if the NEM opts to walk down the NEP path.

The Chinese community generally lacks a sense of insecurity, and does not know how to harness their opportunities, allowing organisations in the likes of Perkasa to lash out their bargains.

We have no idea whether the NEM announcement will come as joyful tidings or yet another sigh of despair.

While MCA's leaders are working very hard to earn support nationwide these two weeks, perhaps we should bank on this unique opportunity to question them whether they have any idea about this New Economic Model, or have taken part in its planning or offered any useful feedback, or are only busy with things pertaining to their own political future. (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)