These eight questions use real Malaysian policies, so you can practise the skills from the development and prosperity cluster. Try each question before opening the answer.
Questions
Q1. The NEP ran from 1971 to 1990. 1 The Rukun Negara was proclaimed on 31 August 1970 after the 13 May 1969 riots. 2 Write a sentence that explains why the NEP made sense in this period.
Answer
“The NEP was introduced in 1971, soon after the 13 May 1969 riots and the Rukun Negara, because it aimed to eradicate poverty and to end the link between ethnicity and economic function, and it ran for a fixed period, 1971 to 1990.” It names the problem and the limit (a fixed period), as in reading development policies in their period. Use your textbook for more period details.
Q2. A student writes: “FELDA was too small because today the government can fund much more.” Say what is wrong. FELDA was formed on 1 July 1956, and its first scheme opened at Lurah Bilut in 1958. 4
Answer
It judges by today’s resources instead of the period’s. A better sentence would state what the new authority could do in 1956 to 1958, one scheme at a time, and explain that choice within that limit.
Q3. The NEP had two aims: (a) to eradicate poverty irrespective of race, and (b) to restructure society so that ethnic identity is no longer tied to economic function. Its actions included (c) expanding education and training facilities and (d) income-generating activities. 1 Sort (a), (b), (c) and (d) into economic or social.
Answer
(a) economic and social, (b) social, (c) social, (d) economic. Poverty eradication raises incomes and improves wellbeing, so name the main aim first. See explaining economic and social aims.
Q4. Rewrite the vague aim “to develop rural Malaysia” using the what-and-for-whom test.
Answer
“To reduce poverty among rural settlers by resettling them on land planted with rubber and oil palm.” It names a change (less poverty) and a group (rural settlers), as in the FELDA aim 4.
Q5. The poverty rate was 49.3% in 1970 and 16.5% in 1990. 1 By how many percentage points did it fall?
Answer
49.3 − 16.5 = 32.8 percentage points. Check by adding back: 16.5 + 32.8 = 49.3. Note the period (1970 to 1990) and the unit (percentage points) when you write the answer.
Q6. Bumiputera ownership of the equity share capital of limited companies was 2.4% in 1970 and about 21% in 2012. 3 A student writes: “The NEP caused this rise.” Rewrite the sentence carefully, with the size of the rise.
Answer
“Bumiputera ownership of equity share capital rose by about 18.6 percentage points, from 2.4% in 1970 to about 21% in 2012, which covers the NEP years and later, although the figures alone do not show which policies caused the rise.” Check: 21 − 2.4 = 18.6. See reading historical data without inventing causation.
Q7. The NEP set a target of 30% Bumiputera ownership of corporate equity by 1990. 3 Poverty fell from 49.3% to 16.5% between 1970 and 1990. 1 Write a verdict.
Answer
“The NEP partly achieved its aims: poverty fell by 32.8 percentage points from 1970 to 1990, but the Bumiputera equity share was about 21% in 2012, below the 30% target, and the source gives no figure for 1990 itself.” Check: 49.3 − 16.5 = 32.8. The method is in comparing aims, implementation and outcomes.
Q8. Plan a four-part answer to “Evaluate how far the NEP achieved its aims”, using Q3, Q5 and Q7.
Answer
(1) Point: the NEP partly achieved its aims. (2) Evidence: its actions included education and training and income-generating activities, and poverty fell by 32.8 percentage points from 1970 to 1990. (3) Qualification: the equity share was about 21% in 2012, below the 30% target, and the 1990 figure is not given. (4) Verdict: partly achieved, judged by aim.
If you got these wrong
Q1 and Q2 belong to reading development policies in their period. Q3 and Q4 need explaining economic and social aims.
Q5 and Q6 use reading historical data without inventing causes. Q7 and Q8 use comparing aims, implementation and outcomes.
The mistake log and the timed practice builder help you repeat questions and see which mistakes come back. For teacher support, see online one-to-one Sejarah tuition.