Chapter 421

Negotiating the absorption – or alliance – of the Benevolent Durian Clan by the Malaysian government was a tricky business. Not that I intended to take them up on the sponsorship, obviously; but knowing their angle was important. Beyond the basics of them needing – wanting – control over all aspects of our lives, of course.

And, probably, a way to siphon money off for their own pockets. I'd have to watch out for that too, now that I thought about it.

The most obvious line that had concerned me had involved the quote system, reminiscent of the quota system that continued to be implemented in everything from government positions to university spots. The quote system was entirely racially biased – giving up to 90% of spots to bumiputera candidates – left many non-bumi candidates out in the cold.

It was an on-going and consistent battle, of course; and saw many deserving students and workers left out, as the government continued to ‘uplift’ the Malay race via preferential treatment. Many outsiders even compared what Malaysia did to the west’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) attempts and pointed to it as the obvious failures of such programs and the inequity it created.

Most Malaysians, when they heard that kind of comparison, rolled their eyes and scoffed.

Still…

“90%?” I said. “I can’t do that. Literally can’t. There’s not even that kind of ratio to be had, in the Tower. Not unless I refuse a lot of deserving people.”

“The Minister understands, of course. That the ratio is not viable with current Climbers. We would not hold you to that,” Manager Kong said, smoothly.

“Good, because you know…” I hesitated, glanced at Tannah, forged on. “that most of those in the Tower aren’t Malay. There’s just a higher percentage of the rest of us.”

There being more opportunities that did not suck and require the risk of life, it was no surprise that there were more – as a percentage wise in terms of population and numbers – non-bumi members. Of course, saying bumiputera really meant Malay, since the ‘actual’ natives of Malaysia – the orang asli – meant such a small percentage, they were rarely more than a footnote.

“Yes, we know. But we’d like to change that, with your help.” Manager Kong tapped the table with her fingers, fleshy pads drumming against the metal. “It’s about who you recruit in Malaysia, and who you bring out.”

“I don’t dictate that!” I snapped. “The Tower is all about climbing it yourself. There’s – literally – solo missions, so you can’t ever dictate group work.” Or cribbing off another, so that you got dragged all the way through.

“Understood, of course. And we would never expect otherwise, but with the right training beforehand…”

“Which could take years!”

“And the government is willing to support you during that time, with training facilities and trainers and funds.”

Of which some of it would be kicked back, of course, to ensure that we weren’t watched too closely. I could see the beginnings of the grift. “Even so, 90 is too high.”

“But you’re not opposed to some ratio?” she said.

“I…” Frowned. “Have never thought about it. I guess… some ratio, so long as it is a little flexible, is not a bad idea. It’d push us to look for the right people, not just those that stumbled into our Clan. And I expect, at some point, we’d be flooded with candidates to the point we need some criteria.” At which point, need and ability would become paramount. Sorting by ability – or potential in the early stages – would still likely lead to quite a few who would need the Tower, for one reason or another.

I still recalled the stories told me by those in the first floor of the Tower, the tales of escaped marriages, enforced weddings, of unrelenting servitude to ungrateful families and crushing debt. Of happy families, torn apart by circumstance and for some, the need to escape into the Tower itself to just be free.

“Good. So, a breakdown by racial percentages?” Manager Kong pushed.

“I guess…” I said, slowly. “I can see how that would work.” I was not happy, not at all. “If this is only for those outside the Tower, whoever we recruit within not limited by any such ratios. If we’re getting support and trainers and facilities, it makes sense to try to select people somehow.”

It was not, in any way, a perfect solution but there were no perfect solutions. The people who protested over any solution not being exactly right often did not live in the real world – or just wanted everything to go their way. Who were insistent that their way was the entirely correct method, and as such would not take any compromises.

Tyrants, if you will, even if they had the best intentions.

“Good. I can work with that and I can speak to the Vice-Minister.” She smiled, then tapped the table. “How about your board?”

“What board?”

“The advisory board.”

I frowned, wanting to protest that I would take nothing like that. Then again, I did already take advice from others. From Cynthia, from Rick, Mel and Uswah, and certainly I’d take it from my Sifu when I managed to talk to him. Would an advisory board be that different?

“There wasn’t much information on there. Just that there was a board whose recommendations would need to be taken seriously.” Which left a little too much wiggle room for his liking.

“They are there to guide you, to help you understand things that you might miss.” She smiled. “For example, if you had a lawyer on the board; you could have them help with what you sign.”

“I could just hire one.”

“You should too, but both are good.”

Arthur snorted.

“If you had a government member, like the Vice-Minister, he could help guide your dealings with the government, how to work together and the like. Someone from the police department or army, those could be useful too.”

“And they all want something for being on the board?” Arthur said, suspiciously.

“A salary is common, yes.”

Arthur smirked on the inside as he began to get the feel for it. A legal way to bribe people, divert some of the funds coming in and grift. Though he also assumed they would expect to have some degree of control over what he chose to do too.

“I like the idea of the board, I’ll admit.” Even if he never signed with the government officially, this might be a way to have them involved without giving them control. As she said, offering them ways to be paid and to provide their own influence could only be useful.

He wondered if the Ghee Hin or any of the other triads would want a seat.

“Mmmm?”

“Just thinking about the triads and the other organisations.”

Manager Kong frowned heavily at that. “Your connections to them could be problematical.”

“Not as though I sought them out at first,” Arthur said. “But they’ve got a lot of pull in the Tower.”

“And we don’t.”

“Exactly.” Arthur sighed. “But I understand. I don’t intend to become buddies with them. In fact, I expect there’ll be some conflict.” A fist clenched as Arthur considered the upcoming issues. “Can’t be too harsh on them though, they could cause trouble for the Clan in the Tower and when I re-enter too.”

She nodded. “We don’t advise outright conflict either. However, curtailing their influence is part of why the government desires your Clan.”

There was not much to say to that. At least, he was getting an idea of what the government wanted through these discussions with the manager. It was possible she was being a little too frank for the Deputy Minister’s liking; but he was not here. And till she was removed, he meant to dig as much information as he could out of her.

Sooner or later though, he would need to leave and face the world.