N.O.C.

Around this time exactly 38 years ago, the National Operations Council (N.O.C.) was set up in the aftermath of the infamous May 13th riots and killings. It was headed by the then DPM Tun Abdul Razak. Our present PM, who was then a senior civil servant, was a member of this council. This Council also gave birth to the New Economic Policy (NEP) which after 38 years is no longer new.

I remember the joke going around then was that what NOC meant was very different to the various races in the country, i.e.,

Malays : Now's Our Chance !
Chinese : No Other Choice
Indians : Not Our Country

Sadly, the words still ring true after all these years. So I guess the joke is on us.