Independence pact safeguards Malay, Bumiputeras

The Prime Minister said that any national initiative that does not take into account or ignores the Malays or Bumiputera agenda is unfair and unjust.

KUALA LUMPUR:  Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who upholds the seven ‘Wills’ of the nine Malay Rulers, said the ‘Wills’ are very clear and cannot be disputed.

“The Wills are very clear,” said Najib, who is also Umno president, when announcing measures to empower Bumiputeras’ economy yesterday.

In pursuing Bumiputeras’ interests and their unending struggles, Najib quoted the seven Wills governing the independence agreement to establish a federation.

Najib said the ‘Will’ states the equity and ownership of the Malays and was later expanded to the Bumiputeras with the joining of Sabah and Sarawak when Malaysia was formed 50 years ago.

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, announced five main strategies to empower Bumiputeras economy, covering human capital, equity ownership, non-finance asset ownership, entrepreneurship and service delivery.

The Bumiputeras, who made up 67.9 per cent of the 27.4 million Malaysia’s population, must be the core of the national agenda and cannot be denied by anyone, Najib said.

“Hence, any national initiative that does not take into account or ignore the Malays or Bumiputera agenda is unfair and unjust,” he said.

Najib said since independence all planning and economic policies for the Malays and Bumiputeras by the government were drawn up based on the racial composition of the plural society.

“In principle, this practice has been accepted as a social contract all this while by all Malaysians as was agreed to by our founding fathers of this nation.

“They were protected by the Federal Constitution,” he added.

‘Thankful for Sabah, Sarawak’

Najib also touched on the Malaysia Day celebrations in Sabah and Sarawak on Monday, Sept 16.

“Day after tomorrow (Sept 16), with the permission of God, we’ll celebrate our country’s 50th annivesary, Malaysia’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

“God willing, I will attend the celebrations in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu,” he said.

Najib said the joining of Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia was “something we should to grateful to God.”

“Since the country attained independenc on Aug 31, 1957, the people have been living in harmony and united. Sabah and Sarawak joined Peninsular Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963, to form Malaysia.

“Praise be to God, with Sabah and Sarawak becoming part of Malaysia, has brought millions of blessings to our beloved nation, he said.

Najib said Malaysia has been recognised as 30th most peaceful and stable nation in the world with multiracial Malaysians living in harmony.

“That’s how significant and unique Malaysia is,” he added.

-Bernama